The new Holden ZB Commodore isn't coming to New Zealand until next year, but it's already hitting various parts of Europe in its Vauxhall and Opel guise. Click here to read more about it.
Included in those is the Opel Insignia GSi — Europe's equivalent of what us Kiwis will know as the Holden Commodore VXR. The Holden-flavoured version will be punctuated by local tuning throughout, including new dampers, re-calibrated suspension, and pointier steering compared to its Vauxhall and Opel brethren.
But still, it's nice to know that even without these changes the new Commodore is at home on a circuit. Especially when that circuit is the Nürburgring Nordschleife.
Now, the connection to the storied German race track is more than just marketing faff. The circuit was one of several locations utilized by General Motors during testing; helping with performance and handling measures as well as economy tests.
So, in a sort of cruel irony (given that the ZB will replace performance-orientated rear-wheel drive Commodores of yesteryear), one of the first adverts created by Opel to market the turbocharged V6 Insignia GSi sees it muscling around the Nürburgring. The noise thickly dubbed on top, and drowning out the sound of squealing tyres. You can check the advert out in full above.
With torque vectoring and revised suspension and steering set-ups all playing a part, the new Commodore is probably one of the most compliant Holden have ever stamped their name on. Whether the market can put aside their love for the previous models will be another story.