Holden unveils the Craig Lowndes Commodore

Holden unveils the Craig Lowndes special edition Commodore in Bathurst today ahead of its arrival in showrooms next month.

Holden hero Craig Lowndes has followed in the tyre tracks of his fallen mentor and idol Peter Brock, unveiling a limited edition Commodore ahead of this weekend's Bathurst 1000 car race.

Holden originally planned to build just 161 Craig Lowndes Edition Commodores -- a tribute to the number of laps in the Bathurst 1000 endurance race -- but demand was so strong Holden increased production to 233 cars, one per Holden dealer.

The car costs $60,000 and comes with no more power than a regular Commodore V8 but does get a load of extras that are fitted in a special projects area on the production line at Elizabeth, near Adelaide.

RELATED: Brock Commodore concept revived with Craig Lowndes

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The car goes into production next week and all models will be built by the end of this year.

Buyers will also get a "money can't buy package" including a tour of Lowndes' Triple 8 V8 Supercar race team headquarters in Queensland.

The Lowndes special edition comes as Holden figures reveal 37 per cent of all new Commodores sold are a V8: more than any other time in the model's 36-year history.

I think (Peter) Brock would be proud of what Holden has done with this one

Lowndes, who celebrates his 20th anniversary at the Bathurst 1000 this weekend, says he is humbled to have his name on a limited edition road car.

"I think (Peter) Brock would be proud of what Holden has done with this one," Lowndes told News Corp Australia.

"It's no secret that Brock was a great mentor and an idol to me. To be able to emulate what he did and get some recognition from Holden by putting my name to a Commodore has been a very humbling experience and very much an honour. For me, it's a dream come true."

Lowndes says Holden came to him earlier this year with the idea of a limited edition road car. His reward: the first one built.

"I'm getting car number one," said Lowndes. "I'm hoping to wheel it out in pristine condition in the years to come and that it will become collectible over time."

Although Lowndes raced for Ford between 2001 and 2006, he launched his V8 Supercar career in a Holden 20 years ago when, as a rookie driver, he challenged for the lead in the final laps of the Bathurst 1000, finishing a close second.

"I was never ear-marked to do the last stint (of the race) because I was the rookie guy," said Lowndes. "But (co-driver Brad Jones) did a double stint in the middle of the day so it forced the team to put me back in the car at the end of the race. And that was the beginning of my career. It's a moment I will never forget."

Lowndes says he is saddened by the end of car manufacturing in Australia. Ford will close its factories in 2016 and Toyota and Holden will follow in 2017.

"Growing up I always watched the Ford and Holden rivalry and was very proud to have cars made in Australia," said Lowndes. "It was something I never thought would change. But of course times have changed and it's going to be a very sad day to see Holden and Ford cease to be manufactured locally."

Lowndes said he feels for the thousands of factory workers at Holden, Ford and Toyota.

"During my time with Ford I got to know the guys at Broadmeadows and Geelong, I know how much that's going to impact workers those areas, and of course all the guys at Holden and Toyota. It really is sad what is happening," he said.

As for this weekend's race, Lowndes is of course in it to win it -- and is still a chance at taking out this year's V8 Supercar championship, despite being 273 points behind series leader and teammate Jamie Whincup.

"I think we can win it still, yes," said Lowndes. "It really hinges on the Bathurst 1000 and the Sydney 500. We're only a couple of points in front of Frosty (Ford driver Mark Winterbottom) so these next two races will make or break the championship."

Fast facts: the Holden Commodore by Craig Lowndes
Price: $57,990 plus on-road costs
Engine: 6.0-litre V8
Power: 270kW and 530Nm
0 to 100km/h: 5.5 seconds
Extras: Brembo brakes front and rear, 20-inch wheels and tyres (wider at the rear), retuned suspension bushings, Craig Lowndes signature on dash, doors and boot, invidual build plate, roof painted black (the body colour of all cars are red or white). Just 233 will be built.

The Craig Lowndes Q and A

Whose idea was it to do a Craig Lowndes special edition Commodore?
Holden were keen to do something, they approached us earlier this year and we were keen to be a part of it. It fell into place quite quickly in terms of the changes to the car and the design. It was great to work with the Holden engineers to get the 20-inch wheels on there, the different suspension bushing, the bigger brakes on the rear and the paddle shifters on the automatic models. I'm really pleased with the outcome and very proud to put my name to.

Did you have input into the design? Did they come to you with a few proposals?
Yes they did, Holden went through quite a few design changes and I went to Fishermens Bend a few times to see the car in different liveries. We looked at one stripe on the bonnet we looked at two, but we ended up with three and something that looks quite different. Having the black roof was something that was very special. It's not a vinyl stick-on, it's actually painted at Elizabeth at the factory in Adelaide.

Did you have input into the engineering changes or were those changes coming any way?
The changes were coming but it was great to have them first on the Craig Lowndes edition Commodore. Holden engineers had planned to introduce these changes but our car brought them forward. We changed the suspension bushes to suit the 20-inch wheels. To be honest the engineers were scratching their heads trying to make it better because it's already so good in the first place.

Did you push for more power?
There was a discussion about more horsepower. As a race driver you always want more power. But it was made pretty clear pretty quickly that Holden wanted to stay with the proven 6.0-litre V8. Let's face it, it's already a quick car. We did ask for more power but it was not negotiable. Instead we focused on the handling package, starting with the Redline version of the SS and then building on it from there.

If this goes well would you do another one?
I hope to look at an Evolution II, but it's something that Holden has to decide. They're as keen as we are to see how well it sells. I know Holden has done some limited edition Commodores for AFL, such as the 'Collingwoodore', to go with Holden's sponsorship of the team.

Are you proud to be following in the footsteps on your mentor, the late great Peter Brock, who also put his signature on limited edition Commodore?
I'm just really delighted to have the career that I've had. It's no secret that Brock was a great mentor and an idol to me. To be able to emulate what he did and get some recognition from Holden by putting my name to a Commodore has been a very humbling experience and very much an honour. For me, it's a dream come true.

Is this what a Brock Commodore would look like today?
Peter Champion has the HDT retro cars … but I think Brock would be proud of what Holden has done with this one. Like me, he probably would have liked more power, but as an overall package, as a complete driver's car, this is right up there.

How many cars will be built?
The original plan was to build 161 cars as a nod to the number of laps in a Bathurst 1000, but demand at the dealers has been so strong I believe we're going to build more than 200. That's about one car per dealer, but some dealers have told me they are holding orders for eight or nine cars. So there'll probably be a bit if scrambling among the dealers to secure the cars.

Do you get a fee from each car or is your reward getting car number one?
I'm getting car number one and I'm hoping to wheel it out in pristine condition in the years to come and that it will become collectible over time.

Did you choose manual or automatic transmission?
The automatic with the paddle shift is really good and the gear-changes are fast and easy, but as a race driver I prefer a manual, so I've ordered a six-speed manual.

This car celebrates your 20th anniversary at Bathurst in a Holden but you raced Fords for six years from 2001 to 2006. Do you think you'll finish your career in a Holden?
I hope to keep racing for Holden and for Triple 8. That said, with other manufacturers getting involved in the sport you just don't know what the future holds. But Holden have been very good to me over the years and I have a soft spot for Holden. When I did the cross-over from Holden to Ford and then back to Holden, the fans were very forgiving of me and most of them came with me and I'm always grateful for that. 

How long will you stay in V8 Supercars?
I think I have at least another five years left in me. As long as I'm competitive and having fun I will stay in the game. I don't want to be at the back of the grid making up the numbers. I was lucky enough to get a start as a young driver so I don't want deny some young person an opportunity to become a star.

Your first Bathurst race in a Holden got off to a bad start: you crashed the car in the warm up. Does that still haunt you?
I remember it like yesterday. Wayne Gardner's car dropped oil, I hit it and then nosed the car into the fence. I drove the car back but what I didn't know is that one of the coolers split and the engine ran without oil pressure. The team repaired the car in time for the race but we didn't know if it was going to make it all the way to the finish. We went on to have a great battle with John Bowe challenging for the lead.

You very nearly won the Bathurst 1000 in your rookie year.
The plan of attack was for Brad Jones to finish the race. I was never ear-marked to do the last stint because I was the rookie guy. But Brad did a double stint in the middle of the day so it forced the team to put me back in the car at the end of the race. And that was the beginning of my career. It's a moment I will never forget.

Are you sad about the demise of car manufacturing in Australia?
Absolutely. Growing up I always watched the Ford and Holden rivalry and was very proud to have cars made in Australia. It was something I never thought would change. But of course times have changed and it's going to be a very sad day to see Holden and Ford cease to be manufactured locally. During my time with Ford I got to know the guys at Broadmeadows and Geelong, I know how much that's going to impact workers those areas, and of course all the guys at Holden and Toyota. It really is sad what is happening.

The imported Commodore in 2018 will not be available with a V8. Will still be able to race in V8 Supercars?
Absolutely. Holden have always indicated to us that they want to continue in V8s beyond 2017. They're committed to continuing in the sport. Nissan and Volvo don't have V8 sedans but they compete, so there is no reason we can't have a Commodore on the grid. The one question we don't have answered yet is what type of engines we will run in V8 Supercars, will we have smaller engines or will we stick with the V8s? We don't know.

You're 273 points behind your teammate and series leader Jamie Whincup. Can you win this year's championship?
I think we can win it still, yes. It really hinges on the Bathurst 1000 and the Sydney 500. We're only a couple of points in front of Frosty (Ford driver Mark Winterbottom) so these next two races will make or break the championship.