The only thing wrong with the new Commodore is its name

COMMENT

I've just driven six different Holden Commodores at the GM's proving ground in Lang Lang and one thing has become manifestly clear.

Under Holden's embargo, I can't tell you about how they drive until tomorrow evening. But I can tell you that the only thing wrong with them is the name.

We tested the current V6-powered VFII Commodore against the new and imported ZB Commodore, in both Aussie and German states of tune.

We're not at liberty to discuss the finer details of the new four-cylinder version – although we did review the 2018 Commodore V6 prototype last year – but it's fair to say the new ZB Commodore is a good car.

It's spacious, refined and capable, there's loads of technology and it drives well, particularly after 12 months of Aussie testing, development and recalibration.

But it's not a Commodore.

Holden should have retired the name, as Ford did for the Falcon.

After 40 years of Australian development and manufacture of rear-drive large cars, the volume-selling version of the new Holden flagship vehicle will be fundamentally different -- a front-wheel drive, four-cylinder and imported from Germany.

Despite incredible efforts by Holden's chassis engineering team, the same team that developed the VF, the new ZB Commodore just doesn't have the heart and soul of the Commodore that Aussies know and love.

There's a big difference between researching, developing and designing a car from a clean sheet of paper for a specific market, like the VF Commodore, and trying to massage a global vehicle to suit local conditions.

It's true that Holden has had an integral role in the development of the all-new 2018 Opel Insignia/Holden Commodore, starting more than four years ago, but convincing buyers this is a Commodore will be a challenge. Indeed, methinks beyond a challenge.

There's a strong argument that launching a new nameplate is tough. The problem Holden will have with the new Commodore is that it's likely rusted-on Commodore buyers won't be advocates and inevitably 'newbies', the new blood Holden needs to attract to make the car a success, will be gun-shy thanks to the nameplate's history.

Take it from us, the new car is good. But it'd be even better with a new name that reflects how it moves the local large car marketplace -- and Holden itself -- forward.