Holden Caprice 2013 News

Holden is recalling 25,000 Commodores because the seat could wriggle loose.

Holden has announced pricing and details of its new WN Caprice and Caprice V models, before officially going on sale with the VF Commodore range on June 1.The big news for Caprice buyers is a price drop of $10,000 for both new variants, with the Caprice listing at $54,990, and the Caprice V now topping off the Holden range at just $59,990.These price reductions follow the significant price reductions across the new VF Commodore lineup, as Holden aims to increase its share in the Australian new car market.Significantly the WN lineup drops any petrol V6 option, with the Caprice now fitted exclusively with the 3.6 litre LPG-only engine, where the the WM II Caprice was available with a petrol-only 3.6 litre V6 for a $3000 cheaper ($61,990)entry price.The flagship Caprice V remains exclusively available with the 6.0 litre petrol V8, with both engine options reflecting respective market demands.“The vast majority of private buyers opt for the V8-only Caprice V flagship, whereas the LPG-only Caprice is designed to better suit fleet buyers,” Holden’s Craig Cheetham  told Carsguide.   Exterior changes over the previous WMII Caprice models are minimal, with the Caprice gaining the 18 inch alloys and extra chrome detailing previously fitted to Caprice V, and the Caprice V gaining the same 19 inch wheels fitted to the VF Calais V.On the inside, a version of the VF Calais V’s new interior design has been grafted into the WM II’s VE-era body, with new front seats, dash, door trims, and centre console bringing a significant aesthetic leap over previous versions.Both models benefit from a suite of new safety and technology features introduced with the VF Commodore range. The $54,990 Caprice comes equipped with leather trim, proximity key, eight-inch satnav screen with MyLink integration, along with Auto Park Assist, Blind Spot and Reverse Traffic alerts, front and rear parking sensors and reverse camera, electric park brake, hill assist, trailer sway control, and remote vehicle start.The $59,990 Caprice V adds Forward Collision Alert, Lane Departure Warning, colour heads-up display, deluxe leather trim, sports steering wheel, Bose nine-speaker audio, an electric sunroof, and a new rear seat entertainment system, with the Cadillac SRX-sourced unit moving the twin DVD screens from the headrests to the seatbacks.“We think we’ve made a smart investment in our long wheel base models. Caprice has always been an extremely well designed, well-proportioned large car and the all new interior is particularly important to customers in this segment,” Holden’s Executive Director of Sales and Marketing, Philip Brook said. “Holden has added the features and advanced technology that customers would only expect from prestige brands to Australia’s own large luxury car.”This reporter is on Twitter: @Mal_Flynn