Holden NZ confirmed this week what automotivenews.co.nz said two months ago – that a variant of the next-generation Commodore Sportwagen would go head-to-head with the likes of the Subaru Outback in New Zealand and Australia.
This website was given the ‘good oil’ in January. Early in February, Holden on both sides of the Tasman played down a higher-riding version of the all-wheel-drive (AWD) Opel Insignia.
Holden NZ’s corporate affairs manager Ed Finn said: “It certainly sounds interesting and exciting, but talk of it ever coming here it is pure speculation”.
The ‘good oil’ was right all along – the rebadged AWD Opel will be called the Commodore Tourer when it lands in NZ next year. It is expected to come with safety technology that isn’t currently available in the Commodore line-up.
Holden NZ describes the styling of the Tourer as “bush walk meets fashion week”, and says it adds another dimension to the next-generation Commodore line-up.
Says managing director Kristian Aquilina: “Tourer gives the range a new level of appeal, combining New Zealanders’ love of SUVs with the practicality of a wagon and the driving appeal of a sedan”.
It is yet to be confirmed, but Tourer will almost certainly be powered by a V6 petrol engine. The last Commodore wagon with AWD was the jacked-up, made-in-Oz Adventura V8. It was horrendously thirsty and had horrible rear seats.
Meanwhile, American outdoor/adventure magazine Outside has named the Subaru Outback (above) among the top 40 products it’s tested in the 40 years the magazine’s been on sale.
It said: “Since it (Outback) was released in 1994, with an insanely capable all-wheel-drive system, it is the most affordable, rugged adventure car out there ….”
Outside has Outback in the company of ‘essential’ gear like Duct tape, Swiss Army knife, Chapstick, Nike Waffle shoe, iPhone 7Plus, the original LowePro internal frame backpack, O’Neil wetsuit, Black Diamond Wiregate Carabiner, Nalgene bottle, Teva Hurricane sandal, Therm-a-Rest inflatable sleeping pad, Ray-Ban Aviator sunglasses, GoPro camera, MSR WhisperLite stove …