Holden VE Commodore: Under the Skin

It's official, the VE Commodore is Holden's largest and most expensive engineering project ever. And that comes from the horse's mouth, Holden's Executive Director Engineering, Tony Hyde.

A 38-year veteran of General Motors, Hyde revealed the VE's engineering budget and key statistics at the kick-off of two days of engineering briefings yesterday. According to Hyde: "VE is the best engineered, best tested, best validated, best executed and most refined car we've done. It is the car we always wanted to build… the cleanest sheet Holden ever."

Indeed, the VE program boasts numbers that are unprecedented in the local automotive landscape.

According to Hyde, VE engaged over 1000 engineers working for more than five years at a total cost of around $480m. The program involved a staggering 3.42m kilometres of real world and virtual testing. Electrical systems testing and validation accounted for 41,000 hours alone. There were over 5000 virtual crash tests and 79 real ones…

Not surprising then that it dwarfs Holdens other 'clean sheet' project, the iconic early-1970s HQ. According to Hyde, just 16 HQ prototypes were constructed by Holden.

In an era where virtual development is king, there's already been 199 VE prototypes built -- at a cost of up to $600,000 each. End of argument.

Engine aside, little if any of the VZ is carried over to the VE save for small parts and assemblies 'buried' within the bowels of the new car. Such is the extent of the engineering undertaking that it's impossible to fully document all the changes and the processes involved here. You could write a book on the VE -- in fact, we're sure there's one underway!

Follow the links below to read CarPoint's coverage of key sections of the VE engineering story

>> More power and torque, less noise and fuel Holden has upped the output on its trio of VE Commodore engines but reduced noise and, in some cases, fuel usage

>> Australia's first 50:50 family car Prominent brands have crowed about the advantages of 'perfect' 50:50 weight distribution... Now Holden can join the squawking

>> Keeping Oz in suspense The VE's new all-independent suspension is all-Holden, and all-Australian

>> Fast figures and fuel confusion Holden's VE boasts some of the marque's best ever performance figures at base level and beyond... But only if you're filling up at the right pump

>> Keeping its cool Holden has built a VE Commodore for all climes -- from the Sahara to the Arctic Circle

>> Gearing up Evolution not revolution is the rule of thumb when it comes to the Holden's gearbox selection for VE... With one exception

>> Real world not NCAP Four stars or more? Holden insists the VE's real world approach to crash safety has more integrity than catering to a single NCAP test

>> Easier to build, but where's our split-fold? The front-end of VE's structure is super smart, but at the back the beancounters have won over commonsense

>> Worth the weight Holden is being coy about the weight of the VE. We do know the base model has grown 120kg, at least

>> Torturing the mules The 'road' to the VE's new chassis was trod by a series of mules... None of them had four legs, however

>> Crossing the Lion Reworking an ordinary Opel into the race-winning, best-selling Commodore showcased Holden talent worldwide. Although it ultimately earned Holden the right to build its own VE Commodore, Joe Kenwright finds it could've just as easily killed Holden

Check out CarPoint's Holden's VE Commodore drives below