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Holden has chopped $1500 from the cost of its dual-fuel LPG/petrol Commodore sedan models. It claims the cut reduces the cost of buying a dual-fuel Commodore to just $400 over a petrol Commodore, once the government's $2000 LPG rebate is taken into account.

Effective August 1, the price of the Holden LPG conversion was reduced from $3900 to $2400. The reduction applies to Commodore Omega, Berlina and 60th Anniversary sedans. There is an equivalent price drop from $4900 to $3400 for the Omega ute (automatic model only).

The $400 margin is the same amount Ford states for its corresponding XT, G6 and G6E petrol and LPG (E-Gas in Ford speak) models.

The LPG Vehicle Scheme was introduced to assist private motorists to purchase new LPG-fuelled vehicles or to pay for the conversion of a new or used petrol or diesel vehicle to LPG.

The Holden dual-fuel installation is performed on new vehicles by an aftermarket supplier (the HSV Individual operation). As such, purchasers of Commodore LPG models can apply for the full $2000 rebate. This is in contrast to Ford's factory E-Gas Falcon sedan, wagon and ute models which attract a maximum rebate of $1000.

Both rebates are only available to private purchasers and are not applicable to cars purchased via novated lease or a salary sacrifice arrangement.

In Western Australia, an additional $1000 state government subsidy is also available.

Ford's E-Gas models feature a version of the 4.0-litre inline six matched to the 'old' four-speed automatic gearbox (the latest base petrol Falcon gets a five-speed auto). The dual-fuel Commodore V6 is also matched to a four-speed auto. Power and torque are marginally reduced, but unlike the Ford, the Holden retains electronic stability control.

Holden uses a Sequential Vapour Gas Injection (SVGI) system, which "mimics" the petrol injection sequence. It has "automatic changeover to LPG via seamless cylinder-by-cylinder activation and provides an automatic change back to petrol at low LPG levels," says Holden.

In addition to the standard petrol fuel tank, the LPG dual-fuel VEs are fitted with a 73-litre (74-litre in the case of the ute) LPG tank. Dual-fuel Omega and Berlina sedan models running on LPG are claimed to deliver fuel economy of 15.5L/100km. The Ute is a touch thirstier at 15.7L/100km.

Based on an LPG price of $0.63/litre (and ULP around $1.45), Holden says purchasers can recoup the $400 out-of-pocket cost of the LPG versus petrol model in around four months.

Interestingly, in separate statements last week both Holden and Ford singled out Toyota's top-seller, the Corolla, as a comparator for their respective LPG-fuelled sedan models.

Both large car builders claimed their respective full-sized gas-powered sedan models delivered yearly fuel costs lower than the 1.8-litre four-cylinder Japanese hatch.

LPG-fuelled sedans - pricing
Holden
60th Anniversary sedan LPG -- $35,390
Omega sedan LPG -- $38,190
Berlina sedan LPG -- $42,690

Ford
XT E-Gas -- $37,890
G6 E-Gas -- $41,390
G6E E-Gas -- $48,390

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