Holden launches new VE Commodore

After more than six years and $1 billion, GM Holden has finally ripped the wraps off its all-new VE Commoore.

The car was unveiled in Melbourne this morning ahead of sales from the middle of August and production is already building rapidly at Holden's factory at Elizabeth in South Australia.

The cabin is a huge improvement in design and finishing.

The VE was previewed to Australia's motoring press and an invited audience of Holden executives at the Melbourne Convention Centre, where three cars   the Calais, new SS-V muscle car and long-wheelbase Caprice -- shared the spotlight.

"Today is a big day for the Australian car industry and VE Commodore is a big car for the future of Holden," the chairman of GM Holden, Denny Mooney, says.

"A car more Australian in its design and engineering than any Holden before it. A car which carries more global significance for us than anything we have done before."

Mooney revealed a few tidbits on the VE but refused to discuss a range of subjects from fuel economy to final pricing.

But he did confirm that there will be a new base car, the Omega, which replaces the Executive and the Acclaim and that V-series models will sit at the top of each series.

GM Holden has already confirmed that Electronic Stability Program will be standard on all VEs and both side and curtain airbags will be available.

He also confirmed that power has lifted a little to 180 and 190 kiloWatts in the 3.6-litre Global V6 engine, with 270 kiloWatts and 530 Newton-metres of torque in the SS. The V8s will also have a six-speed automatic and 20-inch alloy wheels will be available on the SS, with 19s as standard.

The VE also has all-new front and rear suspension and its microprocessor power has been more than doubled over the VZ.

GM Holden will show the car to its dealers on the Gold Coast this week, when Holden Special Vehicles will also preview its cars.

But HSV chairman, John Crennan, would say nothing about the work at the hot Holden factory beyond confirming that details would be public on August 21.