The ZB Commodore may have looked very different to the car we see today

While the Insignia’s transverse-engine FWD/AWD E2 global architecture was indeed going to underpin the proposed Aussiemade Commodore, we’ve learned that Holden was working towards a stretched version offering a longer wheelbase and, most likely, unique sheetmetal to give it greater local flavour. This raises questions about the export potential for the stillborn locally built large car, especially as we now understand that Holden had been working on design proposals for the Us-market Impala (Chevrolet’s full-sized sedan) back in the VE Commodore days of the latter-2000s, as an adjunct to the work that Fishermans Bend was carrying out on the reborn Chevy Camaro. Whether that Impala was to be based on the VE’S Zeta rear-drive architecture, like the Camaro, is unknown. Was the Australianised, lengthened ZB mooted five years ago destined for America from 2017? Did Holden’s Australian manufacturing future hinge on such an export business case taking off?