Final Holden Commodore special editions

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

'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.