Holden Commodore Series II Berlina International special edition launched

Article
Gallery

By Tim Beissmann | November 17th, 2010

Holden has today added the special edition Berlina International sedan and Sportwagon to its new Series II Commodore line-up.

Holden says the latest addition to the Commodore range scores $9500 of extra features, including a rear-view camera, twin-spoke18in alloy wheels and leather seat trim.

Holden director of marketing, Philip Brook, said he expected the latest Berlina model to be a showroom hit.

“The Berlina International models really build on the success of the Series II range by offering customers yet another smart looking vehicle packaged up with a long list of features,” Mr Brook said.

Now on sale, the special edition Berlina International is available for $36,990 (sedan) and $38,990 (Sportwagon) drive away.

Sales of the new Series II Commodore have started well, with the October figures almost 10 percent higher than the same month in 2009 (3787 vs 3455).

Year-to-date for the first 10 months of 2010, Commodore has bucked the trend, with sales rising 6.4 percent in a large car segment that has overall gone backwards by around one percent.

Samson

Thats a lot of car for the money!
Dave S

A great car, even better value. Love those wheels too.
Schmak

Is the rear view camera not standard on all bar the ute in the lacklustre Series II?

cjg22

the rear camera is only standard in the “V” models and optional across the rest of the sedan and wagon models
Mad Max

So why is the series 2 VE lucklustre? From what I have read in this article plus looking at the sales results, VE 2 sales are growing in a segment that is shrinking. Its selling roughly 1500 a month more than Falcon so it seems to be a hit with the people that count, the buying public.

Schmak

Mainly because it isnt the step forward it needed to be. Its near insulting calling it a smart car because, well, its not. Ripping 15 CD’s to a headdeck inst smart. Dropping the quality of fit and finish in the luxury Calais model from what was decent on the prior model and charging more for it isnt smart.
Dont take me for a straight out hater, I have always been a Holden supporter, and have a VZ and a VE. But I think Holden became far too complacent again.

Goodfa

I agree with Schmak.
Although this special edition is very good value,Holden have to do this to keep the sales moving as they seem to be a year or two behind where they usually are with updates.(maybe because of the gfc.)I think the Commodore even though it is still a good looking car is crying out for a more extensive interior & exterior update.

Golfschwein

The worst thing about the VE interior is the easiest to fix, and the recent update doesn’t focus on these things. I’m not talking about the handbrake, but the rubbishy mismatch between the technical grain used on the dash top and door tops and the old-style grain used on everything else below that.

A recent hire of a Series I Sportwagon brought this into sharp focus, especially as a passenger sitting in the middle back. And not just that. The hard, scratch-prone plastic shells on the back of the front seats with elasticised vinyl map pouches and the swathes of black rubber covering the less glamorous parts of the B pillar, are all eyesores. A MkV Golf, even in Trendline spec, shows how it can be done. 90% of other cars can show the way too, I suspect.

Some of these things change as you move up the range. Others, like the grain and B pillar thing afflict even the Caprice. Anyway, no problems with how it drove. It took 5 with luggage for 1500 kays in three days, overtook zestily and gave an INDICATED 9.2L/100 economy.

Schmak

It doesnt help that Holden’s “runout” specials seem to be the exact same price. I know in actual cities there is competition and a deal could be made, but getting out of an actual city means you are not going to have any luck.
A certain dealership in North Queensland had truck loads of SV6 (even though they were auto ) utes sitting around, and still have them for the same price as a new Series II ute. Even going to another town sees the same thing. No short wonder why the XR50 ute is selling like hotcakes. Its just a shame dealerships only order auto’s in…

Holden need to not get complacent. The Series II is the exact same car thats been around since 2006 with different (IMO uglier) plastics and a headdeck replacement. I dont know how Holden will survive the onslaught Ford are about to bring. SS or a Miami based XR8… I know which I would choose.

Byron

Awesome addition to the VE II range. VE II looks to have a strong November too becuas eit’s such a great peforming car. Go HOLDEN!
Robin Graves

Wow, a polished turd with a bonus peanut and corn kernel thrown in. Give me a G6 any day.

Shinjuku Power

Neither car is significantly superior to the other, get over it.

Robin Graves

Take them both for a drive and see if you change your mind. The only win for the conformadore is the aircon performance which is not up to scratch in the FG.

Stoney!

Thats funny in a recent V8 comparo with the introduction of the new coyote V8, they said the GTS was dynamically superior….

Stoney!
Shinjuku Power

I actually drive both makes almost daily (among many other makes also)… and if I had to pick one it would be the Holden, especially since the Falcon’s design is going to age well before the Commodore’s fine proportions. And just for some perspective. I was eagerly awaiting the reveal of the Coyote V8, as I’m in need of a new car, but upon seeing the GS in person… wow, Ford really doesn’t know how to enhance a vehicles appearance, they have the tackiest design aesthetic I’ve ever seen.

Golfschwein

Tall people have only one choice, the Commodore.
Robin Graves

You deserve a Conformadore seeing you have obviously had the mandatory Holden lobotomy. FG still looks fresh 2 years on, crummydore looked old a week after its release, not to mention the crap GM seppo engine and gearbox.
Robin Graves

And Golfscheißen you must be 7ft something right?

JEKYL & HYDE

been there,done that,not changing any time soon…
Bent 8 Brigade

Oh Robyn, still spamming the Holden articles on Car Advice, I see.
I take it you’ll be trading in your reliable white automatic Toyota Corolla sedan soon on a G6? I’m sure the local Ford dealership will be pleased to see you as they don’t sell a great number of Falcons lately.

Shinjuku is right, neither is significantly better than the other…stick to your Corolla, presh.

Robin Graves

Jealous much bent snagger man? Your beloved boat anchor pushrod dinosaur is outgunned by a 5lt? The marvels of 21st century technology… If I was to buy a Ford it would be a G6ET for your info, regardless of how many lobotomised morons flock to Holden dealerships to waste their money – nothing Holden have can touch Ford at this moment.

http://zuboora.com mohamad is right when he

lol good man.. i say “droppings”

PoisonEagle

Love Fords audacious marketing across the top ‘Consider a Falcon instead’. GIVE ME A AFARKEN 7/10 SCALE FALCOMMODORE AND I WILL!
Shak

I being a staunch Holden supporter am very disappointed by Holden in general lately. Not the actual products or even the constant advertising, but their service quality is falling, badly. At the AIMS, i spent a lot of time at the Holden stand only to have the lady who was following me constantly try and sell me this Berlina. When i sat in it, i was very surprised by the lift in interior ambiance, and the quality. Go sit in one before you comment people. But all she cared about was a sale, a sale. When asked about other things about the range in general, she just said i don’t know. Seriously, the Holden line in general is much better now, and is going to get even better with the introduction of all the new product, but Holden you really need to improve your dealership experience, because it is just an altogether fail.

Haditsday

You spent a lot of time at the Holden stand, Whats the point in asking obvious questions, you would have known all the smallest details from the Web before you went to the motor show, what possible question could you have had?.
I think your just happy to talk to flesh people, go hangout at the carwash.

Nick K

Only if Holden offered diesel, integarated 7 seats, child seat boosters built into the rear seats in the Sportswagon. A good value car, but given the cars size a lack the options listed above makes me look elsewhere… A shame really since not all of us want an SUV.
Rob

Well, my car has been ordered, production date of 29/11/2010 so should get in a week or two after that and I think I made a wise decision, a Berlina sedan with sat nav and lots of other goodies, goodbye to my HSV VY R8 and hello to Berlina.
Rajiv

I Just bought this car 2 months ago and i am loving it this is the best car.
And for the price 36,990 it has too good value out of 10 i would rate it 100
SERIOUSLY THIS CAR IS AMAZING
And i have had a race with a few falcons and the commodore is kms infront always
Mikey

Had mine six months and couldn’t be happier.