Electrified Commodore possible in seven years

Forty electrified models planned by France’s PSA Group by 2025 may include a Holden Commodore.

The parent company of Peugeot, Citroen, Opel, Vauxhall and DS has released few details about the hybrid, plug-in hybrid or all-electric powertrains that may be included by then.

But PSA has offered a 150kW diesel-electric hybrid system called HYbrid4 in selected European Peugeot and DS models since 2011, motoring.com.au

reports.

In late 2016 PSA announced a new plug-in petrol-electric system to be launched simultaneously in China and Europe through the DS brand in 2019.

It says the front-wheel drive and all-wheel drive PHEV system will spread to seven Peugeot, Citroen and DS models globally by 2021.

PSA’s PHEV all-wheel-drive powertrain comprises a four-cylinder petrol engine of 112kW to 150kW, an eight-speed automatic transmission, an 80kW electric motor for each axle and a 13kWh battery pack under the rear seat.

The battery pack is reported to be fully rechargeable in 4.5 hours (2.5 hours under fast-charging) with a 224kW total power output and has a 60km EV range.

Opel, which PSA bought from General Motors late last year, supplies Holden’s first imported Commodore – the 2018 ZB lift-back, wagon and crossover range that replaces Australia’s homegrown Commodore sedan, wagon and ute line-up next month.

PSA says it will fast-track the development of new Opel/Vauxhall models, switching them from GM platforms to its own, reportedly as soon as 2021.

Holden boss Mark Bernhard has said GMH had 12 to 18 months to decide whether it will stick with the PSA-sourced Commodore (and Astra hatch, also built by Opel in Europe), or swap to models sourced from sister GM brand Buick.

PSA has also committed to launching 124 new models across six regions worldwide over the next six years, and it hopes to have 80% of its vehicles with autonomous functions by 2030, and 10% with up to Level 4 and 5 autonomy.