What car is the Holden Commodore based on?
The Holden Commodore is a renowned Australian car that has been a staple on the country's roads for decades. However, contrary to popular belief, the Commodore is not an entirely Australian-designed vehicle. In fact, it has been based on various overseas car models over the years, drawing inspiration from international automotive engineering and design.
Origins of the Holden Commodore
The Holden Commodore was first introduced in 1978 as a replacement for the Holden Kingswood. The original Commodore was based on the Opel Rekord, a mid-size car produced by the German automaker Opel, which was a subsidiary of General Motors (GM). This initial Commodore model was designed and engineered in Germany, with Holden responsible for the local production and adaptation for the Australian market.
Subsequent Commodore Models
Over the years, the Holden Commodore has undergone several redesigns and model changes, but it has consistently been based on overseas car platforms. The second-generation Commodore, introduced in 1988, was derived from the Opel Omega. The third-generation model, launched in 1997, was based on the Opel Omega B platform.
More recently, the Holden Commodore has been based on the Opel Insignia, a mid-size car produced by the German automaker. The Commodore VF, introduced in 2013, was essentially a rebadged and locally-produced version of the Opel Insignia.
Reasons for Overseas-Derived Design
The decision to base the Holden Commodore on overseas car models has been driven by several factors:
- Cost-effectiveness: Leveraging existing car platforms and designs from Opel and other GM subsidiaries allowed Holden to develop the Commodore more efficiently and cost-effectively, rather than starting from scratch with an entirely new design.
- Economies of scale: By sharing platforms and components with other GM models, Holden was able to benefit from the economies of scale and global resources of the larger automotive group.
- Access to advanced technology: Basing the Commodore on Opel and other GM models gave Holden access to the latest automotive technologies and engineering advancements, which it could then adapt and refine for the Australian market.
While the Holden Commodore has been a quintessentially Australian car, its design and engineering have been heavily influenced by international automotive trends and technologies. This approach has allowed Holden to deliver a high-quality, feature-rich vehicle to Australian consumers while leveraging the resources and expertise of its parent company, General Motors.
