BACK IN BLACK
It’s been a year since the Holden ZB Commodore first burst on to the scene in an attempt to fill some of the biggest shoes in Australasian motoring. And now the new German-built lift-back has received its first — admittedly mild — visual change.
It’s called the Black Edition; a limited edition model that (you guessed it) sports plenty of black. Along with unique badging, the black edition wears gloss-black inserts on the primary grill, front side vents, and on the window surrounds — as opposed to the standard silver.
Revealing it this week at Pukekohe Raceway, Holden New Zealand confirmed the Commodore Black Edition would be available as a no-cost option on the first 40 Holden ZB Commodore RS-V and VXR models to sell next month.
Sadly, but unsurprisingly it skimps on any performance upgrades, and yes, there is a whiff of “run-out special” about the model. But to be fair, in person the Black Edition is a surprisingly sharp looking upgrade . . . especially when parked in a lineup of standard-edition RS-Vs and VXRs. As a no-cost option, it’s a nobrainer.
For the record, that means Black Edition models start at $58,990 for the RS-V hatch. Another $2000 gets you into the RS-V Sportwagon, while $67,990 gets you into the range-topping VXR hatch.
Each model comes fitted with a naturally aspirated 3.6-litre V6 engine that develops 235kW at 6800rpm and 381Nm at 5200rpm. And each of those models sends that output to all four wheels.
It’s been a testing year so far for GM Holden in Australia, after speculation of a potential change in distribution that forced managing director Dave Buttner to say, among other things, “I did not join the company to close Holden” (go to Driven.co.nz to read our story on this).
But in NZ, Holden ended 2018 in third place in the registration charts behind Toyota and Ford (a position no doubt envied in Australia).
Our result was due to a strong performance from the Holden Colorado, although the now replaced Captiva and Commodore both also played cameo roles — helping Holden secure third in the passenger cars and SUV race.
Holden will pin plenty of hopes on the well-received new Acadia seven-seater, while it’s hoped that deals such as the Black Edition can help stimulate Commodore sales.