VE Commodore's Now On Sale

[JoeT]

VE Commodore Sales Start Today

Glenn Butler & Jeremy Butler
14 August 2006
www.drive.com.au

The Australian public get their first chance to test drive Holden's billion-dollar VE Commodore, which goes on sale today.

Today is the day Holden finds out if its billion-dollar VE Commodore gamble will come up trumps. Today, Monday August 16 is the day Holden's VE Commodore sedan officially goes on sale.

The 50m-long red 'Holden-burg' blimp is flying over Sydney city, its monster video screen streaming Commodore footage and advertising slogans. Dealership windows are blacked-out, but the doors are open and armies of salesmen and women eagerly await the consumer hordes.

A multi-million-dollar advertising campaign will kick off August 18, blanketing television, newspapers and radio with Commodore advertisements. The Commodore Expo – a ten-day sales event which includes private viewing nights, kiddies showbags, balloons and more – will turn every Holden dealer into a mini-Easter show.

The hype surrounding the all-new Commodore is huge. And it's off to a big start at dealership level, says Steven Gatt, the sales manager of Alan Mance Holden in Melbourne.

"There has been a lot of foot traffic into the dealership so far," he said. "Plenty of potential buyer interest but also a lot of people keen to get their first look at the new car."

Gatt says public feedback has been "very positive to begin with" but no new orders today. He's holding 70 orders in total, a mix of fleet and retail, and said the retail orders have a high proportion of Calais-V and SS-V."

Anthony Jeajea of Sydney's Sutton Holden – Australia's biggest Holden dealership – is equally upbeat about the new car.

"I definitely think the new Commodore will help turn around large car sales. Especially when you remember that it uses just one litre more fuel per hundred kilometres than a four-cylinder Camry. And Australians love their rear-wheel drive cars.

Anthony says there have been plenty of test drive requests, but no sales as yet.

"People have been coming in to test drive today, and it’s mainly been the Omega and SV6 models. We haven't sold any Commodores to noon today, but surprisingly we have already sold a WM Caprice and a new VE-Series HSV GTS without even having the cars in the dealership yet."

First Drive: All New VE Commodore Range



Holden's all new VE Commodore range is now on sale

[oudidntkn0w]

Heres to MASSIVE sales for holden and GM. Go get em guys!!

Now bring them to the states

[racy]

I wonder if anyone has some underneath chassis shots of these things. I'd really like to see the platform details. I truly believe what is under these Holdens will be what is under the Camaro.

[E. Haskell]

I was reading this article: http://www.stuff.co.nz/stuff/0,2106,3758947a30,00.html They said that Holden used BMW's E39 (pre-2003) 5-series, Jaguar S-type, Lincoln LS, Lexus LS sedan, and Cadillac CTS to benchmark the Commedore's IRS. At the end it says the car has close to 50:50 weight distribution! Wow, I want a Commedore! I hope the Camaro uses the same IRS and has 50:50 weight distribution.

[me3head]

Imagine that, being able to buy a car shortly after its unveiling. GMNA should learn some restraint and stop unveiling cars 2 years before you can buy them.

[Driveshaft]

Originally Posted by me3head

Imagine that, being able to buy a car shortly after its unveiling. GMNA should learn some restraint and stop unveiling cars 2 years before you can buy them.

Amen to that!

[roteague]

OT: Does anyone know when the Sydney International Motor Show will be? I'll be in Sydney 27-29 October.

[Aych Es Vee]

you're in luck ^^^^^^^^

26th Oct - 5th Nov




The VE should do very well I'd imagine.

[racy]

Originally Posted by me3head

Imagine that, being able to buy a car shortly after its unveiling. GMNA should learn some restraint and stop unveiling cars 2 years before you can buy them.

yes...or how about this option: actually get a car going in two years time, rather than 4-5.

[racy]

Originally Posted by E. Haskell

I was reading this article: http://www.stuff.co.nz/stuff/0,2106,3758947a30,00.html They said that Holden used BMW's E39 (pre-2003) 5-series, Jaguar S-type, Lincoln LS, Lexus LS sedan, and Cadillac CTS to benchmark the Commedore's IRS. At the end it says the car has close to 50:50 weight distribution! Wow, I want a Commedore! I hope the Camaro uses the same IRS and has 50:50 weight distribution.

Great article. And recently I've been thinking this theme over and over: Why in the heck aren't Holdens sold over here. They seem to be ahead of the curve in just about everything.

[BadMac]

Heres the front and rear suspension.

[ponchoman49]

Would love to see them here but with more exciting sheet metal and more distinction between the different models.

[Piston Broke]

I love these things.

[mikmak]

Welcome to GMI Piston Broke.

I went to the dealer today just to have a look and almost got school boy giggly, but I composed myself and made as unbiased assesment as I could manage...they ****************ing awesome!! Closing the doors highlighted how much work they have really done with fit and finish. Its like your own little microcosm with the dealer chatter melting off into the background. He told me he had already sold 5 and it was still 1130 in the morning! 3 omegas, a berlina and an SSV. The guy who bought the SSV just brought his car in for a service, took the SSV for as test drive and traded up as soon as he got back! Lucky git.

[Media!]

They look like they came out in 2001, very poor exterior design, they should look modern not dated before they are launched. I am sure they are fantastic carss but they desperately screwed up with the sheetmetal, the look no different than a ford falcon that is how many years old now?