2018 Holden Commodore takes shape

Holden's first imported Commodore will be smaller, lighter and more fuel efficient than the one it replaces, offering four-cylinder turbo diesel and petrol engines as well as an updated version of the 3.6-litre V6.

Today's announcement of the new model confirms Holden's worst secret – that the imported Commodore would be a rebadged Opel Insignia - while revealing key details about the biggest change to the Australian manufacturer's core large car since it began producing family vehicles in 1948.

Due in 2018, the controversial new Commodore will for the first time drive the front wheels and not be offered with a V8 engine option or a sedan body style.

To be produced in Opel's Russeslheim factory in Germany, the fifth generation of a car that has helped define Holden will not arrive in dealerships until February, 2018.

But Holden had begun what will be one of its most challenging sales pitches by allowing selected media limited access to heavily camouflaged development cars, which have been in Australia since August as part of an intensive development program.

The new Commodore – so far referred to by Holden as the NG Commodore, or Next Generation Commodore – is 74mm shorter and 36mm narrower than the current VF model, which continues in production until late 2017.

The reduced length hasn't negatively impacted interior space because of improved packaging as a result of having the engine run across the engine bay (in an east-west configuration) rather than along the length of the car, as with every other Commodore. So the distance between front and rear occupants is just 1mm shorter than the outgoing car and rear knee room is claimed to be identical.

But the narrower cabin means the Commodore is no longer as well suited to three adults across the rear, long a sales pitch of the big-car-for-a-big-country.

And while front headroom is unchanged, rear headroom has shrunk 13mm, although Holden still claims it's more than adequate for tall Australians.

The traditional Commodore sedan will be killed off, too, instead replaced with a five-door hatchback body style to be marketed as Sportback.

There will also be a wagon, or Sportwagon, which is expected to spawn a Subaru Outback-style light duty off-roader.

Under the bonnet is the choice of two 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engines – one petrol and one diesel – as well as a 3.6-litre V6.

In Australia the four-cylinder engines will drive the front wheels in the quest to reduce fuel use.

It's a bold move, especially considering Holden's failed Starfire four-cylinder engine that was largely loathed in early 1980s Commodores.

But sales director Peter Keley says the new engines are a very different proposition.

"We've done intensive research [on the new Commodore] … and it's about what the car does, not what it is," said Keley.

"For the core of our customers the ability to have a V6 and have the all-wheel drive will give them a lot of comfort. Where we will have the opportunity to expand sales will be the fact that we have a great entry level powertrain, which will be the best performing powertrain we've had in our entry level cars ever."

Traditionalists and those wanting more power will be able to choose a 3.6-litre V6 – a heavy evolution of the V6 in the current Commodore – which will be the performance hero of the new 2018 Commodore.

While the 230kW of power and 370Nm of torque fall well short of the heady outputs delivered by current V8 Commodores, the reduction in weight of between 200kg and 300kg combined with an all-wheel drive system that improves traction will deliver 0-100km/h acceleration times of 6.0 seconds.

Indeed the all-wheel drive system is a big part of the Commodore performance play.

The so-called Twinster system eschews a rear differential and instead uses two clutch plates to constantly monitor conditions and adjust drive accordingly.

In gentle driving all the drive is sent to the front wheels, but when taking off or in slippery conditions the Commodore V6 will be able to send up to half the engine's drive to the rear wheels, actively splitting it from left to right in microseconds.

But it's the technology play that will form much of the Commodore's sales pitch.

Holden has confirmed matrix LED headlights with auto high beam as well as the latest Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity.

Also expect a suite of crash avoidance technology once more details of the car are released over coming months.