Holden WM Statesman and Caprice 2007 Review

Length in Numbers

Parked in front of a steel and glass business tower, stairs climbing behind them, night lights loving their fenders and folds, Holden's new WM Statesman and Caprice look elegant and confident. Indeed, more than that, they look mature. They look like they belong.

Their impressive bearing makes it obvious just what a progression the WM is. Although very much a technical child of the billion-dollar VE Commodore, the WM also moves beyond it. And we're not talking here about the extra 94mm of wheelbase or 212mm of overall length.

The fact is, while the VE is a styling progression, the WM is a breakthrough. The VE evolves significantly from the VT-VZ generation that preceded it, but does not kill it. We're really talking about the original VT, which might look a bit dated now, but was the very essence of Aussie large-car styling back in 1997. It's hard to erase something that managed -- within the confines of a conservative segment -- to be so fashionable and graceful.

But the WM has no such issues with expunging its predecessors. The WH-WL Holden long-wheelbase cars just evaporate from the mind's eye the moment one glimpses the WM. It's simply a quantum leap. Where its predecessor was rounded, a bit fat and a bit American, it is decisive, clean and bold.

Look at the Statesman and Caprice and you see a lot of Audi in its daringly reclined D-pillar. The only possible US linkage is with Cadillac, but that's a brand trying to create a global styling statement. In essence, while there are suggestions of other long-wheelbase sedans, the big Holdens have their own, powerful look.

It's needed, of course. As recorded many times previously, WM is expected and needs to be an export star for Holden. Look at the 2005 figures for the WL; 19,400 sent to the desert states, just 3573 sold here. Another 6000 went to China. The message is simple: the WM has been developed for export, not domestic consumption.

That's why an extra $190 million was spent on it over and above VE, and that's why it gets proper full-size rear doors for the first time, and only shares the front door skins and glass with the VE.

In essence, if you are one of the few thousand Australians still interested in buying a locally-manufactured long-wheelbase car, then you need to thank foreigners for the fact Holden still offers you a choice. And you can be even more thankful it's a good one.

It's important not to get carried away here, of course. This has been a very good year for new Aussie cars. The Territory Turbo is a neat niche effort, Camry a surprisingly good evolution, VE an amalgam of good, great and brilliant. Now comes WM, and there's still the Aurion on the horizon.

We want the local iron to be impressive, of course -- world class, even. But, for WM, that is a very tough ask. Go looking for other rear-wheel-drive sedans with wheelbases around 3000mm, more than 5000mm of overall length, and the sort of sprawling space multinational managing directors love, and you're into some very exclusive German company (with due acknowledgement to Lexus).

It's impossible to answer here and now whether the Statesman and Caprice are worthy of mention in the same breath as the Benz S-class and BMW 7 Series. But the fact the thought even flickers into consciousness is evidence of just how much these cars have improved over their predecessors.

But, of course, they should have. Like all previous long-wheelbase Holdens, the WM draws its mechanical inspiration from the standard-wheelbase car. It just so happens that the VE offers up an inspiring technical base.

Hunt through the specs and you'll find the same steering rack, linear-control suspension, track widths, tyres, brakes, 3.6-litre V6 and 6.0-litre V8 engines and five- and six-speed autos as the top standard-wheelbase models.

You'll also find that, like the VEs, Holden has exploited the quality of its new suspensions to tune the individual characters of the WM models. Like the WL, the Statesman is meant to be oriented towards comfort and prestige, while the Caprice fills a more aggressive sports-prestige role. Different damper settings, tyres, brakes and exterior and interior appointments distinguish the two vehicles.

As the volume model -- relatively -- the Statesman V6 is fitted with the High Output version of the locally manufactured Alloytec V6 and 5L40E five-speed automatic transmission, including sequential manual mode, which has been transferred from the steering wheel paddles to the shift lever -- just like the VE.

But this is not a car that really wants to be driven in the sort of aggressive manner that requires manual shifting, or even in the auto's more aggressive sports mode. The standard transmission setting is beautifully mated to the V6, the two of them working impressively to ensure the Statesman's seamless progress.

But shift to sports mode, or hang on to gears beyond 5000rpm or so, and the engine's note becomes strident and annoying -- better than what it was, admittedly, but still disappointing. It clashes with the rest of the car's beautifully quiet, comfortable and refined character.

It's all the more a pity that the engine's vocals are misleading, because the Alloytec is actually very smooth and quite willing to rev all the way to its 6800rpm cut-out.

It's good enough to deliver a 0-100km/h dash close to 7.5sec and complete the standing 400 in under 15.5sec -- the sort of figures a VZ SV6 produced on test for Wheels last year. A day's spirited driving delivered an entirely respectable 12.2L/100km fuel-consumption verage, all while hauling more than 1800kg in kerb weight. Admittedly, the Statesman was running on 98 octane, but it will also cope with 91 RON (with a small performance loss). The figures, however, tell you this is a good drivetrain, even if it sounds crook.

That intrusiveness spoils an otherwise impressive cabin ambience. Holden has gone for light combinations as standard Statesman trim to make the interior feel brighter and airier. And it works, although there's no need for visual tricks when it comes to size. It's also comfortable, and its new seats are plush and relaxing, although the rear seat's base could do with a little more shape.

The Statesman's tube-like instrument meters are a quality-differentiating touch from the VE and the HMI (human/machine interface) technology Holden has developed. Its focal point -- the three dials in the instrument panel -- works exceptionally well. It's easy to love the rollers in the steering wheel, but not hard to wish the carry-over cruise-control stalk had been left behind. The jury's still out on the switches and handbrake lever in the centre console, though.

All this, a good price and a luxo-barge full of gear as well. Statesman V6 debuts at $58,990 (about $2400 up on the old car) and for that you get stability control, ABS, six airbags, 17-inch alloys, LED tail-lights, leather seat trim, 11-speaker Blaupunkt sound system, 6.5-inch colour screen, Bluetooth, rain-sensing wipers and front and rear park assist -- the latter very handy, as this is a difficult car to wield in tight confines. A full-size spare tyre mounted on an alloy wheel is standard for both WMs.

Hop from the Statesman V6 to the Caprice V8 and you cross a visceral gulf. The support act is over. The darker interior is slightly foreboding; the more heavily bolstered front and rear seats suck you in securely, while the chunky sports steering wheel speaks of serious intent.

Initially, there is the same sense of mass, weight and length that the Statesman imparts. Once rolling, however, its communication is more intimate and urgent. The steering's consistency and feel in both cars is a revelation compared to the WL, but the swap from 17-inch 225/55 Bridgestone Turanzas to 18-inch 245/45 Potenzas is obvious, as is the change to firmer damper settings.

For their size, both WMs feel immensely rigid in the body, but the Caprice turns with a crispness that belies its size. It grips more, settles on its body quicker, and its 321/324mm brakes (Statesman has 296/302mm) work better, longer.

The Caprice does produce a firmer ride and more tyre noise, so, if you're a passenger, rather than a driver, lease the Statesman. But, if the driving is your go, then you'll love the way the Caprice shrink-wraps around you as familiarity grows. The Statesman never manages the same feat.

The Caprice's drivetrain helps -- big time. While the V6 wins its battle of the bulge on points, the V8 simply overpowers and knocks out nearly 1.9 tonnes of kerb weight. Its electronic throttle and well-calibrated new six-speed auto respond with an urgency that is familiar from the VE.

Like the VE, the accessibility of the engine's massive grunt is awesome. Just bang the throttle home and go, all the while listening to a fantastic V8 blast from its quad pipes.

The Caprice easily -- repeat easily -- slices under six seconds and comfortably cuts below 14 seconds for the 400. It's not only a cross-country flyer, but a rocket in a straight line. Bear in mind that Tyabb Airfield was still slightly damp from overnight fog when we recorded our times. Yep, definitely more potential here.

Through performance timing and some enthusiastic driving, fuel consumption averaged out at a respectable 15.2L/100km. We did average 30L/100km in a half-day of city driving for photography. Still, if you want this level of performance from a 6.0-litre V8, you gotta pay for it somehow.

Our only concerns about WM are hopefully rectifiable. The quality of interior assembly was a bit naff, but these were very early cars. More worrying was the six-speed auto's propensity to disconnect itself momentarily while under full acceleration -- like the throttle had been lifted and flattened again. It did it twice, and Holden is investigating. In fact, the 6L80E was generally behaving a bit second–hand by the end of the test, clunking into gear, and so on.

Presuming that this was an isolated glitch, it's fair to say the Caprice looks like an extraordinarily good buy at $69,990 -- a roll-back of $5400 from the old car as it pursues greater sales volumes. Bi-xenon headlights, tri-zone air conditioning, soft-touch leather seat trim, Bose audio, theatre lighting, a DVD player with dual rear LCD screens and tyre-pressure monitors are all standard and should help in that quest.

Not that Holden is silly enough to suggest S and 7 shoppers will be dropping in to check WM specs, features and pricing. Although just maybe they should. Day or night, these are impressive cars. No doubt, they belong on the world stage but they're still welcome here.

Inside Caprice
>> Deep-set four-tube instrument cluster a major point of difference to VE. Metal trim bisecting dash distinguishes sports-luxury Caprice from luxury Statesman with its faux-wood finish. 
>> Bose multimedia system a level above that in Statesman; allows playing of movies at rest. Floating air-con controls a unique feature of WM, as is three-zone climate control 
>> While Caprice is aimed at those who wish to drive themselves, standard headrest-mounted screens and deeply-contoured rear bench specific to flagship model will make for happy passengers 
 
Inside Statesman
>> Deep-set bevelled instrument cluster same as Caprice, but bottom-half appliqué different for more 'luxury' air 
>> 6.5-inch display and Blaupunkt sound system standard. No rear- view camera, but parking assist system a saviour in car this size 
>> Rear seat base could be better shaped, but stacks of room in classy and well-executed cabin. Elegant lady friend BYO option

Images: Cristian Brunelli