As if you haven't read enough about Holden's latest large car to hit the streets, here's a recap to enhance your appreciation of the VF Commodore:
>> Turbo-petrol 2.0 and 2.4-litre engines and four and six-cylinder diesel engines were rejected for VF
>> Base Ute engine is now 3.6-litre (up from 3.0)
>> LPG is no longer available in Ute
>> Sportwagon is now auto-only
>> Sunroof and premium BOSE audio only for sedans
>> Accessories include 20-inch alloys, a black lip spoiler, body stripes and blacked-out grille
>> New paint colours are Fantail (orange), Regal Peacock (brown) and Prussian Steel (silver)
>> The only exterior changes for WN Caprice are wheels
>> New aluminium parts include bonnets, bootlids, instrument panel beams, front knuckles and lower control arms
>> Holden cut 72.5kg from the VF body in white, but added up to 29.5kg of equipment, spelling an average net loss of 43kg
>> About 49 per cent of the VF body is now high-strength steel (340MPa or greater), with stronger B-pillars offering better side and rollover protection
>> A smaller differential with welded (not bolted) 195mm ring gear saves 7kg on Evoke, which also gets hollow driveshafts
>> SS-V Redline gets the thickest stabiliser bars ever on a Commodore – 26mm front and 28mm rear
>> SS-V Redline’s FE3 suspension tune limits lateral bodyroll to 3.5 degrees per g
>> SS-V Redline can generate a supercar-like 0.93g of sustained cornering force
>> SS-V Redline’s bespoke inch-wider 275/35 rear Bridgestones are made from the same compound as used on Ferrari models
>> Electric park brake module adds more than 1kg and is isolated to eliminate the whir heard with other systems
>> VF’s self-parking system was benchmarked against BMW and VW
>> Rear cross-traffic alert system senses vehicles up to 25 metres away, but only those travelling at up to 35km/h
>> The system uses the same rear-quarter radar sensors as the blind-spot monitor
>> Lane departure warning and forward collision alert system use the same windscreen-mounted camera
>> Head-up display can show road speed, gear selected, outside temperature, speed limit, high-beam, cruise control and even cornering g-force
>> New remote-starting feature works up to 100 metres away
>> VF is the first GM large car to feature electric power steering
>> Lane departure warning, forward collision alert, rear cross-traffic alert and blind-spot monitoring are firsts for an Australian-made car
>> Firewall insulation pads were removed from the firewall in V8 sports models to enhance induction noise
>> A new master-cylinder, pedal ratio and downsized clutch fingers reduce clutch pedal effort in manual models
>> Cabin noise was reduced from more than 40 to 38.4dBa
Links to motoring.com.au’s VF Commodore news
>> Mission accomplished: Holden had simple aims for VF
>> Steering a new path: EPAS is the headline item but VF’s chassis represents significant change
>> Aero Dynamic: Pedestrian safety and aerodynamics have shaped VF
>> Inside Job: Fewer parts and better materials drive VF Commodore’s interior upgrade
>> Large car future proofed: VF’s new electrical platform plays a vital role
>> Power games: Carry over powertrains don’t detract from VF story
>> Getting connected: VF delivers impressive connectivity
>> Safely integrated: No US-spec kneebag but Holden says VF is safer
Links to motoring.com.au’s VF Commodore: First Drives
>> First Drive -- VF Commodore SS
>> First Drive -- VF Commodore Evoke
>> First Drive -- VF Commodore Calais V
>> First Drive -- VF Commodore SV6 Ute
>> Along for the ride: In a very small way motoring.com.au played its part in the VF