1985 to 1990 - the lost years

[HK1837]

I wonder whether the styling cues would have come from the appropriate model commodore with no W series sedans, or would it have become an orphan for design and evolution. It's hard to imagine a WD ute that shared the looks of a VH/K commodore. Even harder to imagine it looking good.

The dimensional differences were probably significant enough to prevent sharing a front end - WB width 1877mm/Front Track 1520mm vs VB Commodore width 1722mm/Front Track 1451mm.

You are forgetting WA and WB already had Commodore style front. Just look at the U, V and W sized cars in 1980: UC, VC and WB. There is no nosecone as such (although WA/WB has the little apron to match to the existing bonnet). The grille and headlights form the front, there is an apron down below. Headlights and blinkers wrap around.

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They became irrelevant. There was no sedan version being built. The commodore became the main car, and I imagine the platform was too small and weak for a commercial version.
Holden had started selling the Isuzu commercials and what bean counter would ever agree to having a Commodore competing against a Kingswood, and a Isuzu competing against a home grown commercial vehicle.
The other main problem was tradies were becoming more aware that utes and vans were actually useless compared to a one tonner or a bongo van.

I'd agree with the lack of sales killing it. Remember also the body was 13+ years old at the start of 1985. The van turret had been around since HD.
I don't think they were that worried about competing imports with home grown. Isuzu and Chev utes (Luvs and C20/C30/K20) had been sold parallel with Holdens since the early 1970's. Bedfords were as well.