New Holden Commodore goes on sale today

As exclusively revealed by News Limited last weekend the sharp new pricing rolls back the cost of a new Commodore by more than a decade. The base model -- now called Evoke -- starts at $34,990 plus on-road costs, $5000 less than the outgoing Omega. The biggest savings are on the sports and luxury models, whose prices have been slashed by almost $10,000.

Holden is so confident about the new model it has confirmed it will increase Commodore production in the second half of this year.

The details on the best equipped and most technically-advanced Commodore ever made were released as online bookmaker Sportsbet opened up betting on whether Holden will stay inside the Top Three sellers this year.

Holden was knocked off the podium for the first time ever, by Nissan in February and Hyundai in March, but returned to third place year-to-date in April behind Toyota and Mazda. Sportsbet is paying $1.50 for Holden to finish the year in second place, $2.50 to finish third, $6 for fourth, and $13 for fifth or lower.

For the true diehards, the bookie is offering $26 if Holden knocks off Toyota, market leader for the past 10 years in a row and which last month outsold second and third-place manufacturers combined.

“It appears unlikely that Holden will boot Toyota from the top spot, priced as a $26 long shot,” says a Sportsbet statement. But it adds that Holden is likely to recover later in the year with the arrival of the sharper priced VF Commodore, the Trax compact SUV and other models.

“Currently holding on to third position, Holden’s sales are expected to accelerate with an aggressive new pricing strategy and finish second in the ranks, priced as the $1.50 market favourite. With sizeable price cuts set to be introduced on new Holden models, the market suggests that prospective car buyers will stay loyal to the Aussie carmaker, and boost Holden’s ranking to second.”

The new pricing reflects the actual transaction prices Commodores have been selling for over the past few years, but now everyone will get a fairer deal, not just those inclined to haggle.

The equipment list shows that every model -- including all sedans, wagons and utes -- will come with a rear view camera, front and rear sensors, self parking technology, and Pandora and Stitcher apps embedded into the sound system, making it the best equipped vehicle line-up ever produced in Australia.

Top models will also get a heads-up display which reflects the vehicle speed and other information into the driver’s line of sight, blind-zone warning, forward crash alert and a raft of other features.

Holden says it has been able to cut the cost of the new VF Commodore because it is cheaper to build. It uses more parts sourced from General Motors’ global suppliers (primarily the electronic “platform” which runs the car, and key components such as steering wheels, indicator and wiper stalks and other interior items).

In anticipation of new rules allowing the use of world-class ISOFIX child restraints in Australia, all Commodore sedans and wagons will come ready-fitted with the latch points (three across the back seat). Meanwhile Holden has reached a new low when it comes to the Commodore’s fuel consumption. Every model uses less fuel than its predecessor.

The base model VF Commodore Evoke averages 8.3L/100km, which is 23 per cent less than the VE Commodore Omega’s 10.9L/100km of seven years ago -- and only 0.3 L/100km more than its four-cylinder Malibu mid-size sedan.

Other highlights: all automatic models can be started remotely, before you get into the car. It’s designed to warm the cabin in winter or cool it in summer.

This reporter is on Twitter: @JoshuaDowling