Friday 20th January 2017

Final Holden Commodore special editions

2017 is the year Australian Holden production ceases, but they won't be going quietly...

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'Best of the best' is how Holden assertively describes its latest Commodore special editions, revealed alongside the latest V8 supercar in a swansong for the Aussie-built Holdens. The Motorsport (red one), Magnum (the ute) and Director (yes seriously, it's the grey one) have been built for Holden to honour "its local legacy whilst celebrating its future in Australian motorsport." Just making the point...

Just the one engine choice...

There will be 1,200 Motorsport Editions, 360 Directors and 240 Magnums. All are powered by the LS3 6.2-litre V8 and also include new, lighter brakes discs, 20-inch split rim wheels 'Holden badged' magnetic dampers for the saloon models and FE3 rear suspension for the ute.

We'll focus on the Motorsport Edition first, because it's arguably the most appealing. It celebrates over 460 victories in Australian Touring Cars/V8 Supercars and features a 'high rate rear subframe bush' to allow "confidence under maximum lateral and braking events", uprated engine and transmission cooling plus those wheels with high performance tyres. Looks the part too, with a new rear lip spoiler (or a wing, as on the white car), black roof and decals. The 1,200 buyers will also receive a commemorative presentation case and a 1:18 scale model. Swanky.

The Director is in tribute to the original Holden Racing Team Director Peter Brock, and is based on the Calais V saloon. On top of the mods already mentioned it gets bonnet vents, new upholstery and its own range of 'Director' badging. You want a V8 sedan called a Director, right?

The rarest of the three is the Magnum, a return of the Magnum ute first seen in 1983. The stickers and decals mark it out, plus you get a tonneau cover for the load bay and some fancier new seats.

All are available in Australia now; the Director ($63,990) is auto only, with the Motorsport Edition and Magnum launching at $61,790 and $59,290 respectively for the manual versions. Australians, get one while you still can!

More info on the special editions here.

[tomv1to]

I want that Ute!

[anonymous-user]

What will Holden (GM) sell in Australia instead of these?

[Shakermaker]

MonkeyMatt said:

What will Holden (GM) sell in Australia instead of these?

From what I understand, the new Commodore is the same as the new Insignia that we'll be getting over here.

No more RWD as far as we can tell.

[framerateuk]

Shakermaker said:

From what I understand, the new Commodore is the same as the new Insignia that we'll be getting over here.

No more RWD as far as we can tell.

Shame. The last Insignia was the more boring, uninspiring car I've ever driven.

[Hammerhead]

Shouldn't that grey one be called 'Powerfully Built Director'?

[Regiment]

Shakermaker said:

From what I understand, the new Commodore is the same as the new Insignia that we'll be getting over here.

No more RWD as far as we can tell.

Strange how Ford are pushing RHD V8 Mustangs now but GM Australia are stopping.

[308mate]

"Magnum" and "Director" were both names applied to HDT variants of Holden products in the 80s, when HDT was run by Peter Geoffrey Brock. Magnum was for the Statesman (flagship luxury saloon of the time) and Director was for the top of the range Commodore at the time when Peter thought that with some fettling, he could make a local product with similar standards of luxury, handling and performance to the european equivalents. Sadly the Director and the accompanying "Energy Polariser" spelled the end of the Holden/Brock relationship, after no right minded person could explain how the polariser worked or indeed, whether it made the blindest bit of difference. Holden subsequently washed their hands of Brock almost over night. So when Holden say they are "acknowledging their local legacy" what they actually mean is "cashing in on the legacy of the dead guy we hung out to dry in 1987". A pretty cynical marketing ploy in my book.

If you can find a genuine Director now, they're not cheap...

http://www.carsguide.com.au/cars-for-sale/D_403280...

Edited by 308mate on Friday 20th January 15:30

[Vroom101]

308mate said:

If you can find a genuine Director now, they're not cheap...

http://www.carsguide.com.au/cars-for-sale/D_403280...

That's an, er....... interesting looking car!

Out of the run-out models, the Ute would have to be my choice. Plenty of V8 saloons available from other manufacturers, but I can't think of one that makes a V8 pick-up

[Gun]

I've just spent a month driving a Commodore round Australia (the V6). It's a brave decision to stop making the V8 RWD version as you see them everywhere!

The current Commodore and Ford Falcon are great cars, would have been cool if they'd sold them in the UK.

[V88Dicky]

It is a genuine shame.

I loved Monaro ownership for 10 years, they really get under your skin

[ZX10R NIN]

It is a true shame the Falcon & Commodore are no longer.

[fred bloggs]

Oh. If this means my 99' HSV starts going up in value,ill have to get rid.

[Kawasicki]

sad to see the end of these, they are a lot of fun to drive

[paralla]

MonkeyMatt said:

What will Holden (GM) sell in Australia instead of these?

They are going to market a localised version of the Insignia, weather they sell any or not remains to be seen.

[Jimmy Recard]

Gun said:

I've just spent a month driving a Commodore round Australia (the V6). It's a brave decision to stop making the V8 RWD version as you see them everywhere!

The current Commodore and Ford Falcon are great cars, would have been cool if they'd sold them in the UK.

The Commodore was sold in the UK as the Vauxhall VXR8 (admittedly not the more basic versions)

Hardly anyone bought one!

[Jimmy Recard]

Regiment said:

Strange how Ford are pushing RHD V8 Mustangs now but GM Australia are stopping.

Ford has already stopped producing models designed for Australia. GM was the only one left. Sad that that too is to end.

If the Insignia Commodore doesn't do too well there, it'll be interesting to see what the solution is. I would've thought that sharing a platform with the Cadillac CTS or XTS would've been more suitable

[HappyMidget]

Jimmy Recard said:

The Commodore was sold in the UK as the Vauxhall VXR8 (admittedly not the more basic versions)

Hardly anyone bought one!

You can still get them. About 50 or so of the current Gen-f GTS in the UK. Make a bloody good daily commuter. Mine is about to clock over 30k miles since I get it 2 years ago

[Fox-]

Gun said:

I've just spent a month driving a Commodore round Australia (the V6). It's a brave decision to stop making the V8 RWD version as you see them everywhere!

The current Commodore and Ford Falcon are great cars, would have been cool if they'd sold them in the UK.

This is such a shame as the ability to rent a Commodore SV6 or a Falcon XR6 is the best Aussie rental choice. What will replace them in the rental market as frankly crossing the Outback in a Toyota Corolla doesn't have the same sort of draw and the big premium cars are too expensive for rental firms over there.

So what will become the 'Premium' rental choice now? When does the Falcon stop?

[ZX10R NIN]

I do like the Mondeo that the US and Aus are getting as in the 2.7 twin turbo 325bhp 350lbft version isn't bad although it's no Falcon it sounds like a good car.

[dvs_dave]

Fox- said:

This is such a shame as the ability to rent a Commodore SV6 or a Falcon XR6 is the best Aussie rental choice. What will replace them in the rental market as frankly crossing the Outback in a Toyota Corolla doesn't have the same sort of draw and the big premium cars are too expensive for rental firms over there.

So what will become the 'Premium' rental choice now? When does the Falcon stop?

The Toyota Aurion (aka Camry) seems to be what's replacing them, or Snorion as I dubbed the one we had as a rental as Avis had no Commodores or Falcons.