What's next for Holden in Australia?

The recent announcement from General Motors that its European arm, Opel and Vauxhall, are to be sold to PSA Group (manufacturers of Peugeot and Citroën) has set the tongues wagging and clouded Holden’s future model line-up plans. Many of their current models, such as the Astra and new Commodore, are Opel sourced. However, they remain committed to our market and their target of introducing 24 new models by 2020.

By the end of the year, we will see the launch of the new Equinox SUV, followed in early 2018 by the new Commodore (pictured above), which includes the flagship all-wheel-drive VXR. Later in 2018, the Acadia SUV will go on sale. Both the Equinox and Acadia will be sourced from North America.

The all-new Commodore, based on the German Opel Insignia, will be front-wheel-drive and, of course, imported, which are two big hurdles to overcome for a car that has traded on patriotism and being rear-wheel-drive. Nor will there be a V8 option; the soon-to-be-released flagship VXR with a 230kW/381Nm V6 will be all-wheel-drive and have a nine-speed automatic. Continuous damping control, three driver settings and 20-inch alloys are sure to reflect the previous generation’s sporty on-road heritage.

Sedan, hatch and wagon body styles will also be available, and the new models will be full of innovation and technology. As one Holden insider put it: “The new model will we be under a lot of scrutiny and we know we have a lot to live up to.” As a result, you can expect to see adaptive LED matrix headlamps, large configurable LCD instrument displays and a head-up display. Driver assistance technology will include autonomous emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, speed limit cruise control, lane departure warning, lane keeping assistance, forward collision alert, side blind-zone alert and rear cross-traffic alert.

It will also likely be the most comfortable Commodore ever, with massage seats, rear one-touch folding seats, heated front and rear seats, ventilated front seats, express up/down on all windows, a power-lift gate for the wagon, and active noise cancellation. It’s hoped this will all be enough to win over Aussie buyers, lamenting the loss of their local icon.

Will you be purchasing the new Commodore?