It was a foregone conclusion that when local manufacturing left Australia, that selling an imported product was going to face an uphill battle. Both Ford and Holden loyalists weren’t going to be too thrilled about losing their local identities. Holden, especially, hasn’t had a great time since the last of the V8, rear-drive Commodores were produced. Since the VF series ended production, the brand has found itself in one hell of a rut. Holden’s entire lineup is a mix-mash of GM products rebadged, such as Acadia and Equinox, Daewoo-sourced vehicles like the Barina and Spark, and Opel products, which are now sourced from the Peugeot catalog. So, to an Australian who has fond memories of Holden past, what do you choose: an American crossover, a Korean city car, or what is now a formerly GM, now French, sedan that is proudly wearing the nameplate of your former hero?
We’ve driven one of the new Opel Insignia-based cars that the ZB Commodore shares the platform with, the Buick Regal TourX. We found it perfectly competent and a wonderful alternative to a sport-utility vehicle, but we also found it to be…well…boring. It’s not a bad car, but there isn’t a damned thing to get excited over about it. And being blunt, I’m pretty sure that even in Regal GS trim, it’s not going to raise my pulse any. But the last time we had a Buick worth mentioning at all was the 1997-2004 Buick Regal GS, that came with at least 240 horsepower and enough front-tire melting capability that it made for a fun daily driver. Or, reach back to the Grand National or GSX for history’s sake. Now look at Holden’s history with the Commodore…Four generations, six and eight cylinders, including a flirtation with Nissan’s RB six cylinder, and both home-grown and American-sourced V8, plus the racing history. All gone, now on a rebadged Opel.
According to a story in whichcar.com.au, Holden has barely moved more than a couple thousand Commodores and Equinoxes and has requested that factories quit manufacturing them so they can knock down a glut of vehicles in the sales banks. But with very strong feelings against the Commodore and the Equinox tanking about as badly, it leaves us wondering if GM might consider revisiting the idea of an Australia-based project quickly, instead of just slapping an Australian nameplate onto a random in-house product.
Nah. GM will “ badge engineer” it to death see Saturn or Olds or Pontiac
Sad. Holden had some great cars.
Won’t happen. They’re more worried about China.
More stupid moves by the general. Should of rebadged a CTS and sold it as a Holden or here’s a novel idea,come out with a new RWD chassis to sell worldwide. I think its time for a managment change over there.
These new “Commodores” are the most nondescript vehicles currently on our Aussie roads.
They’re invisible. The only link to the Commodore nameplate is the tail lamps – “look, somebody put VF Commodore lights on a Kia!”.
In short, they look very unremarkable and are competing against a plethora of established FWD econoboxes.
The feeling of a large (normal) car with RWD is what made Commodore and Falcon.
Yes, they were too expensive to build locally at a competitive price, but maybe a global RWD platform, built in Asia if need be, would have saved what looks to be a doomed nameplate.
At least Ford had the foresight to bring in the Mustang. RWD, V8 option, distinctive and great looking. In fact, you can’t go for a drive without seeing one nowadays.
Your move Holden…