Hard numbers: how the VE stacks up
Much has already been written about the VE range's looks and features (and there's more to come) but how does the car actually measure up…Is the VE a true large car – or just a medium car stretched to resemble the dimensions us Aussies have grown to love?
The answer is revealed hereabouts in the hard numbers Holden published yesterday. How much the wheelbase has grown or otherwise… The distance between the front and rear seats, and so on.
But equally even without the stats you’d have trouble thinking the car was anything other than a big’un after one look at the design parameters set at the very start of the whole VE project. According to Holden’s Design Director Tony Stolfo: “Our target for interior dimensions was based on VZ. It was a case of ‘when you’re onto a good thing, stick to it…”
It’s this interior packaging that effectively sealed the fate of the new car. At one stage in early development Holden look towards using GM’s US-designed Sigma platform (nothing to do with the small Mitsubishi!). Though this platform went on to underpin Cadillac models (among others), aside from some dynamic concerns, it simply couldn’t deliver VT-like space and was rejected.
Thus the VE’s occupant placement is very similar to the outgoing Commodore although overall packaging of the car has changed substantially. In simple terms Holden has moved the front wheels further forward and the rear wheels backwards. At the same time it’s trimmed the front overhang and maintained (almost) the rear while yielding an extra 30 litres of usable boot space.
The hard numbers (listed below) only tell part of the story. The design of the so-called down and away dash and many detailed aspects of the interior, including the shape of the cabin top (and use of colours and trim details) give the new car an even more spacious feel than the VT-VZ. On the exterior the taut body styling and shorter front overhang work with large wheel and tyre packages to shrink the dimensions visually.
Do we like the VE? In a word, yes… But (there’s always a but) the real test will be when we all see the car in its real environment – on the road.
With over 200 validation cars already running around in Holden employees hands chances are Melbourne and Adelaide readers (especially) will start to see undisguised cars for the first time this weekend. Keep an eye out and let us know what you think at editor@carpoint.com.au
| VE Omega | VE to VZ difference | |
| EXTERIOR | ||
| Overall length | 4894mm | + 18mm |
| Wheelbase | 2915mm | + 126mm |
| Front overhang | 846mm | - 90mm |
| Front wheels forward | 67mm | |
| Rear overhang | 1133mm | - 18mm |
| Rear wheels rearward | 59mm | |
| Front Track | 1602mm | + 33mm |
| Rear track | 1618mm | + 41mm |
| Height | 1476mm | + 20mm |
| Width (excl mirrors) | 1899mm | + 57mm |
| Boot capacity (ISO litres) | 496 litres | + 31 litres |
| INTERIOR | ||
| Couple distance (hip to hip) | 863mm | + 6mm |
| Front legroom | 1071mm | same |
| Rear legroom | 1001mm | + 15mm |
| Rear kneeroom | 102mm | + 6mm |
| Front headroom | 985mm | - 7mm |
| Rear headroom | 965mm | - 1mm |
| Front shoulder room | 1501mm | - 14mm |
| Rear shoulder room | 1499mm | - 8mm |
Keep an eye onCarPoint and
in the coming days for more insights into the new VE Commodore range…If you missed ninemsn's live webcast of Sunday's VE launch you can check it out
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.
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