LHD Commodores

[Ducati888]

Hi all,

On my way to work this morning along Nepean Hwy, I saw a left hand drive Commodore, with a Pontiac front driving along (it wasn't one of those butt ugly G8 fronts though). It had the big "Caution Left Hand Drive" white sticker across the rear window.

I suspect in that case that it's a Holden test vehicle or something. It didn't carry any badging.

Question is, why would they be still testing LHD Commo's? If not testing, why would it be getting driven around? Any chance the export programme may be resurrected?

I know that Pontiac has been discontinued, but is it possible it could be resurrected under another one of Chev's many different names?

[csv8]

Buick ????

[bafel]

Not sure about a LHD Commodore, but i saw a LHD Statesman mule with a "flexifuel" or "flexfuel" badge on the back. Must be their E85 tech?

[burnz]

to my knowedge the export to UAE is increasing, sold as chevy lumina..

[chevypower]

I thought it was coming back to the US in 2012 to take on the Charger (which is a big task). Badged as a Chevy I believe. Possibly Chevelle? Could just be a rumour though.

[Jesmol]

Holden are continually "tweaking" and testing, there's also a lot of MY14 mules floating around.

Probably on the way down to the test track (driving from Pt Melbourne to Lang Lang).

[Ducati888]

Originally Posted by csv8

Buick ????

The front could have been Buick, yes. I was thinking that when I wrote the OP.

[Ducati888]

Originally Posted by Jesmol

Holden are continually "tweaking" and testing, there's also a lot of MY14 mules floating around.

Probably on the way down to the test track (driving from Pt Melbourne to Lang Lang).

Twas going towards Port Melbourne. 6.45am, seen at the intersection of Nepean and North Rd.

[Jesmol]

Originally Posted by Ducati888

Twas going towards Port Melbourne. 6.45am, seen at the intersection of Nepean and North Rd.

Maybe on the way back from Lang Lang then, or an Employee taking a car out for a drive night before, bringing it back in the morning. (Used to do this at MMAL when I worked there)

[stang65]

This has been around for ages, there is a guy in bentleigh who must work for Holden and also drive a LHd Captiva.

[Road_Warrior]

If its a Buick it could be testing for a China-market car. However all the Zeta cars for the Chinese market are assembled there.

[Paxton]

Originally Posted by Road_Warrior

If its a Buick it could be testing for a China-market car. However all the Zeta cars for the Chinese market are assembled there.

CKD from Australia. At this stage, anyway.

[xisled]

I think I have seen this car, I did take a pic, over the weekend I will see if I can upload it form my phone.

[Buntz]

Originally Posted by chevypower

I thought it was coming back to the US in 2012 to take on the Charger (which is a big task). Badged as a Chevy I believe. Possibly Chevelle? Could just be a rumour though.

I keep on hearing that rumour. And it's more and more frequent to the point people are expecting it.

You can say this for GM. They take care of their Australian division.

[Ducati888]

Originally Posted by xisled

I think I have seen this car, I did take a pic, over the weekend I will see if I can upload it form my phone.

It's a very dark colour - deep blue or black if that's the same one I saw

[stang65]

Originally Posted by Buntz93ED

I keep on hearing that rumour. And it's more and more frequent to the point people are expecting it.

You can say this for GM. They take care of their Australian division.

Yeah but they also talk about a lot and then don`t deliver.

[Buntz]

Originally Posted by stang65

Yeah but they also talk about a lot and then don`t deliver.

Well when they start throwing about things like Zeta platform four door. It's not really a stretch to think... yeah, commodore is going back over. Probably due to popular demand.

[svo supporter]

Can't say I heard Holden stopped their export market. If anything, they're increasing it, because they got a big order from the US coppers to use them as chasers over there.

[kocho]

Saw the same car about two weeks ago heading south on Nepean Hwy... it then went down South Road.

[Buntz]

Originally Posted by svo supporter

Can't say I heard Holden stopped their export market. If anything, they're increasing it, because they got a big order from the US coppers to use them as chasers over there.

Never said they did. Said they were going back to the US.

[svo supporter]

Originally Posted by Buntz93ED

Never said they did. Said they were going back to the US.

Re-read the opening of the thread, then comment. You might just find out what my comment was made for .

[Bossxr8]

Originally Posted by svo supporter

Can't say I heard Holden stopped their export market. If anything, they're increasing it, because they got a big order from the US coppers to use them as chasers over there.

Wasn't a big order, just a few hundred so far.

They way they were talking the sheep assumed they were going to get tens of thousands of orders but it hasn't happened.

[SSVPom]

I see these LHD cars all the time on the Eastern Freeway, I think there's an engineer living out my way. Also spotted the other week was a red LHD Camaro convertible, and a LHD VE2 Caprice badged as a Chevy Impala !

[Buntz]

Originally Posted by svo supporter

Re-read the opening of the thread, then comment. You might just find out what my comment was made for .

Ahhh... you probably should have para quoted then.

[svo supporter]

Originally Posted by Bossxr8

Wasn't a big order, just a few hundred so far.

They way they were talking the sheep assumed they were going to get tens of thousands of orders but it hasn't happened.

Without going to far off topic, from what I have heard, they're starting with a small order just to see how they go under real conditions, then they might (and a big might) bump the export numbers up. Time will tell I guess.

And yes, LHD Commodores have been exported for ages. Not just to the US. Europe and Britian are starters. Top Gear actually did a show, where they tested the VE Commodore (Vauxhall over there, with the Pontiac nose) that Tom Walkinshaw had a fiddle with. (Supercharged for memory, with 500+ HP. But don't quote that figure as gospel).

So the program isn't being resurrected. It's being going along for years. Just a shame Ford don't do the same thing with the Falcon. The production numbers might spike upwards.

[Buntz]

Originally Posted by svo supporter

Without going to far off topic, from what I have heard, they're starting with a small order just to see how they go under real conditions, then they might (and a big might) bump the export numbers up. Time will tell I guess.

And yes, LHD Commodores have been exported for ages. Not just to the US. Europe and Britian are starters. Top Gear actually did a show, where they tested the VE Commodore (Vauxhall over there, with the Pontiac nose) that Tom Walkinshaw had a fiddle with. (Supercharged for memory, with 500+ HP. But don't quote that figure as gospel).

So the program isn't being resurrected. It's being going along for years. Just a shame Ford don't do the same thing with the Falcon. The production numbers might spike upwards.

Im pretty sure Britain only get the the VXR8, and Bathurst edition which are both locally sourced. Only the Bathurst is Walkinshaw tuned. This make Clarkson think it was actually entirely made by the Scotsman himself (RIP).

But yes LHD markets of where Commodore goes is the middle east as the Caprice. But the actual Caprice goes to China. Or is made in China and sold as the Buick Park Avenue. China/Taiwan... somewhere around there.

[svo supporter]

Originally Posted by Buntz93ED

Im pretty sure Britain only get the the VXR8, and Bathwhich are both locally sourced. Only the Bathurst is Walkinshaw tuned. This make Clarkson think it was actually entirely made by the Scotsman himselfurst edition (RIP).

I reckon you're right over the VXR. As for the Walkinshaw tuned version. Quite possible.

[vztrt]

Didn't see a point starting another thread on this.

http://www.autoblog.com/2011/03/29/r...olet-ss-sedan/

Report: Holden Commodore coming to U.S. as Chevrolet SS sedan?

by Aaron Richardson (RSS feed) on Mar 29th 2011 at 9:57AM

With General Motors' cash flow back to reasonable levels, the company is re-evaluating its position on Australian-built Zeta rockets like the Holden Commodore. The last one we had on our shores was the much-lamented Pontiac G8, which was essentially a Commodore with a new set of badges.

With the success of the 2010 Chevrolet Camaro, GM has reportedly okay'd the development of a new Zeta sedan for the American market. According to reports, it's slated to debut in early 2013 as a 2014 model, concurrent with the introduction of the redesigned Holden Commodore. Particular details, such as engine size, transmission options and horsepower figures are as yet unavailable. That said, a pushrod small block in the neighborhood of 430 horsepower probably isn't too far off the mark.

The rumor gets juicier, and a tad more unbelievable, with the revelation that a sport wagon and Ute version of the car are coming as well. The ute, if it happens, will debut around the same time as the sedan, with the sport wagon arriving later in 2013.

[vztrt]

Holden’s American Chevrolet program ‘approved’

http://www.goauto.com.au/mellor/mell...257863001E2813

US website says GM documents reveal green light for Holden ‘Chev SS Sedan’ exports

30 March 2011

By RON HAMMERTON

AN AMERICAN web site claims to have copies of documents confirming that General Motors has approved a program for a Chevrolet version of the 2014 Holden Commodore for sale in North America.

GM Inside News (GMI) says the documents show America’s biggest car-maker has given the tick to the program for an ‘SS Sedan’ based on the Australian car after the project was pushed back two years from an original launch date of 2012 to fit with the arrival of Holden’s new VF model – thought to be a reskin of the current rear-drive VE.

The website says the documents also reveal that GM is considering adding the Commodore Sportwagon and Ute to the Chevrolet ranks in the US, with the ute being referred to in the documents as El Camino – the name used by Chevrolet for its legendary coupe ute between 1959 and 1987.

GMI, which is renowned for its internal GM contacts, cautions that the wagon and ute programs are still to be approved.

However, it says GM has approved a second generation of the Holden WM Caprice-based Chevrolet Caprice Police Pursuit Vehicle (PPV) to follow the first version that is now being rolled out to enforcement agencies across North America, in patrol and detective car guises.

GM Holden has steadfastly refused to confirm or deny that such a ‘civilian’ Chevrolet Caprice program is underway at GM for North America, although Holden executives have made no bones about their desire to resurrect Commodore exports to North America after the 2009 demise of the VE Commodore-based Pontiac G8 in the middle of the global financial crisis.

GM Holden director external communications Emily Perry told GoAuto that Holden would have nothing to say to fuel anything that had been said on GM Inside News.

“It is great that they take such an interest in our program, but obviously we have said in the past that we are looking at other export opportunities but we are a long way from having anything further to say,” she said. “We are focused on the police programs right now.”

The police car export program, full production for which started this year, is helping to fill the gap caused by GM’s decision to kill Holden’s Pontiac G8 in April 2009. That decision also canned an export program for the Holden Ute, which was to the launched in North America as the Pontiac G8 ST (Sport Truck) in 2009.

The new police car program has prompted calls from both inside and outside of GM to offer a civilian version as well.

Former GM Holden chairman and managing director Mark Reuss – now president of GM North America – told GoAuto at the Detroit motor show in January that the cancellation of the G8 was a big loss for him, and that he loved the car.

While he stopped short of saying a new Commodore export program was being actively considered for the US, he said: “Somewhere along the way you’ll get a pretty big Commodore change … and if we ever did something like (recommencement of Commodore exports to the US) we would integrate it with those changes at Holden.”

GM global design chief Ed Welburn visited Holden’s design studios in Melbourne recently to look at the VF Commodore and other projects, telling GoAuto afterwards at the Geneva motor show: “I feel very good about that car (the VF).”

He also confirmed that Holden designers were working on other Chevrolet projects for international markets, and when asked if one of these would include a Chevrolet civilian version of the Caprice PPV, he declined to comment.

It is unclear from the GMI report on the SS Sedan whether the documents refer to the short-wheelbase Commodore or long-wheelbase Caprice, both of which are built on the Holden-developed Zeta platform that also underpins the Australian-designed, Canadian-built Chevrolet Camaro.

The American-based GMI website says the documents in its possession reveal the codes for the Holden-based Chevrolet cars, with the SS Sedan going under the tag Z2SC, the Sportwagon as Z2WC and the El Camino ute as Z2RC.

The ‘Z’ is likely to refer to Zeta – the name of the GM rear-drive platform under the Commdore and Chevrolet Camaro – while the ‘2’ might refer to the second generation of this platform for which GM Holden is the ‘home room’.

GMI said the documents showed that the Chevrolet SS Sedan would be launched in North America in early 2013 as a 2014 model.

As GoAuto understands that the Holden version of the VF Commodore will not appear until 2014, that appears unlikely, perhaps indicating that the timing on the documents held by GMI might be outdated.

However, GMI says it was able to confirm the 2013 timing through Holden contacts.

It also claims the documents reveal that if approved, the El Camino would launch at the same time as the sedan, with the SportWagon launching later in the 2013 calendar year.

“GMI expects that the approval of the El Camino and SportWagon will hinge on fuel prices in North America and potential profitability of the two models, as both would likely be very low volume products,” GMI says.

GoAuto understands that one of the issues surrounding the Commodore export program to the US concerns the tightening of America’s Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) limits that favour smaller, lighter cars.

US legislation introduced in 2007 requires car-makers to achieve a CAFE of 35 miles per US gallon (6.7 litres per 100km) by 2010.

Commodore’s range of V6 and V8 powerplants currently produce combined fuel economy ranging from 9.1L/100km to 12.9L/100km.

However, if the Chevrolet SS Sedan is marketing as a small-volume ‘four-door Camaro’ as some pundits suggest, it might make an insignificant difference to GM’s multi-million vehicle fuel average.

A bigger concern is the continuing high value of the Australian dollar against the Greenback, with the AUD hitting 30-year highs above parity, with one Australian dollar today buying $US1.03.

This makes the business case for such an export program harder to prove, although some parts such as engine blocks and transmissions will be cheaper, helping to offset some of the currency burden.

It is likely the Chevrolet SS export program will still have to negotiate a final ‘go/no’ decision by the GM board at some point, and Holden executives will have their fingers crossed that the Aussie dollar has gone into reverse by then.

GMI says GM’s high executive turnover rate since emerging from its 2009 bankruptcy had not helped the Holden cause, with each of the three post-bankruptcy CEOs having a different position on the importation of Holden products.

“It’s important to note that the Zeta program at GM has been a near constant source of drama internally,” GMI says.

“As our reporting has reflected, there has been a tremendous amount of back and forth about Zeta. GMI is, however, starting to see some consistency with regards to the future of the SS Sedan.”

[bobthebilda]

“GMI expects that the approval of the El Camino and SportWagon will hinge on fuel prices in North America and potential profitability of the two models, as both would likely be very low volume products,” GMI says.

GoAuto understands that one of the issues surrounding the Commodore export program to the US concerns the tightening of America’s Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) limits that favour smaller, lighter cars.

US legislation introduced in 2007 requires car-makers to achieve a CAFE of 35 miles per US gallon (6.7 litres per 100km) by 2010.

Commodore’s range of V6 and V8 powerplants currently produce combined fuel economy ranging from 9.1L/100km to 12.9L/100km.

However, if the Chevrolet SS Sedan is marketing as a small-volume ‘four-door Camaro’ as some pundits suggest, it might make an insignificant difference to GM’s multi-million vehicle fuel average.

A bigger concern is the continuing high value of the Australian dollar against the Greenback, with the AUD hitting 30-year highs above parity, with one Australian dollar today buying $US1.03.

This makes the business case for such an export program harder to prove, although some parts such as engine blocks and transmissions will be cheaper, helping to offset some of the currency burden.

It is likely the Chevrolet SS export program will still have to negotiate a final ‘go/no’ decision by the GM board at some point, and Holden executives will have their fingers crossed that the Aussie dollar has gone into reverse by then.

GMI says GM’s high executive turnover rate since emerging from its 2009 bankruptcy had not helped the Holden cause, with each of the three post-bankruptcy CEOs having a different position on the importation of Holden products.

“It’s important to note that the Zeta program at GM has been a near constant source of drama internally,” GMI says.

“As our reporting has reflected, there has been a tremendous amount of back and forth about Zeta. GMI is, however, starting to see some consistency with regards to the future of the SS Sedan.”

So, all they have to do is to work out 7306 things that currently make it an unviable proposition, and then they might import some commodores to North America.