Re-Engineered Commodore To Be More Economical Than Camry, Says Holden

[JoeT]

Commodore To Get Run Flat Tyres

Toby Hagon
15 August 2008
www.drive.com.au

Holden is re-engineering the Commodore to give it the performance of a V6 and fuel economy of a four-cylinder.

Holden is looking at removing the spare tyre from the Commodore and instead fitting controversial run-flat tyres as part of a broader plan to improve fuel efficiency by more than 20 per cent and reduce carbon dioxide emissions.

General Motors Holden chairman and managing director Mark Reuss says the imminent move to tyres that can be driven on after a puncture is designed to reduce weight, helping the V6 Commodore the efficiency of a four-cylinder.

Reuss believes getting the basics of the Commodore design right is more important than relatively expensive additions such as a hybrid powertrain, which he is now hinting will not happen as early as 2010. This is in contrast to General Motors group vice president Nick Reilly, who said hybrid Commodores would arrive in “a couple of years”.

“There’s a lot of things we can do in the near term and a lot of things we can do in the further term … there’s a lot more to go (in terms of efficiency improvements),” says Reuss, citing everything from weight reduction to more efficient tyres, engine improvements and better aerodynamics.

“It would be really stupid to make a sequential decision around a hybrid in a Commodore before we have efficiency in the base architecture done. I’m talking about all the pieces to get an efficient platform.”

Reuss believes the fuel economy of a regular, petrol engine Commodore can be reduced by 20 per cent or more. He says today’s official average fuel consumption figure of 10.8 litres per 100km could drop to 8.5L/100km.

That would make the entry-level Commodore as efficient as many of today’s smaller, mid-sized four-cylinder cars. A Mazda 6 uses a claimed 8.4 litres of fuel per 100km while a Toyota Camry uses 9.9L/100km.

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[63GrandSport001]

GM, why is it that everyone can do things that you cant even the companies under your control?

[redimpss5]

Send it to me!!!!

[regfootball]

memo to AU- make your zeta lighter or say bye bye to your existence

[RedVee8]

Originally Posted by regfootball

memo to AU- make your zeta lighter or say bye bye to your existence

because?

I get it, no other porky vehicles are built in the GM world.

[AndrewGS]

Originally Posted by regfootball

memo to AU- make your zeta lighter or say bye bye to your existence

Same can be said for Lambda and Theta.

[commodorecoops]

Originally Posted by regfootball

memo to AU- make your zeta lighter or say bye bye to your existence

And Camaro.

[djo165]

Hopefully, some of those weight saving measures will show up on the Pontiac G8 as well. However, given the choice of run flat tires and no spare or regular tires with a spare, I'll take the spare. Run flats tend not to ride as smooth, and I've heard they don't give as much steering feel.

BMW does lead the way in pushing the run flats. I always liked how they and some of the other European manufacturers were among the last to offer full size spare tires.

[davidlane]

I believe the Corvettes went to run flats with the C5 over 10 years ago. As to weight, Mazda has been taking this approach for some time. They refer to it as adding lightness. Even further back is Lotus. Given the regulatory climate in North America and Europe all the manufacturers are going to have to do this or the fines will eat them alive. No wait they'll just pass them on to the buyer. The only vehicle GM seems to be able to do this with is the Corvette. Otherwise, for a given amount of usable interior space the GM products tend to have the largest foot print and the highest weight when compared to their competition. To introduce a "pony car", Camaro, that is the size and almost the weight as a Cadillac CTS is inexcusable IMO. And yes I'm aware Chrysler did the same thing with the Challenger. And both for the same reason, didn't have the resources/commitment to develop a reasonable size/weight alternative. While GM is not the only offender on weight they are one of the more egregious IMO.

[poncho1982]

Originally Posted by 63GrandSport001

GM, why is it that everyone can do things that you cant even the companies under your control?

Umm, I hate to break it to you, but if Holden is doing it, then GM is doing it. You think they opperate autonomously?

[CamaroCrazy]

Good! Make all these enhancements and then lets see some more Zetas in the US.

[Slick_Holden]

At first i had to laugh a bit..

Then i seen a few more things, At first i was getting the impression he was saying this, Remove the spare wheel and reduce fuel econemy by 20%.. I had a laugh..
But i guess there is a few more ideas in that..

Most of this i have herd in the building of the VE.. They wont use this lighter body, It cost to much, The IRS can be of light weight parts.. But cost wise? HSV only maybe..

lighter seats sounds smart, Small but smart..
But it should start with the heart the engine, Make that efficient and the rest will follow.
Run flat tyres, Give them a go.. The panels under the car sounds good also,
I really haven't herd super things about electric power steering, I have herd a few scary storys of slow reaction and dead felling ones.

[Kamshaaft]

Holden is listening! Not that there was ever a problem with Holden in the first place, nor am I bagging the previous leader (who was DAMNED good!).

[Slick_Holden]

You mean Denny Money, That a**e clown **** face **** rooten **** dog *** wipe pig **** face m***r ******??, That nice guy i miss him also.

[FenwickHockey65]

Saw this on Camaro5.com, ran a search and didn't find it here...

http://www.camaro5.com/forums/showth...416#post113416

http://www.drive.com.au/Editorial/Ar...&vf=12&IsPgd=0

Reuss believes the fuel economy of a regular, petrol engine Commodore can be increased by 20 per cent or more. He says today’s official average fuel consumption figure of ~22 miles per gallon could increase to ~27mpg.