2018 SS (VXR) Commodore (slower than an Aurion...)

[MITCHAY]

I don't get the logic. They drop the SS badge but not the Commodore name. This is not and never will be a Commodore replacement despite maybe being a decent car.

I suspect we are seeing Holden about to enter the death throes because they will lose a lot of volume in sales.

[MethodX]

Originally Posted by muzman

im sure it will be superior in all ways than the legendary name thats been around since 1964 and made countless performance models

And a few clunkers too... You are only as good as your latest model.

Cant rely on history to always pull customers in.

[Express]

Originally Posted by mike_nofx

That's what I think. Why are they calling it an SS replacement? SS means it's a V8, there is no such thing as an SS 6. So at best it's an SV6 replacement.

Back in ’76 to ’78 the LX Torana SS Hatchback was available with a 3.3 litre 6 cylinder as well as the 253 and 308 V8’s.



.

[jpblue1000]

Dont know what all the fuss about volume sales is. The australian built commodore wasn't selling in volumes, thats why production and sales were stopped. The new commodore will be bought in consignment numbers and no pressure to bolster a loss making manufacturing arm.
Holdens strategy is to sell a few of lots of different models they don't loose money on, what with their 24 new models this month or whatever marketing guff they espouse this week.
Eggs in many baskets.
This new commodore will be a good family lugger. Worthy of the commodore name. It just wont have a V8.
JP

[PooDog]

Originally Posted by MethodX

And a few clunkers too... You are only as good as your latest model.

Cant rely on history to always pull customers in.

And so will be the case with this ...even more so

[Ben73]

Originally Posted by chevypower

When I was about 18 or 19, I was driving my dads HSV Grange and got beaten by a Magna 3.5 lol. We were conditioned to think Fords and GMs were so good! Haha.

3.5 Magna's are not that bad. Had one as my first car and it stood up well when put side by side other other V6's.
Good car if you keep a bottle of engine oil handy

[Sioso]

I never liked the look of this thing and after seeing this it is even worse than I thought, it just looks flat out boring........How good we used to have it!
https://www.carsales.com.au/editoria...e-road-109886/



SPY PICS: Caught! New Commodore on the road
Holden’s new hope out and about months before launch

Undisguised examples of Holden’s new ZB Commodore are now appearing on Australian roads, more than two months before launch.

motoring.com.au spotted this Calais on the Monash Freeway in Melbourne today and last week saw three undisguised ZBs in the city’s south-eastern suburbs.
The new Opel Insignia-based Commodore is the first imported example of the breed, after four generations and 39 years of local production.

Production of the last local Commodores ceased in October.

But while that car was a rear-wheel drive V6 and V8, the ZB will come with a choice of front- and all-wheel drive and four-cylinder and V6 engines when it launches in February.

It will be available in liftback, wagon and crossover (but not ute) body styles, with entry-level, Calais and VXR trim levels, and with front-wheel drive 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol and diesel, and all-wheel drive 3.6-litre V6 powertrains.

But how long the ZB will be on-sale in Australia is now a huge question mark now that new Opel/Vauxhall owner, the French PSA Group, has revealed it is accelerating the Insignia’s transition away from its General Motors architecture to its own EMP2 platform.

The ZB Commodore made its public debut at Motorclassica in October and has been driven and reviewed by Australian motoring media in prototype and pre-production form.

[malazn mafia]

Poor Commodore, it's like living life as a quadriplegic in a wheelchair. Thinking back , maybe being dead and buried was the better outcome for Falcon than living on as Mondeo or Taurus rebadged as a Falcon .

[malazn mafia]

Originally Posted by mike_nofx

I stand corrected. I had to google this! Seems very few VP SS V6's were made, less than 10 possibly. And the VT SS V6 was estimated at around 250.

Seems silly to me, they both should have been S models. It's like selling a Falcon I6T as an XR8.

And there was also an Ford Falcon EB SS. Yes, SS not S.

[Polyal]

Well the VF2 was IMO pretty much the best looking modern commodore so it was going to be tough.

I can see fleets going to 2.0

[Bossxr8]

Looks horrid.

[malazn mafia]

Originally Posted by Polyal

Well the VF2 was IMO pretty much the best looking modern commodore so it was going to be tough.

I can see fleets going to 2.0

VF2 was the closest the lame lion ever got to emulating the Falcon ergonomics, interior design, refinement and driving experience, it will be missed. It was as much of a makeover to the lousy VE, as the BA was to the AU.

[Syndrome]

We are no longer the lucky country..................

[Mechan1k]

Originally Posted by Bossxr8

Looks horrid.

Nearly as bad as the 90's Taurus that FoNA tried to dump on us unsuccessfully.

[vztrt]

Originally Posted by Mechan1k

Nearly as bad as the 90's Taurus that FoNA tried to dump on us unsuccessfully.

That car was great. Made sure to give us falcons for many years.

[Mechan1k]

Originally Posted by vztrt

That car was great. Made sure to give us falcons for many years.

So true .... it was EF/EL Fairmont GHIA ... or a Taurus GHIA.
Now that was a hard decision ... NOT.

One of the many Ford failures ... lets shove this down the customer's throat and they will just accept it. Hahahha

[Ryan]

It’s a nice looking car. Just not like the Commodores I’ve grown up with and loved. It looks great in Supercars kit, but on the road I’d mistake it for about 90% of what other manufacturers make.

[arronm]

I never thought I would see an uglier grill than the FG-X. I was wrong...

[arronm]

Originally Posted by malazn mafia

VF2 was the closest the lame lion ever got to emulating the Falcon ergonomics, interior design, refinement and driving experience, it will be missed. It was as much of a makeover to the lousy VE, as the BA was to the AU.

You obviously havnt driven both back to back. Last falcon was a dinosaur.

[PooDog]

Originally Posted by arronm

You obviously havnt driven both back to back. Last falcon was a dinosaur.

No tech crap

And the best running gear , Miami,Barra turbo, TR6060, ZF

[Lukeyson]

Out at Bathurst last month, the guy in the cabin next to us worked for Holden and had a new commo wagon. My brother and i were not sure if it was a new mazda 6 wagon or not, but the covered badges gave a hint until we had a chat to the bloke.
Under inspiring looking thats for sure, old mate was raving about the economy

[mike_nofx]

Yes I’ve now stood correct multiple times that SS 6 cylinders exist.

Personally though I feel this is wrong and it’s insulting to the second S to be missing 2 cylinders!

[DJM83]

Originally Posted by malazn mafia

VF2 was the closest the lame lion ever got to emulating the Falcon ergonomics, interior design, refinement and driving experience, it will be missed. It was as much of a makeover to the lousy VE, as the BA was to the AU.

I reckon the VF interior is light years ahead of FGX. Not even in the same league.
Never driven either though.

[Wretched]

Originally Posted by malazn mafia

VF2 was the closest the lame lion ever got to emulating the Falcon ergonomics, interior design, refinement and driving experience, it will be missed. It was as much of a makeover to the lousy VE, as the BA was to the AU.

get your hand off it.

As for the car itself, will wait until released for final opinion. Bit disappointing, very generic and bland thus far.
Further complication around Opel ownership and viability of the car and supply.

[Bossxr8]

Originally Posted by Mechan1k

Nearly as bad as the 90's Taurus that FoNA tried to dump on us unsuccessfully.

It does have that terrible droopiness to it, front and back. The low snout looks shocking.

[BENT_8]

Originally Posted by Ryan

It’s a nice looking car. Just not like the Commodores I’ve grown up with and loved. It looks great in Supercars kit, but on the road I’d mistake it for about 90% of what other manufacturers make.

To be fair, the first iteration of the Commodore was polarising coming from a Kingswood perspective and it found its place.
Having said that, I'm not sure that being unique necessarily wins votes either, not when you consider how the AU was received at the time.

[BENT_8]

Originally Posted by mike_nofx

Yes I’ve now stood correct multiple times that SS 6 cylinders exist.

Personally though I feel this is wrong and it’s insulting to the second S to be missing 2 cylinders!

I was always of the impression that SS on Australian cars simply referred to Sports Sedan, I don't think the engine size or configuration mattered.
The first SS was Holden's answer to the GS Falcon, for those who wanted sporty without the performance factor.

[Mechan1k]

Originally Posted by Lukeyson

Out at Bathurst last month, the guy in the cabin next to us worked for Holden and had a new commo wagon. My brother and i were not sure if it was a new mazda 6 wagon or not, but the covered badges gave a hint until we had a chat to the bloke.
Under inspiring looking thats for sure, old mate was raving about the economy

Be interesting to see what it comes in at for economy and then do a comparison. I know I can get decent economy out of my FG that any of the last gen Commodores could never do.

[jpblue1000]

surely thats a mazda 6!
:-)
JP

[Mechan1k]

Originally Posted by jpblue1000

surely thats a mazda 6!
:-)
JP

No way .... a Mazda 6 is a LOT better looking than that thing.