Holden has confirmed a three-model special-edition line-up to farewell the locally-developed and manufactured Commodore.
The vehicles are the Motorsport Edition, the Director and the Magnum Ute. All three broke cover at the launch of the 2017 Red Bull Holden Racing Team at Holden’s Fishermens Bend headquarters today.
In total, just 1450 examples of the three models will be offered to the Aussie public and another 253 to New Zealanders. Smaller allocations have already been offered to past and present Holden employees and dealer principals.
Production of the current VFII Commodore range ceases when Holden’s Elizabeth plant shuts down on October 20, with an imported Commodore based on the new German-built Opel Insignia set to take its place from 2018.
The Motorsport Edition sedan and the Magnum ute are based on the SS-V Redline, while the Director sedan is based on the Calais V.
All three cars are powered by the 304kW/570Nm LS3 V8 already fitted to the VFII Commodore range, but have a variety of upgrades raided almost entirely from the rear-wheel drive Zeta architecture parts bin. The changes focus on improved dynamics and durability and adding a little styling flair.
“We have tried to do a bit of a tip of the hat to the locally built Commodore,” explained Holden product marketing general manager, Ben Lasry.
“This is for all the enthusiasts, all the customers, all the advocates who have been such a big part of the Commodore story over nearly 40 years. We really wanted to make sure they are the best Commodore drivers’ cars that have ever been built.”
The Motorsport Edition is priced at $61,790 as a six-speed manual and $63,990 as a six-speed automatic. A total of 1200 examples have been built for Australia, with 1000 made available to the public and 200 for Holden employees and dealer principals. A further 151 will be offered in New Zealand.
The Director is priced at $63,990 as a six-speed automatic. Just 360 will be built for Australia, with 250 for the public and 110 for Holden employees and dealers. Another 51 – the same number under which Kiwi legend Greg Murphy raced – will be offered in New Zealand.
The Magnum Ute is priced at $59,290 as a six-speed manual and the six-speed auto at $61,490. Just 240 Magnums will be built for Australia, with 200 available to the public, 40 to Holden employees and dealers and a further 51 in New Zealand.
The Motorsport Edition is named to celebrate the racing achievements of the Commodore in its 38-year history, including more than 460 Australian touring car championship and V8 Supercars race wins and 24 Bathurst 1000 victories.
The Director is named after the controversial vehicle that prompted the ‘polarizer’ split between Peter Brock and Holden, but commemorates Brock’s intention to build a world-class sports luxury sedan. The Magnum name is a tribute to Brock HDT’s 1983 WB Holden-based limited-edition.
The two farewell sedans share much in common. They are the first Holden-badged vehicles to get four-mode magnetic ride control suspension (similar to that fitted to Holden Special Vehicles) which is controlled by a driver mode dial.
They both also get upgraded Brembo cross-drilled brake rotors front and rear, an engine and transmission cooling package that meets General Motors Level 3 track performance requirements, a ‘phantom’ black roof and 20-inch staggered wheels.
But only the Motorsport Edition upgrades to a high-rate rear sub-frame bush that is designed to improve driver confidence in maximum lateral and braking events.
Because of underbody clearance issues, the Magnum misses out on MRC, instead getting the softer tune of its passive FE3 rear suspension, as well as the upgraded brakes and cooling package.
All three cars also get new heated front ‘performance’ seats, an embroidered instrument panel, appropriate decals and badging, a lip spoiler, a commemorative presentation case, individual vehicle numbering and a unique option code. The Motorsport Edition is codenamed KOM (for King of the Mountain), the other two DIR and UTE.
The Motorsport Edition alone gets red daylight running lights surrounds, red or black mirror scalps, a unique red-lined wheel treatment, the option of a larger rear wing and a 1:18 Biante model car. The Director picks up Redline-style paddle shifters and bonnet vents. The Magnum gets a hard tonneau cover.
For an added cost, all special edition buyers can order a personalised car cover with the build number and their surname printed on it.
That’s all in addition to the high level of equipment the Redline SS-V and Calais V come standard with, including a package of driver assistance and infotainment features, a five-star ANCAP rating and six airbags.
Holden MY17 Commodore special-edition pricing (plus ORCs):
Magnum manual — $59,290
Magnum automatic — $61,490
Motorsport Edition manual — $61,790
Motorsport Edition automatic — $63,990
Director automatic — $63,990
Further MY17 Commodore reading:
Holden Director review
Holden Magnum review
Holden Motorsport Edition review
Final Aussie Commodore: Magnetic attraction to special-editions
Final Aussie Commodore: Holden defends Director name