Holden Commodore
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| Holden Commodore | |
| Also called: | Chevrolet Lumina Chevrolet Omega Toyota Lexcen |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer: | Holden |
| Production: | 1978 – |
| Assembly: | Elizabeth, South Australia, Australia |
| Predecessor: | Holden Kingswood Holden Sunbird |
| Parent company: | General Motors |
| Class: | Mid size Full-size |
| Body style: | 4-door sedan 4-door station wagon 2-door ute 4-door ute |
| Related: | Opel Commodore Holden Adventra Holden Statesman Holden Monaro Holden Ute Daewoo Prince Daewoo Royale Chevrolet Commodore |
The Holden Commodore is a car built by the Holden division of General Motors in Australia. From 1989, it formed the basis of a luxury sedan range called the Holden Statesman, and from 2001, it formed the basis of the Holden Monaro sports coupé. In 2004, Holden released both four-wheel drive and four-door ute versions, called the Adventra and Crewman respectively.
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[edit] VB Commodore
Introduced in 1978, the original VB Commodore came with the 2.85 L or 3.3 L inline 'red' 6 engines and 4.2 or 5.0 litre 'red' V8 OHV engines and four-speed manual M21 or four-speed manual MC6 (close-ratio) or three-speed automatic "Trimatic" transmissions, all carried over from the outgoing Holden Kingswood. The original design was actually a rebadged and strengthened German Opel Rekord E (1977-1986), which was GM's V-car, sold in the UK as the Vauxhall Viceroy, and the Chevrolet Commodore in South Africa. The Commodore was Wheels magazine's Car of the Year for 1978 - at the time it was considered the most sophisticated Australian car and a major departure from the full-size designs from Holden, Ford and Chrysler dating back to the early 1970s. A new SL/E model was introduced to create a three-tiered baseline, SL and SL/E model hierarchy.
[edit] VC Commodore
Only minor cosmetic changes were made from the original 1978 VB Commodore to the updated VC: the engines were upgraded to 'blue' specification (denoted by the colour of the engine block) which meant a 12-port cylinder head on the 6-cylinder engine, and electronic ignition on all engines. The VC was the first to be used with HDT projects with Peter Brock.
As a reaction to the 1979 fuel crisis, Holden also produced the Commodore Four, which sold in only modest numbers in the domestic market. This model used Holden's 1.9 L Starfire engine (a four-cylinder version of the 2.85 L inline-6 engine) from the defunct Holden Sunbird. The Commodore Four was loathed by many people for the lack of power, but remained popular in some export markets and was sold to the end of the VN series, but by then featuring the Family II 2.0 L engine (same engine used in the Holden Camira) in the late 1980s. The base model was now badged as Commodore L.
[edit] VH Commodore
Released in late 1981, it was a considerably facelifted version of the VC Commodore with virtually the same mechanical specifications as before except for the addition of a 5-speed manual transmission which was only available with the 1.9L four or 2.85L six, changes consist of the introduction of the SL/X trim level, placing it between the now base model SL and top-of-the-line SL/E. The SL/E also came available with cruise control and a trip computer as standard for the first time, the trip computer was also an option on SL/X and measured average speed and fuel consumption. In 1983 an 'Executive' pack was offered primarily to fleet buyers (although not badged as an Executive).
[edit] VK Commodore
The VK Commodore was introduced in 1984, and was mostly a restyled VH Commodore. It was the first Commodore to have plastic bumpers and featured a six-window glasshouse (using the Opel Senator bodyshell) as opposed to the four-window design on previous Commodores. Engine choices were a 5.0L (later 4.9 L V8 when Group A rules entered Australian motorsport in 1985) and a 3.3 L inline 'black' I6 (essentially a 'blue' 6 with more power and black coloured), the latter of which was available with either a carburetor or fuel injection. Other engine sizes were discontinued. The VK also introduced new names for the trim levels, such as Executive (an SL with air conditioning and automatic transmission), Berlina (replacing SL/X) and Calais (replacing SL/E). The limited edition Vacationer name plate was continued from the VH well into the 90's models.
[edit] VL Commodore
The VL Commodore represented a substantial makeover of the VK, and would be the last of the "compact" Commodores. The engineers sought to soften the lines of the VL, rounding off the panels and introducing a small tail spoiler built into the boot lid. One major innovation was the use of semi-retracting headlight covers on the Calais model, the first for a production Holden (although they never released GTR-X which featured fully retractable headlights.
A comprehensive makeover for the VK was completely dropped in favour of an imported Nissan 3 litre straight six unit. General Motors had opted for the engine switch with the introduction of unleaded fuel in Australian cars. GM also sourced a Nissan electronic four-speed automatic, although those opting for a manual still received the Aussie 5 speed unit.
The imported engines included features such as an Electronic Combustion Control System (ECCS), a ram-tuned intake manifold. Six months into its release a turbocharged version of the Nissan 6 was released, the RB30ET. The Garrett turbo unit was fitted inside a water-cooled housing to ensure longevity. The engine received new pistons which lowered the compression ratio from 9.0:1 to 7.8:1, while an updated camshaft was used to reduce overlap. The output of the new turbocharged engine was rated at 150kW, up from the 114kW output of the standard RB30E.
The 5.0 litre V8 was released in October 1986, it still featured the familiar Rochester four-barrel carburettor, not EFI. This V8 5.0 litre boasted both more power and torque than its predecessor, now at 122kW (at 4400rpm) with 323Nm of torque. Modern modification improvents have seen 180kW and up. GM had fitted the trusty V8 with larger valves carried over from the previous Group A engine.
The allure of the Commodore was quickly established particularly when the top speed was 200kph and then extended to 220kph with the addition of the Garret turbo. In addition stopping power for the turbo models was upgraded to larger brakes and Girlock finned alloy front callipers. (Used on the Chevrolet Corvette.)
The VL suffered from some common build quality problems, most of all the poor windscreen sealing led to almost all cars having rust develop under the front and/or rear screens. The bodywork was not of the best quality, and some of the interior fittings were a little on the cheap side.
The total build No. for the VLs was 151,801.
[edit] VN Commodore
| VN Commodore | |
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| Production: | 17 August 1988 - October 1991 |
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| Engine: | Straight-4
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The Holden VN Commodore and subsequent versions took their bodywork from the slightly larger Opel Senator. The VN Commodore, released in 1988, was similarly based on the Opel Omega, but this time, the previous Commodore floor plan was widened and stretched. The Commodore could now match the rival Ford Falcon for size, and for the first time was available as a ute, which was given the model designation VG. The VN Commodore was available in Executive, S, SS, Berlina and Calais specification levels, although a more basic SL model (opt. code A9K) was apparently offered to government and fleet buyers, it was not officially listed as part of the Commodore range. The Commodore was Wheels magazine's Car of the Year for a second time in 1988. The similarly based VQ Statesman / Caprice, were built on an even longer wheelbase which were shared with the wagon and utility models.
Changes in the relative values of the Australian dollar, the yen, and the US dollar made it impractical to continue with the well-regarded Nissan engine of the VL Commodore. Instead, Holden manufactured their own 90 degree V6 based on an old Buick design from the US, although initially it was imported. The 5.0L V8 remained optional and received a power boost to 165 kW. Both these engines used multi point GM EFI and the V6 using 3 coil-packs for ignition. Although not known for its smoothness or quietness, the V6 was nevertheless praised for its performance at the time. Holden initially admitted to fitting the engine wrong in the VN, a problem which had been corrected in the VP Commodore. A fuel-injected, 2.0L engined VN Commodore Four was offered for some export markets including New Zealand and Singapore, which were sold as the Holden Berlina sharing an engine with the Opel Vectra A. Accompanying the changes to engines, the 4-speed Jatco automatic transmission was replaced by the GM TH700 and the Borg-Warner T-5 5-speed manual gearbox (highly sought after mainly by young males with either V6 or V8 engines)
Under the Hawke government's Button car plan, which saw a reduction in the number of models manufactured locally, and the introduction of model sharing, the VN Commodore was rebadged as the Toyota Lexcen, named after the late America's Cup yacht designer, Ben Lexcen. Subsequently the Toyota Corolla and Camry were, similarly, badged as the Holden Nova and Holden Apollo.
The VN was the last Commodore to be assembled in New Zealand, after GM closed its plant in Petone and switched to importing cars from Australia, duty-free. A total of 215,180 Holden VN Commodores were manufactured during the model's 3 year lifespan.
[edit] VP Commodore
The VP Commodore update of 1991 featured mainly cosmetic changes; the same 3.8 L V6 and 5.0 L V8 from the VN Commodore was used, but with revisions that improved on its harsh and rough running engine. Semi-trailing arm IRS became standard on high-end luxury and performance models (Calais & SS models) and an optional extra on lower-end models, in lieu of the live rear axle , drastically improving ride and handling. The 2.0 L I4 was discontinued. ABS was also introducted in the VP range as an option on Calais and SS for Series 1, and on most models with IRS for series 2.
[edit] VR Commodore
| VR Commodore | |
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| Production: | July 1993 - April 1995 |
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| Engine: | V6
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The sleeker and more modern looking VR Commodore, with safety enhancements (such as ABS) and revised styling, was launched in 1993. From the side, the biggest change was the use of a round rear wheelarch, instead of a squared-off one on previous commodores. The VR Calais included a driver's side airbag (a first for an Australian car), ABS and IRS and was only available with an automatic transmission. The rear-end treatment saw raised lights, apparently for safety reasons. A new electronic version of the TH700 automatic transmission was introduced, the 4L60E. The VR Commodore was Wheels magazine's Car of the Year for 1993.
The VR also saw the introduction of the Commodore 'Acclaim', which was basically a safety pack that was aimed at families and placed above the Executive, it had ABS, IRS, drivers-side airbag and cruise control as standard.
The VR series are becoming increasingly popular with younger drivers, especially males, with Commodores extremely common at car yards, combined with its cheap pricetag due to its poor resale.
The VR-VS Commodores were the last to be sold as Toyota Lexcens, as Holden and Toyota ended their model-sharing.
[edit] VS Commodore
The VS commodore, released in 1995, was the next commodore model following the VR. Whilst externally identical to the VR, barring badging and oval side indicators in the series 2 (clear oval indicators series III Vs ute), the VS included the new ECOTEC, "Emissions and Consumption Optimisation through TEChnology", engine in the standard V6 versions (L36) and the L67 motor for factory supercharged V6's. The 5.0L V8 versions of the VS retained the VR's engine setup. The new ecotec engine was not at its core the standard Buick V6 found in the VR. They started off with a totally new engine and only retained the dimensions of bore and stroke. The ecotec had 13% more power over the VR and 5% better fuel economy. The compression ratio was also increased from 8.5:1 on the VR to 9.4:1 on the VS. Also cross bolted mains are used in the ecotec with the same crank retained from the VR. The block was decked 1" and also the ecotec featured shorter, lighter rods with tin plated pistons and a floating pin design. The head design was revised greatly from the VR with the ECOTEC now features symmetrical ports with larger intake and exhaust valves. The end result was an engine that put out 147 kW, a 17 kW improvement on the VR, however the 0-100 km time of the new ecotec VS was only better than the VR's by 0.2 of a second.
This model was also sold as the Opel Calais in Singapore and Malaysia. It was a Holden Calais body with a Statesman front end and a 2.6 litre V6 [1].
[edit] VT Commodore
The VT Holden Commodore, released in 1997, was loosely based on the Opel Omega, and saw a coupe version, the Monaro, which resurrected a famous Holden brand name from the 1960s and 1970s. The VT heralded the fitment of the semi-trailing arm independent rear suspension as standard across the range. However, the simple design allowed distortions to the camber angle during heavy towing or when improperly manufactured, leading to excessive rear tyre wear. Various aftermarket camber kits became available to correct this problem.
The 1999 VT Series II update brought with it a new 5.7 L LS1 V8 sourced from the US to replace the venerable Holden 5.0 L V8. Throughout its time in the Commodore, the LS1 would receive incremental power upgrades from 220 kW to 250 kW, before finally being replaced by the L76. Side airbags also became an option for the Acclaim and higher models, a first for Holden. The new Monaro was available in the US as the Pontiac GTO and was sold in the UK with Vauxhall badges. The last Monaro rolled off the production lines in December of 2005, production cancelled due to sluggish US demand for the Pontiac and due to a poor exchange rate favouring the Australian dollar (Pontiac GTO production continued until June, 2006). The Holden Commodore was Wheels magazine's Car of the Year for a fourth time in 1997. The VT Commodore remains the best selling Holden Commodore to date.
[edit] VX Commodore
The VX Holden Commodore which was released in October 2000 and ceased production in September 2002 introduced further mechanical upgrades with the V6 receiving changes to the engine management computer to bring power up to 152 kW, while VX Series II added toe-control links to the semi-trailing arm rear suspension to better maintain the toe settings during suspension movements and hence result in better handling.
The VX Commodore was available in several models. These are the Executive, Acclaim, Berlina, Calais, S, and the SS. All the models in the VX range were sedans, but the Executive, Accliam and Berlina models were also available in wagon form.
The front suspension has been modified slightly, with lower control arm pivot points raised by 4 mm and a ball joint has replaced a rubber bushing on the stabiliser to strut link.
ABS brakes (Bosch 5.3) are now standard on all models, as is a CD player and steering wheel audio system controls. Traction control is now available with the manual transmission.
[edit] VY Commodore
The VY Holden Commodore was produced between September 2002 and August 2004. In August 2003 a Series II of the VY series was released.
The VY Holden Commodore is much more refined than the previous model in many aspects including the body structure, powertrain and chassis dynamics delivering appreciable improvements in performance, ride, handling, safety and build quality.
The VY Commodore was available in several models. These are the Executive, Acclaim, Berlina, Calais, S, SV8, and the SS. All the models in the VY range were sedans, but the Executive, Acclaim and Berlina models were also available in wagon form. Also the similar VZ Holden Calais was available, but only as a sedan.
The front and rear of the body has been completely restyled, with new front grille and headlights, and tailights. As with the exterior the interior has been also been heavily upgraded. Interior upgrade includes a new instrument panel, centre console and steering wheel, and new design transmission shifter and handbrake. There is also a new mobile phone power outlet under the centre console. The new instrument cluster features a large multi-function digital display (single or triple-window, depending on model), which displays information such as radio station display, PRND32L1 gear selected indicator, trip computer with stopwatch function, service reminders and a help facility.
Standard features now include "twilight sentinel" (on some models) automatic headlamp control, headlamps off programmable time delay, high feature Blaupunkt audio systems, road-speed sensitive intermittent wipers and passenger airbags.
[edit] VZ Commodore
The VZ Holden Commodore which was released in August, 2004 debuted a new generation of 175 and 190 kW 3.6L 'Alloytec' V6 engines (derived from the GM HFV6), versions of which also power the Alfa Romeo 159 and with a Turbo added, the 2006 Saab 9-3 Aero; these DOHC engines are new designs, and have carried on through to the VE Holden Commodore series which was released in August 2006.
A new 5L40E 5-speed automatic transmission sourced from GM was introduced on sports and luxury V6 variants. The sports SV6 variant is also available with a new Aisin AY6 6-speed manual transmission. In January 2006, Holden introduced the new L76 6.0 L V8 to its range. The V8 has been slightly detuned, with both Displacement On Demand and variable valve timing removed compared to the US version. From August 2006 Holden discontinued the VZ Holden Commodore sedan range in way for the new VE Holden Commodore sedan. The same is to happen to the station wagon variant of the VZ Holden Commodore sometime during 2007.
The 3.6 L Alloytec engines are more powerful, responsive and fuel-efficient than the outgoing pushrod ohv ECOTEC V6. Tests have shown that there has been no marginal improvement in driveabilty, the exhaust note sounding very similar to the old pushrod Ecotec. Matched to all-new and upgraded transmissions they deliver noticeable increases in all-round driving refinement. Selected models bring advanced active safety features that electronically assist the driver to maintain vehicle control in emergency situations.
The VZ Commodore was available in several model variations. These are the Executive, Acclaim, Berlina, Calais, SV6, SV8 and the SS. All the models in the VZ range were available in sedan form, but the Executive, Acclaim and Berlina models are also available as station wagons.
[edit] VE Commodore
The VE Holden Commodore was released in Australia on the all-new GM Zeta platform on July 16, 2006. Holden has spent A$1.04 billion on design and development of the VE [2]. It may form the basis of a large sedan in the Opel and Vauxhall range in Europe, as well as the possibility of a revival of GM's large rear-wheel drive cars in North America.
It has a new revised version of the 6.0 L L76 V8 known as the L98 which unlike the L76, does not support Displacement on Demand. Holden is also using GM's new 6-speed automatic transmission (the 6L80) for the V8 versions, which is also used in Cadillac XLR-V, Cadillac STS and automatic versions of the Chevrolet Corvette.[3] GM product managers in the US have expressed interest in the VE Commodore, particularly as a replacement 2007 Pontiac Gran Prix, primarily because it would be relatively inexpensive to alter the car to meet US market standards.[1]
The first official details of VE Commodore released were on July 16th, 2006 at a press event in Melbourne, Australia, (which was viewable live on the internet, a first for Holden) with further information released over the following weeks. It was revealed that both V6 engines will receive a subtle power boost of 5 kW each, as well as the Executive and Acclaim variants being combined into a single model, the Omega. The Commodore SS and SSV V8's power increased to 270 kW, making it Holden's most powerful engine. All models have received larger brakes as a result of the weight gain, with the base model Omega being fitted with 16-inch steel wheels as standard. Base models are continuing with an updated version of the old GM 4L65-E 4-speed auto.[2]
It was released firstly in sedan and long-wheelbase Statesman/Caprice variants, the potential wagon to be released 2007/2008. A single-cab utility has been confirmed for production in 2007, while a coupe based on the Commodore sedan has been confirmed by Michael Simcoe, designer of the VT-derived Holden Monaro/Pontiac GTO.
The VE Commodore launched in New Zealand in September 2006 [4]. It is also expected that left hand drive models will be released in the US, possibly badged as a Buick or Pontiac, to replace aging models in their lineups[5]. Motor Trend has said that several GM chiefs (namely Bob Lutz and Rick Wagoner) were given several trims of Commodores/Caprices to drive in Detroit recently. Current thought is that the American version will be a Pontiac, as that marque is looking to go exclusively rear-wheel drive, and is looking for a replacement for the ageing Pontiac Grand Prix. The Caprice will also be sold in Brazil as Chevrolet Omega. Commodores have also been sampled by Opel in Germany, and Opel's British equivalent, Vauxhall Motors in the UK, has confirmed the importing and possible local manufacture of V8 and V6 Commodores in the United Kingdom. The Statesman/Caprice has been confirmed to replace the current Buick Royaum in China.
[edit] Notes
- ^ Possibilty of VE Holden Commodore to be sold under the Pontiac namebadge in the USA. Drive.com.au. Retrieved on October 22, 2006.
- ^ Continued use of the GM 4L65-E automatic gearbox. GoAuto.com.au. Retrieved on October 22, 2006.
[edit] External links
[edit] Official Sites
[edit] Unofficial Sites
- The Unofficial Holden Commodore Archive
- Just Commodores - Australia's Largest Commodore Site
- CalaisTurbo - Discussion board for VL's and other commodores
Current Vehicles: Adventra • Astra • Barina • Caprice • Captiva • Combo • Commodore • Rodeo • Statesman • Tigra • Ute • Vectra • Viva
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