Holden New VZ Commodore Road Test

[Ming]

True blue Oz commodore
19 August 2004
stuff.co.nz
Dave Moore



It may be two years before the all-new VE Commodore bursts on to the market, but that doesn't mean Holden's standing still in the meantime.

A brand-new Australian-engineered and built V6 engine family, designed for future worldwide General Motors platforms, has been thrust under the straked, restyled bonnet of Holden's interim facelifted VZ Commodore model. There's also an extra ratio for both manual and automatic gearboxes on some models.

These features, as well as some subtle changes to the look and feel of the cars, are designed to ensure that the perennial marketplace leap-frog that takes place between Ford and Holden continues apace.

The range revisions have also been meted out on Holden's long wheelbase Caprice and Statesman models, which are now known as the WL series.

The VZ and WL nomenclature also signals the arrival of the Bosch 8.0 ESP stability control system for Acclaim, Calais, Statesmen and Caprice V6 models, which also take electronic brake assist and corner brake control as standard equipment.

Holden's new 3.6-litre Quad Cam 24-valve engine family will for the time being consist of a base 175kW/320Nm version, for lower-echelon, fleet-level Commodores, while posher versions will enjoy the Alloytec 190, which puts out 190kw and 340Nm.

Holden's 5.7-litre Gen III engine continues with the VZ and WL facelift, but now with an electronic throttle, an upgraded engine management system and modified air intake system and air flow sensor for more efficient breathing.

FRONT SUSPENSION CHANGES ADD CONFIDENCE

For all the VZ's engine and transmission work, it's those small changes to the Commodore's front suspension that are most immediately noticeable when driving the new car.

Where the old VYII was soft, even numb around the straight ahead point, the VZ feels much more incisive and accurate upon turn-in and seems a much more biddable, confident car altogether.

Its new found steering heft does wonders for both driver communication and general balance and cornering accuracy.

On Alloytec 190 models, that balance is even more obvious with the helping hand of ESP reining-in a potentially wayward tail on ill-cambered and broken surfaces with a pleasing lack of drama. ESP uses wheel, yaw and steering sensors to detect understeer or oversteer, and then corrects them by braking individual wheels, intervening with throttle application or redtarding the ignition.

But the big news for VZ is the Alloytec engine itself, which replaces the hoary old OHV 3.8-litre unit that was first used by the VN Commodore 15 years ago. Gone is the thrashy top-end nature of the old stager, replaced by a modern free-spinning unit that is the culmination of a programme set in train five years ago in Detroit.

There a team of Australian engineers, working well outside conventional GM practices, bought, ran, stripped and studied 14 examples of the world's best large displacement V6s. Noting the best qualities of torque, power, refinement, ease of manufacture and flexibility of application, GM established the charter of essential requirements that would form the Alloytec family of engines.

ALLOYTEC HERE TO STAY

Steel cranked, with chain-driven DOHC valve trains, the Alloytec might be a fairly conventional, albeit powerful and refined 3.6-litre unit now, but the engine is destined to remain current in the GM scheme of things for decades.

It is designed to eventually gain supercharging and direct-injection, and possibly to even become a diesel, while driving the front, rear and all four wheels of various members of Holden's extended GM family. Already Cadillac and Buick use Alloytec (3.6L, 2.8L DOHC) engines, and before long such names as Alfa Romeo, Saab, Opel and Vauxhall will join the throng, with both inline mounted and transverse versions of the Holden-built unit. In the VZ Commodore, the Alloytec is a real smoothie, slurring especially well through the new five-speed automatic transmission, but also matching up more than satisfactorily with the Aisin six- speed manual gearbox.

With the crisp-shifting unit, it appears to easily meet Holden's posted sub seven second zero to 100kmh times for the SV6 model.

Unfortunately, for all Holden's good work on its old four-speed automatic, the base Alloytec powered cars do feel short-changed when compared to the new five- speed editions, which really show the way in terms of refinement and lack of shift-shock.

Holden says when comparing automatic versions of the new and old ranges average fuel consumption has improved only from 11.3L/100km to 11.1L/100km. However, such a minimal improvement should be tempered with the fact that the old Holden 3.8-litre unit was already a fairly frugal unit.

Most obvious visual changes are the use of a single bar grille, with a textured background mesh, larger under chin intake mouth, a more compact new headlamp design and a slightly higher profiled bonnet, with twin strakes giving a more pronounced sculpted look.

The VZ's front fascia is deeper and with a harder edge. The Performance leading SS model is visually distinguished from its lesser siblings by a side vent behind each front wheel arch.

Full Article Here

3.6L Alloytec article

[Squachy]

Is the "alloytec" (oh god that name sux the big one) just the HF V6 found in the Caddy CTS/STS/SRX?

[Ming]

Originally posted by Squachy@Aug 21 2004, 05:40 PM
Is the "alloytec" (oh god that name sux the big one) just the HF V6 found in the Caddy CTS/STS/SRX?

It is, but "localized" for Australia.

See this: LINK

[jro4566]

I'm glad they added that engine to the already great Commodore!

[ibechip]

Wow I can't get over how much I love Holdens. They seem to me where all of GM would be if not for the imports. Big RWD V8 sedans. And they're just beautiful.

[dreadnaught1181]

I like them too, but I would like them more IF THEY WERE OVER HERE!

I'm sorry, I'm just sick of modiocrity.

[BigAls87Z28]

Ahem...we do have them over here, and for cheaper then what you can get them in Oz.


Good, sounds like the VZ will really set up Zeta/VE for the world to taste. I wonder will the GTO be built off the VZ, or will it continue on VY?

The DOHC engine sounds cool. Maybe we could see the 255hp 3.6 in a future Camaro?

[GM_Guy81]

Originally posted by dreadnaught1181@Aug 22 2004, 03:23 AM
I like them too, but I would like them more IF THEY WERE OVER HERE!

I'm sorry, I'm just sick of modiocrity.

Buy a GTO

[dreadnaught1181]

I prefer sedans to coupes.

By the way how many does Holden sell every year?

[pontiac is for me]

ibechip wrote: "Wow I can't get over how much I love Holdens. They seem to me where all of GM would be if not for the imports. Big RWD V8 sedans. And they're just beautiful."

Actually, the main reason all GM's U.S. cars are not like Holdens (big, V8, RWD) is because of ridiculous U.S. government regulations like CAFE (Corporate Average Fuel Economy), and to a lesser degree, because of insurance companies discriminating against cars with performance V8s. Japanese imports, which have always been undersized, underpowered and overhyped were just in the "right place at the right time," so to speak, to fit in with what your friendly neighborhood federal bureaucrat and insurance company executive determined what would be best for you to drive. Do you think Detroit built cars like the Pinto, Vega, Citation, Chevette and Omni by CHOICE? Those atrocities are a direct result of improper government meddling.

So to summarize: when the Federal government stays out of the car business we get the 1957 Chevrolet Bel Air, the original GTO, the original Mustang, etc. When the government and insurance companies gets overly involved, we get the Pinto, Vega and Gremlin!

FINALLY, in the 1990's and early 21st century, technology has caught up with regulations and we are finally seeing some high quality, performance cars again. However, because of CAFE regulations, we now have "parttime" V8s (300C), which is a powertrain concept I really don't like.

::RANT mode off::

[jro4566]

Originally posted by pontiac is for me@Aug 22 2004, 10:50 AM
However, because of CAFE regulations, we now have "parttime" V8s (300C), which is a powertrain concept I really don't like.

What's so bad about the 300C's V8?

[akumaknight]

From his tone, he dosent like the fact that it shuts off 4cyl.

[BigAls87Z28]

Originally posted by dreadnaught1181@Aug 22 2004, 01:03 PM
I prefer sedans to coupes.

By the way how many does Holden sell every year?

I belive that the Commodore is one best selling cars in Oz.

[pontiac is for me]

"What's so bad about the 300C's V8?"

Nothing *bad* about it per se, but if I purchase a V8, I want it to be a V8 ALL THE TIME, not a 4-cylinder when cruising down the highway. I really don't trust the long term reliability of such a quirky technology as cylinder de-activation.

And, did I read here a while back that DaimlerChrysler's new "Hemi" isn't technically a hemi (that is, it does not have hemispherical heads?) How'd DaimlerChrysler get away with playing such word games?

So, the 300C is marketed as a hemi V8 American sedan, but it's not a hemi, it's not V8 when cruising and it isn't even American (its German). What's next, it's not really a sedan because the rear doors don't open?

[GM350]

The Holden Commodore has been Ozs #1 selling vechile for the past 6 years, its
been the most successful race car as well winning the last 5 Bathurst 1000 road races in a row. Its sells nearly 90,000 a year not including exports , utes or Statemans . My last 3 cars have been Commodores and they are a excellant vechile , Ive always loved Chev v8s & still do & Im hoping you blokes will get your
own RWD Family V8s someday soon , after all you all invented them 1st.
Yours With Repect
GM350