Breaking news: Next-gen Holden Commodore is go

DJR David · 08-02-2013, 04:42 PM

http://www.goauto.com.au/mellor/mell...257B0C00170587

Holden chief confirms Australia will build the 2017 ‘VJ’ Commodore
8 February 2013
By BYRON MATHIOUDAKIS
HOLDEN has confirmed that the design and development of the next-generation Commodore has commenced in Australia for release late in 2016.

A complete model change from the upcoming, VE-Commodore derived VF, the ‘VJ’ will be built alongside the future Cruze and its spin-offs at the Elizabeth plant in Adelaide.

Dropping a bombshell at the media design unveiling of the VF Commodore SS V and Calais V at Holden’s Fishermans Bend headquarters in Melbourne today, managing director and CEO Mike Devereux said it is now time to end speculation, conjecture and debate about the future of the large car in Australia.

While he would not reveal any details about the platform or engineering of the next Commodore – including whether it will switch to front-wheel or all-wheel drive – Mr Devereux said that there was never any doubt or debate about the future of the series.

GoAuto has also learned that design mock-ups have already been made for several proposals, with one senior Holden member confirming that the styling process is well under way.

However, Mr Devereux would not divulge whether the long speculated compact SUV would be built alongside the next-generation Cruze due in 2014.

Further details of the ‘VJ’ Commodore will be released closer to the car’s release in late 2016. “In the immortal words of the late Steve Jobs, a lot of folks have been speculating about whether this is the last Commodore,” Mr Devereux said.

“Well, I can categorically tell you that we have already begun working on the Commodore that comes after this one.

“The interesting thing about the fascination of the Commodore name – and frankly it’s the reason why I wanted to lay that down today to end any speculation – is that people love this nameplate, and that we are going to have another one of these.

From top: GM Holden chairman and managing director Mike Devereux; Holden Commodore VF prototype; Holden Commdore VE Series II.

“Right now we haven’t even launched and haven’t even started building the one we call VF, so we’ll leave all that speculation for years from now.”

Mr Devereux also made it clear that he was talking about a next-generation and all-new car rather than just a facelift.

“Absolutely,” he said when GoAuto asked him that question. “Not at all (is it just a facelift).

“General Motors has started working on it, the team here is obviously involved in that, as we are involved in all sorts of different things.”

Mr Devereux refused to elaborate on whether the ‘VJ’ will be on a different architecture to the 2006 VE-based Zeta platform that is also underpinning the VF.

“The (VF) will run to the end of 2016, and after that time we will be putting two global architectures into the plant, and one of them will underpin the next Commodore … the Commodore that replaces the VF.

“We’re going to build a new Commodore coming after this one, we’re going to build it in Adelaide on a fantastic architecture, and you will have to wait about three years to find out what that is.

“We will launch another Commodore after this one … and I will say no more of it.”

Asked if Holden expects the next-generation Commodore’s sales to return to the halcyon days of previous models, Mr Devereux said that the world is a very different place nowadays.

“I think the time of any one vehicle of any nameplate from any company to sell one-tenth of all the cars sold in any country is an illogical assumption to make,” he said.

“I mean, what was the best-selling car of last year selling … 45,000 units? If you think about it – and this is what frustrates me – if you take a look at 10 years ago compared to now as far as car sales are concerned,

“The days of one car sold by anybody to account for one-tenth of all sales in a country – it doesn’t happen anywhere on the planet. And that’s got nothing to do with Commodore – that’s human tastes, that’s fragmentation of markets … the job of each car in a portfolio has to do is very different to where those vehicles were at 10 years ago. You got small, medium and large size SUVs; you got utes that are more car-like and frankly family cars.”

Finally, Mr Devereux added that there was no discussion within Holden as to whether the Commodore should live on beyond 2016.

“We had absolutely no debates over it … zero debates about it.”

The ‘VJ’ codename, by the way, has not been confirmed by Holden, but is speculated to be the next in line after VF, since the VG was the first Commodore ute of 1990, while the VH was launched in 1981.

DJR David · 08-02-2013, 04:42 PM

Lets hope that Ford make a similar announcement......

Frayin · 08-02-2013, 04:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DJR David

Lets hope that Ford make a similar announcement......

I personally like where ford is atm from the low key alloy non flashy wheels stock to the sleek decals lol.

But for 2016-17 I agree with you a complete model change would be normal. Ba to bf was no change IMO so hopefully it will be a bf to fg type change.

Road_Warrior · 08-02-2013, 04:52 PM

Dowlface is tipping it will be a bumdragger. Possibly the Malibu.

Frayin · 08-02-2013, 04:56 PM

Right now my imagination is showing me holden chief yelling as his engineers saying " if doc brown can make a dolorian travel in time we can make this commodore do it!!!!"

Lol....

Frayin · 08-02-2013, 04:58 PM

Or do you think he's xpecting the 'VF' to fly. Haha anyways fpv aka ford now will have bigger and greater things I'm sure.

fou_bleu · 08-02-2013, 04:59 PM

Methinks this news news is imperative to Ford's planning for the next Falcon / replacement. At least there'll be the need for Australian jobs with the Commodore & Cruze.

BroadyFord · 08-02-2013, 05:00 PM

One question: can you put a V6 in a front-wheel-drive? If yes, then that may provide some hope to the 300 or so workers at GMH's Port Melbourne plant.

**Dave R** · 08-02-2013, 05:10 PM

Suck it Dowling.

**PridenJoy** · 08-02-2013, 05:16 PM

He didn't say if they will keep making RWD V8 Commodores did he, HSV will have a problem I think...

pmacc · 08-02-2013, 05:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PridenJoy

He didn't say if they will keep making RWD V8 Commodores did he, HSV will have a problem I think...

if the new platform allows for awd then they could do ok

R-Design · 08-02-2013, 05:56 PM

Geez that's Fantastic, nothing like the 'its to early to commit' BS we get from Ford. That's was instills consumer confidence in your product (regardless of what the real truth may be). Sounds like the VF is going to be a corker, good luck to them, they've got a new fan here.

AndyXR6T · 08-02-2013, 06:14 PM

I can't keep up with this crap.... So holden ARE making more commodores now? What's fords plan this week??

Joe5619 · 08-02-2013, 06:20 PM

Good on Hoden for saying something. Not only are they committed to manfacturing in Australia, they have already gotten government money & have now said Commodore is here to staying...

What has Ford done or said?? NOTHING!!

Work at Holden as already began for a car due after the Falcon in 2017. Yet Ford know nothing about what is happening post 2016???

graham7773 · 08-02-2013, 06:38 PM

BroadyFord, there several front wheel drive V6's being sold in Aus. For the most part Toyotas, Mazdas, Fiats and others, (not a complete list) so yes front wheel drive V6's are going ok. Even my AX Ford Telstar had a V6 model.

BHDOGS · 08-02-2013, 06:39 PM

holdens making a new commodore they never said they wernt but it will be different and the ute will be disappearing my sources say a new suv built of cruise is in the pipe work to.

flappist · 08-02-2013, 06:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Joe5619

Good on Hoden for saying something. Not only are they committed to manfacturing in Australia, they have already gotten government money & have now said Commodore is here to staying...

What has Ford done or said?? NOTHING!!

Work at Holden as already began for a car due after the Falcon in 2017. Yet Ford know nothing about what is happening post 2016???

Maybe Ford know EXACTLY what they will be doing in 2017 and just don't want to tell self appointed "motoring experts" who will just go off like a pork chop in the sun complaining about anything and everything and regardless of what happens in 2017 will not buy a new car anyway.......

Dr Smith · 08-02-2013, 06:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Joe5619

Good on Hoden for saying something. Not only are they committed to manfacturing in Australia, they have already gotten government money & have now said Commodore is here to staying...

What has Ford done or said?? NOTHING!!

Work at Holden as already began for a car due after the Falcon in 2017. Yet Ford know nothing about what is happening post 2016???

All Holden have said is that the next Commodore badge will be stuck to a global design...most likely just what Ford will do except they are not in the same model cycle. The GM global design comes out earlier which is why Holden have started some work on it. Plus Holden have Fed gov. funding received solely on those future plans and so had to make them far earlier. I expect 2014 Falcon drip feeding to start just as VF is about to be released.

R-Design · 08-02-2013, 07:10 PM

Holden have said they're committed to making the Commodore beyond 2016, that's all they need to say to keep the faithful happy. People will continue to buy your product if they see it has a future, not If it's on life support. It's the best possible start they could have given the VF. We can only hope Ford do something similar soon.

au2000 · 08-02-2013, 08:09 PM

in the age they have said that the "next commodoe" will be on a global platform & most prob be downsized.. they are predicting the malibu with a commodore badge.. time will tell i guess but if it goes that way it will only be a commodore in name not spirit.

Joe5619 · 08-02-2013, 08:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by flappist

Maybe Ford know EXACTLY what they will be doing in 2017 and just don't want to tell self appointed "motoring experts" who will just go off like a pork chop in the sun complaining about anything and everything and regardless of what happens in 2017 will not buy a new car anyway.......

1) Saying nothing is killing brand "Falcon”. The brand Falcon is close to worthless at the moment. Holden have pretty much told us jack, other than "there will be a new Commodore coming". There is no details at all, but stops the rumors & creates positive stories. Just take one look around the web tonight for all the feel good stories about Commodore right now. And just wait for the anti Ford media to have a field day with this.
2) I own a brand new FG X6T. I plan to update to a new Falcon (if there is one) in 2017. So don’t give me crap about not buying a new Falcon!

Windsor220 · 08-02-2013, 08:17 PM

Be interesting to see what they put the name to. Wasn't long ago they were saying buyers had moved on from the large car market and they would most likely make something else. What happens if the VF doesn't recover sales?

Or maybe they are expecting Falcon to disappear come 2016 so they have the market to itself.

mik · 08-02-2013, 08:30 PM

maybe the next commodore will have a 4 cylinder option as well?

Bossxr8 · 08-02-2013, 08:38 PM

The silence from Ford will be deafening.

Maybe Holden think with the Falcon out of the way they will be able to increase sales. But will it be a real Commodore or some lame FWD piece of poo that will be an insult to the badge?

SSVPom · 08-02-2013, 08:49 PM

Even if it is based on an overseas platform, who cares ??? It's going to be built here and will therefore undoubtedly keep a thousand or so automotive industry workers employed by Holden in Australia.

Great news !

LeadFoot81 · 08-02-2013, 09:29 PM

So Holden say there will be a Commodore post 2016 (that will most probably be based on a FWD platform) and their suddenly saints?

If Ford did the same thing most of AFF would lose their s***!!

What gives?

This is just a smoke screen...damage control, to try and get as many VF sales as possible.

R-Design · 08-02-2013, 09:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LeadFoot81

So Holden say there will be a Commodore post 2016 (that will most probably be based on a FWD platform) and their suddenly saints?

If Ford did the same thing most of AFF would lose their s***!!

What gives?

This is just a smoke screen...damage control, to try and get as many VF sales as possible.

I for one wouldn't complain if Ford announced they would continue to manufacture vehicles in Australia post 2016 regardless of what they're producing. I think you've got that wrong.

DanielXR8 · 08-02-2013, 10:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by flappist

Maybe Ford know EXACTLY what they will be doing in 2017 and just don't want to tell self appointed "motoring experts" who will just go off like a pork chop in the sun complaining about anything and everything and regardless of what happens in 2017 will not buy a new car anyway.......

Umm ok. So better to let the media as a whole just go wild with speculation about Fords manufacturing future, because a one line press release that says *yes we will be manufacturing in Australia post 2016" is apparently more provocative and harmful to the brand.

I think the Holden GM summed it up well "CEO Mike Devereux said it is now time to end speculation, conjecture and debate about the future of the large car in Australia".

Its also time for Ford to do the same thing.

DanielXR8 · 08-02-2013, 10:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LeadFoot81

So Holden say there will be a Commodore post 2016 (that will most probably be based on a FWD platform) and their suddenly saints?

If Ford did the same thing most of AFF would lose their s***!!

What gives?

This is just a smoke screen...damage control, to try and get as many VF sales as possible.

My guess is they got the commitment out of the Liberals they have been angling for lately. That was enough to green light the project and for the CEO to get on top of the "Commodore is dead" stories that will and do hurt the brand.

DanielXR8 · 08-02-2013, 10:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by au2000

in the age they have said that the "next commodoe" will be on a global platform & most prob be downsized.. they are predicting the malibu with a commodore badge.. time will tell i guess but if it goes that way it will only be a commodore in name not spirit.

The current Malibu has tanked in the US. They have even stopped production for a couple of weeks to stop the oversupply.

We know Holden (and Ford Aust) are good at engineering, good at producing something at a fraction of the budget of the US teams and delivering it earlier. Maybe Holden have been briefed with making a new better Malibu/Torana and to get the development underway ASAP as the current gen isn't cutting it. if they started now, 2017 isn't unrealistic for Holden.

Whatever it is, it will keep Australians in a job and keep some of our manufacturing industry going. It is a good news story.