General Motors Company’s [NYSE:GM] Australian division Holden has confirmed that a “next-generation large car” will arrive in Holden showrooms in 2018 wearing the brand’s storied Commodore nameplate. This will be the first imported Commodore in the nameplate’s four-decade history, with the decision to keep the name made after close to 70 percent of potential buyers said they’d like to see it stay.
Apart from the 2018 launch date, few solid details about the car have been revealed. Holden has stated, however, that the car will either compare very favorably or improve on the current Commodore’s dynamic performance, acceleration, fuel economy, running costs and mass. As most readers will already know, the current Commodore is sold here in performance trim as the Chevrolet SS. It’s scheduled to end production in 2017.
There are two leading possibilities for the identity of the new car that will be badged a Commodore by Holden. One possibility is a version of the next-generation Opel Insignia, although the Insignia is a mid-size car and Holden has confirmed that the next Commodore will be a “large car.”
The other possibility is a new full-size Buick sedan, previewed by the recent Avenir concept car. Buick hasn’t confirmed plans for a new large sedan just yet, but GM product development chief Mark Reuss has previously hinted at a swoopy Porsche Panamera-like car from Buick, and with Buick now GM’s most popular brand behind Chevy there’s justification for the investment in some exciting new products.
Development of the car is already underway, both in Australia and at GM development centers in other countries where it will be sold.
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