VE under the skin: keeping Oz in suspense

Holden may have benchmarked the likes of Lexus, Jaguar and BMW when developing the all-new front and rear suspensions for the VE Commodore, but the end result is all-Holden.

Indeed, though the manufacturer literally cut up examples of the Euro brands and ran their componentry under Commodore development mules, the 'surgery' and testing led to the development of systems for which Holden holds all the intellectual property.

The carmaker calls its new underpinnings Linear Control Suspension and it comprises an advanced fully-adjustable four-link rear set-up and multi-link MacPherson strut front end.

The all-new independent rear suspension replicates a double wishbone design with three lower links and a single three-point upper wishbone. Because the upper wishbone is effectively one and a half links, it is called a 4.5 link rear-end internally. The anti-roll bar is decoupled for better compliance.

The rear suspension's spring towers are linked by a full width brace that looks similar to a front strut brace and the complete rear suspension is mounted on floating bushes that are separate from the bushes within the suspension links. As noted above the rear suspension has full adjustment for camber and toe.

The new set-up should deliver much better lateral stiffness for more precise handling. The separation of suspension and lateral forces should mean ride can be more compliant without sacrificing handling and grip -- previous set-ups have not necessarily allowed this balance.

The VE's new alloy-bodied ZF-sourced differential (with an 8.3-inch crown wheel compared to 8-inch for VZ V8 and 7.5 inch for VZ V6) is mounted on three separate bushes, double isolating it from the body. A new limited slip design features a multi-plate clutch system instead of the old cone design.

At the pointy end, the front suspension takes the MacPherson strut to the next stage with an additional lower arm that feeds into a body-mounted hydraulic bush and a ball joint at the wheel end. This set-up is also fully adjustable in camber, castor and toe, spelling the end of aftermarket adjustment kits for both front and rear suspension.

Settings are different across the model line-up -- as expected. Comfort-biased at the Omega and Berlina end, the SV6, SS, SS V and Calais models get a lower riding sports handling set-up, Holden says

The VE's new steering rack is forward mounted and acts on a 'virtual' front pivot point determined by the interaction of the two lower ball joints. Holden says the geometry is self-stabilising.

Holden says the benefits of the new front suspension and steering configuration include better on-centre steering feel (long a criticism of Commodores), sharper turn-in and improved high-speed stability. The car is also less sensitive to crosswinds and road camber, the company claims.

VE Chassis briefs
Want to impress the guys and gals down the pub? Here's five fast VE chassis facts you can quote to win friends and influence people

• The VE's body structure is claimed to be 200 per cent stiffer. In conjunction with a stiffer steering column mounting, Holden says this transforms driver 'feel.'

• The VE's front and rear suspension modules including steering column and differential respectively are supplied complete by ZF and sequenced to production similar to the Dana operation at Ford.

• The VE's controversial space saver spare wheel saves 4.3kg over standard Omega wheel and up to 10.6kg on a top level wheel and tyre combination. Holden claims that combination of cost and weight led to its development while preserving adequate space to transport a full-size flat. A secondary factor was theft -- Commodores are particularly targeted to source alloy wheels and tyres to 'build up' a set. If there is one advantage of the space saver (a feature about which we are not at all convinced) it is the highly publicized space saver may reduce chances of break-ins. CarPoint and the likes of the auto clubs will be encouraging VE buyers to get 'their' Holden dealer to 'throw in' the optional full-sized spare as part of their new car bargaining process.

• VE's space saver wheel is specially developed to replicate exact diameter of full-size wheel so that it will not shut down the ESP system. Holden was conscious that different diameter space savers can also damage diffs and other driveline components over extended distances. ESP parameters included specific development with space saver fitted.

• Positioning of V8 engine behind front axle line allowed full-size oil pan to be fitted allowing service interval to go up from 10,000 to 15,000km.