| Holden has begun its 50th anniversary year on a high
note, with the all-new VT Commodore voted number one choice by new car buyers and the
judges of Australia’s prestigious Wheels 1997 Car of the Year award.
Just days after registration figures confirmed Commodore’s status as the
country’s best-selling car in 1997, it was announced that the locally designed,
developed and engineered VT Commodore had won out against a record 28-car field - one of
the most competitive in the Wheels Car of the Year 35-year history.
At Holden’s Elizabeth
manufacturing plant in South Australia, members of the 4,300-strong team responsible for
VT Commodore’s worldclass build quality, fit and finish shared in the celebrations
when Rod Keane, Director of Manufacturing Operations, showed off the trophy haul on their
first day back at work after the holiday break.
Judges praised Commodore’s styling, safety, value for money and versatility. Wheels
editor Angus MacKenzie described the VT Commodore as the most significant new Holden since
the original 48/215.
"It is an affirmation of the skill and ingenuity of the Australian car industry.
Holden has developed a world class family car ... this is a car with few peers for the
price anywhere in the world," he said.
Wheels 1997 Car of the Year entrants - passenger cars released in Australia in the 12
months to November 15 - were rated for engineering excellence; advancement in design;
performance of intended function; utilisation of resources; safety and value for money.
The prestigious prize from Wheels magazine is the latest in a series of major awards
won by VT Commodore since its release last September. They include an Australian Design
Award; Which Car? Safety Merit Award; Best Large Car - RACV Best Buys 1997; RAA Best
Family Car ($25,000-$40,000); RACQ’s Queensland Best Family Car and 1997 Adelaide
Advertiser Car of the Year.
Consistently strong sales of the VT Commodore contributed to Holden’s best final
quarter result in 15 years. The company finished 1997 in a dominant position, winning
total market leadership in the October-December quarter, with sales of 37,084 units.
Editor's note:
We have been asked why we report another publication's COTY instead of awarding our own.
Simple - limited resources mean a FASTLANE COTY would be both ineffectual and
presumptuous.
It is far better (not to mention honest) to acknowledge that Wheels' COTY, judged as it is
by 11 respected peers, more accurately reflects the standard of cars presented. But hey,
I'm allowed to agree with them !
GW
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