Holden Commodore
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{{Infobox Automobile
|name=Holden Commodore
|manufacturer=General Motors
|production=1978–present
|class=Full-size
|body_style=4-door sedan
4-door station wagon
2-door ute
4-door ute
|engine=2.9 L I6
3.3 L I6
3.8 L V6
3.6 L Alloytec V6
4.2 L V8
5.0 L V8
5.7 L LS1 V8
|transmission=4-speed manual
5-speed manual
6-speed manual
3-speed automatic
4-speed automatic
5-speed automatic
|length=VZ 4,876-5,033 mm
|width=VZ 1,842-1,847 mm
|height=VZ 1,440-1,527 mm
|weight=VZ 1,568-1,654 kg
|predecessor=Holden Kingswood
Holden Sunbird
|aka=Chevrolet Lumina
Chevrolet Omega
Toyota Lexcen
|related=Opel Commodore C
Holden Statesman
Holden Monaro
Daewoo Prince
Daewoo Royale
Chevrolet Commodore
|Better Than=Ford Falcon
}}
The Holden Commodore is a car built by the Holden division of General Motors in Australia. It is Australia's best selling car. 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.
Contents |
VB–VH Commodore
Introduced in 1978, the original VB Commodore came with 2.9, 3.3, 4.2 or 5.0 L OHV engines and four-speed manual or three-speed automatic transmissions, all carried over from the outgoing Holden Kingswood. The original design was actually a rebadged and strengthened Opel Commodore, 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.
Only minor cosmetic changes were made from the original 1978 VB Commodore to the updated VC, but the engines were upgraded to 'blue' specification which meant a 12-port cylinder head on the 6-cylinder engine, and decent electronic ignition on all engines. The VB Commodore was also the first to receive the SL/E badge, while the VC was the first to be used with HDT projects with Peter Brock. The VH had some greater sheetmetal changes up front.
As a reaction to the 1979 fuel crisis, Holden also produced the Commodore Four, which sold in only modest numbers on the domestic market. This model used Holden's 1.9 L Starfire engine (a four-cylinder version of the 2.9 L I6 engine) from the defunct Holden Sunbird. The Commodore Four remained popular in some export markets and was sold to the end of the VN series (but by then featuring the Family Two 2.0 L unit) in the late 1980s.
VK Commodore
The VK Commodore was introduced in 1984, and was moslty a restyled VH Commodore. It was the first Commodore to have plastic bumpers. Engine choices were a 4.9 L V8 and a 3.3 L I6, 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 Calais, Berlina, Executive, and Vacationer to replace previous terms such as SL, SL/X and SL/E.
VL Commodore
Many Holden fans still regard the VL Commodore as the best Commodore ever built. It was the last of the small-body Commodores and the only one to feature an OHC engine — an alloy headed unit designed and manufactured by Nissan. The RB30E 3.0 L engine also saw service in the Nissan Skyline and was available with a turbocharger. The New Zealand assembled 6-cylinder VLs had the Nissan RB20 engine. The 6-cylinder engine was mated with the Japanese 'Jatco' 4-speed automatic; the 5.0 L V8 remained available in carbureted form and the old 3-speed automatic.
Styling changes gave the Commodore a distinctive appearance, with the 1986 VL featuring pop-up headlight eyelids (on the Calais model only).
VN–VP Commodore
This 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 European platform 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. The VN Commodore was available in Executive, Berlina and Calais models. The Statesman and Caprice, built on an even longer wheelbase, were positioned against Ford Australia's Fairlane and LTD. The Statesman is used as an official car by government ministers in Australia, and some are also converted into hearses for funerals or limousines. The Commodore was Wheels magazine's Car of the Year for a second time in 1988.
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. Instead, Holden manufactured their own 90 degree V6 based on an old Buick design from the US, although at first it was imported for a while. The 5.0 L V8 remained optional. Both these engines used multi point GM EFI and the V6 using 3 coil-packs for ignition. A fuel-injected, 2.0 L-engined VN Commodore Four was offered for some export markets (such as New Zealand and Singapore), sharing an engine with the Opel Vectra A.
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. The 2.0 L I4 was discontinued.
VR–VS Commodore
The sleeker and more modern looking VR and VS Commodores, with safety enhancements (such as ABS) and revised styling, were launched in 1993 and 1995 respectively. From the side, the biggest change was the use of a round rear wheelarch, instead of a squared-off one. There was a new executive based model called the Acclaim introduced which had everything anyone could want, and more. It included a drivers side SRS Airbag (a first for an Australian car on the VR), ABS and IRS and was only available with an automatic transmission. The rear-end treatment saw raised lights, apparently for safety reasons. The VR Commodore was Wheels magazine's Car of the Year for 1993.
Undoubtedly the biggest drawcard to the April 1995-released VS Commodore, the last of the second generation Commodores, was that it was the first to have the Australian Ecotec ("Emissions and Consumption Optimisation through TEChnology") 3.8 L V6 engine (not to be mistaken for the four-cylinder Ecotec engine). Based on the old Buick designs, the new model saw power output rise from 130 to 147 kW. Whilst fuel consumption dropped, the Ecotec ran noticeably smoother and was much quieter. The differences were mainly at the top of the engine; the cast iron block and heads were retained.
VT–VZ Commodore
The VT 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, as well as a four wheel drive version of the Commodore wagon, the Adventra. A long-wheelbase, four-door ute called the Crewman is also available, including a four-wheel drive variant, the Cross8 (named after an earlier show car that resembled the production model closely).
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 early 2006, production cancelled due to sluggish US demand for the Pontiac due to a poor exchange rate favoring the Australian dollar. 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.
The 2004 VZ Commodore debuted a new generation of 175 and 190 kW 'Alloytec' engines, 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. They will carry through to the VE series in 2006. A new 5L40 5-speed automatic transmission sourced from GM was introduced on sports and luxury V6 variants. In January 2006, Holden introduced the new L76 6.0 L V8 to its range. The V8 has been slightly detuned, and both Displacement On Demand and variable valve timing have been removed.
VE Commodore
A VE Commodore is due in Australia on the all-new GM Zeta platform for the second or third quarter of 2006. Holden has spent almost A$1 billion on design and development of the VE. It may form the basis of a large sedan in the Opel range in Europe, as well as the possibility of a revival of GM's large rear wheel drive cars in North America. There have been rumors that VE's underpinnings have already been previewed in the Opel Insignia show car of 2003. In addition, there have also been rumors that the looks of the VE Commodore have already been previewed thanks to the Holden Torana concept car. Whether these rumors are true or not remains to be seen.
Recently published spy photos of the new VE Commodore have shown it to be undergoing testing in the US. It will have a new 6.0 L L76 V8 which may be equipped with Displacement On Demand and variable valve timing. There will also be a 6-speed automatic transmission for the V8 versions, and the V6s are also rumoured to have this transmission as optional. According to Motor magazine and other publications, the 6-speed automatic transmission may be sourced from ZF, but details are not clear.
Commodore exports
The Commodore was also assembled in New Zealand, but is now exported completely built-up. It has also traditionally been also exported to other right hand drive markets in the region such as Papua New Guinea, Fiji, Indonesia and Brunei. It is sold in South Africa and Thailand, badged as the Chevrolet Lumina. The Chevrolet Lumina is also produced in left hand drive for the Middle East (with the Statesman being branded as the Chevrolet Caprice), and to Brazil as the Chevrolet Omega. The Monaro is exported to the UK as the Vauxhall Monaro and to the U.S. as the Pontiac GTO. Today, export success means that there are more VT–VZs outside Australia than within.
| Preceded by: Holden Kingswood | Succeeded by: Still in production |
Toyota Lexcen (1989–96)
Between 1989 and 1996, the Commodore also was sold by Toyota in Australia only, rebadged as the Toyota Lexcen. Named after the late Ben Lexcen who designed Australia's 1983 America's Cup winning yacht, Australia II, the model sold in limited numbers, as buyers preferred the original Holden model. The model range was limited, with the Lexcen only available with the 3.8 L V6 and 4-speed automatic in both sedan and wagon (possibly the largest wagon 'badged' as a Toyota) forms. Early versions of the Lexcen were only distinguishable from the VN Commodore by the amber lens indicators, different grille, badges, and in some instances, boot mouldings and more tapered indicators and front guards.