VZ commercials and Adventra soldier on
The new VE will be offered alongside a range of carry-over VZ models. But which ones have survived and what are the changes?The VE sedans may be rolling down the production lines of Holden's plant at Elizabeth in Adelaide's north but the rest of the VE range is a year or more away.
Indeed, latest rumours suggest the VE wagon may be a 2008 proposition (see separate story
) while ute and other variants could surface in late 2007. Thus Holden will, for a time, be building VE and VZ variants alongside each other.Holden has completely revamped its plant to achieve the task. There's been other changes too -- GM Holden Executive Director Manufacturing, Rod Keane said the relatively low number of common parts shared between VZ and VE was a challenge from a logistic and supply perspective but arrangements had been made to ensure VZ supplies would continue.
The VE versus VZ model line-up is confusing even for us. For a start, the surviving VZ range features no less than six different engine specifications, none of which are the same as those in the VE.
The current state of play is thus...
Though VZ Crewman Cross6 and Cross8, One Tonner Cross6, Adventra V8 and Monaro Coupe models have already ended production, the base VZ and SS utes continue while a new SV6 ute replaces the previous S. The dual cab Crewman ute continues as a base Crewman, S and SS. The VZ wagon continues as an Executive, Acclaim and Berlina. The Adventra is all that's left of Holden's ambitious AWD program as it continues in SX, CX and LX as a V6 only.
Two new colours have been introduced to selected models. The VE's bright orange Ignition will be available on S Crewman, SS Crewman, SV6 Ute and SS Ute. A new dark silver called Nickel is restricted to Ute, SV6 and SS Ute. Devil Yellow, Quicksilver and Turismo are deleted.
The base Alloytec V6 that comes with most VZ models (except SV6 Ute, SS Ute and Crewman SS) delivers 172kW/320Nm while the LPG version with auto-only drops back to 165kW.
The SV6 Ute's High Output six offers 190kW/335Nm as an auto but drops back to 187kW as a manual. In the Adventra, this same engine delivers 188kW/330Nm.
All figures are achieved on 91 RON basic unleaded.
Finally, the SS models feature the earlier L76 version of the Generation IV engine with 260kW/510Nm on 98 RON Premium Unleaded.
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