Photo: edited by autoevolution
Whereas the Ford FG X Falcon has no direct replacement in sight, the Holden Commodore will soldier on past the VF Series II. As per the head honcho of Holden, the good old Commodore is going to receive an all-new generation in 2018.
Here’s a statement from Mark Bernhard, the big kahuna at the General Motors-owned automaker: “[...] I’m especially excited about our next-generation Commodore hitting the racetrack in 2018. Australia can rest assured that our next-gen Commodore will live up to the iconic nameplate, on and off the track.” Piqued? So am I.
For starters, the adjacent release from Holden doesn’t mention anything about a V8 engine or rear-wheel-drive. What it does mention, though, is that the 2018 Holden Commodore will race in the Supercars Championship. And that is worrying me.
You see, the Supercars Championship will enact new rules for 2017 and beyond, regulations which specify the following: “Gen2 Supercars opens the sport to new engine and body configurations, alongside V8 engines,” as well as “the 2017 blueprint means the current V8 Supercars could be joined by turbo-charged six or four cylinder engines from 2017.” Yup, I am very disappointed as well.
As much as Mr. Bernhard tries to make us believe the next-gen Commodore will have its rear wheels propelled by a thumping great V8, that’s just PR talk. I’m sorry, Bernhard, but it just is.
The 2018 Holden Commodore will be nothing but a rebadged and 2017 Opel Insignia / 2018 Buick Regal. That, dear reader, is not a full-size sedan, nor is it RWD, nor does its engine bay have enough space to shoehorn a V8 in there.
In other words, don’t hold your breath for a Commodore that will live up to the iconic nameplate. It will be a good car, to be frank, but the Commodore name should’ve been shelved. On that note, Holden will shut down all of its manufacturing operations in Australia in 2017.
For starters, the adjacent release from Holden doesn’t mention anything about a V8 engine or rear-wheel-drive. What it does mention, though, is that the 2018 Holden Commodore will race in the Supercars Championship. And that is worrying me.
You see, the Supercars Championship will enact new rules for 2017 and beyond, regulations which specify the following: “Gen2 Supercars opens the sport to new engine and body configurations, alongside V8 engines,” as well as “the 2017 blueprint means the current V8 Supercars could be joined by turbo-charged six or four cylinder engines from 2017.” Yup, I am very disappointed as well.
As much as Mr. Bernhard tries to make us believe the next-gen Commodore will have its rear wheels propelled by a thumping great V8, that’s just PR talk. I’m sorry, Bernhard, but it just is.
The 2018 Holden Commodore will be nothing but a rebadged and 2017 Opel Insignia / 2018 Buick Regal. That, dear reader, is not a full-size sedan, nor is it RWD, nor does its engine bay have enough space to shoehorn a V8 in there.
In other words, don’t hold your breath for a Commodore that will live up to the iconic nameplate. It will be a good car, to be frank, but the Commodore name should’ve been shelved. On that note, Holden will shut down all of its manufacturing operations in Australia in 2017.
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