The all-new Holden 2006 VE Commodore is Holden’s largest ever engineering program with $480 million invested to deliver ambitious targets for design, performance and quality.

The largest single aspect of Australia’s first $1 billion car program, Holden’s engineering development work for the new range spans back to the late 1990s.

The program features several Australian and Holden firsts and delivers more of the characteristics which helped make Commodore the best-selling car in Australia for the past decade.

VE Commodore offers more engine peak power and torque across the range, a sophisticated new suspension system, technology to help avoid crashes and greater protection in the event of an accident.

It is a stiffer, stronger and better handling car on the road and more refined allowing less noise from the road, engine and wind.

Meticulous focus on quality has seen gaps and margins between panels and components reduced in pursuit of global benchmarks, inside and out.

The largest validation program in Holden’s history saw engineers travel more than 3.4 million test kilometres to develop the new range.

Safety, durability and reliability were determined through 5000 virtual tests, validated by almost 80 physical crash simulations and restraint checks.

GM Holden Executive Director Engineering, Tony Hyde, said VE Commodore represented the most rewarding program Holden’s Engineering department had ever managed.

Hyde, a 38-year veteran of General Motors, rated the all-new Commodore as one of Holden’s highlights during his career.

“VE Commodore is the car we always wanted to build,” Hyde said.

“We were presented with the opportunity to start with a clean sheet and create a car which had all the attributes we could want in an Australian vehicle.

“It has performance, handling, directional stability, solid on-road feel and looks great. It’s built well and is still offered at a price which represents unbelievable value for money.

“This is a strong statement about the Australian car industry’s expertise and its place in the automotive world.

“We set out to lift the bar on what we could achieve with quality and refinement, looking at cars around the world as aspirational targets. It was ambitious and well worth the results.”

Hyde said engineers worked closely with Holden’s design and manufacturing teams to seek continuous improvement on quality areas such as panel fit and margins.

Holden engineers also managed the development of left-hand-drive variants for export markets, primarily the Middle East which last year received almost 11,000 Commodore-based vehicles.

“We have gone over this car time and time again to reduce gaps and margins. We wanted every fitment to appear crisp and tight,” Hyde said.

“We had to build a Commodore which could be considered for any market around the world.

“General Motors has recognised our ability to develop rear-wheel-drive vehicles by giving us global development responsibilities.

“The work we have carried out for the all-new Commodore will form the basis of future international programs which reinforces the importance of what we were asked to achieve.

“This means that Australian car buyers are being offered the best engineered Holden in the history of the company.”

VE COMMODORE ENGINEERING – HIGHLIGHTS

Validation - Holden’s most validated Commodore

• 3.42 million test kilometres
• A lmost 11,000 subsystem validation activities
• 41,000 hours of testing for electrical systems
• 5000 virtual and almost 79 physical tests for safety

Safety - stiffer, stronger body and acclaimed safety technology standard

• Ultra-stiff body structures, multiple load path strategy, structurally optimised front and rear deformation zones
• Greatly expanded use of advanced-strength steels – 81 per cent of construction
• Electronic Stability Program (ESP®) standard on all models
• Front, side and curtain airbags available all models

Engines - more peak power and torque across the range

• 6.0L Generation IV V8 peak power of 270 kilowatts, peak torque of 530 Nm
• Two versions of Australian-built 3.6L Alloytec V6, delivering peak power of 195 kilowatts and 180 kilowatts respectively
• Dual fuel LPG version planned for later in 2006

Transmissions - five new or upgraded transmissions

• New 6L80E electronically controlled six-speed automatic offered in V8 variants
• Significant revisions to T56 six-speed manual - triple-synchronised changes for the first and second gears, double-synchronised changes for third to sixth
• Upgraded five-speed and four-speed automatic or six-speed manual for V6 variants

Suspension – all-new Linear Control Suspension

• Front multi-link with direct-acting stabiliser bar
• Rear multi-link (four link) independent system, coil-over shock absorbers, decoupled stabiliser bar
• Steering rack mounted forward of front axle centreline

Brakes – larger, fade resistant systems

• V6 variants - 298mm x 30mm vented front rotors, 302mm x 22mm vented rear rotors; twin piston compact aluminium calipers at front, single piston aluminium units at rear
• V8 variants - 321mm x 30mm vented front rotors, 324mm x 22mm vented rear rotors; twin piston compact aluminium calipers at front, single piston aluminium units at rear
• Integrated park brake in centre console design

Wheels and tyres - larger packages across the range

• Base combination 225/60 R16 and16x7-inch steel wheel
• Largest combination 245/40R19 and 19x8-inch alloy wheel
• 20x8-inch alloy wheel available as Holden genuine accessory

Interior – all new designs, new technology

• Five-inch monochrome to 6.5-inch full color central displays
• New heating, ventilation and air conditioning system – 20 fan speeds, more ducts
• All vehicles and radios are navigation and telematics capable
• Roof mounted DVD system with remote control and wireless headphones available all models
• Zoned visual front and rear park assist available on Calais V
• Four-bar decklid hinge increasing useable boot space

Power and torque figures as per ECE regulations

ESP is a registered trademark of Daimler Chrysler AG