VE and WM Series II marks the latest versions of Australia's most popular sedans, wagons, utilities and luxury long-wheelbase vehicles. The new range has seen Holden finesse the formula that has made Commodore the nation's top selling car for 14 years straight by introducing smart multimedia technology, improved fuel economy, and the capacity to run on environmentally friendly bio-ethanol.
VE Series II brings more multimedia features to Commodore than ever before through an allnew infotainment system that delivers full Bluetooth®, USB and iPod integration across the range.
Known as Holden-iQ, the system is controlled through a clever, user-friendly touch screen mounted in the centre stack - the cornerstone of a refreshed interior design across all models.
Introducing increased plug-and-play music functions and the capacity to rip and store up to 15 CDs on an internal flash drive, the system also delivers advanced satellite navigation features on selected models including live traffic condition alerts to help drivers avoid congestion delays.
Commodore's smart technology extends to the Series II powertrain line-up which delivers further fuel economy improvements on all models.
Holden's frugal 3.0 litre SIDI V6 now achieves economy of 9.1 litres of fuel per 100 kilometres in the official ADR81/02 test. The two per cent improvement adds to the 13 per cent fuel economy gain made in September last year when Spark Ignition Direct Injection engine technology was introduced to the Commodore range.
The 3.6 litre SIDI V6 used to power premium Commodore models makes average fuel economy gains of more than three per cent by while all luxury and performance models powered by Holden's Gen IV V8 improve on average by more than six per cent.
In a major step towards creating a cleaner Australian fuel landscape, Series II customers will also be able to run their cars on bio-ethanol, known in many markets as E85; a blend of up to 85 per cent ethanol and 15 per cent petrol.
Bio-ethanol is a renewable fuel that can be made from a range of waste products from the production of wheat and sugar and even household garbage. In Australia today use of the fuel reduces lifecycle CO2 emissions by up to 40 per cent when compared to petrol.
A first for an Australian-made car, Series II models powered by the 3.0 litre SIDI V6 and 6.0 litre V8 engines will have flex-fuel capability, allowing them to run on Bio-ethanol, E10, Unleaded, Premium or any combination in between.
For long-wheelbase luxury vehicles, Series II will see Holden offer buyers two well-specified versions of the flagship Caprice model.
The introduction of an updated WM Series II range in September will mark the debut of the Holden Caprice V-Series.
The sports luxury V-Series designation matches that of other premium Holdens and identifies this model as top-of-the-range.
Completing the line-up is the Caprice Series II, which shares the stretched silhouette, 18-inch alloy wheels and strong design character of its counterpart.
With this move, Holden discontinues its long-running Statesman nameplate.
Berlina Sedan and Sportwagon - New standard features include:
- Colour touch-screen Holden-iQ system with single CD player, MP3 compatible; USB input, auxiliary input jack; integrated iPod support; enhanced Bluetooth® (phone book display, touch-screen dialling; Bluetooth® audio streaming
- Virtual CD changer,1 GB flash drive storage
- Dual-zone electronic climate control
- Flex-fuel capability, allowing the vehicle to run on bio-ethanol, E10, Unleaded, Premium or any combination in between
- New 17-inch machined alloy wheels (4)
- New seats with Sportec bolsters and fabric inserts
SV6 and Sedan, Sportwagon and Ute - New standard features include:
- Colour touch-screen Holden-iQ system with single CD player, MP3 compatible; USB input, auxiliary input jack; integrated iPod support; enhanced Bluetooth® (phone book display, touch-screen dialling; Bluetooth® audio streaming
- Virtual CD changer,1 GB flash drive storage
- Dual-zone electronic climate control
- New sports front seats
- New high-clarity sports instrumentation
- New 18-inch machined alloy wheels (4)
- New interior colour and trim
SS and Sedan, Sportwagon and Ute - New standard features include:
- Colour touch-screen Holden-iQ system with single CD player, MP3 compatible; USB input, auxiliary input jack; integrated iPod support; enhanced Bluetooth® (phone book display, touch-screen dialling; Bluetooth® audio streaming
- Virtual CD changer,1 GB flash drive storage
- Dual-zone electronic climate control
- New high-clarity sports instrumentation
- New 18-inch machined alloy wheels (4)
- New interior colour and trim
- Flex-fuel capability, allowing the vehicle to run on bio-ethanol, E10, Unleaded, Premium or any combination in between
SS-V Series Sedan, Sportwagon and Ute - New standard features include:
- Colour touch-screen Holden-iQ system with single CD player, MP3 compatible; USB input, auxiliary input jack; integrated iPod support; enhanced Bluetooth® (phone book display, touch-screen dialling; Bluetooth® audio streaming
- Virtual CD changer, 1 GB flash drive storage
- New Interior Trim
- New 19-inch alloy wheels (4)
- Navigation with Live Traffic
- Rear park assist (except Ute)
- Rear camera (except Ute)
- Flex-fuel capability, allowing the vehicle to run on bio-ethanol, E10, Unleaded, Premium or any combination in between
Calais Sedan and Sportwagon - New standard features include:
- Colour touch-screen Holden-iQ system with single CD player, MP3 compatible; USB input, auxiliary input jack; integrated iPod support; enhanced Bluetooth® (phone book display, touch-screen dialling; Bluetooth® audio streaming
- Virtual CD changer, 1 GB flash drive storage
- New Interior Trim
- New 18-inch machined alloy wheels (4)
- Leather appointed seats
- Leather wrap gear selector
Calais V-Series Sedan and Sportwagon - New standard features include:
- Colour touch-screen Holden-iQ system with single CD player, MP3 compatible; USB input, auxiliary input jack; integrated iPod support; enhanced Bluetooth® (phone book display, touch-screen dialling; Bluetooth® audio streaming
- Virtual CD changer,1 GB flash drive storage
- Full colour mapping satellite navigation with traffic alerts
- Rear camera
- New Interior Trim
- New 19-inch machined alloy wheels (4)
Caprice (new specification) - Standard features include:
- 3.6-litre SIDI Direct Injection V6 engine
- 6-speed automatic transmission with Active Select
- Electronic Stability Control (ESC)
- 6 airbags including dual-stage front airbags for driver and front passenger, side-impact airbags for driver and front passenger
- Side curtain airbags
- Colour touch-screen Holden-IQ system with virtual CD changer, 1 GB flash drive storage; single CD player, MP3 compatible; USB input, AUX input jack, integrated iPod support; enhanced Bluetooth® (phone book display, touch-screen dialling); Bluetooth® audio streaming
- Full colour mapping satellite navigation with traffic alerts
- Rear camera
- Front and rear park assist
- 18-inch machined alloy wheels (4)
- Rado gloss trim interior finish, platinum accents
- Leather appointed seat trim with leather door trim inserts
- Leather wrap multifunction steering wheel;includes satellite navigation control
- Leather wrap gear selector
- Dual-zone electronic climate control
- Projector headlamps
- Front fog lamps
- Dual exhaust outlets, chrome tips
- Front and rear power windows
- Cruise control
- Rain sensing wipers
- 8-way electric adjustment of front driver seat and 4-way front passenger seat. Driver's seat with memory for up to 3 settings
- 11-speaker sound system, including sub-woofers
- Chrome finish body side mouldings
- LED tail lamps
- Tyre pressure monitor
- Diversity antenna: FM
- 8-way electric adjustment of driver's seats:Slide. Cushion tilt. Height. Recline
- Front and rear floor mats
- Chrome finish interior door handles
- Remote control priority key
Caprice V-Series (new specification) - Builds on Caprice with:
- 6.0-litre Generation IV Alloy V8 engine with
- Active Fuel Management (AFM)
- Electric tilt and slide sunroof
- Rear seat overhead DVD player with dual
- LCD screens for two rear passengers
- New 19-inch machined alloy wheels (4)
- Rear overhead console remote control of audio and DVD functions
- Two wireless headsets; multi-mode function
- allows headset choice of radio, CD or DVD
- DVD plays on Holden-iQ system screen when car is stationary
- Premium leather seat trim with leather door trim inserts
- Tri zone electronic climate control: driver, front and rear passenger
- Bi-Xenon headlamps
- Chrome highlight exterior door handles
- Electro-chromatic interior rear vision mirror reduces headlamp glare automatically
- Bose® premium audio system with
- 10 speakers, including sub-woofers.
- Premium leather seat trim with leather door trim inserts
- 8-way electric adjustment of front seats: Slide. Cushion tilt. Height. Recline. Lumbar
- Heated exterior mirrors with 'puddle' lamps and position memory
- Quad exhaust outlets - chrome tips
- Full size spare alloy wheel and tyre
Smart Technology - Holden-iQ
The Holden-iQ system brings music, telephone and satellite navigation features to Series II models in one clear, user-friendly arrangement.
The focus of the system is a fully integrated, 6.5-inch full colour multifunction LCD touch screen mounted in the centre stack of all vehicles across the Series II range.
Featuring rich colour graphics, the display has been benchmarked against high-end multimedia products such as computers, phones and video games, providing a wide range of audio-visual functions.
Music can be played via an iPod®, memory stick, CD or wirelessly transferred from a paired mobile phone. USB devices and iPods plug into dedicated sockets located inside the centre console, and all music file playback from compatible devices is controlled via the touch screen.
Holden-iQ also introduces 'virtual changer' CD storage which replaces the mechanical stacker system from previous models with the capacity to rip and store up to 15 CDs on an internal flash drive. The system supports CDDA, CD-R, CD-RW, MP3 and WMA playback. DVD systems, where fitted, also display on the Holden-iQ touch screen.
New Bluetooth® functionality improves drivers' hands-free mobile phone experience. It synchronies a compatible phone's address book and recent call history then displays the information on the touch screen. Outbound calls can be made via the contact list or a dedicated touch-screen key pad.
The high-feature Holden-iQ navigation system, standard on SS V-Series, Calais V-Series and Caprice models, delivers a high-clarity full colour mapping system, intuitive controls, live traffic alerts, speed advisory and point of interest functions. Voice guidance is integrated into the vehicle's audio system.
It also features a touch screen keyboard to facilitate easy text entry, isometric and 3D map views and on-screen turn-by-turn and audio route guidance.
On those same models (except Ute) the touch screen also features a reversing camera display which is activated whenever reverse gear is selected. A strong safety feature, the colour screen display operates in tandem with audible park assist and works to show any obstacles directly behind the vehicle.
Improved Fuel Economy and reduced CO2 emissions
Holden engineers and designers working on Series II have instituted a series of modifications to produce an average fuel economy gain for all V6 models of 2.8 per cent and an average fuel economy gain for all V8 models of six per cent - making a combined average of just over four per cent across the VE and WM Series II range.
Modifications included aerodynamic improvements, which lower fuel consumption by reducing the vehicle's drag co-efficient, and mechanical changes. Omega and Berlina models were also fitted with lower rolling resistance tyres.
Aerodynamic improvements include:
- Addition of panels under the vehicle floor to reduce airflow drag (sedan and Sportwagon, excluding Omega)
- Reduced trim height on Omega and Berlina sedan
- Air deflectors fitted to the front of sedan rear wheels (Omega, Berlina Calais)
- Rear decklid re-design to include aero lip detailing (sedans)
- Front undertray modified to reduce drag
Mechanical changes include:
- Fitment of a clutched air conditioning compressor, which does not pump when the air conditioning system is turned off
- Engine idle speed reduction on 3.6L V6 SIDI variants
Further fuel saving enhancements see the Omega Ute brought into line with the remainder of the Commodore range, benefiting from Holden's economical 3.0-litre SIDI V6 engine matched with the six-speed automatic transmission.
Flex-Fuel EngineTechnology
In an Australian first, all Series II models powered by Holden's 3.0 Litre SIDI V6 and 6.0 Litre V8 engines will have flex-fuel capability, allowing them to run on bio-ethanol, E10, Unleaded, Premium or any combination in between.
Bio-ethanol is a cleaner-burning energy source comprising ethanol and petrol. Bio-ethanol significantly reduces CO2 emissions and enhances vehicle performance.
In Australia, bio-ethanol is currently produced from waste streams created by the industrial production of wheat and sugar. None of these resources would otherwise be used for food production.
To ensure availability of the fuel for Series II vehicles, Holden has entered an alliance with Australia's leading fuel retailer, Caltex which has committed to selling the fuel under the Bio EFlex brand name.
Caltex will have Bio E-Flex available in 31 service stations in Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, Adelaide and Canberra by the end of October, increasing to 100 metropolitan and regional locations in 2011.
Holden is also investigating the viability of establishing Australia's first second-generation ethanol plant, as part of a consortium including the Victorian Government, Caltex, Veolia, Mitsui and Coskata.
The plant could be capable of turning materials such as household rubbish and building waste into more than 200 million litres of ethanol a year.
Holden's leadership in alternative fuels in Australia is part of GM's global sustainability and energy diversity strategy. In the US, GM is the leading producer of flex-fuel vehicles with more than 3.5 million E85-capable GM cars on the road.
Although fuel consumption of bio-ethanol in Series II models will be higher because ethanol contains less energy than petrol, bio-ethanol's higher octane rating means better vehicle performance. As an illustration, Holden V8 Supercars made the successful switch to E85 in 2009.
For Series Holden engineers have introduced a number hardware changes to the company's 3.0-litre SIDI V6 and 6.0-litre Gen IV V8 engines to make them flex-fuel capable.
Firstly due to lubrication differences using bio-ethanol, base engine hardware has been changed to include hardened intake, exhaust and seat valves.
A new fuel pump unit made of different materials to work with bio-ethanol has also been installed along with a flex-fuel sensor to detect the alcohol level in the fuel line and provide information to the engine control unit (ECU).The detection takes place after every refill and also continuously during driving.
Aside from hardware changes, significant calibration work has also been undertaken to meet Holden's flex-fuel needs.
Styling
The multi-award-winning VE Commodore made a strong and dramatic design statement, characterised by its classic rear wheel drive proportions and an athletic stance emphasised by striking wheel arches.
For VE Series II, designers briefed to refresh the exterior have executed a series of subtle changes, including new front fascia, grille and headlamp treatments across the range.
Berlina specification and above feature new alloy wheels and the upper decklids of the sedan models are enhanced with integrated aero lip detailing.
On the interior, Holden has continued its trend of creating unique personalities for each model. Mainstream, prestige and sports models all receive new centre stack features, mouldings, decoration and illumination colours.
Interior design work has focused on high standards of perceived quality, and creating a more 'pilot oriented' cabin integrating new features and accessories.
Readily apparent is a higher-mounted, more prominent placement of the Holden-iQ system display screen, controls and air vents.
Interior and exterior design enhancements across the range include:
- Omega
- Entirely new front fascia with a bolder, squarer appearance and new lower outboard inserts
- New larger grille, with a bright chrome detail surround and new hexagonal mesh inner
- Revised headlamp shape with new lens and bright bezel
- Decklid with integrated aero lip detailing
- New IP centre stack with 6.5-inch full colour touch screen
- New centre console surround
- New full width decorative appliqué
- New HVAC controls
- Berlina - Builds on Omega features with
- New grille with prominent bright chrome crossbar
- New unique fog lamp surrounds
- New 17-inch, ten-spoke machine-faced alloy wheels
- New interior trim with woven fabric seat inserts and Sportec bolsters
- Calais - Builds on Berlina features with
- New front fascia and unique grille with prominent chrome header (attached to engine hood)
- New larger grille has full chrome surround, hexagonal mesh inner
- Lower fascia has full width bright detail
- Revised shape projector headlamps feature new black and bright bezel
- Full length bright chrome moulding on lower doors
- New 18-inch ten-spoke machined alloy wheels
- Calais V-Series - Builds on Calais features with
- New bigger 19-inch twin five spoke machined alloy wheels
- Commodore SV6 and SS
- Exclusive sports front fascia, set apart by a new, larger grille
- Bolder, more muscular look accentuated by aggressive lower air intake
- Revised headlamp shape with new black bezel detail
- Integrated aero decklid lip detailing complements sports rear spoiler
- New 18-inch twin five-spoke machined alloy wheels
- New SS-style sports front seats for SV6 with deep bolsters and body-hugging contours
- High-mounted circular interior air vents.
- New sports centre stack with 6.5-inch full colour touch screen
- New sports IP decorative appliqué
- New 'white on Razor Grey' instrument cluster illumination for improved readability on SV6
- New 'white on red' instrument cluster illumination for improved readability on SS
- Gloss black instrument cluster surround
- Razor grey finish 'wrap-around' linear treatment on lower IP. Extends from IP into the door handle surround and through the console
- Commodore SS V-Series - Builds on SV6 and SS features with
- Revised shape projector headlamps feature new black and bright bezel (same as Calais)
- New twin five-spoke 19-inch machined alloy wheels
- Red finish 'wrap-around' linear treatment on lower IP. Extends from the IP into door handle surround and through the console.
The VE Series II colour palette features 12 choices, including four new colours.
New colours are:
- Alto Grey - new mid-toned grey with silver highlights
- Hazard - head turning bright solid yellow
- Mirage Glow - a light, soft and luxurious beige
- Sizzle - bright metallic red
Carryover colors include:
- Heron - solid white
- Karma - an architectural blue with metallic highlights
- Nitrate - a classic silver metallic
- Phantom - metallic black with silver highlights
- Poison Ivy - a sports green metallic with blue highlights
- Red Hot - highly chromatic solid red
- Voodoo - solid electric sports blue
- Wildfire - metallic sports orange
Redline Edition
Holden has put more performance polish on its sports luxury V-Series badge with the launch of five stand-out Redline Editions.
The Redline Edition Calais V-Series and SS V-Series sedan, Sportwagon and Ute will take up top positions in Holden's updated VE Series II range, to be launched later this month.
Intended for enthusiast drivers, Redline Edition models offer high-level braking and sports handling capabilities to match their powerful 6.0-litre V8 credentials.
Advanced chassis dynamics come courtesy of specialist Holden engineers, who developed a track-inspired FE3 super sports suspension set-up to complement the extra stopping power of four-piston Brembo high performance front brakes.
The Redline Edition range is further distinguished by exclusive forged and polished 19-inch alloy wheels, matched to low profile tyres.
Holden also raises the bar with the inclusion of full colour mapping satellite navigation and a rear camera as standard equipment in V-Series models, which feature the new multimedia touch screen Holden-iQ system and smart interior treatments.
All Redline Editions are compatible with bio-ethanol, also known as E85, an emission-reducing 'fuel of the future' that already powers V8 Supercars.
Redline Edition features include
Brembo high-performance brakes - Front brakes feature four-piston, two-piece aluminium front callipers and 355mm rotors, pillar-vented for improved cooling and durability.
Forged alloy wheels - High-strength ten-spoke 19-inch forged alloy wheels are exclusive to V-Series Redline Editions. Ultra high-performance low profile tyres provide outstanding grip and handling in wet and dry conditions.
FE3 Super Sports Performance Suspension - A true driver's car set-up. High-performance tuned dampers and stiffer stabiliser bars provide excellent road connection and control. (SS-V Series Redline Edition sedan and Calais V-Series Redline Edition sedan.)
Chrome window surround (Sedan only)
Inflator kit - A tyre inflator kit is mandatory fitment on the SS-V Series Redline Ute.
Pricing - $2500 on top of standard vehicle RRP
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