Commodore Powers Down To Lure Buyers Back

Sydney Morning Herald

Saturday November 1, 2008

Toby Hagon

HOLDEN has taken the unusual step of reducing the power and performance of its Commodore V6 in an effort to improve its environmental credentials and fuel consumption. For only the second time in the car's 30-year history, a new model will arrive in dealerships with less power than the model it replaces.

In response to the shift to smaller, more efficient cars that has seen sales of the Commodore and rival Ford Falcon nosedive, Holden has revised the locally made engine to improve its environmental impact and reduce fuel bills.

All entry-level Commodore V6s built from this month will have 5kW less power, representing a 2.8 per cent reduction. The 175kW power output of the new Commodore for 2009 is identical to that of the 2004 Commodore - and 20kW less than the rival Falcon. Fuel consumption has also been reduced by 2.8 per cent. The entry-level Commodore will now consume an average 10.6 litres/100km, down from 10.9L/100km with the outgoing model.

Families driving 20,000 kilometres a year paying $1.46 a litre stand to save just $1.68 a week, or $87.60 a year. Each Commodore will use 60 litres less fuel a year, reducing carbon dioxide emissions by 138 kilograms.

However, consumption improvements are more substantial for LPG-equipped Commodores. They now use 14.2L/100km, 8.6 per cent less than before. Buyers who choose a Commodore fitted with an LPG system and travel 20,000 kilometres paying 73 cents a litre stand to save $189.80 a year, or $3.65 a week. The new LPG Commodores will emit 390 kilograms less carbon dioxide each year than the current model. Over an average year, an LPG Commodore would emit almost 4.3 tonnes of carbon dioxide, while a petrol V6 would emit almost 4.9 tonnes.

Holden is defending the reduced power and torque by saying it will not affect real-world driving. It concedes the V6 output could adversely affect the outright acceleration performance.

"Moving to the upgraded engine has a minor impact on power and output but has a big impact on fuel efficiency and CO2 emissions," says Holden spokeswoman Kate Lonsdale. "It also has a major impact when you go to LPG [-equipped engines]."

Despite the updates the V6 Commodores still use more fuel than a six-cylinder Falcon, which consumes 10.5L/100km and as little as 10.1L/100km when fitted with the six-speed automatic transmission.

© 2008 Sydney Morning Herald

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