Holden ECOmmodore

Information

Holden ECOmmodore

The Holden ECOmmodore was a concept car to display a hybrid variant of the Holden VT Commodore. It was developed in partnership with CSIRO (Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization), an Australian Government agency that helps companies and organizations with research and development. With the partnership, they made plans for the ECOmmodore to be powered by a 2L I4 with an electric motor. The hybrid system ran on lead-acid batteries, but the ECOmmodore was meant to blend in with a VT Commodore and not be a complete redesign due to the hybrid system. The main visual difference is the fastback style, which is slightly longer, so the chassis used was longer and came from the VT Commodore station wagons. The only other notable change from the standard Commodore is the headlights, which would later be used by the VX Commodore that replaced the VT Commodore.

Unveiled in May 2000 at the Melbourne International Motor Show, the ECOmmodore did the rounds with it going to the North American Auto Show in Detroit and the Hannover Trade Fair in Germany. When not at an auto show, it was the VIP car for the 2000 Summer Olympics Torch Relay held in Sydney.

The Holden ECOmmodore was never meant to go into full-scale production and remained as a concept to display GM Holden’s engineering and design skills. Holden, as a company, would not sell a hybrid until the Holden Volt, which was just the Chevy Volt rebadged. This fact means that the ECOmmodore is the only in-house made hybrid ever from Holden