Are General Motors and Holden about to leave Australia and New Zealand without a rear-wheel-drive V8? It's starting to look that way and there are certainly some worried Holden fans wondering what they can expect once the Commodore becomes extinct in 2017.

One thing we have heard is that the Chevrolet Camaro will never be offered in this part of the world as a right-hand-drive model. Which is all a bit weird really as the popular Chevrolet SS performance sedan that is sold in the US is simply as a rebadged engineered Holden Commodore and also serves as the face of General Motors in NASCAR.

Rumors emerged some time ago that General Motors would sell the Chevrolet Camaro as a right-hand-drive model in Australia and New Zealand starting in 2016 but while that door hasn’t been locked down, the chances of it opening are unlikely. Is this going to turn out to be a big mistake for Holden? Especially since Ford, although Falcon will no longer be around, will have their famous Mustang in showroom with a right-hand-drive version.

In reality, as talked about before, the real replacement for the Commodore will most likely come from Europe not China or the US. Reports are that the Holden dealers already know what the new sedan will be. An existing model from Opel Europe is our best prediction. Although nobody is saying which model it will be, what is being said, the Commodore replacement will also be available in both sedan and station wagon variants. So the smart money is on the Opel Insignia.

Will the new model keep the Commodore name?

Some Holden fans want the Commodore nameplate to stay around, while others feel it doesn’t belong on a non-rear-wheel drive car that isn’t built in Australia. Holden says a decision in regards to whether or not the Commodore name will stay will be made in six to eight months time.

December 2014