VE's 'take home' facts and figures

CarPoint and our magazine partner Wheels will publish a raft of information about the new VE and WM ranges over the next few weeks. Holden's strict embargoes and the staged release of the information means you may end up getting the same information more than once. So be it -- we'd rather tell you twice than you miss out on the good oil.

This morning's release of the VE saw plenty of official information revealed. It also saw a fair degree of unofficial information 'change hands.' For example check out CarPoint's exclusive confirmation of the new car's new export markets here.

Holden's new VE model line-up has already been summarized

The WM gets an extra 94mm over the VE -- at a total almost 3010mm (2789+ 16+ 94), the long-wheelbase luxury Holden dwarfs the current Caprice (2939) and is up on the likes of Audi's A8 (2944) and BMW 7 Series (2990).

Track dimensions are up too. The VE features all-new suspension front and rear (the rear's a multi-link independent set-up) and its 'wheel at each corner' look and wide stance comes thanks to (according to 'our' launch source) a 33mm increase in front track and a 41mm stretch at the rear.

Compared to the Falcon and its derivatives, the new VE's stance is a whole generation 'squatter' -- witness the VE's 2915 mm wheelbase, 1602mm front track and 1618mm rear track in comparison to the Ford's 2829/1553/1571mm stats.

Nothing official on weight increase although again from today's discussions, CarPoint can reveal it's likely to be over 80kg depending on the model in question.

When CarPoint asked one of Holden's chief program heads if there was anything "left on the table" as part of the inevitable cost compromises, he brought up the question of weight. Stating the obvious, more money (more expensive alloys and steels) would allow the car to be lighter...

POWERTRAINS
Holden chief Denny Mooney's address killed any speculation on engine outputs. On record now are the two versions of the 3.6-litre Alloytec V6 engines that will power the VE and WMs and a single V8.

The sixes punch out at 180kW and 330Nm and 195kW and 340NM respectively. The 270kW V8 delivers 530Nm of torque.

There are (not surprisingly) no fuel economy figures yet for any of the engines of the model variants.

When quizzed on this Mooney stated that testing was still underway.

Of key importance will be the efficiency of the gearboxes to which the engines are mated.

The highlight is the new 6L80E six-speed automatic transmission for the V8 VE/WM models. This gearbox is shared with GM premium US market cars such as Cadillac STS-V and the Chevrolet Corvette.

Other boxes will be a revised version of the Tremec T56 six-speed manual in SS and SS V; GM's 5L40E five-speed automatic with 'Active Select' in Calais V6, and the Aisin AY6 six-speed manual in SV6.

A four-speed automatic will be used in the Omega and Berlina grades.

"The chassis is designed to accommodate a range of active and passive safety technologies as well as the crashworthiness expected in many different markets," he said.

At pains to avoid a discussion of whether the car would achieve five-star NCAP rating when questioned after the unveiling, Mooney stated he was "confident the car would crash well."

The VE's suite of safety aids includes: Electronic Stability Program standard on all models; driver, front passenger and side impact airbags available on all models (the breakdown of standard versus optional has not been released) and curtain airbags available on all models (standard on SS V, Calais and Calais V; optional on Omega, Berlina, SV6 and SS).

Holden also notes the following in its launch media kit...
• Ultra-stiff body structure, multiple load path strategy, structurally optimised front and rear deformation zones
• Greatly expanded use of super-strength and high-strength steels in the body
Technology

COMFORT
Broken record time... We're can only give you a snapshot here and let you know what we've seen.

The interiors of the new cars are at least a generation ahead of the current local offerings and have real ambience. Interior differentiation across models has played a key part in the preparation of the new car --- least that's what appears to be the case with only the SS V Calais V and long-wheelbase models unveiled. But the basics have taken a step up as well.

We noted touches like the Audi-style hinged door hoppers (rather than hard-edged inaccessible storage bins) in all the models unveiled, auto headlamps and space-saver rear boot hinges.

Mooney confirmed there will be provision for a full-size spare, even stating that Holden had designed a special composite wheel well to accommodate this most-Australian of requirements.

Holden also notes the following in its launch media kit...
• All-new heating, ventilation and air-conditioning systems
• Zone-based front and rear park assist systems available on selected models
• Multi-function display reporting system
• Bluetooth standard on all models except optional on Omega
• Roof-mounted DVD systems available on all models
• Auxiliary plug in audio systems to accommodate MP3 devices
• Integrated navigation and telematics systems available later in 2006

For more of CarPoint's stories on the new

And keep an eye on

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.