Next-generation VF sedan to be unveiled at next year’s Daytona 500

bmorris · 13-06-2012, 04:42 PM

http://news.drive.com.au/drive/motor...613-208vv.html

Quote:

Holden's home-grown Commodore will make its official debut at the Super Bowl of US motor sport, the Daytona 500.

The race, which last year was watched by 36.5 million viewers, is scheduled for Thursday, February 21, 2013.

General Motors has chosen the date because the new VF Commodore will race as a Chevrolet in the Nascar series as part of a plan to sell roadgoing versions of the Commodore in the US.

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Holden recently announced it would kick off a new export program to the US, with the forthcoming VF Commodore to be rebadged for American audiences as the Chevrolet SS Performance.

The SS performance is likely to be a premium offering with a focus on technology, performance and luxury.

A key component of the deal was for the car to become the hero of parent company GM's Chevrolet brand by being adapted to race in the Nascar series.

At the launch of the Holden Colorado workhorse ute this week, Holden chairman and managing director Mike Devereux canvassed motoring media on whether it would be a faux pas for Holden to authorise Chevrolet to reveal the SS road car and racing car to US audiences ahead of Australians getting their first official glimpse of the VF Commodore.

Assured by a majority that it would be, Devereux made a snap decision: "We'll launch them on the same day then. We'll make it happen."

He says the exposure afforded by the massively popular Nascar series will be a key driver of sales in the US. "We definitely want to tie (Chevrolet SS) into the Nascar season. To not do so would be a missed opportunity. This will be a good thing for the Chevrolet brand."

He hosed down any comparisons to the company's previous Commodore-based export program to the US, when it sent about 40,000 cars stateside badged as the Pontiac G8. The program was eventually killed off by a combination of the global financial crisis, a soaring Australian dollar and GM declaring bankruptcy.

This time around, sales of the Chevrolet SS will be in the thousands, rather than tens of thousands, Devereux cautions. "Demand will be greater than supply and that's not a bad thing," he says.

Australian buyers, meanwhile, are unlikely to get behind the wheel of a VF Commodore until at least the second quarter of 2013, with Devereux declaring there would need to be some time elapsed between the car's first reveal and its on-sale date to satisfy sales, marketing and media demonstrations.

"We'll certainly be showing the car before landing it in dealerships," he says.

In March, Holden committed $1 billion to local manufacturing following a $275 million injection of funds from the federal government.

Devereux has said the new VF will be a massive update for the Commodore, with lightweight panels, more advanced electronics and high-tech weight-saving materials such as aluminium to save fuel. he update is likely to see the Commodore would be a premium car with a focus on technology, performance and luxury.

Bossxr8 · 13-06-2012, 06:52 PM

How is making the bonnet out of aluminium high tech?

Road_Warrior · 13-06-2012, 06:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bossxr8

How is making the bonnet out of aluminium high tech?

Because it's a Holden...derr

Bossxr8 · 13-06-2012, 07:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Road_Warrior

Because it's a Holden...derr

How dumb of me

Its up there with the Alloytec, it was so high tech making an engine out of alloy in the year 2004? that they even had to say so on the badges.

FGX-351 · 13-06-2012, 08:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bossxr8

How dumb of me

Its up there with the Alloytec, it was so high tech making an engine out of alloy in the year 2004? that they even had to say so on the badges.

If thats the case my old XF must've been so futuristic back in 85. lol

au2000 · 14-06-2012, 02:42 AM

given holden's successful U.S track record.. i won't hold my breath..

**Luke Plaizier** · 14-06-2012, 08:54 AM

Well, I hope they succeed.

Holden have clearly done a better job of marketting against their weaknesses than Ford have. Seems like a stroke of genius to use a high tech name on something that was not. Just like the KE70 Corolla of the 1980's - when everyone else was going overhead cam, Toyota decided to label their pushrod slant-4 a 'HI-CAM' engine.

Ford clearly need to market their dealers as the best in Australia, use a made-up name to emphasise the reliability of the product, and have an ad campaign that derides drivers of other brands as Bogans.

It's a pity GM doesn't have any Australian drivers in NASCAR. I sure hope Ambrose doesn't get pinched.

Lukeyson

T3ts50 · 14-06-2012, 09:25 AM

I wonder what this will do for VE sales after Daytona, considering VF wont be released for a few months after its Daytona debut.

blk6t · 14-06-2012, 10:24 AM

I also hope they succeed, irrespective of badge it's great to see a Aussie car becoming the halo for Chev's NASCAR brand.

Holden has always had some sort of export program for the Commodore, the middle east, asia, sth africa etc but if they can make it big in the US that will be gold.

aussie muscle · 14-06-2012, 10:41 AM

Quote:

The race, which last year was watched by 36.5 million viewers, is scheduled for Thursday, February 21, 2013.

how many of those viewers were Australian?

i also hope Holden do well. At least their parent company is accommodating enough to allow them to expand and keep them alive.

Bud Bud · 14-06-2012, 10:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by blk6t

I also hope they succeed, irrespective of badge it's great to see a Aussie car becoming the halo for Chev's NASCAR brand.

Holden has always had some sort of export program for the Commodore, the middle east, asia, sth africa etc but if they can make it big in the US that will be gold.

You are right, the billion dollar baby was always about exports and you can't blame them for being so persistent either. This is also the Falcons weakest link imho because the Falcon, as good as it is, has never been slated for L/H drive export. It just does not seem to have a single friend off shore for what ever reason.

I would not put too much money on a Commodore failure this time round either because the G8 VE's were placed right in the middle of a stumbling and faltering company that was still paying for the sins of their Aztecs etc, but this time it will now become the hero car for Chevrolet, and show cased to the greatest V8 sedan loving congregation on earth.

Get ready for the Chev badges to come back out, this time for real!

Bud Bud

jpd80 · 14-06-2012, 06:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bud Bud

You are right, the billion dollar baby was always about exports and you can't blame them for being so persistent either. This is also the Falcons weakest link imho because the Falcon, as good as it is, has never been slated for L/H drive export. It just does not seem to have a single friend off shore for what ever reason.

Last month, the combined sales of D3 platform vehicles was knocking on 30,000.
That's why Taurus, Explorer, Flex, PI, PI Ute, MKS, MKT are now so profitable......

jpd80 · 14-06-2012, 07:17 PM

Am I right in Assuming that VF is still around 8-9 months away?

Boy, I wonder what sales are going to be like up until then...

xtremerus · 14-06-2012, 07:25 PM

Nascars are all one generic chassis and body panels. They are all the same, other than decals for lights, grill etc, to make them appear to be different.

How is a 'Holden', badged as a Chev, with a Chev nascar motor, have any link to the Commodore.

Road_Warrior · 14-06-2012, 08:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by xtremerus

Nascars are all one generic chassis and body panels. They are all the same, other than decals for lights, grill etc, to make them appear to be different.

How is a 'Holden', badged as a Chev, with a Chev nascar motor, have any link to the Commodore.

Because Drive.com.au says so!

ray38l · 14-06-2012, 08:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by xtremerus

Nascars are all one generic chassis and body panels. They are all the same, other than decals for lights, grill etc, to make them appear to be different.

How is a 'Holden', badged as a Chev, with a Chev nascar motor, have any link to the Commodore.

you could almost say the same about v8 supercars

greenfoam · 14-06-2012, 08:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by xtremerus

Nascars are all one generic chassis and body panels. They are all the same, other than decals for lights, grill etc, to make them appear to be different.

How is a 'Holden', badged as a Chev, with a Chev nascar motor, have any link to the Commodore.

No different to the Classic Chev and Windsor motors in the V8 Supercars which are all just about a generic chassis anyway. The motors having nothing to do at all with the Holden or Ford cars

Riksta · 14-06-2012, 08:52 PM

I saw a title of a thread with "VF" in it.

I opened it thinking of Valiant awesomeness.

I then read the first couple of lines, made this post, and left.

ivorya · 14-06-2012, 09:19 PM

So, does this mean this vehicle will be exported to the US and sold at a rediculously low price, costing the Australian arm money to produce?
or
They'll tool up a U.S factory to build the car casting doubt in future Holden models being built here?

ltd_on20s · 14-06-2012, 11:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Luke Plaizier

Well, I hope they succeed.

Holden have clearly done a better job of marketting against their weaknesses than Ford have. Seems like a stroke of genius to use a high tech name on something that was not. Just like the KE70 Corolla of the 1980's - when everyone else was going overhead cam, Toyota decided to label their pushrod slant-4 a 'HI-CAM' engine.

Ford clearly need to market their dealers as the best in Australia, use a made-up name to emphasise the reliability of the product, and have an ad campaign that derides drivers of other brands as Bogans.

It's a pity GM doesn't have any Australian drivers in NASCAR. I sure hope Ambrose doesn't get pinched.

Lukeyson

maybe they should get beer companies advertisers to come up with some ads for them, they seem pretty snazzy.

flooded one · 15-06-2012, 12:25 AM

I wish them well but i dont think it will do well personally.

BHDOGS · 15-06-2012, 12:56 AM

dam straight he should reveal it in Australia at the same time to do otherwise would be an insult it seems holdens big car future is dependent on the american market taking the slack

Buntz · 15-06-2012, 01:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The-ShowStoPPa

If thats the case my old XF must've been so futuristic back in 85. lol

More like ahead of it's time.

I for one hope this is a big success for Holden. At least they market their products. And if it's a sales success over in the states, Ford will do as they have and attack instead of innovate. Headlines will read: "2016 Falcon to go LHD".

Buntz · 23-10-2012, 12:51 AM

Chevy Malibu headed for SEMA. I had to do a double take because it looks so much like a Commodore, almost thought it was the Chevy SS reveal. I wonder how familiar the VF will be to this.

MethodX · 23-10-2012, 06:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Buntz

image

Chevy Malibu headed for SEMA. I had to do a double take because it looks so much like a Commodore, almost thought it was the Chevy SS reveal. I wonder how familiar the VF will be to this.

Thats looks quite decent.
Hope the new Malibu sells up a storm.

bigwil · 23-10-2012, 06:51 AM

I reckon thats as close to VF as your gonna get.

MethodX · 23-10-2012, 07:20 AM

Rear is an improvement on VE, Camaro-ish tail lights look good.

Nikked · 23-10-2012, 08:18 AM

The VF lacks the bigger grill of the malibu, but shares the fog light and headlight shapes, and sculpting of the bar...

davenl5l · 23-10-2012, 12:19 PM

so its still going to be ugly as sin?

Buntz · 23-10-2012, 09:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by davenl5l

so its still going to be ugly as sin?

Not that the VE is ugly. After all, they basically massaged a BA Falcon and came away looking original.

The VF is just going to be more Chevy in it's appearance. And changed little from the VE.

The next Falcon however will be a HUGE departure from the norm.