GM’s Australian arm Holden will resume exports of its big Series II Commodore saloon to Brazil, to be sold as the Chevrolet Omega in the South American country from November this year. This niche-volume program marks the return of Holden exports to Brazil which ran from 1998 with the VT-based Chevrolet Omega till 2008.
Holden will ship over 600 units of the Chevrolet Omega, which will be represented in Brazil by racing icon Emerson Fittipaldi. The special edition car will be called Omega Fittipaldi. Fittipaldi was the F1 champion in 1972 and 1974 with Lotus and McLaren, before switching to IndyCar racing in the US, where he won the Indianapolis 500 in 1989 and 1993 and the IndyCar drivers’ championship in 1989.
This year is the 40th anniversary of the Brazilian’s first F1 victory (Watkins Glen, USA on 4 October). Since retiring from racing he has become a strong advocate and an investor in ethanol production in Brazil. To sell in Brazil, a car needs to be flex fuel compliant, and the Omega will be powered by Holden’s locally-built 3.6 litre SIDI V6 engine initially capable of running on blends of up to 25 per cent ethanol.
Holden Chairman and MD Mike Devereux said this development is a step in the recovery process after the challenges of the financial crisis. “We’re really pleased to work with Chevrolet Brazil and to rebuild targeted export programs which add value to Holden’s domestic business. Holden’s Chevrolet Omega program for Brazil shows that niche export opportunities are beginning to emerge as we recover from the challenges of the global financial crisis.”
Full specs will be revealed in October at the 26th International São Paulo Auto Show, where the Omega Fittipaldi will make its public debut. More pics after the jump.
Danny Tan loves driving as much as he loves a certain herbal meat soup, and sweet engine music as much as drum beats. He has been in the auto industry since 2006, previously filling the pages of two motoring magazines before joining this website. Enjoys detailing the experience more than the technical details.
The car i difinitely buy one. owesome..
last time my family used to hv a HOLDEN Commodore … it was a British company….very big interior….with hang gear knob… now can’t find any of this car on the road anymore….onny those with modified Toyota o Nissan engine running around….
Holden was never a British company (although the founder came from England).
U got that right
why is there no article on the facelifted commodore?i think it came out few days ago.
why no article on the facelifted commodore??
Holden is an Australian company before GM bought it. The commodore series designed in Australia together with the Stateman and Caprice. Never made it to Malaysian shore except Holden Lumina or Chevrolet Lumina. The current Commodore family, Calais, Omega, Commodore SS and the HSV are being sold in the middle east too.
I hope Naza will bring these model into our market. Beautiful car indeed.
I do really hope too.Especially the SS or HSV version.Problem will be the road tax.Huge!!!
You guys who say these things in the comments above wouldn’t say it if petrol was RM 2.40 per litre….