Having being around since 1982, when it was adopted from sister company Chevrolet and used on the Commodore VH, the SS badge will disappear once the current model will be replaced in early 2018.
According to AutomobileMag, the automaker has yet to come up with a designation for the range-topping version, but besides the SS suffix, it will also have to do without a V8 engine – or rear-wheel drive, for that matter.
There is a good explanation for taking the popular Aussie-made car through these changes, as the upcoming Holden Commodore will be essentially a rebadged version of the Opel/Vauxhall Insignia, which will also go on sale in the United States as the Buick Regal. The vehicle will adopt a front-/all-wheel drive platform, which will not only help it drop a significant amount of weight, but also open up the possibility of using many GM-made powertrains.
Besides the 2.0-liter turbocharged petrol and 2.0-liter turbodiesel that will send the output to the front wheels, the most potent version of the upcoming Holden Commodore will use a 3.6-liter V6 engine, rated at 308 HP and 370 Nm (226 lb-ft) of torque, as the automaker announced last week. This variant will push the output to all four corners through a 9-speed automatic transmission.
Before waving goodbye to the current Commodore, Holden will reportedly revive the Director nameplate and use it on a series of limited edition models, but this info has yet to be confirmed.
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