2015 VF II Holden Commodore revealed

It’s two years before Holden’s factory closes but the covers have now come off the car that will take the Commodore to the end of the production line.

Australia, your last locally-made Holden Commodore is ready.

The final edition of the homegrown Commodore was unveiled just a stone’s throw from where the first Holden car rolled off the line in 1948, when former Prime Minister Ben Chifley declared “she’s a beauty”.

The covers came off the fastest and most powerful Commodore at an extravagant event inside Plant Four behind Holden’s headquarters in Port Melbourne today.

Under the skin is a 6.2-litre V8 that previously powered the Corvette.

Although the Commodore was never made in Port Melbourne (Holden car manufacturing ended there in 1956 but the site has continued to assemble engines) there were more than 30 historic models on display.

The flagship “VF Series II” Commodore SS Redline that took centre stage as Holden aims to reverse a sales slide before the assembly line in Elizabeth, South Australia closes forever in late 2017.

The changes to the new model are subtle -- a new front bumper, and vents in the bonnet -- but under the skin is a 6.2-litre V8 that previously powered the Corvette sports car, US export versions of the Commodore, and, until now, reserved for performance partner Holden Special Vehicles.

Holden has given the latest model everything the company can muster as figures show more than one in three Commodores sold is now a V8.

Enthusiasts are expected to buy one last Commodore as there will not be a V8 when the next generation model arrives from Germany in 2018.

“I think there is a pent up demand for this car,” said Mark Bernhard, the first Australian boss of Holden in 25 years. “Inevitably some people will buy it (because it’s the last). Hopefully they’re buying it because it’s a fantastic car.”

The last homegrown Commodore certainly won’t go quietly.

Holden has introduced a "mechanical sound enhancer" under the bonnet that, combined with a larger exhaust, pumps more V8 roar into the cabin while still meeting noise regulations outside the car.

Holden development engineer, Amelinda Watt, said it took “years” to make the V8 sound loud on the inside while still meeting stringent noise restrictions.

“This is absolutely the best car we have ever engineered and we are confident we are giving all our customers a compelling reason to put the latest Commodore in their driveway,” said Ms. Watt.

The final lap: Holden Commodore

2015 Holden Commodore SS-V Redline

Price: $56,190
Engine: 6.2-litre V8
Power: 304kW and 570Nm
Transmission: Six-speed manual, six-speed automatic
0 to 100km/h: 4.9 seconds
 
1978 Holden Commodore SL/E

Price: $11,315
Engine: 5.0-litre V8
Power: 114kW and 354Nm
Transmission: Four-speed manual, three-speed automatic
0 to 100km/h: 9 seconds