Holden Commodore E85 Highly flexible

Featuring three vastly different headline upgrades, as well as a host of incremental improvements right across the range, the biggest news is undoubtedly flex-fuel capability – available with the 3.0-litre SIDI (spark ignition direct injection) V6 engine and the 6.0-litre V8. Flex-fuel capability allows the engine to run on a range of ethanol-blended fuels up to E85 (which is 85 per cent ethanol in 15 per cent petrol).

The flex-fuel engines can also run on conventional E10, and any ethanol proportion up to E85, as well as 100 per cent petrol.  Because ethanol is made locally from agricultural byproducts, using it helps dilute our dependency on foreign oil. Holden says it also reduces ‘well to wheel’ CO2 emissions by as much as 40 per cent.

Advanced technology on the horizon points to a future in which ethanol is produced from domestic garbage, as well as agricultural and industrial waste products.

To support the release of the VE Series II Commodore, Caltex has introduced its Bio E-Flex, a high-proportion ethanol blended fuel, available now across Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide, Brisbane and Canberra.

The other big news for Series II Commodore is a higher iQ – in the form of Commodore’s new Holden-iQ system, which brings music, telephone and navigation control together inside a single 6.5-inch, full colour, touch-screen LCD interface.

Holden iQ features high-end multimedia capability. It can store up to 15 CDs directly in the form of a ‘virtual CD changer’ for your favourite music – all you have to do is install each CD and rip it to the unit’s internal flash memory. Alternatively, USB devices like iPods and other MP3 players can be plugged in directly, and an onboard chipset ensures full iPod integration.

Bluetooth is included, with Holden-iQ even synchronizing your contacts and recent call history, plus voice control for handsfree calling control. Bluetooth music streaming is also available.

On high-end Commodores, such as the SS-V and Calais V-Series, the mapping system is upgraded to include live traffic alerts, speed advisory and point-of-interest functions.

Voice guidance is integrated into the vehicle’s audio system and, on sedan and Sportwagon models, the touch-screen becomes the reversing camera display whenever reverse is selected.

Finally, Holden has introduced a Redline Edition upgrade to Calais V-Series and SS-V models. This performance package comprises a Brembo brake and handling upgrade for the elite 6.0-litre V8 models.

The two-piece aluminium Brembo front calipers feature four pistons apiece, while a track-inspired new suspension calibration – codenamed FE3 – complements exclusive forged, polished 19-inch alloy wheels and matched low-profile tyres.

The Redline Edition upgrade costs $2500, but Holden is offering a solid discount on the package until the end of the year.