Holden takes Commodore back to Black

GM HOLDEN has introduced a new limited-edition 'Black' version of its VF Series II Commodore to keep interest in its family car range ticking along.

The Commodore Black is available now from Holden dealerships and is offered in all three body styles – sedan, Sportwagon and Ute.

Holden's latest special edition is based on the Commodore SV6 and SS but they gain a number of exterior and interior flourishes as well as some added tech features.

The Black editions will come at a $1000 premium over regular SV6 and SS variants, with the Ute starting at $34,990 plus on-road costs for the SV6 manual-based Commodore Black, while at the other end of the range an automatic SS Sportwagon will set you back $50,190 Extra features for the Black edition include a colour head-up display, satellite navigation, red seat stitching and unique Black edition front floor mats.

On the outside, it gains a black grille, daytime running light surrounds and mirror caps, a black lip spoiler on sedan versions, Black edition badging and unique 18-inch alloy wheels with black satin finish.

Twenty-inch black Baretta alloy wheels are available as a $1000 option on sedan and Ute variants.

Holden executive director of sales Peter Keley highlighted the popularity of models featuring a black theme and said the limited-edition Commodore Black represented great value for money.

“Black exterior design features have proved popular with customers looking to give their vehicle a stronger road presence and unique styling,” he said.

“With Commodore Black, we’ve chosen to combine the style of those black design features with the substance of advanced technology, usually only reserved for our top-of-the-range vehicles.

“Commodore Black offers an impressive amount of additional content, headed by satellite navigation and the driver focused, colour head-up display, providing customers with a compelling package and outstanding value.” Holden launched the VF Series II Commodore in October last year, marking the final major update for the Australian-built large car range before the Port Melbourne and Elizabeth, South Australia production facilities are closed in late 2017.

The next-generation Commodore will be an imported model and will likely be based on the front/all-wheel drive underpinnings of the next-generation Opel Insignia, Buick LaCrosse and Regal.

The Commodore is still one of the most popular cars in Australia, in terms of sales, maintaining its top 10 – and sometimes top five – standing in the overall monthly sales.

Last year the Commodore was the best-selling Australian-built car in the country with 27,770 sales, beating Toyota's Melbourne-built Camry by just 116 units.

So far this year Commodore sales have slid by nine per cent to 6132 units, but it is still in the top 10 year to date, trailing the Toyota Corolla and HiLux, Hyundai's i30, Ford's Ranger, the Mazda3 and CX-5 and Mitsubishi's Triton.