After spending $1 billion on development, GM's Australian subsidiary, Holden, unveiled its brand new VE Commodore and its luxury long-wheelbase versions, the WM Statesman and Caprice. The new rear wheel drive Holden’s herald one of the most significant model realignments to Holden’s passenger car range since the 1980s when the first Commodore was produced. The 4.894 m long VE Commodore and it’s luxury siblings, the WM Statesman and Caprice will be offered with V6 and V8 engines: the Alloytec 3.6L V6 available in two versions, with 245 Hp (180KW) & 266 Hp (195 KW) and the Generation IV 6.0L V8 alloy engine delivering peak power of 368 Hp (270 KW).
The VE Commodore will go on sale in August 2006 while the WM Statesman & Caprice in September 2006. Pricing, full specifications and features will be announced closer to the start of sales. Click here to see the 2007 Holden Commodore VE video clips: VIDEO
Holden Commodore Calais 6.0 V8
Holden VE Commodore Range
· Omega (new) – 3.6L V6, peak power 180kW, peak torque 330Nm, four-speed automatic
· Berlina – 3.6L V6, peak power 180kW, peak torque 330Nm, four-speed automatic; 6.0L V8, peak power 270kW, peak torque 530Nm, six-speed automatic
· SV6 – 3.6L V6, peak power 195kW, peak torque 340Nm, five-speed automatic or six-speed manual
· SS – 6.0L V8, peak power 270kW, peak torque 530Nm, six-speed automatic, six-speed manual
· SS V (new) - 6.0L V8, peak power 270kW, peak torque 530Nm, six-speed automatic, six-speed manual
· Calais – 3.6L V6, peak power 195kW, peak torque 340Nm, five-speed automatic; 6.0L V8, peak power 270kW, peak torque 530Nm, six-speed automatic
· Calais V (new) – 3.6L V6, peak power 195kW, peak torque 340Nm, five-speed automatic; 6.0L V8, peak power 270kW, peak torque 530Nm, six-speed automatic
HOLDEN VE COMMODORE –HIGHLIGHTS
Overview
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· Combined with WM Statesman and Caprice, total program costs were $1.23 billion
· Most clean-sheet car program in Holden’s history
· More than 3.42 million development kilometres were driven during the program
· About 2.4 million Commodores have been built for domestic and export sales since the VB Commodore was launched in 1978
· Holden Commodore has been Australia's best selling car each year since 1996, the year before VT was launched
Model lineup
· The new Omega and V Series models feature in a revised Commodore lineup. Omega replaces Executive and Acclaim while the V Series adds new variants to the leading SS and
· Omega (new) – 3.6L V6, peak power 180kW, peak torque 330Nm, four-speed automatic
· Berlina – 3.6L V6, peak power 180kW, peak torque 330Nm, four-speed automatic; 6.0L V8, peak power 270kW, peak torque 530Nm, six-speed automatic
· SV6 – 3.6L V6, peak power 195kW, peak torque 340Nm, five-speed automatic or six-speed manual
· SS – 6.0L V8, peak power 270kW, peak torque 530Nm, six-speed automatic, six-speed manual
· SS V (new) - 6.0L V8, peak power 270kW, peak torque 530Nm, six-speed automatic, six-speed manual
· Calais – 3.6L V6, peak power 195kW, peak torque 340Nm, five-speed automatic; 6.0L V8, peak power 270kW, peak torque 530Nm, six-speed automatic
· Calais V (new) – 3.6L V6, peak power 195kW, peak torque 340Nm, five-speed automatic; 6.0L V8, peak power 270kW, peak torque 530Nm, six-speed automatic
Engines
· Two variants of the advanced all-aluminium 3.6L Alloytec V6 engine will be offered
· The high output Alloytec will deliver peak power of 195kW @ 6500rpm and peak torque of 340Nm @ 2600rpm, up 5kW and 5Nm
· The Alloytec V6 will deliver peak power of 180kW @ 6000rpm and peak torque of 330Nm @ 2600rpm, up 8kW and 10Nm
· Increased output from the new 6.0L Generation 4 V8 engine to peak power of 270kW @ 5700rpm and peak torque of 530Nm @ 4400rpm, up 10kW and 20Nm. This makes the new engine the most powerful standard Holden ever produced
· Plans for a 3.6L dual fuel LPG Alloytec V6 engine later in the year.
Transmissions
· Five transmissions will be offered, comprising three automatic and two manual transmissions. An all-new six-speed automatic transmission will be offered for V8 variants, shared with General Motors’ flagship Cadillac cars and the Chevrolet Corvette.
· GM 6L80E six-speed automatic transmission with Active Select (introduced in the Cadillac STS-V in the
· Tremec T56 six-speed manual in SS and SS V
· GM 5L40E five-speed automatic with Active Select in
· Aisin AY6 six-speed manual in SV6
· GM 4L60E four-speed automatic in Omega and Berlina
Safety
· Electronic Stability Program (ESP®) standard on all models
· Driver, front passenger and side impact airbags available on all models
· Occupant protection system designed for real world driving environment
· Curtain airbags available on all models - standard on SS V,
· Ultra-stiff body structure, multiple load path strategy, structurally optimised front and rear deformation zones
· Greatly expanded use of super-strength and high-strength steels in the body
Technology
· All-new heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems
· Zone-based front and rear park assist systems available on selected models
· Multi-function display reporting system
· Bluetooth standard on all models except optional on Omega
· Roof-mounted DVD systems available on all models
· Auxiliary plug in audio systems to accommodate MP3 devices
· Integrated navigation and telematics systems available later in 2006
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Holden Statesman 6.0 V8
