The 2018 Holden ZB Commodore Sportwagon has been spied testing in the USA sporting a V6 and all-wheel drive, signalling a return to the hot wagon.
To date we’ve driven a number of 2018 Holden ZB Commodore prototype vehicles, but there hasn’t been much discussion about the Sportwagon outside of an entry-level four-cylinder model.
Spied testing in the USA yesterday, we now have visual proof that Holden will release a V6 all-wheel drive version of the next-generation Commodore that could be exclusive to Australia.
The front end of the car sports the faux-inlets that feature on the sporty VXR model, but this pictured vehicle appears to be a mid- or base-specification of the V6 all-wheel drive, given the lack of VXR badges, smaller wheels and smaller brakes.
Proudly wearing a Holden badge at the front and a Commodore badge at the rear, the ZB Commodore is finished in a red paint colour, similar in appearance to the current Holden Commodore SS-V Redline Sportwagon.
While wagons have fallen out of fashion in Australia, a V6 wagon would make the ZB Commodore one of the few in the segment with a sporty station wagon option.
Most other wagons in this segment come with diesel or low-capacity petrol engines and front-wheel drive — with the exception of the jacked up ‘off-road’ wagons like the Golf and Passat Alltrack.
The V6 ZB Commodore features a naturally aspirated 3.5-litre petrol V6 engine that produces 230kW of power and 370Nm of torque. It moves from standstill to 100km/h in around 6.0-seconds and will use around 9.0-litres of fuel per 100km. It also uses a nine-speed automatic transmission.
What do you think of the 2018 Holden ZB Commodore? Does the Sportwagon look better than the hatchback? Click on the Photos tab to see the full gallery.