4WD Commodore --(Dave)

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Holden have released this press release:

Holden to build new 4WD Commodore

Car maker Holden will build a four-wheel drive version of its popular Commodore passenger car with plans to sell up to 25,000 in Australia and overseas.

Chairman and managing director Peter Hanenberger said today the project had just won approval from General Motors officials in the United States, and revealed more than $100 million would be invested in the new model.

It was part of a long-term plan to lift local car production to 180,000 units over the next few years and was also expected to result in more jobs at the company's Elizabeth assembly line in South Australia.

Mr Hanenberger said the car would go into production some time between 2003 and 2005, but further details on specifications, features and pricing would not be given until closer to the launch date.

But the Holden boss said the company would not rush to the market in a bid to beat similar crossover type vehicles planned by Ford and Mitsubishi.

"We have a strategy and this market clearly requires a vehicle which is a four-wheel drive in a crossover version," Mr Hanenberger said.

"We want to respond to the customers on that.

"So, yes our competitors are doing the same but we've always had this plan and we are on target and we hope to deliver the vehicle that is required by this market."

Mr Hanenberger said the four-wheel drive Commodore would be more sophisticated than conventional off-road sports utility-type vehicles, offering the comfort and ride of high-class passenger cars.

The company might also consider other versions of the car including a ute and would offer both V8 and V6 engines.

Domestic demand would provide for the majority of sales with export potential considered the icing on the cake.

Holden might also earn extra funds by exporting some of the technology associated with developing the new off-roader.

However, Mr Hanenberger said other details of the new car would have to wait until more development had been completed.

"At a certain time we will show some vehicles at some shows where you will get a better feeling for what we are talking about," he said.

Marketing director Ross McKenzie said the new 4WD would also be a profitable exercise and the company would not go into the project if the business case did not make sense.

"We don't build loss-making models," he said.

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gggeeee u only heard about this now, it has been in the wheels mag for uummmmm about 5-6 months now
as well at the NEW monaro

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Yeah... but have you heard about the 4WD Monaro that is rumoured to be in existence?

It may be a rumour, but it wouldn't surprise me what these boys get up to in their 'spare' development time

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He said "have just won approval"...therefore, it's almost definately going to happen. And it won't be too far off. Look how long it took to get a fucking Commodore Ute?? They were promising it since the WB stopped production. Just cos Wheels or Street Machine say it's gonna happen, doesn't mean it's true. For every idea Holden/Ford/Chrysler/Whatever put into production and ends up on the showroom, there are probably around 300 that they have said they're gonna do, but never get past a prototype (if that)....

Paul
Never late in a 308

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No Mel,

I've been following the development of the 4WD Commodore for as long as you have, being a long-time reader of Wheels magazine.

However, when Wheels reports hearsay and inside scoops, it's totally different to an official announcement from Holden, which the above was.

Furthermore, it was a simple "cut & paste" of something I saw on MSN when I logged out of Hotmail.

Apparently Mark Skaife (among others) has been testing an AWD Commodore Coupe - while it might not appeal to the burnout brigade, it'll certainly put Holden on the same plane as BMW's M5 and Mercedes Benz's big coupes and sedans, if not for technological advancement, certainly for good looks, great handling and serious speed and power.

Hurrah!

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i just saw a story on the news so it must be true lol

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I haven't read anything about this but my first impressions are that this is a move to somewhat directly compete with other 4WD cars, like WRX's. Is it just standard commodores or is it going to be shit like 4WD HSV's and stuff ??

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it's just the wagon i think at the moment

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I just read in Motor magazine September issue that the 4WD (AWD) system is to be designed to fit ALL Commodore derived vehicles.

As said earlier, not all information can be trusted, but it isn't often in this ultra competitive world that large manufacturers make mistakes. I doubt Holden could afford NOT to design an AWD system which could fit all Commodore derivatives.
The safety benefits are enough to warrant it alone...
This won't happen until about 2004 - 2005 but first up we will see the wagon, yummy

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Yeah, the initial release will be the wagon in 2003-2004.

It'll be very Subaru Outback - a crossover vehicle that will be able to tackle lots of different terrain without having a full chassis - obviously the farmers will stick to their old Landcruisers for stock work!

However, because it is a "crossover" system and not extremely rugged, it will also be useful for other applications eg Subaru Impreza WRX - although designed to be an AWD rally king, it's one of the fastest and best handling cars on bitumen - certainly the fastest for the price - it's only real rival is the Nissan 200SX, and even then I imagine that would get a bit taily through the hills when the Rex is just blasting from point to point.

The Press Release stated that the AWD system will have applications for the Ute, which I can see, but a high-riding AWD sedan? I don't think so.

But an AWD, dumped to the guts HSV Clubby R8? Now that's more like it.

I don't doubt that an AWD 300+kw coupe is on the cards - Mark Scaife's been testing one...

But then again, Holden's 2850cc red six-powered Gemini coupe didn't get off the ground either did it?

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GAY as no SKIDS

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just means you need to give it more power. Ever seen smurf in his 4wd? smokes all 4 just fine.

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Yep, I think it will be great at bathurst. I doubt it will be any good in a rally though, very long wheelbase and very heavy compared to the lancers/wrx's/etc. I don't think it will handle the corners too well at speed on dirt. Well, at least not as good as the other all wheel drives.

Paul

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You are a dickhead. Need I say more?

Paul

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It'll be king of the GTP Production car series though! Unless, of course, they make moves to bump it up into the section for the Diablos and Ferrari - like the Ford Mustang is. That won't be so great, because then it'll only be contending for a class victory, rather than an outright victory, which is always more fun.