Bring me back to when new Holden's were on the news... #holden

General Motors Holden will unveil its latest Commodore models tomorrow, a move it hopes will increase its share of the dwindling car market.With registrations falling, GMH says the new Commodores should appeal to buyers who want a more powerful, but at the same time economical car.To get that result, GMH had to abandon its conventional engine of the past 22 years for one fully imported from Nissan in Japan.

The new VL Commodores and top -of -the -range Calais have been kept under tight security at the GMH testing ground here at Lang Lang east of Melbourne.The first prototype was developed three years ago.Since then the company has gone to great lengths to keep the model secret, sometimes putting it together in the outback to road test away from spectators and disguising the new body when used on public roads.The 86 Commodores are the first Hollands to run on unleaded petrol and the body has become more upmarket.But the major change is the engine.The traditional locally produced motor of 22 years has been dumped for a three -litre six -cylinder model imported from Nissan in Japan.

GMH says a world -class engine was needed and could not be made economically at home.

Although 1985 was a record year for new car registrations, the figure fell by more than 13 % in December, indicating a consumer reaction to high interest rates.Despite the downturn, GMH is confident of coming close to matching last year's sales figure of 129 ,000 cars.

During the course of 1985 there was a fair degree of pull forward in anticipation of increased prices that probably flowed from interest charges.So it wasn't of any great surprise that December registrations were a little bit off.

GMH says the Commodore is still within the price range of the average motorist and is confident improvements such as 33 % more power and 15 % better economy will attract customers away from the big selling Japanese cars.