Holden launches VY Commodore

Holden has been sitting pretty at the top of the large car sales charts for last 60 months.

That's quite a feat - but is the General going to win in its next battle, against a much tougher opposition?

Holden says yes, most definitely - and why not? The official media launch of the VY Commodore in Canberra showed us what the Aussie car maker has in store for buyers, when the car goes on sale on October 1st.

In this article we'll cover the new features and elementary stuff, but early next week we'll look more closely at what the new range offers, from Calais, to Executive, to Ute and even to the sporty SS and new SV8 model.

But before we go any further, you may have already heard a few not-so-rosy reports about the new entry-level Commodore Executive, Holden's cheapest and best-selling model.

Many motoring journalists, critics and even the public are up in arms about the fact that the Commodore Executive, unlike all Falcon's, will not include air-conditioning as standard - but as a $2250 extra.

Call us weird, but we don't think this is such a big deal. And look at this way - all models now get ABS and dual airbags. Being sweaty is surely better than being in hospital...

Anyway, we'll leave it up to you to judge the pros and cons of this decision.

Moving right along, and our first impressions of the new-look VY Commodore are good. We really do like the revised front and rear ends, though the SS and Calais models, in particular, caught our eye.

By the looks of it, Holden head honcho Hanenberger was rather pleased with the new Commodore, and rightly so. Here's what he said at the launch: "VY demonstrates our dedication to developing cars to the level buyers have come to expect from a company that listens to its customers."

Just don't mention the Executive air-con debacle...

"It is the logical evolution of a model that already possesses excellent credentials. We have built on the strengths which make Commodore Australia's number one car.

"It brings precision, refinement and quality to a new level, to ensure that the passion we have for designing, engineering and building such cars is shared by the people who drive them," Mr Hanenberger concluded.

Like the new 2003 Falcon, the new Commodore - while not as extensively updated as the former - has a more sophisticated, angular and altogether European look to it, without sacrificing it's Australian heritage either.

From the rear, the new Commodores are much improved over the VX, going for sharp angles, reminiscent of other Holden cars, such as the Astra and Vectra - also soon to be updated with newer models.

On the S and SS models, particularly, the large cutout in the lower apron is very trick, giving it a rather exotic sportscar look. The same has been done on the front section of the SS, and the end result is surprisingly sexy.

The Sportier SV8, S and SS models, in general, all look much tougher and are likely to give the new look Falcon XR range a good run for its money.

On all models, gone is the old double-kidney grille, replaced by a more contemporay looking get-up. Also new is the headlight cluster, much more angular and with what Holden calls a "bullseye" park lamp detail set into the clear main lens.

We're not sure if it actually helps park, but hot damn, it looks cool!

The VY's interior has also been given a once-over and, like the exterior, the new look is definitely an improvement.

Smart interior treatments are highlighted by an all-new instrument panel and multi-function digital displays, plus a new centre console and a rather spiffy-looking steering wheel.

The view from the driver's seat is very different to VX and the cockpit feel is emphasised by the totally re-designed instrument panel, centre console and steering wheel. The aesthetic is precise and technical, the layout simplified yet functional.

Highlights include a compact binnacle, multi-function digital display, updated controls and graphics, smoothly integrated radio facia with large-screen readout, metallic detailing, new-design transmission shifter and handbrake, and who could forget the all-important small item storage solutions.

A carefully co-ordinated range of seat and door trim fabrics in velour knit, woven jacquard and soft-feel sueded velour – all new for VY – complement background colours. Subtle tones and monochromatic patterning feature in Executive, Acclaim, Berlina and Calais.

Commodore S and SS sport triangular geometrics, colour co-ordinated with exterior finishes; trim for the new SV8 is a unique pop-art spiral design. Calais and SS (sedan and ute) buyers have a choice of leather trim options that are colour-keyed to exterior finishes.

Further design detailing includes highlight stitching on leather-trimmed steering wheels for top-end models, park brake and gearshift surround (Calais, colour-keyed on SS); satin chrome highlights on steering wheel, gearshift, handbrake and door handles (Calais and SS); colour-keyed, metallised console facia surrounds and some really impressive alloy pedals for the SS models.

The old Buick-sourced 3.8-litre Ecotec V6 fitted in most models will remain largely unchanged, but isn't such a bad thing, as most Commodore drivers will rarely push the limits of this ageing motor.

With 152kW of power @ 5200rpm and 305Nm of torque @ 3600rpm, the basic VY has plenty of pulling power down low, perfect for towing, but there is a significant deficit over Falcon's base-model 4.0-litre inline six engine, worth 182kW and 380Nm respectively.

Holden is acutely aware of this rather large difference, and it would be fair to say it will be duly addressed when Holden gets its hands on the new all alloy GM V6 in 2003 when the VY Series II launches. That said, Holden has tweaked the auto gearbox shifting pattern, meaning that service intervals for V6 engines have been extended to 15,000km from 10,000km, which will please many, especially fleet buyers.

But move up the ladder a few rungs and you'll find that Holden has tweaked the Gen III V8 to great effect. If you specify the V8 as a cost option, included in certain models, like the SS and new SV8 (formerly an HSV moniker, for those who remember), you'll notice an increase in both torque and power.

The Gen III powerplant now creates some 235kW of power, up from 225Kw, while 5Nm more torque may not sound like much, it will provide extra pull lower in the revs.

The extra power comes in large part thanks to a freer-flowing, full-length, twin exhaust system. Expect 0-100km/h times to be relatively unchanged from the current average of about 6.0 seconds in the SS model, though top speed will likely improve, thanks to better aerodynamics and of course the extra ponies.

SS models will get new 18-inch alloy wheels, with the SV8 fitted with 17s and the Berlina with 16-inchers. For a full list of wheel sizes, along with other new features, click here for full VY product information.

As far as ride and handling go, the 2003 Commodore gets an increase in structural stiffness. Optimised using Finite Element Analysis, it makes a major contribution to VY drive character. Front suspension damping, revised to incorporate a low speed tuning progressive disc stack, yields improvements in rolling comfort, better progression of compression damping forces and a shorter primary ride motion.

Control-Link IRS also makes the cut. Benchmarked against other independent multi-link rear suspension systems, Commodore's Control-Link IRS is highly competitive. This trailing arm system derivative incorporates a bunch of new features and offers good camber control and excellent toe control.

The system's lateral stiffness is high and vertical and fore/aft stiffness is low, a combination which contributes to an excellent balance between handling, ride, impact isolation and low road noise transfer.

One of the new VY's biggest drawcards will be price, as it has hardly changed from the outgoing VX, while the Falcon will be slightly dearer. That said, Geoff Polites and co. at Ford are aware of this and aren't ruling out dropping base-model prices before launch in early October.

We're also keenly awaiting the magic HSV will surely work on the new VY Commodores. We imagine the new Clubsport will benefit from yet even more power - 260kW or more to combat the new XR8 Falcon, while the XU6 will be hard pushed to reach the giddy heights of Ford's 240kW Turbo XR6. But perhaps most importantly: what of the flagship hero cars - will we see a 300+ kW Falcon GT competitor - a GTS perhaps? We've got money on it.

At the end of the day, the old Ford vs Holden fight is well and truly on. Ford spend half a bil, Holden a quarter, (or $250 million and $500 million respectively) but both are extremely good-looking cars.

The end result of this fierce competition could well result in Ford taking away Holden's 60 month sales lead, or it could go in General Motor's favour. You guys, the car buying public, will ultimately decide that.

But at least one thing is for sure: Thanks to the extreme levels of competition, with both Falcon and Commodore reaching world class levels, rivalling the likes of the Japanese and even the Europeans, exports will grow - by quite a lot, we're tipping.

We reckon both cars are sure to shock overseas markets. How can tiny Australian car makers do these things? Expect to read many letters from readers in overseas mags with quotes along the lines of: "These were designed and manufactured in Australia?"

Whichever way you look at it, both the consumer and the Australian auto industry are the winners here. Let the good times roll...

More:

• Further information and features on VY
  

• Ford takes on HSV with FPV