More than one in three Holden Commodores sold is fitted with a V8 engine.

[csv8]

"More than one in three Holden Commodores sold is fitted with a V8 engine.

Since the heavily revised new VF Commodore went on sale in mid-2013 37 per cent of the Commodores sold have been fitted with a high performance V8 - either the 6.0-litre version in regular Commodores or the 6.2-litres fitted to HSV variants.

It’s believed to be the highest share of V8s in the Commodore’s 26-year history and is indicative of the popularity of the brand to motoring enthusiasts and those wanting an affordable, large, practical car that’s fun to drive.

“We’re selling a rich mix of cars – high end cars and V8s,” said Holden’s executive director of sales and marketing, Philip Brook.
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About half of the Holden Commodore Utes sold is fitted with a V8, while the sedans and wagons are increasingly being chosen by private buyers with the higher output engine.

“It’s a strong mix of V8s,” said Brook, who puts it down to the driving experience and a healthy Australian appetite for performance cars.

“If you take a V6 [Commodore] it’s very good, if you take a V8 it’s outstanding,” said Brook.

The big winner from the push towards V8s has been the sporty SS, SS-V and SS-V Redline models, which now account for 23 per cent of Commodore sales – almost one in four of the 35,000-odd sold annually.

Brook concedes much of the growth in share of V8 sales within the Commodore range is due to the drop-off in fleet and government sales, which gravitate towards more affordable and efficient V6 versions.

“One of the big reductions over the years has been government sales and a bit of large fleet ... and they traditionally all bought V6s.”

The sales are the latest example of buyers putting performance or practicality ahead of fuel consumption.

V6 versions of the Commodore use between 8.3 and 9.6 litres of fuel per 100km, whereas the V8 versions use between 11.5 and 11.7L/100km up to 41 per cent more.

Sales of large SUVs have also boomed over the past decade, with buyers demanding additional space at the expense of fuel consumption.

When Holden ceases production of the Commodore in Australia by the end of 2017 it is likely to continue selling high performance, rear-wheel-drive models.

It’s understood General Motors is working on a V8-powered performance sedan to replace the Chevrolet SS, a car currently produced by Holden and exported to the United States.

Volume selling Holden large cars – which may or may not be called Commodores – would likely be a separate body and use a four-cylinder or hybrid powertrain driving the front wheels."
http://www.drive.com.au/motor-news/v...619-zse7e.html

[FormulaFG]

Probably says more about Holden's rubbish V6 than it does about the V8.

[zilo]

wait a while for the price of petrol to hit the $2/L mark.

then we'll see how many they sell.

[nstg8a]

Originally Posted by zilo

wait a while for the price of petrol to hit the $2/L mark.

then we'll see how many they sell.

Holden will be long gone by then.

[Smoke Pursuit]

Yep it's the crappy v6 oil sludger that makes the v8 shinr

[Crazy Dazz]

no, no, no people AREN'T buying big cars anymore or fuel guzzling V8's,
just ask anyone in here, or Ford Australia

Originally Posted by FormulaFG

Probably says more about Holden's rubbish V6 than it does about the V8.

Yes, that explains why people are buying V8 Commodes instead of 6 cylinder Falcons

[Wretched]

Originally Posted by zilo

wait a while for the price of petrol to hit the $2/L mark.

Yawn...that was meant to happen years ago...still waiting.

[CyberWasp]

The funny thing is that they could be selling even more than they are.
They still have crap engines and they based the front styling on the Malibu which was a dud even in the USA.

[Dr Smith]

Originally Posted by Crazy Dazz

no, no, no people AREN'T buying big cars anymore or fuel guzzling V8's,
just ask anyone in here, or Ford Australia

Yes, that explains why people are buying V8 Commodes instead of 6 cylinder Falcons

Or ask Holden why they also will pull out leaving Ford Australia as the largest employer in the car industry...by far.

[hedgehobb]

Originally Posted by Wretched

Yawn...that was meant to happen years ago...still waiting.

Disappointed petrol isn't more expensive... ok

[Ducati888]

Originally Posted by nstg8a

Holden will be long gone by then.

No, the Commodore will. Holden aren't going anywhere.

[Ducati888]

Originally Posted by Dr Smith

Or ask Holden why they also will pull out leaving Ford Australia as the largest employer in the car industry...by far.

I don't understand what you are saying here. Toyota will remain a manufacturer in Aust longer than both Ford & Holden, though they are pulling out of manufacturing too (and hence will be a bigger employer). When they shut down manufacturing shortly after Holden do, they will still have more employees in the country than Ford, because they import more cars, service more cars, sell more cars and have larger dealerships.

All three manufacturers are 'pulling out' of making cars here. Nobody is 'pulling out' of the market though.

[johnydep]

Originally Posted by zilo

wait a while for the price of petrol to hit the $2/L mark.

then we'll see how many they sell.

The 6.0 is quite economical, I'm getting better mileage than my Territory and I don't nurse it for economy like I did with he Terri.

Around town I'm averaging 14L/100km, driving without economy in mind and listening to that wonderful V8 sound I have had it much lower, but that sound ....

On the highway it is fantastic; drove Adelaide to Melbourne on one 71L tank with fuel to spare in Melbourne, and I didn't spare the horses when overtaking.

Cylinder deactivation really works.

[Crazy Dazz]

Originally Posted by Dr Smith

Or ask Holden why they also will pull out leaving Ford Australia as the largest employer in the car industry...by far.

no, that doesn't explain why people buy Commodes instead of Falcons

[malazn mafia]

Originally Posted by johnydep

The 6.0 is quite economical, I'm getting better mileage than my Territory and I don't nurse it for economy like I did with he Terri.

Around town I'm averaging 14L/100km, driving without economy in mind and listening to that wonderful V8 sound I have had it much lower, but that sound ....

On the highway it is fantastic; drove Adelaide to Melbourne on one 71L tank with fuel to spare in Melbourne, and I didn't spare the horses when overtaking.

Cylinder deactivation really works.

Still can't beat the FG XR6T. 780km on 68 litre tank going via tripmeter

[EgoFG]

If Australia had gone with Corporate average fuel economy, and a tax penalty, about 15 years ago it would have been good for the Australian Car industry, good for revenue, but bad for commodore.

[simon varley]

Originally Posted by johnydep

The 6.0 is quite economical

and I'm getting 12.7 with my VE and that's without AFM

[Rob 351]

Just depends on how you drive them. I can get under 10l per 100 in my manual 335 but I'll give you a tip, it aint any fun driving it like that!

[johnydep]

Originally Posted by malazn mafia

Still can't beat the FG XR6T. 780km on 68 litre tank going via tripmeter

But I did

[PepeLePew]

Lets refrain from turning this into the usual Holden Vs Ford spat based on a off the cuff comment about fuel cost/economy.

On topic I'd agree it's more a reflection of the increased mix of private buyers and the relative bargain that the SS is in particular. See a TON on the roads.

[V8UTE]

Half of the Holden utes sold are V8s. I wish Ford would keep the Falcon V8 ute alive.

[Dave R]

This has nothing to do with the six, the 3.6 SIDI motor is actually a nice thing to pilot now. Holden V8 sales have always been strong regardless of petrol prices or anything else really. Even at a time when we were experiencing one of the largest petrol price spikes in recent history, plus economic uncertainty (mid-late 2000s) Holden were still selling an enormous amount of V8 VEs, much to the surprise of many forum-goers. Now with less fleet volume and proportionately more private buyers, a high proportion of V8s is to be expected really. Also goes to show the traditional enthusiast isn't dead.

[Franco Cozzo]

The V6 isn't as bad as everyone makes out, Neighbour has a VE SV6 thats manual and it drives nicely, not a bad ride dudes.

[flooded one]

Originally Posted by Big Damo

The V6 isn't as bad as everyone makes out, Neighbour has a VE SV6 thats manual and it drives nicely, not a bad ride dudes.

Its more so the autos that ****** me off with the commodore

[johnydep]

Originally Posted by V8UTE

Half of the Holden utes sold are V8s. I wish Ford would keep the Falcon V8 ute alive.

I've always liked V8's, but times change and we went through different stages. Last year I decided I needed a new ute for the business, went straight to Ford but there was no V8 option. The Turbo did cross my mind, love my turbo's as well.

In the end my heart was set on the V8 but I didn't like the VE. then the VF came out, went for a test drive and the rest is history.

I'm trying to talk my wife into trading in the Honda Euro for a VF SS-V sedan.

I think that people are taking the last opportunity to get a car that's a bit special - V8 Aussie muscle. I reckon Ford would see similar sales figures if they had a V8 option, just look how quick the GT went.

[Dr Smith]

Originally Posted by Ducati888

I don't understand what you are saying here. Toyota will remain a manufacturer in Aust longer than both Ford & Holden, though they are pulling out of manufacturing too (and hence will be a bigger employer). When they shut down manufacturing shortly after Holden do, they will still have more employees in the country than Ford, because they import more cars, service more cars, sell more cars and have larger dealerships.

All three manufacturers are 'pulling out' of making cars here. Nobody is 'pulling out' of the market though.

After they all close, only Ford will maintain a huge international engineering team of over 1000 people, this will be on top of importing, distribution and sales/marketing which will be the only real presence of Holden and Toyota once their plants shut down.

[Franco Cozzo]

Originally Posted by wildrider

Its more so the autos that ****** me off with the commodore

Every auto is crap IMO

Don't give me none of this ZF6 BS either.

[Dr Smith]

Originally Posted by Crazy Dazz

no, that doesn't explain why people buy Commodes instead of Falcons

No but it explains that even selling triple the number of cars cannot make it viable for Holden, it's not how many cars you sell it's ALL about how much you can make selling them, and sadly it's a sea of red ink for all manufacturers for locally produced cars.

[1TUFFUTE]

Originally Posted by Crazy Dazz

no, no, no people AREN'T buying big cars anymore or fuel guzzling V8's,
just ask anyone in here, or Ford Australia

Yes, that explains why people are buying V8 Commodes instead of 6 cylinder Falcons

your comment smacks of uneducation. just because 1/3 of all commadores sold are v8s doesn't mean that theres enough total sales to warrant engineering and building said v8 large cars for next or previous gens.

the descission ford made.....prevented them from being in twice the DEBT holden is in.......oH BUT WAIT THEY SELL 200 v8s a month

1/3 of sweat f all is still sweet f all mate

[1TUFFUTE]

Originally Posted by johnydep

I've always liked V8's, but times change

I think that people are taking the last opportunity to get a car that's a bit special - V8 Aussie muscle. I reckon Ford would see similar sales figures if they had a V8 option, just look how quick the GT went.

I reckon theyd also have the same debt figures as holden if they did everything that holden has done.
im a firm believer that if you know your closing down in the near future.....WHY the HELL would you spend up like moneys going out of fashion. extremely bad buissiness form.

problem is with being a 'responsible' company like ford has with winding down.....we now don't have a killer product like the VF.