GM Holden Saves Best for Last With Commodore VFII

GM Holden debuts its last Commodore before it ends Australian production, building the fastest, most powerful and most advanced model in the nameplate’s 37-year history.

The new Commodore VFII is intended to lead the automaker through the next two years until its manufacturing plant closes and Holden ends 107 years of car production by becoming purely an importer. The high-performance car goes on sale in October.

The VFII is powered by an LS3 6.2L V-8 that delivers 408 hp and 420 lb.-ft. (570 Nm) of torque, ensuring a 0-60 mph (100 km/h) sprint in 4.9 seconds. The engine previously powered the Chevrolet Corvette.

GM Holden engineers developed a distinct and fitting engine note, the result of endless hours of testing and courtesy of a new bi-modal exhaust and mechanical sound enhancer.

GM Holden Chairman and Managing Director Mark Bernhard says the Commodore VFII is the culmination of nearly four decades of design, engineering and manufacturing expertise, combined with unrivaled Australian experience.

“We made a commitment to keep this iconic car exciting and relevant for Australian motorists, and that is exactly what we have done,” Bernhard says in a statement. “This is the vehicle that our Commodore customers have been asking for.”

The 37 years of Commodore makes it GM Holden’s longest-standing and most successful nameplate.

Tuned at GM Holden’s Lang Lang proving ground in Victoria and tested across Australia, the VFII’s revised FE3 rear sports suspension increases ride comfort while retaining its sharp handling.

Functional hood vents and fascia ducts developed by GM Holden engineers with support from Melbourne’s Monash University wind tunnel improve the aerodynamics around the front corners of the vehicle.

A new front fascia as well as the introduction of clear-lens taillamps on sedan models and new LED taillamps on Sportwagon models give VFII a more aggressive exterior.