Holden could be about to introduce a VF Holden Commodore Director special edition, both as a send-off to the Commodore and to pay respect to the original VK and VL Director models of yesteryear.
Last month PerformanceDrive had exclusive word from Holden Australia, confirming there is some kind of special edition Commodore coming that will help send off the nameplate before local manufacturing shuts down. Its director of communications, Sean Poppitt, said there are “a few tricks up our sleeve, a few exciting options on the table”.
Now rumours are stirring, hinting at the revival of the Director nameplate. Holden, or more specifically GM, registered an application to trademark the Director name in 2014. It was approved in January. Holden also registered an application to trademark “Bathurst” in June last year, suggesting there could be a Bathurst edition on the way as well.
As usual, trademark applications don’t always mean there is a production car definitely coming. It could simply be GM protecting the name for the future. However, it is an interesting clue at the very least.
Nowadays Director Commodores are worth a mint, often fetching extraordinary figures at auction and so on. A new VF Director could be a great gift for Holden fans before it all comes to an end by 2017.
So, what can we expect for a VF Director? As hinted by Poppitt, a special edition isn’t likely to come with any extreme engine or chassis modifications. Holden only recently introduced the heavily revised VF Series II, which already builds on the success of the VF.
Instead, we can probably expect a range of cosmetic tweaks, such as a unique bodykit, revised front end, special wheels, and some interior tweaks including sports seats and Director logos.
Like the old models, the VF Director is set to be luxury-focused with a performance edge. As such, it is likely to be based on the Calais V. In standard form the V8 Calais V comes with an LS3 6.2-litre V8 producing 304kW.
Whatever the plans are, Holden is expected to make announcements in the next few months. What do you think? Would you like to see a new Director being launched to say goodbye to the Commodore?
Has to have Momo star wheels and the option of green paint
Yep, revise the grill of the Calais would be a start. The current one is very Opel Insignia – they could use the new 2017 version (for the obvious tie in to post manufacturing in Australia), even though that Insignia design is not officially released yet.
I can remember back to the release of the original Director I attended as a 23 year old working in the motor game in about 1984. It was at a hotel in or near Kings Cross one night and absolutely everyone who was anyone was there. The dealers, press, football identities, everyone. It was the biggest thing to happen all year. I was new to the game and was fascinated by the comments from industry luminaries there. As the wrap came off the car, that bluey/greeny coloured battleship of a VK thing, the oohhs and ahhs abounded in the room (remember, no internet with sneek peeks in those days – it surprised everyone on the actual release night!).
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I worked my way around the room listening and overhearing chats and opinions from said luminaries freely exchanged about this mammoth thing that had just been born and shown to the world. Well, to say that the people and their opinions were ‘polarized’ was an understatement. They were as polarized as Brocks energy polariozer that lurked under the hood. Maybe that’s what it was there for, to polarize everybody within range! I dunno, that night there was both pain and ecstasy with that unveiling. I’ve never forgotten how that night some said it would be Mr. Perfect’s undoing and others were enraptured by the whole thing. The rest is history, I am just amazed how some things stick in one’s mind with crystal clarity.