Holden Commodore (ZB)

Holden Commodore (ZB)
Overview
Manufacturer	Opel (Groupe PSA)
Also called	Buick Regal (China, North America) Opel Insignia (Europe) Vauxhall Insignia (United Kingdom)
Production	2018–present
Assembly	Rüsselsheim, Germany
Designer	Mark Adams
Body and chassis
Class	Mid-size car
Body style	5-door liftback 5-door station wagon
Layout	FF/F4/FR (Motorsport)
Platform	E2XX platform
Related	Opel Insignia
Powertrain
Engine	LTG 2.0L I4 petrol 2.0L I4 diesel LGX 3.6L V6 petrol
Transmission	8-speed Automatic 9-speed Automatic
Chronology
Predecessor	Holden Commodore (VF) Holden Malibu Holden Insignia (first generation)

The Holden Commodore (ZB) is a mid-sized car produced by former GM subsidiary Opel (currently owned by Groupe PSA) in Rüsselsheim, Germany, released in 2018. It is the first-iteration of the fifth-generation Commodore platform, and essentially, is a rebadged Opel Insignia. The range includes 5-door liftback and 5-door station wagon body styles. From 2015 to 2017, Holden sold the first generation model as the ‘Insignia VXR’, before renaming it to ‘Commodore’ with more engine choices and an enhanced lineup for the second generation model.

It is the first Holden Commodore model to be manufactured outside of Australia, following the closure of Holden's Australian car manufacturing facilities at Elizabeth, South Australia and Fishermans Bend, Victoria on Friday October 20, 2017. It is the first Commodore in 30 years to come with a four-cylinder engine as standard and controversially the first in its 40-year production not to have a V8 powertrain option. Holden corporate made the decision to discontinue Australian manufacturing of the Holden Commodore due to falling sales and losses. However, the ZB Commodore then resulted in the lowest sales month (Feb 2018) since 1948, with only 647 ZB Commodore vehicles sold.^[1][2]

Development

Development for the ZB Commodore started in 2012, with Holden helping Opel design and develop the next-generation Insignia, catering it to Australian conditions.

Once the car was ready, prototypes were sent to Australia for testing. Holden completed over 100,000 km of testing, with engineers bracing the cars to withstand local roads and make it feel similar to previous Commodore generations.^[3]

Safety

Akin to its VF Commodore predecessor, the ZB achieved five stars in the ANCAP safety ratings. Originally the ZB ANCAP rating was awarded based on the Euro NCAP test of a 1.6 liter model which is not sold in Australia.^[4] ANCAP then took it upon itself to crash test the ZB model ^[5]

ANCAP Test Results
Star rating:
Test[N 1]	Points	Out of	%
Adult Occupant Protection:	35.34	38	93%
Child Occupant Protection:	41.96	49	85%
Pedestrian Protection:	32.83	42	78%
Safety Assist:	9.35	12	77%

Powertrains

The ZB Commodore is available with a range of engines including a four-cylinder petrol, four-cylinder diesel and six-cylinder petrol engine. Front-wheel drive and all-wheel drive are available across the liftback and wagon body styles.

Models

Compared to the VF Commodore, Holden rearranged the specification levels with the Calais variants only surviving the cull, having been introduced with the VK-series of 1984 as the luxury-focused models. Various price cuts were made and wagon variants are more expensive.

Commodore LT

Commodore LT

The LT is the new entry-level Commodore, replacing the previous generation's Evoke model, which is also $3,935 cheaper than the predecessor's drive-away price. It features a front-wheel drive 2.0L Turbo 4-cylinder engine with a 9-speed automatic or an optional 2.0L Diesel with a 8-speed automatic. It comes with 17" alloy wheels, Autonomous Emergency Braking (AEB), Lane Keep Assist, an 7" MyLink system with Apple CarPlay & Android Auto and Passive Entry & Push Button Start as standard. The model is available as liftback or wagon.

Commodore RS

The RS has a slightly sportier look than the LT model, with a sportier interior featuring sportier seats and steering wheel. It also features more safety features including Blind Zone Alert and Rear Cross Traffic Alert. The RS has two drivetrain options of a front-wheel drive 2.0L Turbo 4-cylinder engine with a 9-speed Automatic or an All Wheel Drive 3.6L V6 (only available on the Liftback). It comes with 18" alloy wheels. The model is available as liftback or wagon.

Commodore RS-V

The RS-V is similar to the RS Model but includes more features such as an upgraded 8" MyLink system incorporating satellite navigation, wireless phone charging, Hi-Per Strut Suspension and an Adaptive AWD system. Only the V6 AWD powertrain is offered in liftback and wagon forms.

Commodore VXR

The VXR is Holden's new flagship model following Holden's decision to rest the well-known SS nameplate along with the V8 Engine configuration. The VXR nameplate was originally used for the British Vauxhall VXR. It features 20" alloy wheels, sportier lavishings and leather seats with a massage function. Safety features include a 360 degree camera and Continuous Damping Control Suspension. It is only available in liftback with the V6 powertrain.

Commodore Calais

Retaining the previous generation's familiar name, the Calais is the base luxury model. Standard equipment includes 18" alloy wheels, leather seating with a heating function, wireless phone charging, Blind Spot Alert, Rear Cross Traffic Alert and an 8" MyLink system. Available as a Liftback or Tourer, the former receives the 2.0L petrol four-cylinder engine, or an optional diesel engine, while the wagon is exclusively fitted with the V6 powertrain.

Commodore Calais-V

Commodore Calais V

Carrying over the previous-generation "V" flair, the Calais-V is the flagship luxury model. Standard offerings include 20" alloy wheels, an Adaptive AWD system, a 360-degree camera and massaging driver seat. It is available in either a liftback or wagon bodystyle, with the V6 powertrain being the only on offer.

Motorsport

Holden ZB Commodore driven by Jamie Whincup at the 2018 Red Rooster Sydney SuperNight 300

For marketing purposes, the ZB Commodore will be raced in various motorsport disciplines, however, the race cars generally have no physical or mechanical relationship with the production model, other than similar looks, as an exterior shell is built to resemble the road going cars, with a rear wheel drive tube frame chassis underneath.

Sales

Sales of the new Commodore commenced in February 2018. The ZB is the first Commodore produced outside of Australia since the nameplates induction in 1978, leading to much public backlash.

Consumer uptake and acceptance have been the lowest for any Commodore branded vehicle in the history of Holden manufacturing, however, this has also come at the same time as the nameplate has shifted market segment and competition, with the ZB outperforming all but the Toyota Camry in the Medium/Large segment, including the Mazda6 and Ford Mondeo.^[8]