A detuned engine improves fuel consumption and lowers CO2, reports Phil Hanson
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Holden has detuned the V6 engine in several Commodore models to improve fuel economy and environmental credentials, hoping the measure will improve sales.
Power from the Alloytec engine drops to 175kW from 180kW and torque is down five Newton metres to 325Nm.
The revised engine will be standard on all Berlina and Omega sedans sportwagons and utes arriving for sale in New Zealand from the end of this month.
The 2.8 per cent power reduction improves petrol consumption. The entry model now achieves 10.6 litres per 100km overall, down from 10.9 litres per 100km.
And the engine's emission levels now meet Euro VI certification, a standard that does not come into effect in Europe for another six years.
Holden says the improvement in fuel efficiency and emissions gives Omega and Berlina petrol models an overall Australian Green Vehicle Guide score of 13.5 points, for a 3.5 star rating. The top possible score is 16, for five stars.
It's only the second time in the Commodore's 30-year history that a revised model will have less power than the one it replaces. The 175kW output is identical to that of the 2004 model - and 20kW less than the current FG Falcon, its arch-rival.
Holden's calling the detune an upgrade. "The upgrade to this V6 engine was to enable improved fuel economy and reduced emissions without sacrificing real-world performance," said Simon Carr, Holden New Zealand's managing director.
It's gambling that potential customers of the relatively powerful car will not notice a small performance decrease.
The company has already announced a more fuel-frugal version of its V8. Unveiled at last month's Australian International Motor Show in Sydney, Active Fuel Management technology (AFM) allows the engine to run on four cylinders in certain circumstances, reportedly saving around one litre of fuel per 100km. AFM is only fitted to automatic-transmission V8s.
A few other manufacturers, including Chrysler, use variable cylinder technology and Cadillac championed an early version in the wake of the 1970s oil shocks.
Holden also used the show to launch its "environmentally friendly" EcoLine brand. This includes vehicles using alternative fuels or featuring fuel-saving technologies.
Many industry observers say the Commodore and Falcon may be endangered species unless they are offered with diesel engines.
Both companies have said little about specific plans to do this, but have acknowledged difficulties in finding the right engine.
While the Commodore V6 revision achieves overall economy improvements of only between 0.2 litres and 0.4 litres per 100km, some LPG versions can boast a 1.3 litres per 100km improvement.
Commodore Omega, Berlina and the 60th Special Edition achieve the 0.2 litres per 100km improvement, while the sportwagon versions of the same cars double the saving.
The Commodore ute in Omega and 60th Special Edition trim share the 0.4 improvement. CO2 emissions have dropped by 9g/km on the petrol utes and by 4 or 5g on the sedans and wagon.
The big improvement is in the LPG range where all but the Omega and 60th Special Edition cut 22g/km from their CO2 emissions. The others manage 11g.
However, with output ranging between 230g/km to 259g/km, they're still short of the New Zealand government's goal of 170g/km.
The detuning comes at the same time as the Australian Federal Government's A$3.2 billion ($3.6 billion) lifeline to the car industry.
Prime Minister Kevin Rudd said the plan, which has been widely criticised, would not only underwrite Australian manufacturing, but ensure car makers built the "green" cars critical to tackling climate change.
"Australia needs a green car industry that manufactures the fuel-efficient, low-emissions vehicles of the future and creates the well-paid, high-skilled green jobs of the future," he said.
The industry will be able to tap into A$1.3 billion from a Green Car Innovation Fund. This will provide grants for projects to build fuel-efficient, low-emissions or lightweight vehicles in Australia.
Holden welcomed the package, describing it as the "driver for a decade of local innovation".
Ford particularly welcomed the innovation fund, which it said would provide a framework to investigate a "suite of environmentally oriented product investment initiatives".
