Holden lays down V8 challenge

HOLDEN is daring diehard rev heads to test drive its new German-made Commodore – the first in 40 years without a V8 – before switching allegiances.

The all-new Commodore goes on sale today, with a choice of four-cylinder or V6 petrol power, or a four-cylinder diesel.

It’s due in showrooms later this month, priced from $35,990 drive-away to in excess of $55,000.

In the final year of production V8s accounted for more than half of Commodore sales, and more than a third of sales over the life of the car.

Holden admits it will not sell the German Commodore in the same high numbers as the locally made Commodore – which went out of production last October – but it believes traditional buyers will change their minds after a test drive.

The new Commodore is smaller than before and competes with mid-size sedans such as the Toyota Camry, Mazda6 and Hyundai Sonata, among others.