Holden to retire Commodore SS

The revered SS badge will be laid to rest when the Aussie-built Commodore bows out at the end of next year.

Holden will replace the locally-manufactured rear-drive Commodore with an all-imported new model under the same name from January 2018. But MOTOR has learnt with no chance of a V8 variant the SS badge will not continue with the next-gen imported car.

The next Commodore – effectively the new Opel Insignia – will be all-wheel drive, slightly smaller externally and sport a V6 when it lobs in Oz in 2018, Holden engineers currently tweaking the car at the Lang Lang Proving Ground south-east of Melbourne.

It will be headlined by a 230kW/370Nm 3.6-litre V6 mated to a nine-speed auto and all-wheel drive, and while it's not yet clear what this variant will be called we can now rule out SS for any new imported Commodore models.

The SS badge first appeared on the Commodore with the VH in 1982 and has been the hero V8 Holden ever since (HSV is a different company), culminating in the awesome 304kW VF II SS on sale today.

As reported by MOTOR in May, Holden will farewell the SS next year by reviving the venerated Director nameplate last associated with Peter Brock and the controversial Energy Polarizer in the 1980s.

It will be one of a number of limited edition models being readied to farewell the Aussie-made Commodore when its Adelaide factory is permanently shut down around late October next year.

Holden declined to comment when contacted by MOTOR.