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Hybrid Commodores on the Way

Australia is a big country; so it was obvious that people would need cars to traverse its vast expanses. General Motors launched the first locally built Holden in 1948 and a legend was born. Along with football, meat pies and now Holden cars, Australia’s love affair with the six cylinder icon had begun. The Holden Commodore made its debut in 1978 and although it is still a very good seller, sales are sliding. And, although Holden did introduce a four cylinder Commodore model in the eighties, as a response to rising oil prices at the time, it was a short lived experiment. Quite simply it lacked the power of the bigger six cylinder and V8 models.

Today, it is not just the rising cost of oil, but environmental issues and concern over the impact that cars are having, that is changing what once was perceived unchangeable - Holden will begin selling a hybrid Commodore by 2010 in an effort to reduce the environmental impact of the brand’s best-selling vehicle. As a response to increasing environmental concerns the new models aims to bolster sluggish large car sales and improve the export potential of the locally-made Commodore.

Hybrid engines use a regular petrol engine mated to an electric motor and can reduce fuel consumption by up to 50 per cent. The world’s most popular hybrid, the Toyota Prius, just notched up its one millionth sales and has helped cement Toyota as a leader in environmentally friendly motoring.

Although Hybrids are clearly an option, General Motors group vice president Nick Reilly, admitted that by definition while they’re more efficient they’re also more expensive to produce.  However, Reilly says hybrids are “where you get the biggest savings”, suggesting it was high on the agenda for a brand that’s seen its market share nearly halve since 2002. In confirming the imminent arrival of more environmentally friendly versions of the Commodore, he says the company would not walk away from the performance market that now makes up a significant share of the Commodore market.

GM is the latest major car company to look at alternative power plants for their vehicles. The good news for the motoring public is that if car makers do their job properly you will still be able to enjoy all the power and luxury of today’s cars, in cars of tomorrow. So, the next time you see a super stretched limousine – listen, you may not be able to hear it! For more info about environmentally friendly limos, contact HireLimos.

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