Holden Special Vehicles Begins Making A Business Case For A Hot FWD-Based Commodore

[William Maley]

With Holden transitioning the big Commodore from rear-wheel to front-wheel drive, there have been questions as to what will happen to Holden Special Vehicles (HSV) - the factory approved tuner that has created some of the widest performance vehicles in Australia - when this switch happens. Speaking with GoAuto, HSV's marketing and product planning general manager Damon Paull said they plan to continue working with Holden and the next Commodore.

 

“We will certainly be looking to offer a Commodore-based product,” said Paull.

 

“Holden has come out and said they are going to call it Commodore, whatever they end up importing. We'll certainly work closely with them to see if we can build a business case, which we are 100 per cent confident we can, that fits performance, design and innovation and fulfils customer expectation.”

 

The next Commodore is expected to be a rebadged version of the next-generation Opel/Vauxhall Insignia and Buick Regal, and is expected to go on sale in 2018.

 

If HSV is able to make a case, then we would expect something along the lines of the current Insignia OPC/VXR: twin-turbo V6 paired with an all-wheel drive system.

 

Source: GoAuto

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[G. David Felt]

I honestly see people who have loved their HSV RWD Holden's being totally disappointed in FWD versions.

 

I have no problem with driving a FWD auto, but have yet to find a FWD only performance sedan to satisfy my performance desire. Make it AWD and you have a much better solution.

 

HSV - AWD Performance Sedans for Holden is a much better solution IMHO.

[aurora97]

After watching videos like this, how can anything live up to the Commodore platform from Holden?

http://www.motortrend.com/news/2016-chevrolet-ss-takes-e39-bmw-m5-ignition-wvideo/

[El Kabong]

I'm bitterly disappointed that GM was unwilling/unable to do an Alpha Commodore.

[ocnblu]

To GM and Holden on this point, and the whole damn "FWD Commodore" thing:  LOL

[daves87rs]

After watching videos like this, how can anything live up to the Commodore platform from Holden?

http://www.motortren...gnition-wvideo/

 

 

Yep....

[William Maley]

I honestly see people who have loved their HSV RWD Holden's being totally disappointed in FWD versions.

 

I have no problem with driving a FWD auto, but have yet to find a FWD only performance sedan to satisfy my performance desire. Make it AWD and you have a much better solution.

 

HSV - AWD Performance Sedans for Holden is a much better solution IMHO.

That's my thinking - An all-wheel drive variant with larger turbos for a six-cylinder.

Also, we need to keep in mind that there is the possibility of the Camaro going to Australia. Imagine what HSV could do to one of those...

[hyperv6]

Exactly William!

Here is the deal. The RWD Zeta has dropped in sales for how many years down under and the market is dominated by what? Trucks and Small FWD sedans.. Even the HSV models are far from a majority of the Holdens sold. Popular yes but not high in production as they once were. 

 

I too see a HSV with AWD and Audi like V6 Turbo. Based on Opel OPC products this could be a real performance car. 

 

Also I suspect that a updated Camaro will reach their shores with RHD also. 

As of now for anyone to dismiss this is like a blind man complaining about the color of a room. Lets see first what they do and if it fails on it's own before we condemn it. 

A wise opinion is an informed opinion. 

 

The land down under is making the Mazda 3 their best seller not the Commodore or Falcon anymore. This must be considered greatly. 

 

Here read this. The story is before they anounced the death of the Holden Zeta by a few years. 

 

http://www.caradvice.com.au/265449/large-car-sales-2013-holden-commodore-ford-falcon-fall-record-lows/

 

Here is the real problem. Commodore sales have been one in three of all Holden sales. That is a big chunk but the model has been dropping sales yearly for the last how many year. Holden needs to sort out their other models including the more popular small FWD models that Toyota, Hyundai and Mazda dominate the market with. Same with the small truck market. 

 

The truth is Holden is not failing because they are killing the Commodore but because they have not connected with their FWD models yet as the Commodore sales continue to drop. The Fact is RWD is no longer the Bread and Butter or should I say Vegemite.

 

If Holden fails it will be because of the small cars unable to compete with the other market leading small cars. To remain thinking the RWD car will lead them back to prosparity is a mistake. Again this is a car people want but it is not the car people are buying like they used to.

When some of you look at GM you must consider they need to build car people will buy not just want. 

We all would want a SS here but how many of us really bought one? 

 

At the end of the day the smaller cars are what people can afford to buy and drive and that is what pays the bills. GM needs two cars to compete with the Camry and Mazda 3 down under and if they do it will be what saves Holden not another large sedan that would be just add on sales.

 

There is also the fight of the old Korean Junk image they developed over the years that is no longer true. The move to Opel based products may here here but it is hard to shake.

 

Ford handled the loss of the Falcon much slower as they started earlier and it has been less damaging.  

 

The bottom line is that Holden would in time fail even if they kept the RWD sedan as the segment there is dying. They need to address the rest of the cars and image to compete with those of the other imports Nissan, Toyota, Honda, Hyundai and Mazda to find cars people will connect to like the Mazda 3.