GM’s Australian brand Holden has pulled the wraps of its latest Commodore range called the VFII series. Certain variants receive a more powerful engine coupled with a louder exhaust system while the entire range gets front and rear tweaks alongside a few other key updates.
Most notable is the new LS3 6.2 litre V8 engine in all V8 models replacing the 6.0 litre units. The LS3 makes 407 hp and 507 Nm of torque, which allows the big sedan to run from 0-100 km/h in 4.9 seconds. Underneath, it receives a bi-modal exhaust with a “Baillie Tip” and a mechanical sound enhancer to amplify its V8 soundtrack.
The VFII series starts off with the Commodore Evoke; it retains the 3.0 litre V6 that with 248 hp/290 Nm. The SV6’s 281 hp/350 Nm 3.6 litre V6 engine is also retained in this variant, although it receives a new face and grille, passive entry and start as well as 18-inch alloys.
The high performance V8-powered SS gets all the SV6 updates, but with an added option for performance brakes. The SSV variant also gets the brake option alongside a vented hood, 19-inch alloys and a colour heads-up display. The range-topping SSV Redline boasts a ventilated hood, rear Brembo brakes and 20-inch forged wheels as an option. Clear lens tail lamps for the Sedan and LED tail lamps for the Sportwagon.
Elsewhere, the luxury Calais variant is also powered by the current 3.6 litre V6 engine (as in the SV6) and comes with heated eight-way front seats with memory, 18-inch wheels and new decklid lettering. The Calais V receives the LS3 V8 engine, 19-inch alloy wheels and a limited slip differential as well as the performance brake option.
Rounding up the large Commodore family is the long-bodied Caprice V. The mega-sized Holden gets the new LS3 V8 alongside aesthetic updates which include a lip spoiler, 19-inch alloys, single exhaust tips and performance brakes as an option.
The latest VFII range was developed at Holden’s Lang Lang grounds and features a revised FE3 rear sports suspension setup which is said to have retained its sharp handling alongside better ride comfort.
After 37 years, the VFII series will be the last of the Australian-built Commodores. It will go on sale Down Under in October from $35,490 (RM109,085).
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110k? Man! For that money i can get a civic 1.8.
Wonder if the perdana 2.4 more expensive.
Perdana should be around 100k price point, hopefully. But my ‘firasat’ say otherwise :p
this Corvette-engined sedan (aka Vauxhall VXR8 in UK/Chevrolet SS in USA) is 5-series-sized car.
why the f@$* you want to buy smaller, slower car over this bigger/faster/awesome sports sedan?
at RM 110K, it’s a bargain. cheaper & bigger than the camry/accord, let alone 320i
The end of the Australian Holden. In future will import from Korea/China
Probably the end for the Holden V8s too
Sigh. Death of a homegrown icon thanks to open policy and globalisation. Proton would likely to face the same fate when AFTA comes into full effect.
Sigh. Death of an iconic homegrown brand. Thanks to open policy and globalisation. Proton would likely face the same fate too once AFTA comes into full effect.
Aussie cars are great. Aussie car market is great. Proton has little chance to compete down there because the ecosystem is not like in Malaysia. Suprima S both in Malaysia and Australia is at the same price, after conversion. But in Australia there are a lot more cars with same standard if not better to choose from.
There are no more aussie cars thats the point of having this last special edition. Dun just shoot without reading. And AFAIK Proton is concerned, now is a better chance to increase sales since theres less choice in the market.
It was not understated that commodore is designed for hoons. You can technically hear a 5-10 second burnout at the traffic light behind your house on every Friday night in OZ.
If another country/somebody can do better, why not. I will concentrate/improve on those things I do best. In the end it is not ‘death’ but good business-sense.
Not many Malaysians know this, but at one point in the 60s or 70s, Holden used to assemble cars in Malaysia, at the Ford Shah Alam plant. The plant is formally known as Associated Motor Industries Malaysia, AMI or AMIM in short… it assembled a whole assortment of cars, including Proton Saga Iswaras in the 90s when Proton ran out of capacity at their own plant (also in Shah Alam).
I don’t know exactly which models Holden assembled or sold here, but the 1970s Holden Kingswood is definitely one of them. It was distributed by Lyons Motors and Wearne Bros. Malaysia. I don’t think they sold very well, not because they were bad cars or anything, but mostly because most Malaysians at the time wanted reliable cars with low-running costs; in other words, Datsuns and Toyotas. The petrol-guzzling Holdens with their massive V8s didn’t catch on in Malaysia, nor in the rest of ASEAN either. But Holden did find success in America, and later the GCC Middle Eastern states, where they are rebadged as Chevrolets.
I don’t think Holden is a bad company, they don’t deserve to lose their local assembly operations. I think it’s more to do with changing consumer tastes. More and more people just want a cheap, reliable, stylish, safe and fuel efficient etc. car. But Holdens have always been about power, ruggedness, size etc., and it’s something they do very well. It’s just that fewer people want a Bulldog today, most just want a Golden Retriever, German Shepherd, Shih Tzu… or even a Chihuahua (Prius ?) lol
The Holden Kingswood HQ and Premier in Malaysia during the 70s were six cylinders (2.8-3 litres) with 3 speed manual or auto. I still remember them. As big as a boat, LOL. They were eventually replaced by the first Commodore in 1978 which was based on the Opel Rekord
The Kingswood has a 2.2 litre engine and the other model sold in Malaysia was Holden Statesman.
I had the chance to own one (secondhand) during my student days. I like the front bench seat. What a car!
no more hooning at woolies supermarket…