Big hopes for VE Commodore in U.S.
April 8, 2008 by Alborz Fallah
Holden’s VE Commodore SV6 and SS range have a big weight on their shoulders as they begin their invasion of the American market.
Badged as Pontiac G8 and G8 GT respectively, GM is hoping the Aussie muscle cars can attract male buyers in their mid-30s to mid-40s. According to Pontiac, our home-grown Commodores have ’similar styling to the BMW 5-series’ but cost less and have far more family appeal.
Not having to face the might of Ford’s XR6 and XR8 range, the Pontiac G8 will go head to head with the Dodge Charger and the Nissan Maxima while the BMW 5 series and Nissan Infiniti G35 would be “aspirational challengers”.
The Commodore Ute will also make it to the U.S. market in 2009 despite recent suggestions that the strong Aussie dollar will make Ute exports unprofitable. The “sport truck”, as Pontiac like to call it, will be aimed at buyers in their 20s to their 50s.
Currently Holden is aiming to export between 30,000 to 40,000 G8 sedans to the United States.
The SV6 (Pontiac G8) is powered by Holden’s 3.6-litre V6 engine that manages 195kW and 340Nm of torque. Meanwhile the Pontiac G8 GT packs a 6.0-litre V8 that punishes the road with 270kW and 530Nm of torque.
One feature that is yet to make it to Australian spec SS Commodore is the active fuel management that can turn off four of eight cylinders once the car reaches a steady speed.
Official figures from Pontiac put the SS Commodore’s 0-96km/h (0-60 mph) time at a remarkable 5.3 seconds while the SV6 comes in at a respectable seven seconds flat.
The big news, however, is not the added features and better engine management system – it’s the price.
The starting U.S. price for the Commodore SV6 – Pontiac G8 is $27,595 (~$30,125 AUD) while the Commodore SS – Pontiac G8 GT is $29,999 (~$32,750 AUD). Both models are only offered in Automatic (5-speed for G8 and 6-speed for G8 GT).
It begs the question, why do Australians pay $41,290 for the SV6 auto and $47,290 for the SS Commodore auto while our American allies are getting potentially a better car, for more than $10,000 less?
Print it: 
That question has been answered many times. Regardless of whether we like it or not, we have higher taxes than our U.S counterparts we also have a market not as large as America which means to make the same profit as the U.S bound cars a higher price is required due to the smaller marke. And finally they are for the first time marketing a Australian 4 door family sports saloon in the U.S and are setting a value for money claim agaist established American cars.
australia gets pnwed in alot of things when it comes to cost
the ipod
windows
cameras
cars
…. we all pay heaps more than our overseas buddies because of where we live…………..at least there is ebay
cookie
Heh, go buy a G8 GT off ebay :)
The price issue is easily explained. Firstly, there is a minimum sales tax of 15%, then Holden/Ford set their price to the market. Imported cars get 15% more lumped on them. Plus Holden needs to make more off every car sold to cover costs for development in such a small market.
Sales tax of 15% – don’t think so.
Car imposts in the form of taxes and manufacturer add-ons for local products are
10% – added on because all imports are charged a 10% tariff. This is what tariffs are designed to do.
10% – GST
25% – cars over $57133 have the LCT included in the price. LCT is levied at 25% of the excess over $57133, but is very generously not levied on the GST component. Kind, aren’t they.
Up to $3000 Dealer delivery fee, a ripoff unique to Australia.
So for a Holden/Ford base model, you get
$25000 Ex Factory, includes all the profit they need
+2500 Tariff protection
+5000 Dealer Profit
+3250 GST
+2000 Dealer carwash ripoff
——
=37750
+1500 ORC
——
=39250 Price we have to pay.
And then the stealers will try and flog mindblowingly expensive tints and paint protection to the unwary, which can add another $2000 easily – beware :)
Reckless1,
Thanks for that overview, I was recently wondering where the LCT struck. Funny about the P.D (car wash) charge, I don’t think many people actually know about that scam.
Frosty, i don’t think we can use Tax as an excuse anymore.
the reality is that we Australian’s get ripped off left right and centre purely because there is not enough competition when you compare it to the US of A.
Holden is heavily relying on USA and giving them a better car overall and cheaper price… we have a history with this car and yet we are not being rewarded.
its just sad and i hope the Falcon and Aurion punish holden for back stabbing us.
I just believe there is a conspiracy going on at Holden. I compared the Corolla sedan here and in the US and we only pay roughly $3,000 more for a similar spec model. Ten grand extra is just plain ridiculous, yet the States get a better looking car, possibly better made, and the V8 has the cylinder deactivation technology we don’t.
if they reduced the cost maybe more people would buy them and then they would have a higher volume market
Oh yes, here we go. Again…
Rip off bla bla bla conspiracy bla bla bla why do they sell in the states for bla bla bla Holden are bastards bla bla bla. Does anyone show the slightest interest in converting the Saudi price of our Aussie built Camrys back to Aussie dollars? Didn’t think so. Where are you all?
So, what do we propose? That Holden should instantly slash ten grand off the cars here? The industry would haemmorage.
Our cars are being sold in America! Did you hear that? Yes, our cars are being sold in AMERICA! That’s an achievement only ever managed in smaller numbers by Ford and Mitsubishi before them, with the Capri and Diamante respectively.
BE HAPPY!
I agree with GOLFSCHWEIN, we should be happy that an Australian made car might actually sell in significant numbers in the USA! It can only secure the future of the brand/development in this country and let our talented engineers and designers gain stronger international standing. So what we dont have the cylinder managment – it will be here soon… Most americans probably think that we still hop around on the back of kangaroos! The more well made Aussie prduct out there, the more chance of our car industry surviving.
Hey Golf, you sound like John Howard with your “Shut up and be patriotic, just don’t ask questions”.
The US market is incredibly competitive, so GM has to price it properly to compete. I can guarantee that GM isn’t making much profit on each car they sell there. They are hoping that volume makes up for it.
Another example:
Toyota exports Aussie made Camry’s to the middle east. In the UAE, the price range for a Camry is USD$19,300-24,200.
Here in Australia the Camry range starts at AUD$28,490.
Our local sales tax, GST and unique profit structure must be the cause of the big difference in price. Oh well, people aren’t going to stop buying cars in Australia so it will continue.
Sales tax was replaced by the GST in 2000 Supercujo!
Also, I don’t see why we have to add tarrifs to Australian made cars… the whole point of tarrifs is to slap them on imported cars to give local manufacturing an advantage.
If anything tariffs should be working the other way to make the G8 more expensive.
Is the G8 GT the equivalant to the SS V?
What? you want to tax Australian exports now? Why dont you just knock on the doors at Holden and Toyota australia and demand that they sack their workforce now!
That’s it Supercujo. I’m not suggesting that people should not be informed by such things but, time and time again, bloggers here beat themselves and Holden into a pulp over an issue which, let’s face it, is probably beyond their understanding.
I’m honest enough to admit it’s beyond mine, so I don’t try. My suggestion, as always, is to put the calculators away and live and let live. Chill a little. Go to Bunnings, even!
Nah Dlr1, what I meant was that tarrifs raise the prices of imports… so any tarrifs that US might have (probably aren’t any if there’s a free trade agreement in this area) would be pushing up the price of their imports (in this case our exports).
I’m just saying the pricing discrepancy can’t be attributed to tarrifs, that’s all.
Oh, and if there’s one person I’d try not to sound like, it’s John Howard! Can’t hear him much these days, anyway… :)
Could somebody please answer my question.
It’s hard to say, Duck. The equipment list could well be an amalgamation of SS and SSV bits along with other stuff not yet sold here, such as DOD.
Fred, don’t go claiming the USA version is a “better looking” car than the VE. Have you seen one in the metal, cruising the streets? I see them all the time, and the styling is crass USA ugly. The nose job just doesn’t gel with the rest of the car.
And better built? Same workers, same productionline, same components (mostly). Fit and finish is of the cars sitting in the holding yard is the same as the VE.
So Bret, I take it you are saying that if the G8 has the same fit and finish as the domestic VE, then the car matches the G8 front end?
BTW I think the G8 front end is horrid :)
No of course not. The general fit and finish of the overall cars are pretty much the same.
I see them often out on “proof testing” drives out of the factory, and I agree the styling is definitely not to my Australian tastes. But then again people but the butt ugly USA styled Camry. Personaly I prefer a better blend of Form and Function.
Butt ugly Camry pfft obviously you havent seen the Falcon
TP you are an idiot!
Yes I have seen the Falcon, and I think it looks great.
Just because I happen to believe that your beloved Camry is Fugly (and it IS – theres no escaping that) you have to reply with a pea brained tit-for-tat. Typical, that you actually have NOTHING to contribute, either to this site or society in general. Come back and talk when the testes drop – child!
The G8 GT is based on the SS-V as it gets the same colour coded interior [seats and dash]
HEY!! camrys look fantastic!
as soon as i lose all idea on how to drive, and hit… say 65 years old…. ill get one.
seriously now…. does anyone else see how camrys ( and avalons ) are allways the ones holding up lines of traffic, ALLWAYS the ones who cut you off by not looking??
last week an avalon with its grey pilot was coming at me in MY lane….. on the WRONG SIDE of the traffic island.
If i pull up at the lights behind a 50cc scooter and a camry who are side by side… ill get behind the scooter, i guarantee itll take off faster!!!
i im prepared every time i see one.
PS
im not anti holden, but i am anti commodore.
BUT if the yanks wanna take them from us… good job!!
can only help our economy… maybe not our reputation LOL..
SELL HEAPS OF THEM HOLDEN!!
Troy,
Presumably your into some of the classic holdens then, because Holden is the Commodore Car Company that imports Daewoos. They have virtually nothing else.
Agree on the camry though, you either need to be wet behind the ears or wet in your incontinence undies.
How on Earth can they manage 7 seconds for the 0-100 km/h sprint when over here for the V6, no one can manage that over here, and it’s no big secret the Commodore is slowest out of the 4 locally made 6s. (well 3 now, but the 380 was still faster)
I have to say the G8 version drew a different aura for the Commodore. I never appreciated this car until the Yankee variant came out. The VE has all been a handsome piece of crap ever since, with unexcusable quality glitches, plus parts that come from Korea and even China according to recent reports, but what the Americans enjoy changed my perception somehow. The visual differences are only the front end and the steering wheel position, but there’s that great deal of difference in design that cannot be put into words.
JW, I think it’s the 0-60mph time, equivalent to about 96 km/h. The V6 G8 they have there is the SV6 equivalent, with a higher output engine and 5-speed auto. I believe a 7.5-second 0-100kph time is more feasible, though it would really be funny if your regular Omega or Lumina will be outran by your neighbour’s Kluger.
hehe,
finally some are seeing the price differences in Australia.. heck even services and groceries… my average grocery here (states) at the momment is 35 bucks… thats about a weeks worth of goodies… in Oz?… 70~80 bucks. Im not in marketing, but you dont have to be to know one reason why..
simply, economy is tiny, to keep businesses profitable and jobs… they need to do it (rip everyone off) but in return, it keeps the economy and business-profit alive.
Another example, BBS wheels… Ive inquired about them here, wheels that cost $7000AUD, cost $4000 here…
but hey, Australia is a pretty darn country to live in, and thats due to the expensive stuff hehe, so stop complaining, life in Oz (with health care, education support, family allowances, benefits etc) is good… very good.