News - Holden Commodore

Commodore returns to Brazil

Making an export splash: Brazillian racing legend Emerson Fittipaldi test drives the Holden-built sedan named in his honour, the Omega Fittipaldi.

Holden set to export Commodore-based ‘Omega Fittipaldi’ sedan to South America

31 August 2010

By BYRON MATHIOUDAKIS

GM HOLDEN is back in the Brazilian way with the resumption of Commodore exports to the big South American market.

For now, only 600 VE Series II-based Chevrolet Omega vehicles will head to Brazil, in time for sales to commence in November.

It is a two-way affair because Holden’s engineers at Fishermans Bend have received much-needed flex-fuel expertise and know-how from GM’s Chevrolet affiliate in Brazil, where about 45 per cent of fuel is ethanol.

Only one engine will be offered initially – a variation of the 3.6-litre SIDI (Spark Ignition Direct Injection) V6 – with the capability to run up to 25 per cent ethanol (E25).

Other details will be provided closer to the Omega’s media launch in Brazil in October.

To be called the Omega Fittipaldi after Brazilian motor racing star, national hero and ethanol industry advocate and investor, Emerson Fittipaldi, it picks up from where the earlier VE-based model left off in 2008.

Left: Emerson Fittipaldi at the wheel of the Omega Fittipaldi in Australia.

Holden suspended exports to Brazil just one year after the VE was launched due to the global financial crisis. It had been supplying the country with Commodores since the VT-era model was introduced as the Omega B in 1998, as a replacement for the German Opel-based Omega A that ran from 1992.

GM Brasil’s general director of sales and marketing, Ronaldo Znidarsis, said the Australian import is an important return for the Chevrolet brand.

“The Omega has a great tradition in Brazil dating back to when it was produced by Chevrolet until today,” he said. “It represents luxury, sophistication and performance and is a very important nameplate for the Chevrolet brand in Brazil.”

Holden chairman and managing director Mike Devereux said the latest Omega project was a small step in the recovery process after the challenges of the financial crisis, as well as a big step in the Aussie team’s ethanol education program.

“We’re really pleased to work with Chevrolet Brazil and to rebuild small, targeted export programs which add value to Holden’s domestic business,” he said.

“Holden’s Chevrolet Omega program for Brazil shows that niche export opportunities are beginning to emerge as we recover from the challenges of the global financial crisis.

“Our work with Chevrolet Brazil over the past decade has taught us a great deal about the potential of bio-ethanol and the flex-fuel technology needed to make our locally-produced engines E85-compatible.

“Those lessons have allowed us to develop cars capable of running on varying ethanol blends ranging from E10 all the way to E85 as well as how to work with fuel retailers to make bio-ethanol available commercially.”

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