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The Holden Commodore is an Automobile produced by the Holden division of General Motors (GM) in Australia , and formerly, in New Zealand . In the late 1970s, Holden established proposals to replace the long serving Kingswood nameplate with an all-new smaller model. Holden looked to Opel (another GM subsidiary) for inspiration, and based the Commodore on the Opel Rekord . The German marque continued to provide the basics for future generations; however the trend changed when Holden launched the fourth generation model in 2006. This came to be Holden's most expensive project yet, boasting an all-Australian design.1 Introduced with a single Sedan body style, the range expanded in 1979 to include a Station Wagon .2 The lineup expanded for a second time in 1990, when Holden reintroduced the Utility and long- Wheelbase Statesman and Caprice derivatives.Robinson, p. 26 Then in 2001, the third-generation architecture provided the foundations for a revived Holden Monaro Coupé .3 Since its beginnings, the Commodore has always been offered in more than one specification. However in 1984, Holden decided to brand the flagship model the Holden Calais, dropping the Commodore identity all together. The company did a similar thing in 1997 with the '''Holden Berlina''', known previously as the Commodore Berlina.4 To combat the increasing sales erosion by rivals and the limitations of Australia's small market, Holden broadened the Commodore's export plans. Rivalry has come predominantly from arch-rival Ford with the Falcon , however it was not until 1988 when the much larger second generation was launched that the Commodore became a true direct competitor to the Falcon.Robinson, p. 23 Mitsubishi Motors and Toyota have also proven competitive with their Mid-size Car s.5 FIRST GENERATION (1978–1988) VB See Also: Holden VB Commodore Premiering in 1978, the Holden VB Commodore brought unprecedented levels of refinement, never seen before in an Australian designed car. With the effects of the 1973 Oil Crisis still being felt, Holden made a conscientious decision to downsize and replaced the successful full-size Holden Kingswood with a new smaller, more fuel-efficient model.Robinson, p. 24 Holden looked towards Opel for providing the foundations of the VB; basing it loosely on the four-cylinder Rekord E bodyshell but with the front grafted on from the Opel Senator to accommodate the larger Holden six-cylinder and V8 Engine s. Using GM’s Rear-wheel Drive V-body Platform , the VB retained 96% of the preceding HZ Kingswood's interior space, despite being 14% smaller in overall dimensions.Robinson, p. 22–23 When driven at speed over harsh Australian roads, Holden quickly realised that the Rekord would effectively break in half. This forced Holden to rework the entire car for Local Conditions . Such a task blew development costs beyond expectations to AU$ 110 million,6 thus leaving no money to develop Utility , Station Wagon , and long- Wheelbase variants. Desperate measures forced Holden to shape the Commodore front-end to the rear of the Rekord wagon, plaguing the wagon with inevitable component differences to the sedan.7 Despite these issues, the car was praised for its value for money and sophistication, and went on to win the prestigious Wheels Car Of The Year award for 1978. The "downsizing" was first seen as a major disadvantage for Holden, as they had effectively relinquished the potential of selling Commodores to the Fleet and Taxi industries. These sales losses were thought to be unrecoverable; however the 1979 Energy Crisis saw Australian oil prices rise by 140%, putting substantial strain on the automotive industry to collectively downsize. To Holden the situation could not have come at a better time,Robinson, p. 24 and sales reached 95,906 units after just two years. VC See Also: Holden VC Commodore The most significant change to the 1980 Holden VC Commodore was the upgraded " Red Motor " bringing improved efficiency. Now painted blue and known as the " Blue Motor ", the changes included a twelve-port Cylinder Head among other tweaks on the Sixes , and Electronic Ignition for the V8s . In response to high oil prices, a four-cylinder variant was spawned. The 1.9 litre "Starfire" engine was effectively Holden's existing straight-six with two cylinders removed. This variant was short lived due to poor performance and the need to push the engine hard led to Fuel Consumption similar to the straight-sixes.8 Visual changes were limited, such as the relocation of the Corporate Crest to the centre of the redesigned Grille . Dual-tone exterior paintwork made a welcome return after a 20 year absence, and the specification level name was now recessed amongst the front door protectors. The entry level "Commodore" variation was now dubbed "Commodore L", but the SL and SL/E nameplates continued. VH See Also: Holden VH Commodore The 1981 Holden VH Commodore ended the Commodore's position as Australia's bestselling car for the first time, despite it being an evolution of the previous model. With the effects of the 1979 Energy Crisis ending, buyers gravitated towards the larger Ford Falcon rival. The six-cylinder engine, which was carried over from the Kingswood could trace its roots back to 1963, and was no longer competitive. Continual improvements made to the Ford Falcon meant the Commodore was not significantly more fuel efficient nor better performing despite the smaller size. Holden also had to deal with the influx of their own Camira , which presented comparable interior room, fuel savings, and befitted the Commodore pricing point. A new horizontally-slatted Grille dominated the front-end of the VH, producing a lower, yet wider look that was in the interest of Aerodynamics . Sedans featured redesigned tail light clusters, the design of which was influenced by Mercedes-Benz models of the day, using a louvered design that prevented the build-up of dirt. The range-topping SL/E featured tail lamps that extended to meet up with the License Plate alcove.9 Mechanical specifications carried over, except for a new five-speed Manual Transmission , optional on the 1.9 litre four-cylinder and 2.85 litre six-cylinder versions. In a desperate attempt to improve the dwindling sales of the straight-four engine, Holden spent considerable time improving its performance and efficiency. Substantial effort was also poured into the 2.85 litre six, and the powerplants managed to reduce Fuel Consumption by 12.5% and 14% correspondingly. At the same time, the Nomenclature of the range was rationalised. The SL was now the base model, the SL/X was the mid-range and SL/E was top-of-the-line variant, as before. Wagons were available in SL and SL/X variants, and in 1982 the SS sports model was released, being a Commodore mainstay ever since.10 Coming with Holden's 4.2 litre V8 as standard, three up-spec versions of SS, known as ''Stage 1'', ''2'' and ''3'' were made available, featuring a 5.0 litre V8. These were produced by racing driver Peter Brock 's Holden Dealer Team factory.11 To this day, Brock modified VH SS Commodores are highly sought after. VK See Also: Holden VK Commodore Representing the first major change since the VB original, the Holden VK Commodore of 1984 introduced a six-window glasshouse (featured on the Opel Senator ) as opposed to the previous four-window design to make the Commodore appear larger. The revised design assisted sales, with the VK commissioning 135,000 sales in two years. But by no means did this put an end to Holden’s monetary woes. Sales of the initially popular Camira slumped due to unforeseen quality issues, and the WB series Pickups and Limousine s were starting to show their age, since their 1971 origins had to compete with Ford’s newly released Fairlane .12 New names for the trim levels were also introduced, such as Executive (an SL with Air Conditioning and Automatic Transmission ), Berlina (replacing SL/X) and Calais (replacing SL/E).13 The refined "Blue" 3.3 litre Straight-6 engine was replaced by the "Black" specification, gaining computer-controlled ignition system (carburettor versions only) and optional electronic Fuel Injection . The EFI system boosted power output to 106 kilowatts. The 5.0 litre V8 Engine continued to power high specification variants, but was replaced by a 4.9 litre variant in 1985 due to new Group A racing Homologation rules. The new unit cut its predecessors weight by 75 kilograms and was fitted with an upgraded braking system. With high oil prices being a thing of the past, Holden decided to drop the 2.85 litre six and 4.2 litre V8, and the 1.9 litre four-cylinder was limited to New Zealand .14 VL See Also: Holden VL Commodore Marking a high point in terms of sales, the last-of-the-series Holden VL Commodore sold in record numbers, finally managing to outsell the Ford Falcon in the private sector. The 1986 VL represented a substantial makeover of the VK, and would be the last of the Mid-size Commodores. Designers distanced the Commodore further away from its Opel origins, by calming down the lines of the outer body and redesigning the rear taillight assemblies, which rested beneath a minute tail Spoiler . A thorough redesign of the nose saw the Commodore gain sleek, narrow headlamps, and a shallower grille. The Calais specification employed a unique design trait of partially concealed headlamps. By this stage, Holden’s 30 year old six-cylinder was thoroughly outmoded and would have been difficult to modify to comply with pending emission standards and unleaded fuel. This led Holden to sign a deal with Nissan to import their RB30E Engine .15 This seemed a good idea in 1983 when the Australian Dollar was strong; however by 1986 the once viable prospect became rather expensive.Robinson, p. 25 The public quickly accepted what was at first a controversial move, as reports emerged of the improvements in refinement, 33% gain in power and 15% better economy. An optional Turbocharger appeared six months after launch, and lifted power output to 150 kilowatts (201 hp). In October 1986, an unleaded edition of Holden’s Carburettored V8 Engine was publicised. Holden had originally planned to discontinue the V8 and spare the expense of converting to unleaded. However, public outcry persuaded them to relent. VLs in New Zealand were also available with the 2.0 litre six-cylinder RB20E Engine .16 The VL suffered from some common build quality problems, such as poor Windshield sealing, that can lead to water leakages and Corrosion . The six-cylinder engine was known to easily crack Cylinder Heads (a problem not displayed on the Nissan Skyline with which it shares the RB30 engine), due to the radiator being lower than the coolant level in the head of the Commodore installation.17 An assessment undertaken by the Monash University Accident Research Centre, found that first generation Commodores (VB–VL) provide a worse than average level of occupant Safety Protection in the event of an Accident .18 SECOND GENERATION (1988–1997) VN See Also: Holden VN Commodore The Holden VN Commodore of 1988 and subsequent second generation models, took their bodywork from the larger Opel Senator B and new Opel Omega A . However this time, the floor plan was widened and stretched, and could now match the rival Ford Falcon for size.Robinson, p. 23, 26–27 The range expanded in 1990 to include a Utility variant, known as the Ute and given the model designation '''VG'''. The Ute was built on a longer- Wheelbase Platform that it shared with the station wagon and luxury ''' VQ Statesman/Caprice ''' Limousine s released earlier in the year. The team at Wheels Magazine awarded the VN their Car Of The Year award in 1988, being the second Commodore model to receive this award.19 Changes in the relative values of the Australian Dollar and Japanese Yen made it financially impractical to continue with the well-regarded Nissan engine of the VL. Instead, Holden manufactured their own 3.8 litre V6 Engine based on an old Buick Design , adapted from Front-wheel to Rear-wheel Drive . The 5.0 litre V8 remained optional and received a power boost to 165 kilowatts (221 hp) courtesy of multi-point Fuel Injection .20 Although not known for its refinement, the V6 was nevertheless praised for its performance and Fuel Efficiency at the time.21 A 2.0 litre Family II Engine was also offered for some export markets including New Zealand and Singapore , where it was sold as the Holden Berlina, sharing the engine with the Opel Vectra A. Accompanying the changes to engines, the VL's four-speed Automatic Transmission was replaced by the GM TH700 and the Borg-Warner five-speed Manual Gearbox .22 A Series II update of the VN appeared in September 1989, featuring a revised V6 engine, known internally, as the EV6. The EV6 featured a power hike of two kilowatts (3 hp), rising to 127 kilowatts (170 hp). Under an unsuccessful Model Sharing Arrangement as part of the Hawke Labor Government reforms in 1989, Toyota began Badge Engineering versions of the VN Commodore.23 These disguised Commodores were sold as the Toyota Lexcen, named after Ben Lexcen , the designer of Australia II yacht which won the 1983 America's Cup , wresting the trophy from the United States for the first time in the competition's history.24 VP See Also: Holden VP Commodore The Holden VP Commodore update of 1991 featured mainly cosmetic changes; the same revised 3.8 litre V6 and 5.0 litre V8 Engine s from the VN were carried over. The 2.0 litre Straight-4 previously available in New Zealand was discontinued.25 From the outside, designers kept cosmetic changes to a minimum. A Translucent Acrylic Grille replaced the VN's conventional type on the base level Executive.26 Semi-trailing Arm IRS became standard on high-end Calais and SS, but was made an option on lower-end models in lieu of the Live Rear Axle , which brought improvements to ride and handling. In August 1992, Anti-lock Brakes were introduced as an option on the Calais and SS trim levels, later becoming optional on all Series II variants. The January 1993 Series II update also included a colour-coded grille for the Executive and Alloy Wheel s for the Commodore S. VR See Also: Holden VR Commodore The Holden VR Commodore of July 1993 represented a major facelift of the second generation architecture leaving only the doors and roof untouched.27 Approximately 80% of car was new in comparison to the preceding model. Exterior changes brought an overall smoother body, semicircular wheel arches and the "twin-kidney" , VN/VP Commodores provide a worse than average level of occupant protection. However, the updated VR/VS models were found to provide a better than average level of Safety Protection . The latest revision of the Buick 3.8 litre V6 Engine was fitted to the VR Commodore, and featured Rolling-element Bearing s in the valve Rocker Arm s, increasing compression ratios from the VN/VP series engines.31 These changes combined to deliver an increase in power to 130 kilowatts (174 hp) and further improvement in Noise, Vibration, And Harshness levels. Wheels Magazine awarded the VR Commodore the Wheels Car Of The Year award in 1993, making it the third Commodore model to receive the award. VS See Also: Holden VS Commodore The 1995 Holden VS Commodore, served as a mechanical update of the second generation architecture, destined to assist sales before the all-new VT model. The extent of exterior changes veered not much further than a redesigned Holden logo and wheel trims.32 An updated '' Automatic Transmission , bringing improved throttle response and smoother changes between gears. The Series II update of June 1996 brought elliptical Side Turn Signals , interior tweaks and the introduction of a L67 Supercharged V6 Engine for selected trim levels. The new supercharged engine slotted in between the existing engines in the lineup and was officially rated at 165 kilowatts (221 hp), just 3 kilowatts (4 hp) below the V8.33 THIRD GENERATION (1997–2006) VT See Also: Holden VT Commodore With the Holden VT Commodore of 1997, Holden looked again to Opel in Germany for a donor platform. The proposal was to take the Opel Omega B and broaden the vehicle’s width and mechanical setup for Local Conditions . In the early days, Holden considered adopting the Omega as is, save for the engines and transmissions, and even investigated reskinning the existing VR/VS architecture.Robinson, p. 27 Later on, the VT Bodywork spawned a new generation of Statesman and Caprice limousines, and the brand even went as far as resurrecting the iconic Monaro coupé from the 1960s and 1970s.Robinson, p. 29 GM's American counterparts were interested in incorporating a Left-hand Drive Commodore into the Buick lineup and became involved in the VT development cycle early on. Holden was provided funds for the necessary engineering changes and a prototype was unveiled to the American public in 1996 as the Buick XP2000 Concept Car . The project was abandoned just before the VT's release but Holden made the most of the situation by exporting left-hand drive VTs to the Middle East badged as Chevrolet Luminas .Robinson, p. 38 Thus began the Commodore's rapid expansion into a number of overseas markets including Brazil , South Africa and the later on, to the United States.34 The VT heralded the fitment of Semi-trailing Arm Independent Rear Suspension as standard across the range.35 However, when originally carried over, the European design was simplified with the removal of the Toe control link, standard equipment on the six-cylinder Omega since 1987.36 This allowed distortions to the suspension Camber Angle and toe under heavy load, commonly occurring during heavy towing or when travelling over undulated surfaces, leading to excessive rear tyre wear. Holden's performance arm HSV re-added the toe control link on the flagship GTS 300 model, based on the Series II update. This 1999 update replaced the venerable Holden 5.0 litre V8 Engine with a new 5.7 litre LS1 V8 sourced from the United States. The V8 was detuned to 220 kilowatts (295 hp) from the original US version, but would receive incremental power upgrades to 250 kilowatts (335 hp) throughout its time in the Commodore, before finally being replaced by the L76 in the 2006 update of the VZ Commodore . The Supercharged V6 was uprated to 171 kilowatts (229 hp) from the VS.37 Side Airbag s became an option for the Acclaim and higher models, a first for Holden.38 The VT Commodore was awarded, for the fourth time, the Wheels Car Of The Year for 1997. It found ready acceptance in the market as buyers flocked from the disastrous Ford AU Falcon , becoming the best selling Commodore to date and cementing its place as number one in Australian sales. VX See Also: Holden VX Commodore The 2000 Holden VX Commodore update built upon Holden's winning formula, featuring a revised Headlamp design (nicknamed "teardrop" headlights by motoring magazines).39 The VT's rear Taillight panel was replaced by two separate light assemblies. Conversely, the luxury-orientated Berlina and Calais Sedan s continued using a full-width Boot -lid panel incorporating the License Plate and tail lamps, albeit with new Transparent lenses.40 An updated Series II was launched in early 2002, featuring a thoroughly revised suspension system equipped with toe control links to address the VT's issues.41 Passive Safety played a substantial role in the development of the VX model.42 Anti-lock Brakes ( Bosch 5.3) were made standard on all variants, a first for an Australian manufactured car, and Traction Control was made available on vehicles equipped with Manual Transmission . Extensive research was undertaken to reduce the effects from a side-impact collision through modifications of the B-pillars . The risk presented by a side-impact collision in a VX fitted without side Airbag s, is reduced by 50%, when compared to a similarly specified VT model. VY See Also: Holden VY Commodore The AU$ 250 million Holden VY Commodore mid-cycle update of 2002 represented the first major styling shift since the 1997 VT. Designers discarded the rounded front and rear styling of the VT and VX models, and adopted more aggressive, angular lines.43 The same approach was applied to the interior, whereby the rapidly-aging, curvaceous Dashboard design was orphaned in favour of an angular, symmetrical design. Satin chrome plastic now dominated the façade of the Centre Console stack, and high-end models received fold-out Cup Holder s borrowed from fellow GM subsidiary Saab .44 Engineering wise, Holden kept the changes low key. A revised steering system, stiffer Torsion Bar and valve revisions were among some of the changes to sharpen handling precision. Holden turned towards German electronics manufacturer Blaupunkt to source audio systems—an arrangement that remains in place today. Further improvements were made to the LS1 Generation III V8 Engine , with a higher peak power output figure of 235 kilowatts (315 hp).45 In a bid to recapture the market for low-cost, high-performance cars, Holden created a new SV8 specification level. Based on the entry-level Executive, the SV8 inherited the V8 mechanical package from the SS but made do without the luxury appointments and was sold at a correspondingly lower price.46 Holden also experimented by releasing a limited edition wagon version of its high-performance SS variant, of which only 850 were built.47 The Series II update added a front Strut Bar as standard to the SS, which was claimed to increase rigidity and hence handling, as well as a further 10 kilowatt (13 hp) increase for the V8. VZ See Also: Holden VZ Commodore The final third generation model, the Holden VZ Commodore, debuted in 2004 with a new series of V6 Engine s known as the '' Alloytec V6 ''. Both 175 (235 hp) and 190 kilowatt (255 hp) versions of the 3.6 litre engine were offered,48 which were later upgraded to 180 (241 hp) and 195 kilowatts (261 hp) respectively in the VE model.49 When compared to the previous Ecotec engines, the Alloytec benefits from increased power output, responsiveness and Fuel Efficiency . The new engines were mated to a new five-speed '' 5L40E '' Automatic Transmission on the luxury V6 variants, and a new six-speed '' Aisin AY6 '' Manual Transmission on the six-cylinder SV6 sports variant.50 However, the aging four-speed automatic carried on in other variants, albeit with further tweaks to address complaints about refinement. A new 6.0 litre '' L76 '' V8 Engine was added to the range in January 2006 to comply with the Euro IV emission standards. Compared to the American version of the L76, both Displacement On Demand and Variable Valve Timing were removed.51 The Alloytec V6 was also affected by the new standards, which saw the peak output reduced to 172 kilowatts (231 hp).52 Along with the new Powertrain , Holden also introduced new safety features such as Electronic Stability Control and Brake Assist . The Used Car Safety Ratings evaluation found that VT–VZ Commodores provide a significantly better than average level of occupant protection in the event of an Accident . Interestingly, ANCAP crash test results rate the fourth generation VE lower in the offset frontal impact test than the previous generation VY/VZ Commodore. The overall crash score was marginally higher than the outgoing model, due to improved side impact protection provided by the new model giving a rating of four stars out of a possible five.5354 FOURTH GENERATION (2006–PRESENT) VE See Also: Holden VE Commodore The 2006 Holden VE Commodore is the first Commodore model designed entirely in Australia instead of being based on adapted Opel -sourced Platforms .Robinson, p. 12 Given this and strong public demands for quality, the budget in building the car reportedly exceeded AU$ 1 billion.Robinson, p. 13 Prior to the release of the VE model, Holden stated that they would manufacture two parallel generations of Commodores until the launch of Station Wagon and Utility Body Styles ,55 and shortly afterwards they also announced that Engines and Transmissions would largely be carried over from the previous VZ model.56 A new six-speed 6L80E automatic transmission replaced the four-speed on V8 variants. In 2007 the VE Commodore became the fifth Commodore model to receive the prestigious Wheels Car Of The Year award.57 The design of this new model included innovative features to help minimise export costs, such as a symmetrical Centre Console that houses a flush-fitting Handbrake lever to facilitate its conversion to left-hand drive.58 The mainstream VE also forms the basis of the long- Wheelbase WM Statesman / Caprice and the Ute .Robinson, p. 205 REFERENCES EXTERNAL LINKS Official sites: Unofficial sites: |
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