GM Holden Cuts Commodore Pricing With New VF Lineup

GM Holden launches a simplified Commodore range, with value-added features and prices across the VF sedan and Sportwagon lineup reduced by A$5,000- A$9,800 ($5,093-$9,982).

With Australian big-car sales on a long-term decline, it’s make or break time for the General Motors subsidiary, which has created the Evoke nameplate to kick-start the range with a recommended retail price of A$34,990 ($35,641), down A$5,000 from the entry-level model in the previous Commodore series.

The Evoke gets automatic park assist, as well as front and rear parking sensors and a rear-view camera.

GM Holden dealers now are taking orders for VF Commodore models, with the start of production planned for later this month.

Evoke also brings new technology to Australian drivers with enhanced voice recognition, an 8-in. (20-cm), high-resolution touchscreen and Holden’s MyLink system that includes voice recognition and Siri Eyes Free integration, full iPod integration and built-in apps such as Pandora and Stitcher SmartRadio.

The Evoke, with a 3.0L V-6 SIDI engine, also includes as standard an electric parking brake with automatic release, hill hold control and hill start assist and trailer sway control, plus remote vehicle start on automatic-transmission versions.

GM Holden Sales and Marketing Executive Director Philip Brook says Evoke will play an important role in changing perceptions of the Commodore.

“Evoke is a great car that people will want to own; it will be an aspirational vehicle,” he says in a statement. “The features we’ve made standard show Holden is serious about making world-class technology accessible to all our customers.”

GM Holden has simplified Commodore’s pricing and value walk-up with logical price and equipment increments and strong sports and luxury identities, Brook says. “We think Commodore represents unbelievable value and will win over a new generation of Australians.”

The next step up from Evoke is the Calais. Its high-end styling and features have made it one of Commodore’s most successful and long-running nameplates. To keep it that way, GM Holden has wound back the price more than A$8,000 ($8,150) to A$39,990 ($40,738).

Calais gets blindspot protection, a sensor key and push-button start in addition to front and rear premium design features and chrome accents.

The luxurious high-end Calais V is priced at A$46,990 ($47,862) – reduced A$9,800. The model also is available with the 6.0L Gen IV V-8 engine for A$52,990 ($53,974), down A$9,000 ($9,166).

Brook says Calais V becomes the flagship of the Commodore range. “We believe it rivals European competitors.”

Calais V gains advanced safety technologies including forward-collision alert, lane-departure warning and a color head-up display. It also adds high-end luxury features such as a Bose sound system, sunroof, heated front seats, electric 8-way adjustable driver’s seat and satellite navigation with full-color mapping, live traffic updates and traffic-management control.

The new Commodore range includes two performance variants, the SV6 and SS.

GM Holden has cut the price of the SV6 A$6,800 ($6,925) to A$35,990 ($36,654). The price of the SS falls A$5,800 ($5,907) to A$41,990 ($42,767).

SV6 is powered by the 3.6L SIDI V-6 with the SS stepping up to the 6.0L V-8, both standard with a 6-speed manual transmission.

A wing spoiler is available as a factory-fitted option on the sedan for A$500 ($510) on sports models.

“Holden sports models have a very clear performance identity within the Commodore lineup and they’re taking a huge leap forward with VF,” Brook says.

“Our enthusiast customers are our biggest fans and great supporters of the Holden brand. In the run-out of VE we’ve practically sold out of V-8 models and dealers are reporting huge interest in the SS and other sports models.”

The price for the SS V has been trimmed A$9,800 to A$45,490 ($46,332), while the SS V Redline goes for A$51,490 ($52,445), a rollback of A$6,300 ($6,417).