Next-gen Commodore wagon revealed
General Motors has revealed the wagon version of its nextgeneration Insignia - the car that will be sold in New Zealand and Australia as the Holden Commodore Sportwagon.
As with the current Australian-designed and built Sportwagon, the new model is as much as about high style as loadcarrying ability. It picks up the ‘blade’ styling cues of the liftback, while a steeply raked windowline and silver roof rails give the impression of a long, low body shape.
The new wagon can carry up to 1640 litres with the rear seats folded: generous by class standards but not up to the the 2000 litres offered by the outgoing Aussie Commodore’s load bay.
But the new model has plenty of technology to enhance its practicality. For example, the tailgate can be opened with a ‘kick’, without touching the car.
In combination with ‘keyless open’ tech, a kicking motion under the rear bumper is enough to open the tailgate. A further kicking motion under the bumper will close the tailgate. The system can detect any obstruction and stops the mechanism in case of emergency.
The height of the opening can also be programmed, in case the car is in a garage. Or the tailgate can still be opened by a switch on the driver’s side of the car, a button at the rear or via the remote control. It’s also available with optional 40/20/40-split rear seats. The rear seatback can be folded down by pushing a button located in the luggage compartment.
Other technology to be offered on the NG Commodore includes IntelliLux LED matrix headlights, autonomous emergency braking, adaptive suspension, adaptive cruise control and a head-up display.
-David Linkwater