VF Commodore revealed - Official details and pics from post #216 onwards

[Marco]

^ VH was out for too long, people tired of that model being unchanged for so long. And Ford had released two new models in that time XE - XF. Check out the bounce back when the VK was released in '84

Similar thing needs to happen for Commodore right now

Also in '83 the Camira was the latest thing and was surprisingly popular until they started to get their lemon reputation. Fairly sure there were at least some months in '83 when it outsold the Commodore and people were seriously talking about Camira becoming Australia's biggest seller.

[Marco]

I woulnt say the VY did that bad - not as good as VX. But at the time people were trying to get their head around the VY's new look, the rear of the VY copped a bit of critisism at the time.

Really the VZ copped the biggest fall (04 - 06 period) I thought the 'Z was generally well received - obviously not according to that. Few spooked by the then new Alloytec V6 maybe?

On the VY, don't forget that at around the same time the Falcon went from being a product you were embarassed to be seen in (AU) to something that was arguably better than the Commodore (BA) - even though to look at a BA now you'd think they had all just come from the wreckers, they've aged so badly.

On the VZ, a couple of factors at play - people getting tired of the VT-VZ design after so long, fuel price jump in mid-05 scared fleets, but also don't forget that the Kluger hit the market in 2003 and the Territory in 2004. This was pretty well the first time people could have a large SUV without having to go all the way to a Pajero, Pathfinder etc and they jumped at it.

[DMW]

http://theage.drive.com.au/motor-new...208-2e358.html

"Hoiden Commodore will live on"

The Holden Commodore isn't dead after all.

The Australian car maker confirmed that the long-running nameplate will live on well into the next decade and continue to be built at its Elizabeth plant in South Australia.

Company chairman Mike Devereux dropped the bombshell today during a media preview for the heavily revised VF Commodore that it will reveal publicly on Sunday morning.

There has been plenty of speculation that Holden would drop the Commodore name when the VF is replaced by an all-new vehicle, based on a global General Motors model, that will be manufactured in Australia at the end of 2016.
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"A lot of folks have been speculating about whether this is the last Commodore ... I can I categorically tell you we have already begun working on the Commodore that comes after this one," he said.

"People love this nameplate. We're going to have another one of these," Devereux said. "General Motors has started working on it, the team here is obviously involved in that as they are working on all sorts of different things and I will say no more of it.

"We will launch another Commodore after this one," he said. "This thing will run through end of '16, after that time we're going to be putting two architectures into the plant ... one of them will underpin the Commodore that replaces the VF.

"It's a huge year for Holden - we're back," he said......

[VL Executive]

Maybe the new commodore will morph into an "SUV" as the yanks would say.

"We will launch another Commodore after this one," he said. "This thing will run through end of '16, after that time we're going to be putting two architectures into the plant ... one of them will underpin the Commodore that replaces the VF.

Well, The 2 architectures are going to be the Cruze and an SUV type vehicle. So the morph into an SUV may well be true. I dont think the so called new Commodore after VF is going to be the traditional large RWD car as we know it now?

[C4B]

At the end of the day, if they can't make money from Commodore it's not going to continue.

I'm sure if the demand was sufficient, they would continue to build Commodores until 2050, however if the sales decline continues, they simply aren't going to have anyone to sell them to.

[Plenty]

not so sure...


as just reported --
Australian Muscle Car Magazine

...Breaking news.

Holden MD Mike Devereux just said: "We've just started work on the next Commodore after this one (VF)." Adelaide-built Commodore lives beyond 2016!

Hate to say it to all you Pessimists but I Told You So!
How stupid to think that Holden would invest money to only see 3 years out of it.

I hope Joshua Dowling is sucking some serious sour grapes. although he is already at it predicting the next Commodore will be front drive ( he may be correct but he never stops).

[Plenty]

Probably a tizz up of the VF in 2016 for a run through to 2018 and then thas it. I seriously doubt he means an all new Commodore, unless GM have given a job to Holden to design some sort of sedan for global markets to replace the Commodore and Chevy SS Performance (This is my most wildly optimistic scenario).


Cheers, Matthew

There is two new cars to be built here in Australia and the important one is the Commodore, it'll most likely be a smaller version meaning a new platform so not just a jizz up. IMO

[bouka]

Putting a badge on it won't make it a commodore.

[Plenty]

Putting a badge on it won't make it a commodore.

" The event was just about to wrap up when in his closing remarks Holden boss Mike Devereux said: “A lot of folks have been speculating about whether this is the last Commodore … well I can categorically tell you we have already begun working on the Commodore that comes after this one.”

After the speech, Devereux told the frazzled media scrum: “This [Commodore] will run through to the end of 2016. After that time we are going to be putting two global architectures into the [Adelaide] plant, one of them will underpin the next Commodore.”

To make sure he wasn’t misunderstood, Devereux repeated: “There is another Commodore coming after this one. We’re going to build it in Adelaide on a [global] architecture.” "

Sounds good enough to me.

[bouka]

It took everyone by surprise plenty. Even those in the know.

I'm not convinced it will be rear wheel drive or to what extent it will Aussie.

I really want and hope to be wrong.

[Goggles]

I'm not convinced it will be rear wheel drive or to what extent it will Aussie.

I think it will be as Aussie as the current Cruze is - a car that is designed for a number of global markets, but manufactured in Australia. I also think it will be RWD, and surely must have 6 and 8 cylinder engines.

[Jag530G]

There is two new cars to be built here in Australia and the important one is the Commodore, it'll most likely be a smaller version meaning a new platform so not just a jizz up. IMO

The question is what sort of platform?

1) If it is a FWD there is no way GM is going to have a unique-to-Australia car when they have plenty of alternatives around the world. GM has the FWD/AWD Epsilon II platform which in smaller size is used for the Chev Malibu and Opel Insignia and in larger size is used for Cadillac XTS and 2014 Chev Impala. If this option is taken the Commodore will be a Epsilon II car rebadged (this option would also allow for using the larger Epsilon II for the Caprice).

2) Alternatively, if it is to be RWD, then I would say GM will go with what I put in the previous post, a global RWD sedan, based on the Alpha platform (no way can I see GM coughing up for a another new RWD platform) which is used in the Cadillac ATS, 2014 CTS and the next model Camaro. Maybe the Alpha platform for the Camoro and this option will be "cheapened" compared with the Cadillacs, things like steel suspension pieces vs aluminium pieces in the Cadillacs.

But having said all that, I'm dubious about what exactly Devereux means by "the next Commodore" , I contend that this is just a mild facelift in 2016 and in 2018 Holden will build the Cruze and what seems increasingly likely, the Captiva (badged as Commodore?!).

Lets pray for Option 2.

Cheers, Matthew

[Ausmartin1]

There is two new cars to be built here in Australia and the important one is the Commodore, it'll most likely be a smaller version meaning a new platform so not just a jizz up. IMO

Good news factory goes on, unlike Ford, man there quality has not improved has it ?
- just today 3month old Falcon taking a heavy coolant wiz in the gutter, reminds me of all the leaks on my XF when it was new & come to think of when I was a kid my mates dad - New company Ford - same.
You would think after this many years Ford Australia would get there stuff together!

Guess too bad - go Holden as they are definitely more reliable considering seeing a new Falcon is getting hard these days and like today I just shake my head I mean what are the odds?

[Plenty]

It took everyone by surprise plenty. Even those in the know.

I'm not convinced it will be rear wheel drive or to what extent it will Aussie.

I really want and hope to be wrong.

I am surprised by the "New" Commodore part but i did wholeheartedly expect it to last until at least 2018, i think maybe they are relying on the small niche market they have in the US for large RWD sedans.

As for FWD vs RWD drive it's anyones guess? I personally believe that the Sigma II, although supposed to be Cadillac exclusive will be the underpinnings for the new Commodore. I suppose we'll just have to wait and see. Bring on the VF i hoping for a dramatic quality improvement.

[Jag530G]

I am surprised by the "New" Commodore part but i did wholeheartedly expect it to last until at least 2018, i think maybe they are relying on the small niche market they have in the US for large RWD sedans.

As for FWD vs RWD drive it's anyones guess? I personally believe that the Sigma II, although supposed to be Cadillac exclusive will be the underpinnings for the new Commodore. I suppose we'll just have to wait and see. Bring on the VF i hoping for a dramatic quality improvement.

Which Cadillac/s is Sigma II to be used in?