Holden Commodore Diesel: Finally?

Motoring Channel Staff - 1/February/2008

Melbourne, Australia — Is diesel the magic elixir that can save large cars in Australia?

Both Holden and Ford have been resisting the switch to diesel for years, which would provide their large cars (Commodore and Falcon respectively) with significantly better fuel consumption.

General Motors group vice-president for powertrains, Thomas Stephens, recently confirmed that the Zeta architecture which underpins the Holden VE Commodore and many upcoming American cars such as the Chevrolet Camaro, can be configured for diesel power.

Though details are still sketchy at this stage, the powerful VMM (VM Motori) V6 was mentioned by Mr Stephens, which could be fitted to the Holden Commodore late in 2009.

The most likely engine type for the Holden Commodore is the 2.9-litre V6 diesel, which was developed by GM and Italian group VM Motori as a next generation diesel engine for General Motors various global products.

This 2.9-litre turbocharged diesel mill is the same engine that is expected to find its way into Australian versions of the new Cadillac CTS and European Opel models, and would provide the Commodore with high levels of performance and efficiency.

The advanced 2.9-litre diesel outputs 186kW (250hp) and an HSV GTS-equalling 550Nm. If you tow heavy loads, a new diesel-powered Commodore would be a Godsend, and orders of magnitude more efficient than the 6.0-litre V8 petrol engine.

The current slump in large car sales in Australia, which has been trending downwards for the last few years, is largely attributed to the increasing price of petrol. 

The 6-cylinder petrol engines of the Ford Falcon and Holden Commodore have to work hard and use lots of petrol to heft the 1.7+ tonne weights of these vehicles.

As European and Asian imports - increasingly equipped with diesel engines - are growing their market share in the Australian new car marketplace, locally made large cars are dropping off.

Diesel versions of the Commodore and Falcon could turn this trend around.

Holden will launch a new version of the 6.0-litre V8 engine in late 2008 or early 2009 on the VE Commodore (likely to be Series II) that features displacement on demand. This system reduces fuel consumption by deactivating half the V8 engine's cylinders, but it's effectiveness is believed to offer only minimal gains.

Ford will be launching it's all-new 2008 model Falcon at the Melbourne Motor Show in less than a month's time but the chances of Ford unveiling a diesel option at this early stage are very slim.

But if the Holden Commodore and Statesman models get diesel power in 2009, which is looking 99.9% likely after Thomas Stephens' comments, Ford would no doubt follow suit and could offer a new diesel engine for the new Falcon by decades end and also in the second generation Territory, which is scheduled to arrive in 2009.

The first Australian application of the new General Motors 2.9-litre turbo diesel V6 engine is expected to be in the Hummer H3 in 2009.

Related Articles:
- Holden VE Sportwagon (2008)
- Holden VE Ute: SS vs SV6 (Road Test)
- Holden Commodore Sportwagon (2008)
- Holden VE Ute (First Drive)
- Holden Captiva Diesel (Road Test)
- Holden Barina/Chevrolet Aveo (2008)
- Holden VE Commodore vs Ford BF Falcon (Road Test)
- Holden Commodore SS V vs Ford Falcon XR6 Turbo (Road Test)
- HSV Senator vs FPV Force6 (Road Test)
- Holden EFIJY Wins U.S. Concept Car Award (2007)
- Holden Astra Diesel (Road Test)
- Holden Barina (Road Test)
- Holden Astra SRi Turbo (Road Test)
- Holden VE Commodore - Dual-Fuel LPG (2006)