Holden Commodore (g8) Superleggera

[Hidden_Hunter]

Holden is re-engineering the Commodore to give it the performance of a V6 and fuel economy of a four-cylinder.


Holden is looking at removing the spare tyre from the Commodore and instead fitting controversial run-flat tyres as part of a broader plan to improve fuel efficiency by more than 20 per cent and reduce carbon dioxide emissions.

General Motors Holden chairman and managing director Mark Reuss says the imminent move to tyres that can be driven on after a puncture is designed to reduce weight, helping the V6 Commodore the efficiency of a four-cylinder.

Reuss believes getting the basics of the Commodore design right is more important than relatively expensive additions such as a hybrid powertrain, which he is now hinting will not happen as early as 2010. This is in contrast to General Motors group vice president Nick Reilly, who said hybrid Commodores would arrive in “a couple of years”.

“There’s a lot of things we can do in the near term and a lot of things we can do in the further term … there’s a lot more to go (in terms of efficiency improvements),” says Reuss, citing everything from weight reduction to more efficient tyres, engine improvements and better aerodynamics.

“It would be really stupid to make a sequential decision around a hybrid in a Commodore before we have efficiency in the base architecture done. I’m talking about all the pieces to get an efficient platform.”

Reuss believes the fuel economy of a regular, petrol engine Commodore can be reduced by 20 per cent or more. He says today’s official average fuel consumption figure of 10.8 litres per 100km could drop to 8.5L/100km.

That would make the entry-level Commodore as efficient as many of today’s smaller, mid-sized four-cylinder cars. A Mazda 6 uses a claimed 8.4 litres of fuel per 100km while a Toyota Camry uses 9.9L/100km.

Reuss plans to circumvent those concerns by giving buyers the choice between regular tyres (including a spare) and runflat tyres.

“[We’ll] make it a free option and tell the customer how much fuel they’re going to save by not carrying it around in the city,” he says. “As long as we option it at no cost then who cares? If [a spare tyre] is what you want and you’ve got to have it then great, but don’t penalise everybody [by adding weight].”

http://www.drive.com.au/Editorial/Ar...rticleID=56210

Obviously it would have flow on effect to the g8

[Dsemaj]

They better not change it to electric power steering.. completely ruin the feel of the car.

[SoxXpupPeT]

dam electric steering. wouldnt that make it heavier ? but all around thats pretty neat

[JipJopJones]

I personally like heavy steering. If anyone has ever driven a Jeep Cherokee/Grand Cherokee that is the perfect steering weight for me.

[tigger]

Originally Posted by Dsemaj

They better not change it to electric power steering.. completely ruin the feel of the car.

They should just bring back manual steering. It's not so bad, even in heavy vehicles and it certainly saves a lot of weight. I'm curious as to how much fuel economy they'll gain with all those little touches though.

[Hidden_Hunter]

Originally Posted by tigger

They should just bring back manual steering. It's not so bad, even in heavy vehicles and it certainly saves a lot of weight. I'm curious as to how much fuel economy they'll gain with all those little touches though.

Hopefully they reach the benchmarks they've set, mind you the 4cyl camry isn't exactly class leading in fuel consumption

[Dsemaj]

Originally Posted by Hidden_Hunter

Hopefully they reach the benchmarks they've set, mind you the 4cyl camry isn't exactly class leading in fuel consumption

It's exactly the same as the V6 Aurion according to ADR measurements, isn't it? That said, the real world consumption figures of the Aurion are completely different because it lacks torque.

@tigger they should! I love manual steering, gives complete feeling of the car. You can feel exactly what's going in. In a RWD car where there isn't too much weight over the front wheels, it's perfectly fine. At speeds, my steering actually feels a little too light..

[DTMracer]

This is cool.

So you can buy a lightened commodore from the factory, then put in a massive 7L supercharged V8. Voila! Instant track weapon!

[D-Fence]

Hm.....at least they ASK you, over here the spare tires are just removed and you get that utterly useless spray :/

Electric steering......depends. The one in my Ibiza is actually not bad for a small hatchback, but it may occur from the FWD, the one in our BMW 1 series is just terrible, it feels all wobbly and disconnected :/

[chaos386]

Hooray for weight reduction!

[Wizegui]

Originally Posted by tigger

They should just bring back manual steering. It's not so bad, even in heavy vehicles and it certainly saves a lot of weight. I'm curious as to how much fuel economy they'll gain with all those little touches though.

Probably not here since people must have their soup while they are driving with their knees. I assume that thge reason for the light steering in most North American cars is that they're afraid of being sued.

[No Boss]

My father confessed that he has hated his 2007 Nissan Maxima since the minute he bought it, so I'm trying to get him to buy a Pontiac G8.

I know! I know! No Boss endorsing an American car, who wudda thunk it?! But for the price, it's a sweet car.

[Vette Boss]

'Tis okay NB, the G8 is actually Australian. Only American thing about it is, the badge and the position of the controls. Easily one of the best cars in the price range. And yes, the big V6 Nissans are woeful, awful to drive with numb steering and lots of torque steer.. eugh. It's like fighting an Italian stallion to drive it properly.

My only complaint with this car really, electric power steering. It doesn't work, just ask anyone who has had the misfortune to drive a car with it.

[No Boss]

Originally Posted by Vette Boss

And yes, the big V6 Nissans are woeful, awful to drive with numb steering and lots of torque steer.. eugh. It's like fighting an Italian stallion to drive it properly.
.

The engine was great, loved to rev and was mighty toquey. But yes all of the above, plus Datsun apparently fitted a new trans to our MY and caused the fuel economy to plummet.

[Vette Boss]

Originally Posted by No Boss

The engine was great, loved to rev and was mighty toquey. But yes all of the above, plus Datsun apparently fitted a new trans to our MY and caused the fuel economy to plummet.

Yep, the engine is great. The car it's attached to... isn't. If only they didn't use French materials and techniques to build them.

[Hidden_Hunter]

Originally Posted by Vette Boss

'Tis okay NB, the G8 is actually Australian. Only American thing about it is, the badge and the position of the controls. Easily one of the best cars in the price range. And yes, the big V6 Nissans are woeful, awful to drive with numb steering and lots of torque steer.. eugh. It's like fighting an Italian stallion to drive it properly.

My only complaint with this car really, electric power steering. It doesn't work, just ask anyone who has had the misfortune to drive a car with it.

The g8 currently doesn't have electric power steering

[Vette Boss]

Originally Posted by Hidden_Hunter

The g8 currently doesn't have electric power steering

Well, chances are it will later on. Americans like nothing more than to drink coffee and eat breakfast and sending videos of their genitals to youtube, while driving to work.

[Hidden_Hunter]

Originally Posted by Vette Boss

Well, chances are it will later on. Americans like nothing more than to drink coffee and eat breakfast and sending videos of their genitals to youtube, while driving to work.

Commodore drivers usually prefer to drink VB and eat meat pies while driving