Is Cadillac ATS a threat to Holden Commodore

How do you launch a rear-wheel drive car as your flagship model when it is physically smaller than a front-wheel drive model already on sale? 

That's just one of the problems Mike Devereux must address as he considers the future of the Commodore in Australia. The Chevrolet Cadillac ATS is the latest of the global GM architectures to be revealed.

It comes as a rear and all-wheel drive platform capable of being produced in right-hand steering configuration and will take a V8 engine. It is also aimed at the BMW 3 Series in the US and - more worryingly - is smaller in every dimension except wheelbase than the front-hook Holden Malibu that will go on sale here next year. 

That makes it an unlikely candidate to replace the locally built Commodore when GM has to dip in to the global platform parts bin some time after 2016.

Developing a "top-hat" of panels imprinted with Holden's styling DNA on a Cadillac CTS chassis would more sense, especially given Holden originally developed the Sigma II platform in the 1990s and Holden boss Mike Devereux is on record as saying he prefers a rear-wheel drive platform.

Holden spokeswoman Emily Perry refused to comment on the Commodore successor. "We're not going to talk about the VF, let alone anything beyond that," she said.

WHAT'S COMING

The VF Commodore - an update of the VE platform - is due in dealerships next year and, while keeping the V6 and V8 engines, will be a leaner car than ever before as Holden looks to compete on the fuel-savings front. Helping the cause will be extensive use of aluminium panels instead of steel and optimised ECU and injection-mapping.

The resultant weight-saving and software efficiencies are designed to push the Holden to four-cylinder fuel use levels. The trouble is, the fours are following the same path to generate more power and use less fuel. The 2.0-litre turbo four-cylinder in the Cadillac ATS cranks out 201kW and even detuned for the Malibu the same engine will generate 193kW/353Nm.

That compares well with the 179kW/353Nm in the 2.0-litre four-cylinder Ecoboost engine for the Ford Falcon. It looks even better alongside the 190kW/290Nm3.0-litre V6 in the Commodore Omega and Berlina variants.

SIZING IT UP