Final Fling For Commodore: Special Edition SVZ

[JoeT]

Final Fling For Commodore

Marton Pettendy
27 March 2006
www.goauto.com.au

Holden has given its VZ Commodore a final fling before it’s replaced in September by the all-new VE Commodore.

Dubbed SVZ and offering a claimed $6000 worth of extra value, the special-edition Commodore sedan and wagon offer a range of sports features aimed at maintaining the sales momentum of a model that dates back to 1997 VT Commodore.

The SVZ was announced on Monday and will be available from April, when it will arrive in Holden showrooms with a driveaway price of $32,990 (sedan) and $34,990 (wagon).

The Executive-based SVZ will come standard with popular Commodore options such as four 17-inch alloy wheels (the spare wheel remains steel), air-conditioning, an in-dash six-CD player, front fog lights and a rear spoiler (sedan only).

Ditching the Executive’s front-end treatment in favour of a Berlina-style grille, SVZ also features a chromed exhaust extension, body-coloured mirror scalps, black-bezel headlights and SVZ badging.

SVZ wagon also gains a body-coloured rear wind deflector and roof rails, while both sedan and wagon offer "FE1.5" luxury sports suspension tune.

Inside, there’s Anthracite sports seat trim with leather bolsters, plus a leather-trimmed steering wheel, automatic transmission selector and handbrake grip.

Metallic/mica paint is a $315 option.

The four-speed auto-only SVZ is powered by Holden’s 3.6-litre Alloytec V6, which for 2006 offers 3kW less peak power at 172kW. It’s delivered at the same 6000rpm, while peak torque remains 320Nm at 2800rpm following this year’s tighter new Euro III emissions regulations that came into effect just 16 months after Holden released its new Global V6 in the VZ Commodore.

The revised engine features new fuel injectors, a new exhaust catalyst and new engine calibration.

SVZ will be available in seven exterior colors: Quicksilver metallic, Odyssey metallic (dark mercury silver), Shanghai mica (mid red), Glaze mica (blue silver), Impulse mica (blue), Heron White and Phantom Mica (black).

"Commodore has been Australia’s top selling car for a decade and SVZ maximises bang for buck on what are already our most popular Commodore variants," said Holden marketing director John Elsworth.

"We expect SVZ to move as fast as the special SSZ and CV8-Z Monaro performance packs released last year. It’s a great chance to get into Commodore with many of the most requested options and accessories as standard."



SVZ Special Bundles High-Demand Extras

Wheels Staff
27 March 2006
www.wheels.carpoint.com.au

In the countdown to its new model, Holden has loaded a stack of no-cost options into special edition SVZ sedans and wagons.

Well into runout mode before the VE Commodore arrives in September, Holden has announced a special edition SVZ sedan and wagon.

Based on the Commodore Executive model, standout additional equipment on the SVZs include 17-inch alloys, air-conditioning, rear power windows, 6-disc in-dash CD and a rear spoiler on the sedan. Both sedan and wagon get a Berlina-style nose with fog lamps.

Both sedan and wagon come with Holden’s 172kW V6 engine, four-speed automatic and the FE1.5 luxury sports suspension.

The extras are said to represent many of Holden’s most requested options and accessories as standard.

Holden says the SVZs deliver $6000 worth of extra value yet weigh-in $1000 cheaper than the regular Executive sedan and wagon. Recommended retail driveaway prices start at $32,990 for the sedan and $34,990 for the wagon.

Seven colours are on offer: Quicksilver metallic, Odyssey metallic (dark mercury silver), Shanghai mica (mid red), Glaze mica (blue silver), Impulse mica (blue), Heron White and Phantom Mica (black).

SVZ Exterior Features:

17” Alloy wheels (steel spare)
Berlina-style front fascia with fog lamps
FE1.5 luxury sports suspension
Chrome exhaust extension
Body coloured mirror scalps
Black bezel headlamps
Rear spoiler (sedan)
Body colour dust deflector + roof rails (wagon)
Roof racks (wagon)
SVZ badge

Interior features:

Anthracite sports seat trim with leather bolsters
Air conditioning
6 disc in-dash CD player
Rear power windows
Leather wrap steering wheel, automatic transmission selector and handbrake grip

Pricing:

Sedan – From $32,990
Wagon – From $34,990
Metallic/mica paint: $315

Prices correct at publication date

[TKR]

Cool rep-mobile wagon!

[SpaceCowboy]

God****************it. I'm sick of Holden "dressing up" their base model stuff with parts from previous model top-line cars. First the VT equipe (another run-out special) got the previous VS Calais alloys, cheapening the look of my VS Calais. So I put VY series II Calais alloys on my car, they're classy and not too common - until now. I can't put Monaro alloys on it either, now that they are standard on SS sedan.

Other than that - this thing looks the goods. Should do the trick of sweeping the remaining VZ body shells out of dealerships in preparation for VE. It's still a basic car, but families will love them and fleets will snap up whatever is left for the percieved higher resale.

[mikmak]

I'm hanging out to load all my family gear in the back of a VZ wagon. Just a few more months....... Oh and I have to convince the Wife that a territory () is a bad idea. A test drive should sort that out.

[Butz]

the new VE will arrive this September!!

[redimpss5]

Make the wagon a hot rod also!!

[BBDOS CV8]

Originally Posted by mikmak

I'm hanging out to load all my family gear in the back of a VZ wagon. Just a few more months....... Oh and I have to convince the Wife that a territory () is a bad idea. A test drive should sort that out.

Just tell her that in town the fuel economy never goes below 22l/100km for the 4WD version, and after 15,000km it drives and sounds like an old Landcruiser with ten times that distance on the odo, if the near-new AWD 4-speed auto Ghia I got a lift in is any guide. Going around corners you could feel the whole drivetrain, halfshafts and centre diff winding and unwinding with a series of clicks and clacks, and the ABS activating and unactivating on a dry road under moderate brakes and chirping the tyres. Plus the tyreroar at 80km/h was incredibly bad. It's got lots of little spaces for stuff, but load it up and practically it has no more room than a sedan and less than a wagon due to the high floor and very upright seating.

The driver told me he's never seen less than 15L/100km, not even on a gentle legal limit cruise, and the vehicle struggles to do 350km on a tank. Going around corners, or even just braking sharply it moved around a lot on it's suspension. He said it is also not a good vehicle to drive distances in as it's quite fatiguing compared to a sedan.

This was a lease vehicle, previously the guy had a XT Falcon he thought about buying - it was a little thirsty but nowhere like this bad and far more comfortable. He said he'd never consider owning this one. To me, it was a sea of grey hard plastic inside, and for a supposed $48K upscale car very plainly finished and quite cramped and claustrophobic in the rear for a 5'11" person with the front seat nowhere near fully back.

[Carguy]

That car should have been SOLD HERE as a CHEVELLE LINE for YEARS NOW!!

[Bravada]

Originally Posted by mikmak

Oh and I have to convince the Wife that a territory () is a bad idea. A test drive should sort that out.

Wouldn't looking at one be enough?

On second thoughts, perhaps not, as the Commodore Wagon wouldn't benefit from being looked at in the rear door area...

[usa1]

Ick. Those cars all look so dated, like from 1990 or something.

Mark

[FunkyPig]

Originally Posted by usa1

Ick. Those cars all look so dated, like from 1990 or something.

Mark

You expect a car with mere months until an all new version is released to look up to date do you?

[Slick_Holden]

Originally Posted by usa1

Ick. Those cars all look so dated, like from 1990 or something.

Mark

That car would roll over your **************** man:p And if it was built in 1990 it would still be going like new right now:p

[Aych Es Vee]

Originally Posted by usa1

Ick. Those cars all look so dated, like from 1990 or something.

Mark

hardly
this is what a 1990 Commodore looks like

[mikmak]

They look out dated because they are old. But I really dont care. For the price size comfort and performance they are unbeatable in australia. That point is argued back and forth between model releases form Ford and GM (nobody else makes a large wagon until 300C touring comes along) but it is clearly a bargain when they start running these things out the door. Even 3 years after they were replaced used VS wagons were still trading very high.

At tthe end of the day its my (and my of course my wifes) money and I am quite willing to fork out for a competent safe big wagon. There are more important things, than having the latest look, to consider when buying a car. Uprated suspension and larger wheels significantly contribute the safety and performance. Its my only choice.

[demonv8]

So you're saying most cars on the road in the good ol' USA are new cars? I'm sure like here, most cars are around 7-10 years old and please show me a pic of a base model family car built in the late 90's in the USA that looks better than our 'dated' Commodore!