Holden Design’s exterior team has delivered a thoroughly modern version of Australia ’s best-selling car to drive the all-new VE Commodore range well into the 21 st Century.

Drawing inspiration from the world’s most expensive cars and aspirational brands, they set extremely high targets in creating a global version of the Commodore.

The design is based on a simple concept to push the four wheels closer to the corners of the car, reduce space between the front wheels and bumper and deliver a purposeful stance.

Designers needed to take increased safety, flexibility and personalisation into account and maximise interior space while avoiding having to make the car significantly larger.

Holden Design Director, Tony Stolfo, said the job was made even more difficult because of the pride of place held by Commodore in the country’s automotive history.

Stolfo said the team achieved all its objectives and delivered a car which looked awesome from any angle, driven by its authoritative stance and striking wheel arches.

Holden worked tirelessly to minimise gaps and margins in the exterior design as part of of its broader campaign to deliver results on quality, fit and finish.

“VE gets its visual strength from its bold body-to-glass proportions. If you then add width to the car and increase its track, the effect is a car which has great stance and poise,” Stolfo said.

“We had a pretty tough job, designing a car which could appeal to a broader consumer market without leaving anyone behind.

“It’s much harder when the car you design is Australia ’s top-seller and everyone will have an opinion. It’s like you’re bringing a new child into the world and 20 million people are its parents.

“Having said that, we delivered a design which turned heads even while wearing heavy disguise so we are confident it will hit the mark once it reaches dealerships. It’s a strong, honest design which needs no embellishment to get attention.”

The VE range provides no fewer than two headlight styles, three front fascias, four rear lights, three rear fascias and two rear spoilers in its standard range.

The V Series treatments for SS and Calais add specific exterior treatments, and Holden accessories offer further options.

VE wheels and tyres are increased from a 15x6-inch package on the VZ series to 16x7-inch for VE Omega. Sizes increase to a standard 19x8-inch package on the SS V and a 20x8-inch package is available as an accessory.

Holden’s Design Manager – Exterior, Peter Hughes, said VE highlighted the ability to deliver a design which was truly ‘from the ground up’.

“The car makes a strong and dramatic statement. We spent an incredible amount of time tuning and tweaking every possible detail to deliver what we believe is the most dynamic Australian large sedan ever seen,” Hughes said.

“Many of us have spent years working on this design. We can’t wait to see the reaction of our peers and the Australian motoring public.”

Exterior colors

The 2006 Holden Commodore color palette features 13 choices, including seven new colors. Innovative technology allowed the Color and Trim team to design dynamic bright, fresh and sophisticated new colors.

The 2006 exterior finishes are led by the hero color Ignition, a chromatic red orange which is solid in appearance with a fine mica gold highlight. The new colors are -

• Ignition – chromatic red orange with fine mica gold highlight
• Evoke - smoky metallic charcoal with colored mica highlight
• Sandstorm - warm neutral satin gold metallic with fine icy highlight
• Provence - chromatic light glacial blue metallic
• Red Passion - rich saturated metallic red with blue/red velvety mica highlight
• Nickel - mechanical dark silver with coarse metallic highlight
• Crema - crisp, buttery liquid gold with velvety mica appearance (available soon)

Carryover colors include –

• Vespers – dark inky blue metallic
• Odyssey – darker, technical silver metallic
• Heron – solid white
• Impulse – bright chromatic brilliant blue
• Phantom – metallic black with silver highlights
• Redhot – highly chromatic solid red

VE COMMODORE EXTERIOR HIGHLIGHTS

Omega

• Twin reflector headlamps with gloss black bezels
• Signature aero grille blade in charcoal finish
• Full body color bumper fascia with three-port lower openings
• 16-inch styled wheel covers
• Sporty low gloss black finish to mirror and door opening surround
• Grab-style door handles in matching low gloss black
• Side fender vent with integrated side repeater lamp
• Body color lower rocker skirt
• High tech tail lamps with clear red outer lens over bright styled bezel
• Laser welded two-piece, all metal decklid
• Two-piece rear fascia with black lower accent insert, incorporating reflectors
• Single round exhaust outlet

Berlina

Builds on Omega features with –

• Chrome twin blade grille
• Fog lamps in lower fascia with chrome surround highlight rings
• 17-inch seven spoke alloy wheels with silver paint finish
• Body color mirror scalp
• Bright door surround mouldings
• Grab style door handles in matching body color
• Larger tail lamps with clear red outer lens over linear fluted inner lens
• Rear fascia with black lower accent insert
• Single round chrome exhaust outlet on V6; quad round chrome exhaust outlets on V8

Calais

Builds on Berlina features with -

• Projector headlamps with gloss black bezels
• Chrome grille header and diamond cross-hatch grille texture
• Luxury level body color bumper fascia with full width lower insert texture, incorporating foglamps and chrome surround rings
• 17-inch five spoke alloy wheels with silver paint finish
• Larger tail lamps with clear smoked outer lens over red fluted inner lens
• Dual round chrome exhaust outlets on V6; quad round chrome exhaust outlets on V8

Calais V

Builds on Calais features with -

• 18-inch seven spoke machine finished alloy wheels
• Chrome lower door accent moulding
• Chrome decklid lift handle
• V decklid badge

SV6 and SS

Build on Omega features with -

• Exclusive sports grille with honeycomb texture
• Exclusive deep section sports bumper fascia with matching honeycomb inserts and fog lamps
• 18-inch twin five spoke machine finished alloy wheels
• Exclusive deep section lower rocker skirt
• Rear door badge on SS
• Exclusive two-piece sports rear fascia with black diffuser style lower insert incorporating reflectors
• Decklid spoiler in body color on SV6
• Larger decklid spoiler in body color and black accent on SS
• Dual round chrome exhaust outlets on SV6; quad round chrome exhaust outlets on SS

SS V

Builds on SS with -

• 19-inch five spoke alloy wheels in silver paint finish
• High tech tail lamps with smoky clear outer lens over bright styled bezel with red lens inserts
• Larger decklid spoiler in body color and black accent as per SS
• V decklid badge