Holden SS-V :
Holden`s sports performance hero SS model and prestige leader
Calais were chosen to debut VE Commodore at an event in
Melbourne.
The all-new WM series Statesman and
Caprice flagship models, representing Australia`s most
successful locally designed export cars last year, were also
shown in an historic double reveal.
Commodore`s design theme is enabled by an increased wheelbase
which moves the wheels closer to the car`s corners, delivering a
powerful European-styled stance on the road.
The
launch comes 75 years after Holden became part of the world`s
largest automotive company, General Motors. It is also 150 years
since the original Holden saddlery business, which grew to be
today`s GM Holden, opened in Adelaide.
GM Holden
Chairman and Managing Director, Denny Mooney, today said VE
Commodore was designed to excite buyers about Australian cars
and enhance Holden`s future as the largest automotive
manufacturer in the country.
Mr Mooney said General
Motors had invested more than $6 billion in Australia over the
past decade, including VE, to protect Commodore`s market-leading
position.
The VE program totalled $1.04 billion and the WM Statesman and
Caprice program $190 million, taking the combined cost to $1.23
billion.
Mr Mooney said VE Commodore had potential
for GM markets around the world, having been engineered from a
global architecture for left-hand-drive requirements such as the
Middle East.
He said VE offered striking design,
performance and refinement able to compete with the world`s best
car brands.
"VE Commodore delivers ultimate value to
the Australian buyer. Its design is comparable to anything in
the world and we made major advances in refinement and quality,"
Mr Mooney said.
"Our targets have been some of the
most expensive and most carefully crafted cars around the world
and this careful consideration of global expectations is what
should make this car work.
"We pored over every
panel, the tiniest of details to place this car right up there
in terms of refinement,  quality
and performance."
Mr Mooney said safety was a key
factor in the new vehicle, with the acclaimed crash avoidance
technology Electronic Stability Program (ESP®) standard and
curtain airbags available on the entire VE sedan range.
"The chassis is designed to accommodate a range of active and
passive safety technologies as well as the crashworthiness
expected in many different markets," he said.
"We have
used more super-strength and high-strength steels than ever
before in Commodore`s structure. Real world crash performance
was a huge priority throughout its development."
Mr
Mooney announced a revised model line-up for the new range,
including a new name to Holden, Omega, to replace Executive and
Acclaim.
"We are also adding extra class with the
introduction of a new concept, the V Series, to highlight our
top-of-the-line offerings. This will commence with the SS V and
Calais V," he said.
"The peak power of our advanced
Alloytec V6 engines, made right here in Australia , will move up
to 180 and 195 kilowatts respectively.
" The
six-litre V8 will stamp its authority with peak power and torque
of 270 kilowatts and 530 Newton metres which will really deliver
the performance Holden buyers know and love.
"We will
introduce a new six-speed automatic transmission for V8 models,
sharing it with GM`s premium cars such as Cadillacs and the
Chevrolet Corvette.
"We have introduced all-new front and rear suspension systems to
provide outstanding handling without sacrificing ride comfort.
The car`s microprocessing capability has more than doubled and
allows us to provide new levels of safety and user-friendly
features."
Mr Mooney said recent market changes and
external factors such as fuel prices were best countered by
ensuring locally built vehicles were able to mix with the
world`s best.
"The Australian car industry has a
strong future while it continues to make globally competitive
cars such as VE Commodore," he said.
"We`re proud  of
what we have achieved with the all-new Commodore. We know
Australians still enjoy large cars and we know they want safety,
roominess and style in their cars."
The Holden VE
Commodore range will go on sale in August 2006. Pricing and full
specifications and features will be announced closer to the
start of sales.
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 Calais nameplates.
* 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
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
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 United States ) makes its Australian debut
as an option in all V8 variants
* Tremec T56 six-speed
manual in SS and SS V
* GM 5L40E five-speed automatic
with Active Select in Calais V6
* 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, Calais and Calais V; optional on Omega,
Berlina, SV6 and SS
* 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
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