Four-cylinder Commodore: a ‘green’ step too far?
The news that Holden’s Commodore is going green will no doubt have the Australian large-car faithful questioning what some at Holden are thinking.
In particular is the idea that the Commodore could again be sold with a four-cylinder engine will bring big ugly memories for those who sampled the sluggish Commodore four-cylinder that was sold here until 1984.
If it happens – and it sounds as though it’s a reasonable chance – it would at least be tempered by the news that the four-cylinder would also likely have a turbocharger, potentially giving it more power and torque than the current 3.6-litre V6.
Making the comments in Melbourne, General Motors group vice president Nick Reilly also stressed other more environmentally friendly technologies would be looked at for the Commodore, including natural gas (CNG), diesel and hybrid.
He also confirmed a hybrid Commodore would be on sale around 2010.
It’s a radical change for Holden, which has watched its market share almost halve since 2002.
Remember, too, that a large chunk of Commodore sales are for the V8 variants; in fact 2007 was a record for Commodore V8 sales.
HSV, too, is bouncing from sales record to sales record with its almost entirely-V8 line-up. But even HSV is looking to green its image.
What do you think about the prospect of a four-cylinder Commodore? Or a hybrid, diesel or natural gas? And which is the most logical solution to growing concerns about the environment.
Toby Hagon