Caprice and Statesman: a surprise unveiling

ALERT: for Holden's just-announced pricing and spec details on new VE and WM click

Not content to wow the attending media and industry VIPs with its all-new VE range of Commodores, Holden brought out the big guns in Melbourne today. Almost literally… Unveiled alongside the VE were the new WM long-wheelbase variants of new generation Holdens, the range-topping Caprice and Statesman.

The reveal was reputedly a last-minute decision and two months ahead of the models' expected September public release.

Accounting for the lion's share of Holden's export cars currently (and wearing Chevrolet, Daewoo and Buick badges in Middle East, South Korea and China respectively), the new long-wheelbase cars are more heavily differentiated from the 'cooking' model VEs than ever before.

According to Holden the WM program cost an additional $190m over the VE's development budget. On initial impressions it is money well spent -- if the VE is handsome in the metal, the Caprice is one step above it. And it hides its not inconsiderable bulk well in a way previous generations of Aussie long wheelbase cars have failed to do.

The new WMs share little in the way of body panels with the VE. Indeed, as revealed exclusively on CarPoint and shown in the images hereabouts, the cars are much more than a 'stretch' of the VE and get their own unique roofline and glasshouse as well as bespoke doors and other detailed features.

Like their VE stablemates no pricing has been announced for either long-wheelbase model. That said expect the comprehensively equipped Caprice to be the most expensive Holden model ever.

With a wheelbase 94mm longer than the already rangey VE, the WM boasts acres of space for rear passengers. We can attest to the roominess -- with the front seat set for a six-foot driver, rear seaters are hard pressed to reach the front seat back!

From the 7 Series-style headlamps to the longer side three-quarter wing 'vents' with LED indicator repeaters, the WM Caprice is an impressive vehicle.

On unveiling the new Caprice, Holden chief Denny Mooney said the WM would: "elevate its [Caprice and Statesman] position as one of the most spacious and accommodating sedans in the world for rear seat passengers."

"This car delivers design themes worthy of its leadership of Australia's automotive hierarchy, a luxury vehicle setting its own path more than ever before," Mooney said.

"This car is now our biggest seller overseas which has allowed us to take the car to a whole new level. You're not buying a longer Commodore, you're buying a stand-alone car," Mooney stated.

Sharing the VE's architecture under the skin, the WMs will share the new short-wheelbase models' revised engine and transmission packages as well as the safety and equipment upgrades.

Expect Statesman to be available in V6 or optional V8, with the range-topping Caprice likely to be V8 only.

For more of CarPoint's stories on the new

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And don't forget the August issue of Wheels (on sale July 26) which features the full and exclusive behind-the-scenes story on the development of the VE Commodore.