Filed under: Sedans/Saloons, Etc., Plants/Manufacturing, GM
Holden putting the Commodore on a diet
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Recently announced as the next Pontiac G8, Holden says that the Commodore model is in need of a diet.
According to Holden chairman and executive director Denny Mooney, the Commodore doesn't need to get any smaller and is sized appropriately for both the Australian and American markets. It could, however lose a few pounds, as the large-car segment leader in Australia has gained over 1000 lbs. since the original Commodore in 1978; nearly 220 of them added in the most recent generation alone. It has also gained in nearly every other dimension as well, adding 19cm in length, 18cm in width and 10cm in height. The current 3.6 liter V6 is also a huge increase in grunt over the 2.8 liter unit used in the first Commodore, producing a whopping 181% more power.
We hope that the current version of the Commodore comes to us here in the US as close to the current car as can be, maybe with some Lutz magic under the hood. The American car market could use an injection of some full-size fun again...how about an LS7 with a manual transmission option? Who says we can't deal with a little extra poundage?
[Source: drive.com.au]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
felonious monk 6:17PM (1/17/2007)
Use more aluminum and composites, stupid.
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Edmond Dantes 7:08PM (1/17/2007)
I'd rather drive the Commodore then a Chevy Impala or Pontiax Grand Prix.
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Craig 7:48PM (1/17/2007)
I hope they don't compromise the structural integrity just to save a bit of weight. I put 1500km on a rental Commodore during a recent holiday in Tasmania and liked it a lot. I normally drive only European cars, and was very impressed by the excellent handling and immense body stiffness of the Commodore. Fit and finish was very good too; not to VW standard, but not that far off. The whole car has a German feel to it. The ambience of the design; interior, mouldings, glass finishing, etc., looks VW inspired, but it drives and handles just like a BMW. Got 10.8l/100km after a good thrashing too, so weight isn't too much of a problem.
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Atul 8:04PM (1/17/2007)
There are many vehicles with much worse weight problems than this one. Land Rovers weigh 6,000 lbs, Jettas weigh 3,400 lbs, and this Holden weighs 3,740 lbs (based on 2,200 lbs per metric ton).
Atul
http://www.realitydriven.com
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proud like cow 8:06PM (1/17/2007)
lighter weight is needed for milage numbers as much as performance targets.
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Andy 8:24PM (1/17/2007)
At first I objected to the cries of enthusiasts calling for GM to make Pontiac the American branch for Holdens. I liked the Monaro/GTO, but felt its plain-Jane looks (its No. 1 reason for failure and a Holden trademark) were not where Pontiac needed to go. My attitude has changed a bit, becoming more appreciative of Holdens--except in the weight category.
The 2004 GTO weighed in at around 3,700 lbs. This is a growing trend in the auto industry. The 2007 GT500 hits the scales at 3,900 lbs. If automakers were willing to add more money into lighter materials, this would help the market appeal for these products. On a good note, the 2006 Corvette weighs around 3,200 lbs. with a 6.0 L 400 hp V-8. That is a big difference from the 1976 Corvette Stingray that came with a standard 5.7 L V-8 making 180 hp and weighing above 3,500 lbs.
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Drew 8:56PM (1/17/2007)
Hmmm...unless I totally suck at math, the mileage of the Holden Commodore is approx 11L/100 km or about 21 mpg...if this is truly its mileage in mixed driving I think it should be just adequate for today's buying climate. BUT if the mileage of this thing is in the teens - this will tank just as fast as the DC 300/Charger clones
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Sam 9:38PM (1/17/2007)
Wow, you guys had me scared with the comparison to VW. I was ready to ask;
Does it fall apart as quickly as a Jetta?
and
Is it really that much of a girl car?
But we dodged that bullet!
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Gerry 11:33PM (1/17/2007)
Meh. I'll pass. The G6 is okay, the G5 is nothing more than a Cobalt in Pontiac drag, and the G8 is another dull sedan.
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Mike G 1:36AM (1/18/2007)
How uberlame - a fat heavy gas sucking lump of metal for idling in heavy traffic - boy, these geniuses really know what people want. Not.
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Roberto 1:47AM (1/18/2007)
GM bring it over please. We need more affordable RWD sedans in the US/Canadian market.Not everbody can afford a BMW,Benz or even Caddy CTS.
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mr.ed 11:23AM (1/18/2007)
181% more power=281%. 181% of the power=181%. Common mistake of those who slept through math in 3rd through 12th grade. Very common with tv newsreaders, who slept through life to keep those laugh lines from showing under the lights.
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DC_1 11:56AM (1/18/2007)
Leave it nice and fluffy
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BOB 2:26PM (1/18/2007)
TALK, TALK, TALK, GM!
WHERE ARE SOME FINISHED CARS??
I wonder if there will be much interest left in the Camaro and G8 by the time they are in showrooms. Are we supposed to hold off til then?
_____Anyone remember the commercial, "Gee, I coulda had a V-8!" -- and isnt the G8 some kind of world summit meeting?-- I am not too crazy about killing the American names that might still have life, in favor of the imitation Euro/Jappo thing. I also think it takes a long time to get the consumer used to telling the difference between G4, G6, G8: there was a 3-series BMW for years before there were 5s and 7s.
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I_Hate_China_2 5:00PM (10/24/2007)
"and isnt the G8 some kind of world summit meeting?"
Yes it is, and the far-left scumbags use it as an excuse to riot. Except when it was held in Russia. Hmm... wonder why? Bunch of losers. I'd happily drive a car named after some summit they hate, although I won't leave it parked in the vicinity of said meeting!
"there was a 3-series BMW for years before there were 5s and 7s."
In fact the 5-series was launched in 1972, the 3 about five years later.
Motorman 5:43PM (1/18/2007)
OK, BRING IT OVER, JUST DON'T LET LUTZ AND COMPANY PUT THAT BUTT UGLY PONTIAC NOISE ON IT AND RUIN IT LIKE THEY DID THE GTO !!!
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JMS 6:51PM (1/18/2007)
I love full-size, RWD, American sedans. If anyone thinks this Aussie sedan will actually be "affordable" then they are on crack. It'll be priced out in limbo like the recent GTO was if not more. GM had some great, affordable. truly American RWD sedans, with the added durability and safety of B-O-F construction and priced right to boot in the B-body platform, i.e. Impala SS, til it's unnecessary demise in the mid-1990's for a few more SUVs.
If I want an Australian sedan, I'll go to there and buy one. Sad thing is, this sedan is still more exciting than the current wrong wheel drive Accord look-a-like they are calling a Impala.
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SomeBlondeGuy 5:47PM (2/08/2007)
That car looks like a rip-off of the last generation BMW 3-Series. (The rear doors and fender gils, especially).
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karl 3:33AM (2/21/2007)
The commodore weighs A LITTLE more than its direct competition(in
australia) the ford falcon,but its bigger,roomier safer and has a
much stiffer chassis. But I must say, I liked it better when I could
say the commodore was the lighter, more enviro-friendly car.
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