The reveal sequence for the next generation Holden Commodore has reached its second phase with official pictures of the Sportwagon body style released yesterday.
Like the five-door liftback bodystyle — revealed back in December – the Sportwagon is based on the new Opel/Vauxhall Insignia and will be built in Germany after Holden closes its Australian manufacturing operation this coming October.
The Sportwagon displays an even stronger link to the Opel Monza concept car from the 2013 Frankfurt Auto Show.
The distinctive shared feature is the chrome "blade’’ highlight that begins at the front doors, flows across the top of the glasshouse, down the rear pillars and into the "double wing’’ LED tail lamp units.
Holden says the Sportwagon will make its world debut — in Opel guise — at the Geneva Motor Show on March 7. The Holden version will go on sale in New Zealand in 2018.
In common with the sedan there will be front-wheel-drive models offering a choice of 2.0-litre turbocharged petrol or diesel engines with an eight-speed automatic transmission.
Existing Holden customers who are looking to upgrade from their current SV6 Sportwagon (the most popular variant of the Sportwagon) will benefit from a more powerful 3.6-litre V6 engine with fuel-saving cylinder de-activation technology plus a new nine-speed automatic transmission and the "Twinster’’ adaptive all-wheel-drive system with torque vectoring and twin-clutch rear differential system.
An adaptive ‘Flexride’ suspension system with Tour, Standard and Sport modes will also be available.
The new direct injection V6 engine will offer 230kW of power and 370Nm of torque and efficiency is boosted not only by the nine-speed transmission but also a weight reduction in the region of 200kg (depending on model) and improved aerodynamics. No performance details have been confirmed for the four-cylinder models.
Details contained in the simultaneous release of information about the Opel and Vauxhall Insignia Sport Tourer models confirm the next generation Commodore liftback and Sportwagon share the same 2829mm wheelbase (86mm less than the current VF II model).
Overall length measures 4986mm which suggests the new Sportwagon will be 87mm longer than the five-door model but 53mm shorter than the current VF II SV6 Sportwagon.
Holden says the all-new Sportwagon will offer up to 1640 litres of cargo space (the current model is 2000 litres) and a powered tailgate that will feature a hands-free "kick motion’’ opening function.
Working in combination with the "keyless open’’ function, a simple small kicking motion under the rear bumper is enough to open the tailgate (a vehicle silhouette projected onto the ground shows the correct area). A further kicking motion under the bumper will close the tailgate. The clever system can detect any obstruction and stops the mechanism in case of emergency.
The opening height of the tailgate can also be programmed, in case the car is in a garage. The tailgate can still be opened by a switch on the driver’s side of the car, a button at the rear or via the key’s remote control.
To enhance the load carrying flexibility the new Sportwagon will offer an optional 40/20/40 split fold rear seat configuration. The rear-seat backrest can be folded down by a one-touch button located in the luggage compartment.
Other technologies to be offered on the Commodore Sportwagon will be IntelliLux LED matrix headlights, adaptive cruise control and driver assist functions include Lane Keep Assist with Lane Departure Warning, Forward Collision Alert, Side Blind-zone Alert, Rear Cross Traffic Alert and Autonomous Emergency Braking.
Comfort features available in the new Commodore range include massage seats, heated front and rear seats and ventilated front seats while infotainment highlights include an 8.0-inch configurable LCD instrument display, a head-up display and Apple CarPlay and Android Auto functionality.
