US makes big order for ‘American‘ Holden Commodore
Despite being exactly the kind of car you would expect to fly out of showroom lots all over America, the Holden Commodore's rebadged Chevrolet SS cousin has struggled to make a dent in US car sales figures ever since it was launched there in 2013.
With a big shouty V8 wedged between its front wheels, a commodious interior, and coveted rear-wheel drive, many thought that the American version of the Commodore would be a sales hit — a sort of Corvette sleeper that the whole family could enjoy. But achieving sales has been something of a struggle, with premium pricing hard to justify to an American audience who expected a more visually dramatic four-door sedan, and Chevrolet releasing next to no marketing for the SS beyond its use as the silhouette in Nascar.
The sad irony is that the Chevrolet SS has been well received locally by the press, with plenty of different outlets naming it as one of the best four-door performance cars on the market. Pity then that consumers haven't been able to get over its subtle looks.
However, this month has seen a surge in demand for the sports sedan, with the US ordering an additional 1000 models according to a report by Perth Now.
“The reception from buyers and motoring critics is something that the Australian VF Commodore development team and our Elizabeth manufacturing team are very proud of,” said a spokeswoman from Holden.
While the large order is still too little too late to rescue the much loved Aussie brute from its impending extinction, it has managed to prolong the redundancy period of 40 workers at the Australian production plant by an extra two weeks. Holden themselves refuted the story, but Scott Bachelor of the Australian Manufacturing Workers Union confirmed the claim.
“It gives our guys a bit of breathing space before moving on to their next career, or whatever they are going to do,” he said.
Once the Commodore sadly leaves us next year, it's expected that the marque will push the Opel Insignia as the car's spiritual successor. The current-gen Insignia is handsome, particularly in VXR trim, but whether punters will adopt it as a Commodore is another question entirely.