NZ must wait for Commodore pricing
New Zealand drivers will have to wait a few weeks to discover the price of the new Europe-sourced Commodore range, writes Rob Maetzig.
Holden Australia has announced specification and pricing for its new Europe-sourced Commodore range.
But New Zealanders will have to wait until the opening weeks of this year to find out similar information for this country.
In Australia the Commodore, which is due for launch early this year, will carry recommended retail prices (RRPs) beginning at NZ$36,724 for an entry-level LT 2.0-litre Turbo front-drive liftback, through to NZ$61,682 for a V6-engined all-wheel drive VXR liftback.
In between there will be nine other versions of the Commodore covering liftback, sportwagon and high-riding Tourer vehicle styles.
In a statement, Holden Australia says these prices will be very competitive. For example, the RRP for the entry LT is $NZ1959 less than the entry level predecessor, the VFII Evoke.
Not only that, but in Australia the vehicle will be offered with a drive-away offer, once various charges are included, of $NZ39,200 which is $NZ4283 less than its predecessor.
But whether these prices bear any relationship with what the prices will be for the New Zealand Commodores is yet to be known.
Holden New Zealand corporate affairs general manager Ed Finn said pricing for the new range will be released closer to the model’s launch towards the end of the first quarter.
‘‘But expect it to be very competitive,’’ he added.
(A delay in pricing is normal in the NZ market, and is usually down to a varying degree of factors, including monitoring currencies before making a final announcement).
While it is not yet known what levels of specification will feature on the New Zealand Commodores, in Australia it has been confirmed that the new range will not include the well-known SS badge - at least for the time being.
But Calais and Calais V nameplates are being retained and promise a number of luxury features including heated and cooled massage seats, leather steering wheel, and wireless phone charging.
The Calais will be a frontdriven 2.0-litre model, while the Calais V will be a 3.6-litre V6 AWD.
The top VXR will feature continuous damping control suspension, Brembo front brakes, and adaptive AWD - the first time all-wheel drive has featured across the Commodore range.