2018 Holden Commodore Tourer revealed

Holden has announced that the all-new European-sourced Commodore range will include a high-riding wagon variant powered exclusively by a 230kW V6 that sends power to all four wheels, which will be released at launch alongside the liftback sedan and Sportwagon body styles.

Dubbed the Tourer, the pumped-up wagon sits 20mm higher than the regular wagon, and is 20mm longer thanks to black cladding along the lower skirts of the vehicle which gives it a more off-road-ready look.

The Tourer will be released alongside the rest of the NG Commodore range in the first quarter of 2018, and it will not be offered with the entry-level 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol and diesel engines.

The off-road performance of the Tourer is boosted by the all-wheel drive system that features a torque vectoring system with selectable drive modes.

Holden product communications manager Mark Flintoft also confirmed that, for now, the Tourer will only come in all-wheel drive guise.

The 3.0-litre naturally aspirated V6 shared with the top-spec sedan and Sportwagon delivers 230kW and 370Nm, and will likely be teamed to a nine-speed automatic transmission.

Punters can expect the Tourer to share the storage space of the Sportwagon, which is 1640 litres when the 40/20/40 rear seats are folded down.

Holden says the off-road performance of the Tourer is boosted by the all-wheel drive system that features a torque vectoring system with selectable drive modes to enhance the car's ability off the beaten track, as well as a Sports mode to give the Tourer a more direct feel.

The biggest visual change over the Sportwagon is the addition of black cladding around the entire lower edge of the vehicle, giving the Tourer a new front fascia with a tougher look than its tarmac-bound sibling.

Standard specification for the Tourer, which is shared with other Commodore variants, includes safety technologies such as autonomous emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, lane departure warning, lane keep assist, forward collision alert, side blind-zone alert and rear cross-traffic alert.

The Tourer will be the first high-riding wagon to wear a Commodore badge since the Adventra.

Ventilated seats, a massage function, one-touch folding rear seats, heated front and rear seats, power tailgate and active noise cancellation will also be on offer in the Tourer.

When it lands early next year, the Tourer will be the first high-riding wagon to wear a Commodore badge since the Adventra, which launched Down Under in 2003 and was sold until the VZ generation was put out to pasture in 2009.

Holden sold almost 9000 examples of the Adventra during its run here, and even spawned an HSV spin-off called the Avalanche, which packed a 5.7-litre LS1 V8 under the bonnet and made 270kW/475Nm.

Holden director of communications Sean Poppitt said that the Tourer would appeal to the Australian market, which has a hunger for all-paw vehicles.

"The next-generation Commodore Tourer gives the range a new level of appeal, combining Australia's love for SUVs with the practicality of a wagon and the driving appeal of a sedan," he said.

"Whether you're a weekend warrior, or just like the idea of being one, the Commodore Tourer gives our range a new dimension."

When it arrives the Tourer will compete with other soft-roader wagons such as the Subaru Outback, Volkswagen Passat Alltrack and Skoda Octavia Scout, as well as more premium offerings such as the Audi A4 Allroad.

Does the addition of a high-riding wagon boost the appeal of the Euro-sourced 2018 Commodore range? Tell us what you think in the comments below.