Aussie V8s still rate

New figures from GM Holden show V8 sales have risen significantly in the past 10 years. The number of Commodore buyers chosing a V8 ahead of a V6 also rose significantly.

And V8s are a serious choice for private buyers.

Batey says showroom results this year have been positive for Commodore. GM Holden finally moved ahead of its overall 2006 score for the first time in April as customers came back to its family flagship.

Overall Commodore sales were 928 better in April 2007 than for the same month in 2006.

Looking back 10 years, GM Holden says its percentage of V8 sales has more than doubled. They dipped between 2000 and 2005 but demand recovered quickly with the introduction of the latest 5.7 V8.

“People still want performance cars,” Batey says.

The number of V8 engines sold in 1996 was just over 4000 and increased to 7400 in 2006. The percentage of V8 sales was 5 per cent in 1995, 12 per cent in 2001 and peaked at 13 per cent last year.

“The petrol crisis started in 2005 and by '06 was really biting. Yet that's when V8 sales were really strong,” GM Holden spokesman John Lindsay says.

Batey says the VE Commodore is now kicking into high gear and he is confident the car is through the worst.

“We're really happy with Commodore,” he says.

“If you look at its share of segment, we've had a better launch than we had with the VT a decade ago if you consider all the dimensions. We have more V8s than we've ever had, more higher-end models than ever. We're building our car park. We're starting to see more of them on the road.

“From a Holden perspective, the Commodore is still clearly the best-selling car in the country. It's not the demise of large cars but it's also not domination. There are people who want large cars, and want V8s and sport performance.”