Holden has confirmed it will be retaining the Calais nameplate for its next-generation ZB Commodore.

The decision to retain the Commodore name for the all-new imported ZB, the first Commodore in the car’s 39-year history to be built overseas, has been a controversial one, however Holden is sticking to its guns.

While the SS badge will be retired along with the V8 on October 20, Calais will continue on the sports-luxury variants of the new ZB, banking on the brand equity of a badge first introduced on the VK Commodore in 1984.

Holden VK Calais

Holden is keen to push the ZB Commodore as the most advanced ever, with a 3.6-litre V6 powering a nine-speed automatic and all-wheel drive for the flagship models, along with adaptive LED headlights, a 360-degree camera, adaptive cruise control, autonomous emergency braking, lane keep assist and various other active safety systems.

Holden ZB Commodore

The ZB Commodore will be on-sale in early 2018, we’ll bring you a review of the V6 AWD prototype and chat with chief dynamics engineers Rob Trubiani in the near future.