Holden Commodore News

The all-new VE Commodore is being kept under wraps until it is ready for the road.GM Holden resisted the temptation to preview the car at the show, instead rolling its EFIJY concept car, the upcoming S3X four-wheel drive and the very last Monaro into the spotlights. The company also previewed a diesel-engined Astra and the T2X concept, a four-wheel drive coupe.It was a sharp contrast to Toyota, which did the best reveal of the show to introduce its upcoming Aurion V6, while Mitsubishi used the event to trumpet a Limited Edition 380 priced at $29,990. There was no big-six action at Ford, but it did rip the raps off its long-awaited Territory Turbo.GM Holden's chairman, Denny Mooney, said the company had considered a preview for the VE but eventually decided against it."We've still got several months of current product to sell," Mooney said."We talked about it at length. At one time we had potential plans to show it, but ...""I wish it was here today."GM Holden is still keeping as many VE secrets as possible, but Mooney revealed the company is considering a diesel engine for the car. "We have some diesel development work going on right now. But we do not have a production plan," he said."And diesels are more expensive. There is roughly 35 per cent more cost. So we either have to give them away or the consumer has to calculate the payback."Mooney admitted the demand for traditional Aussie sixes is as bad as it has been, but he believes the January results - where were poor for both the Commodore and Falcon - do not necessarily point to more pain through 2006."I'm optimistic. I feel good about the next four to six months," Mooney said."I believe when we have new product we will regenerate the excitement and support."The chief executive of the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries believes new products will also revitalise the big-car class. "I think it will clearly be revived this year," Peter Sturrock said. "It's a rare coincidence that we have so much new product in one year. There is the VE, the new Camry and Aurion, and the Mitsubishi 380 is still new."They will clearly stimulate things. It will be the acid test for the Aussie six."

The silver car turning right across the other side of the intersection is obviously facing a red arrow — no danger there, you think.You're halfway through the intersection before you notice something's not right. You see a flash of silver out of the corner of your eye. Then comes a sickening crash and a wall of white.Maybe you were in the right and the other driver in the wrong. Maybe you've never made a mistake while driving and own the most nimble car with the best handling you can afford.But sometimes there's nothing you can do. Your only protection is how well the car protects you in a crash.Research proves airbags are a key part of that.This year the SRS (secondary restraint system) airbag celebrates its 25th birthday. In 1980 it was installed for the first time in a passenger car — a Mercedes-Benz S-Class.It had a controversial beginning. Doomsayers said they would kill more people than they save, but today airbags are as essential to road safety as the seat belt.Now, not a single car sold in Australia doesn't have at least one airbag. Many have six or seven.There can be only one reason for the success of the airbag: it works.In a real-world investigation, Monash University Accident Research Centre (MUARC) took the results of 155 frontal crashes involving airbag-equipped and non-airbag-equipped Holden Commodores between 1988 and 1999 and compared them.The survey found the driver airbag reduced the severity of head injuries by 75 per cent, facial injuries by 51 per cent, neck injuries by 70 per cent and chest injuries by 47 per cent.Ross McArthur, manager of vehicle safety and chairman of the Australian New Car Accident Protection (ANCAP) steering committee, explains."I've been involved in road safety since 1980 and I would say airbags are one of the three best things I've seen. The other two are seat belts and, lately, stability control," he says."Statistics from actual crashes tell us airbags in the front reduce injury risk by 50 per cent. They also tell us side airbags can reduce injury by up to 40 per cent, so they are very effective indeed."McArthur is so convinced of the airbag's merits that he says it should be a major consideration when buying a car."It's at a stage now where people should steer away from any vehicle, new or used, that doesn't have a driver airbag," he says. "If I were buying a new vehicle, it would have head-protecting side airbags as well."The development of a safety cushion that could be deployed in a micro-second in a crash began in 1967. But the program nearly foundered when a tester died in an airbag-related accident.It wasn't the last time the safety of airbags came under scrutiny. In a minor collision, a child was decapitated by a front-passenger airbag."That did happen," Australian airbag pioneer and chief engineer at Holden Innovation Laurie Sparke says. "That particular accident happened in a parking lot at only 5km/h."Rule No.1 is children under about 12 should always be in a back seat and always wear an appropriate restraint. Children should not be in the path of an airbag."Airbags are an explosive device. When sensors detect a crash, they trigger a discharge that inflates the airbag within 50 milliseconds, half the time it takes to blink your eye.The airbag comes out at approximately 200km/h and needs 200mm to inflate, which is why small children or anyone without a seat belt is at risk.The reality, though, is even the worst airbag ever installed has not adversely affected passenger safety."The American systems were never as good because they were compromised by having to take into account people who did not wear seat belts," Sparke says."These days they're better because airbags have sensors to show if the person is wearing a seat belt."But airbags benefit those who wear seat belts anyway."Australia was a world leader in airbag technology, according to Sparke, who was awarded the Order of Australia Medal (OAM) for his work in car safety.He says Holden has made the running on the technology, both locally and internationally, since 1995, and that Ford and Holden have worked together with safety supplier Autoliv."At the time we were developing the VR Commodore airbag they were fashionable but not very successful," he says."With MUARC, we came up with a formula called Harm (hospital costs, rehabilitation costs and monetary loss) to measure the injury costs of crashes and the effectiveness of airbags, and we used it in our development."After it was published, a United States Senate subcommittee on road safety got in touch with us wanting to know how we'd achieved that degree of improvement, especially for small occupants."As result of Australian input, the US Senate changed the airbag performance requirements."It's interesting that Australian technology drove American legislature." AIRBAG FACTS An airbag deploys in 50 milliseconds, half the time it takes to blink.Once an airbag has deployed, it and the control unit must be replaced.On A Holden Commodore Executive, front airbags cost about $500, side airbags $250 and the control unit (mounted under the seat) about $300. Holden's Laurie Sparke says airbags now cost about one 10th of those in the early '80s.About 50 per cent of crashes severe enough to deploy an airbag result in the car being written off.The cost of replacing airbags is usually insignificant compared with the cost of repairing damage to the vehicle.It's rapid acceleration or deceleration that sets off airbags, not the impact itself.Race cars are rarely fitted with airbags, partly because drivers wear helmets and full harnesses.They have been used by Mercedes-Benz in the DTM (German Touring Car Championship). V8 Supercar veteran John Bowe says they should be considered in Australia.The Lexus GS is Australia's airbag king with 14, including driver and passenger knee-protection bags.People who see an airbag deploy are often startled by a cloud of white dust. This is cornflour, which acts as a lubricant when the airbag deploys.

Bosch, the company that produces dynamic stability control systems for Holden and Ford, revealed its new smart airbags system at a CAPS (combined active and passive safety) forum in Melbourne last week.The Bosch CAPS system uses a car's existing stability-control sensors and computing hardware to predict when it is likely to crash.It then prepares the airbag for immediate deployment, saving precious milliseconds that could make all the difference in reducing the level of injury or avoiding injury altogether.The system is already being fitted, mainly to expensive European cars. But with the big guns from Holden, Ford, Toyota and Mitsubishi, including Holden chairman Denny Mooney, attending the Bosch forum, CAPS could be introduced as early as the next-generation Commodore and Falcon.Bosch chassis vice-president Patrick Ross says: "I think the fact we have all of the local manufacturers represented at this forum in fairly significant numbers shows they are definitely interested.`We are saying `here is the technology' and we are ready to support the local manufacturers with whatever they want."The system's main electronic control unit (ECU) is made by Bosch in Clayton, as is the electronic stability control (ESP) system already used on some Commodore, Falcon and Territory models.Bosch currently has next-generation VE Commodore test mules but won't confirm if these are testing the CAPS system.Holden spokesman Jason Laird says the company doesn't talk about future products, including the VE Commodore.Ford spokesman Andrew Ellis also refuses to confirm whether the CAPS system will appear on the next-model Falcon or Territory, but says the company is always looking at developing safety technologies.Bosch's CAPS is being developed using its uprated ESP Plus and ESP Premium modules to prepare for a rollover. This predicts when a car is going to flip, based on the car's sideways speed and rotation angle, and fires the side airbags three times faster than a car that doesn't have the system.Bosch revealed other safety technologies at the forum, such as infra-red cameras to help drivers see pedestrians at night, and ultrasonic detectors that differentiate between a person and a solid object, such as a garbage bin, to set off external airbags to protect pedestrians.

I speak of Australia's favourite car – the Holden Commodore – and the new V6 engine which has pumped fresh life into this Aussie classic.The old Ecotec V6 engine was a faithful servant to almost a million Australians during its 16-year lifespan – the only engine some drivers have known for the better part of their adult lives.It was there when my wife and I bought our first "family car" – a VN Berlina – after the birth of our first son. He's now 15, yet the same engine, in a slightly upgraded version, is still around in our current Commodore family wagon.So injecting a new heartbeat into the great Aussie sedan was no small undertaking for Holden. Fortunately, they've got it mostly right with their new lightweight 3.6 litre Alloytec V6.The Alloytec is a significant technological advance across the Holden range – bringing more power, greater efficiency and increased flexibility for a variety of models.In the Statesman and Calais, its upgraded electronics have allowed Holden to offer Electronic Stability Programs for the first time on Australian-built passenger cars.In other models, like the new SV6 sedan we tested, the Alloytec 190 high-performance engine comes coupled to a new five-speed automatic or six-speed manual transmission.And it's an impressive thing. The new V6 feels more robust, more torquey, more beefy than the previous Ecotec device. It spins more willingly than the old engine and is less inclined to become breathless once the tacho slips past 4500-5000 rpm.And we found it to be pleasingly frugal – a very acceptable 13.5 l /100km around town, much of that in stop-start traffic and well down into single figures in cruising mode.The new six-speed manual transmission is slick and precise, with a shortish throw and a nice, supple clutch.The SV6 replaces the largely unloved Commodore "S" in the VZ Holden range. With the higher-output Alloytec 190, it's a serious new contender in the "performance sedan" market.At $38,990 it slots into the range beneath the sporty SV8, lining up in direct competition to Ford's popular Falcon XR6.While the Commodore SS and Falcon XR8 and XR6 Turbo are the undisputed heroes of this sector, the slightly tamer six-cylinder models have a major role to play, slotting in under the important $40,000 barrier for both brands.The SV6 is $3000 cheaper than its SV8 sibling and, significantly, undercuts the SS Commodore by $12,000 – despite having a similarly sporty appearance. And, considering it costs only $3000 more than a base-model Commodore Executive, which has the milder Alloytec 170 engine, the SV6 represents perhaps the best buying in the new VZ range.As we've come to expect from Holden, the SV6 is a well-balanced, nicely-finished family sedan with ample room for two adults, three kids and all their belongings.Air, cruise control, electric windows all round, a decent single-CD stereo and good trip computer make it easy to live with.Handling is precise and ride is compliant without ever losing a nice feel for the road.The SV6 offers enough performance to satisfy all but the most fervent petrol-heads and, at last, the Holden six provides some punch to back up the wolf's clothing.Perhaps the major shortfall is in the braking department, where the four-wheel discs are adequate but not spectacular.In all, though, it's a really pleasant and pleasing car to drive. It's quick enough, quiet enough, smooth enough and smart enough to fulfil just about every requirement of the modern family – and look good while doing it.

The choice, price, equipment, security, safety and quality is better in 2004 than it has been at any time in the history of the car Down Under.It sounds like a big call, but it's not.Australian cars have been getting better and better for more than 15 years, and apart from such blips as the AU Falcon, improvements have delivered never-better showroom deals. Sales of the big Aussie sixes have fallen a bit, mostly because families have migrated into four-wheel-drives, but the cars themselves are world-class machines.And with starting prices just past $30,000, or even less at the moment for a Mitsubishi Magna, they are also world-class bargains.The real proof of the improvements is the growing number of Australian-made cars being shipped overseas.The Toyota Camry is a huge success in the Middle East, Holden is building support for its Chevrolet-badged Commodore exports, the Monaro-turned-Pontiac GTO is finally starting to fire in the US and Mitsubishi even had a short-lived run with Magnas in the US.It should only take time, and the next all-new models in late 2006, before the all-wheel-drive Ford Territory and Holden Adventra, and perhaps even the work-and-play Crewman Cross8, also set sail overseas.Picking the best of the best from the local crop is tougher than ever.The Mitsubishi Magna is a good car, and a worthy family friend, but only runs fourth in today's rankings. It beats the Toyota Avalon, which is looking more and more like a taxi-only champion, but cannot match the all-round strengths of the Camry, Commodore and Falcon.The Ford, Holden and Toyota have all been updated this year.Taking a broad sweep through the locals, we rate the Falcon first. It's a close call, but in most cases it's the one we'd recommend to our friends and family.And the Falcon-based Territory is a winner. It's a Falcon with attitude and a high-rider cabin for families.The latest Commodore is a top car, and the new Alloytec V6 does a good job in the VZ model, but it doesn't ring our bell. We love the sporty V8 SS, the Caprice and the HSV hero cars, but Holden is just a couple of points behind in the overall scoring.The Camry? It's a classy car, and ruthlessly efficient in almost every area, but doesn't have the personality or punch of its rivals. That's why Toyota is pushing the Sportivo model, and working on a 2006 model that will have more personality than any previous Camry.Our ratings look at the individual star cars, some of the class champions and give an overall ranking of the Australian heroes of 2004.1. Ford Territory RWDLowdown: The rear-wheel-drive (RWD) is the first local to fill the gap between family car and 4WD. A Falcon wagon in disguise but more than a short-term fix.Verdict: Heavyweight off-roader that drives like a Falcon, with a friendly turning circle and punchy six. The rear-drive TX is the best value and drops the all-paw drive most people will never need.Plus: Light and easy to handle, with a big wagon body.Minus: Not as capable as a LandCruiser in the bush. Comes as a six-cylinder auto only.Rating: 18/20Former boss Geoff Polites had to sell the project in Detroit to win $500 million to make the $38,990 car in Broadmeadows alongside the Falcon. The Territory should ensure the Falcon's survival by giving a double-edged return on future investment.2. Holden Commodore SSLowdown: The best-value sports sedan on Australian roads. It has even forced HSV to rethink its Commodore performance cars, and is first choice with police pursuit drivers.Verdict: The one to have when you want an Aussie V8 muscle car with real driving enjoyment.Plus: Punchy 5.7-litre V8 with sporty handling, but still with Commodore comfort.Minus: Not as refined as an XR Falcon.Rating: 17/20If any car sets the standard for performance motoring in Australia, it's the SS Commodore at $50,990. It is more raw than an XR Falcon, but delivers the sort of stonking punch owners expect when they dream of a hot lap at Mount Panorama.3. Ford Falcon XTLowdown: The starter car in the Falcon family reflects all of the BA update work at a value price and with plenty of gear.Verdict: Tough but surprisingly refined. Punchy 4.0-litre in-line six has the edge over the Commodore's hi-tech Alloytec V6.Plus: Elegant styling with a rugged and well-proven mechanical package, plus good-value equipment.Minus: A bit rugged in some areas, fuel economy not great.Rating: 17/20When Ford decided to dump the Forte from the AU family it knew the BA base model had to hit all targets. The XT does the job well from just $34,255 with aircon, airbags, CD sound and electric mirrors. Ford has also stopped painting Falcons yellow to discourage their use as taxis.Ford Falcon GT 18/20Price: From $61,000Engine: 5.4-litre quad-cam V8The born-again GT is very quick and very refined. The loudest thing about it are the racy stripes being chosen by most owners. But when the going gets tough, it's going and gone.Ford Falcon 17/20Price: From $34,255Engine: 4.0-litre inline sixThe latest BA looks surprisingly elegant over the unloved AU basics, but it's the solid mechanical package and punchy performance that gives the Falcon a narrow edge over the Commodore.A six-speed manual gearbox is new in the BAII but the rest of the deal is more about value.Ford Territory 17/20Price: From $38,990Engine: 4.0-litre inline sixRated as a complete range, the Territory is very good but not quite great. The four-wheel-drive package costs an extra $4000 but you cannot get a V8 or manual gearbox. Still, a better choice for anyone looking at an imported 4x4.Holden Caprice 17/20Price: From $69,650Engine: 3.6-litre V6The long-wheelbase flagship has benefited from a makeover that gives it sharper styling and more driving enjoyment than the Statesman. Needs a V8 to do its best work, but the best choice for Australians who want everything in a local car.HSV GTO Coupe 17/20Price: From $78,690Engine: 6-litre V8The latest Z-Series Monaro from HSV has moved the bar on local muscle. The bigger V8 developed for the US Pontiac GTO is a welcome addition and restores bragging rights to the hot Holden shop. A bit raw but very quick.Ford Fairlane 16/20Price: $55,500Engine: 4-litre inline sixReversing the Holden deal, the Fairlane is better than the LTD. It has been tweaked for drivers but still feels a bit old and clunky compared with the Caprice.Holden Commodore 16/20Price: From $33,160Engine: 3.6-litre V6The VZ Commodore update brought the new Alloytec V6 and a considerably more refined car. But the value is not as good as a Falcon's and you have to pay extra for the power-up engine and five-speed automatic. That's enough to push it back behind the Falcon.Toyota Camry 15/20Price: From $32,000Engines: 3.0-litre V6Still operates like whitegoods on wheels, as efficient as a fridge with similar personality, and that's its greatest strength and weakness. Needs more visual punch and driving personality, which Toyota promises (once again) is coming with the new model in 2006.Mitsubishi Magna 13/20Price: From $33,210Engine: 3.5-litre V6The unloved local was done no favours by its nose job in 2003 or questions about Mitsubishi's future in 2004. Still a good car, but looking very dated. Mitsubishi is doing great deals to get cars moving, but the all-new 2005 Magna can't come too soon.Toyota Camry Sportivo 12/20Price: From $38,500Engine: 3.0-litre V6The Sportivo is proof Toyota wants a performance car, but also proves how far it is off the pace. It has a wonderful chassis and a spirited V6, but not nearly enough muscle or impact to compete with HSV of FPV.Toyota Avalon 11/20Price: $30,990Engine: 3.0-litre V6The plain Jane of the Aussie car family. Nice enough, but bland and boring. Has never delivered the promised challenge to the Falcon and Commodore and now doing very good business as a taxi. That says it all.Mitsubishi Verada 11/20Price: $42,950Engine: 3.5-litre V6The Verada highlights the shortcomings of the Magna range, despite impressive equipment and a refined cabin. It comes in only one body style, doesn't have enough style for the luxury class, and takes a heavy hit on the second-hand scene.

It is safe and sure, this purple kilometre eater, as it sweeps past slower travellers. Now it settles back into a loafing run, swallowing up the lumps of highway. With the going down, out through Goondiwindi and down the Newell highway, onto the Oxley, into Dubbo for the night, there is the anticipation, the dreaming of The Great Race. It is some 1100km from the centre of Brisbane to the hallowed Mount Panorama at Bathurst, 210km west of Sydney. There are truck stops – with dining rooms for professional drivers and prints with campfire Indians dreaming of buffalo. There are wide open plains, stands of cypress pines and tidy country towns. There are the spring-green paddocks of Bathurst, dotted with sheep. And then there is the Mountain, home since 1963 to the greatest of Australian motor races and now the domain of Australia's V8 Supercars. It is the old argument, handed from father to son, Ford versus Holden. This is a solid 12-hour run from Brisbane without red flags and with a co-driver. It is a run through the heartland in a V8 Falcon and V8 Commodore, a run through places where these sedans can stretch out a bit. Out here a V8 tourer makes sense, for comfort, safety and fuel economy. The 5.4litre, Ford V8 returns 12.4litres per 100km going south. Holden's 5.7litre comes in at 11litres per 100km on the run back. The big V8s are strolling here, the Commodore running just over 1500rpm in sixth gear for 110km/h. The four-speed auto Ford is running closer to 2000rpm. Neither car is stressed, not even when the taps are opened to flow past slower-moving machinery. There is need to sweep past, with hard acceleration and some V8 authority, as a little Korean machine is tucked between an interstate trucker and caravaner struggling uphill at 90km/h, and all nose-to-tail. Maybe the Ford or the Holden, slip briefly into the illegal zone. This happens from time to time, for it is a far safer option than hanging out on the wrong side of the bitumen. Tell that to the judge. And tell it on the Mountain, this big lump of hill that rises out the central western plains of NSW. This is a sacred place and on October weekends an extra special place for rumbling and roaring V8 Holdens and Fords that share body shells and some other bits with these road-going SS and XR8 warriors. This year it was again Greg Murphy and Rick Kelly's KMart Commodore at the end of a long day, 161 turns up and over the mountain. Then the tribes disperse, back to all corners of the country. The return is a bit more of a drag, more traffic, more tired. The sandwich stops are quicker, less fun. Up and back the red SS Commodore attracts the most attention. This is the VZ with the fake air-intakes on the flanks. The XR8 is a more subtle purple and there is less detail work. It is bold in the bonnet, the power bulge standing tall and proud. That minimalist feel is carried through to the cabin. It's simple and workmanlike, yet comfortable and more spacious than the SS. The Holden cabin too works well. It is a bit busier and bolder in detail work, with shades of grey, silver and red instrument dials. The SS has more sporting ambience; the XR8 is more sombre in its approach. The Holden turns in a little sharper and the ride is a little edgier. Here with the six-speed manual there is the chance to run up and down the gearbox for maximum effect and best use of the 470Nm of torque for the best chance of getting away from trouble. It may be a little notchy but the six-speed manual is tops for touring. Drop back to fifth for the uphill climbs or a gentle pass, back to fourth for a quick and hard run around another convoy of trucks and trailers. Sixth helps with highway economy. The Ford XR8 is that bit smoother over this 1100km run to the top of the mountain. This is a more gentle tourer, the ride more compliant, the four-speed auto less work. Never be fooled, for when the lever is flicked to sport and revs lift, the 5.4 litre Ford rises to the occasion with a full-throated bellow. There's a little extra, and earlier, torque here over the Holden. And here the Ford recognises its connection to those Falcons running up Bathurst's mountain straight. Neither Ford nor Holden put a wheel wrong over the Brisbane-Bathurst haul. Both cabins are quiet and comfortable, packed with bits from six-stacker CD players to airconditioning and cup holders. Both run with good economy, stress free. Both these heroes can run hard to stay out of trouble on the wrong side of the road. These are fine road machines that pay homage to those mighty V8 Supercars and they still make sense on these long runs.

The company now has the power to take on the BA Series II Falcon as well as covering its ground in the run-up to the all-new VE in 2006.Its latest hero is the VZ – even Holden's American chief, Denny Mooney, calls it Vee-Zed and not Vee-Zee – with a new heart, improved mechanicals, quality upgrades and some cosmetic tweaks.The biggest news for the VZ Commodore and the WL Statesman/Caprice family is the all-new Alloytec V6 engine, which finally gives the car a modern motor after more than 15 years with the old six-pot banger. It is smooth and powerful, with 175 or 190kW, depending on the model.Few people outside the Holden family and fans will pick the VZ changes at first glance, but a quick drive will win over almost anyone.The Alloytec V6 makes a world of difference, but there's also a smoother-shifting four-speed auto, a more compliant ride, sharper handling and extra equipment.The long-running S-pack car has been replaced with the SV6, which will go head to head with the Falcon XR6 that has been crushing the Commodore.Crucially, Holden has fitted the first electronic stability program on any locally made car and held price rises to less than 1 per cent on most models.And there is a giant digital speedometer front and centre in every dash to prove the VZ was developed in the age of speed cameras."This is our lifeblood," Mooney says. "We have to get this right and we think that we have."Holden spent $189 million on the upgrade, a job that took nearly two years and included building 46 test cars for 1.6 million kilometres of trials. There were trips to Sweden for tuning of the electronic stability control system. Work on the brakes involved trips to Germany and Korea.The result is a car that Holden claims is the best Commodore yet, though the VZ is only marginally better at the petrol pumps and doesn't look much different from the VYII or even the VX.STILL, the value is good and there is a lot of detail work on things such as the automatic gearbox and front suspension tuning. Value-added extras include the latest Bosch anti-skid brake controls, a tyre-pressure monitor on some models, LED tail lamps in the Statesman and Caprice, and front-parking radar.Holden has switched the safety emphasis on the new Commodore from passive systems to protect people during a crash to active systems that can help to avoid a smash.They include the stability control, a first for a passenger car, though Ford fitted it to the Territory, and electronic brake force distribution.These features could be a tough sell because they are not as flashy as CD sound or satnav, but Holden has produced educational videos for showrooms.But it's hard to avoid the Global V6 in any discussion of the VZ family, despite Mooney's talk."There is more than powertrain to talk about. We've also made some big improvements in safety," he says. "The average driver is going to be a much, much better driver."ON THE ROADHOLDEN had a full family of Commodores to try at the VZ press preview over a range of roads near Newcastle, NSW.All were good, some were better, and the V8-powered Calais was best, even if the focus was on the Alloytec V6 cars. The only disappointment was the SV6. For us, the front suspension tuning was too sharp, the nose moves too much over broken surfaces and there isn't enough bite when you turn.But the sweet new six does a great job, particularly when you crack on past 6000 revs in most un-Commodore style, and the Aisin six-speed manual gearbox is good with well-spaced ratios. The SV6 is definitely going to make life much tougher for Ford's XRs.We also tried the 190kW six-pack in a Calais, complete with touch-change five-speed automatic. It was much smoother than we remember from early Calais models, with an automatic eagerness that was very enjoyable and refreshing.THE 190 V6 will easily twist the tachometer beyond the start of the red zone at 5500 revs, but it also snaps through the ratios and is quiet and refined, with the instant fuel consumption often below 8 litres/100km at freeway cruising pace. It also responds more eagerly, thanks in part to the drive-by-wire throttle system.The tuning work on the four-speed automatic has paid off and you would barely know the 'box from earlier Commodores. There is barely any flaring on downshifts and it doesn't jerk or clunk the way it did.The ride of all cars apart from the SV6 seemed a little more plush, and the six-cylinder cars felt to be around 50kg lighter over the front axle. That means a smoother ride and more confidence in corners.We had no chance to test the electronic stability system, but the latest traction control and anti-skid brakes are fine if you don't mind a slightly mushy brake pedal.The cosmetic changes to the VZ don't ring our bell, and the cabins seem barely changed at all, but Holden has held the price line and that will be more important to most customers.

At the heart of the new model range is the all-new 3.6-litre Alloytech V6 being built at Holden's $400million Global V6 facility in Port Melbourne.

The VT was the clear winner in a new poll of the motoring editors at Australia's most popular daily newspapers.The Commodore was the top choice from the class of 1997 with three of the five voters, while the Subaru Forester 4x4 and Lexus GS300 took the other first-place votes.The Toyota Camry ranked second overall, ahead of the Forester thanks to a string of second-place points, with the Lexus and Mercedes-Benz SLK next.The Commodore clean-up was led by Wayne Webster of Sydney's Daily Telegraph, who was joined by Bob Jennings of the Adelaide Advertiser and Paul Gover from Melbourne's Herald Sun.But it wasn't a clean sweep, as Bruce McMahon, the motoring editor at Brisbane's Courier Mail, rated the Forester first and Mick Glasson from the West Australian in Perth gave top points to the GS300.The five testers who decided the first Star Car winner have more than 100 years experience in the motor industry and each test drove all the major new-car arrivals of 1997, from the Audi A6 to the Volvo S40.Four of the five have been honoured as Australian Motoring Journalist of the Year and all but one have combined their writing with motor racing.They make a powerful new team in the motor world, combining experience and enthusiasm with the knowledge which comes from reporting cars and the automobile industry for more than 10 million Australians each week."The VT Commodore was the stand-out new-car introduction this year with plenty of clever, in-house engineering and design work, and introduced with competitive pricing," said Bob Jennings of the Adelaide Advertiser.But Bruce McMahon, of The Courier Mail, believes the Forester goes one better."It has a surprising combination of on and off-road ability," he said. "The standard setter for this new generation of light utility vehicle."Glasson had high praise for the high-performance new Lexus."The GS300 is close to the perfect package of size, style and performance with a generous dose of luxury thrown in for good measure. All this at a sensible price," he said.The five judges each cover more than 100,000 kilometres a year in dozens of new vehicles, from micro mini cars to massive four-wheel drives.They were each asked to name the three best new cars of 1997, in order, from the 50-plus showroom debutants.Their first-place choices were awarded three points each, with two points for second and one for third.The VT Commodore scored 13 points, from the Camry with seven and the Forester with four.The Commodore's clear win was no surprise to Jennings."It sets high standards of passive safety thanks to the team under Laurie Sparke, and the active side of the equation is improved with sharper handling - especially on rough roads - due in part to the standard use of independent rear suspension," he said."Despite its bigger bulk, it's a smart-looking thing, and the wagon is a huge carry-all, offering more sensible transport than many four-wheel drives."The second-placed Camry was very highly rated, but couldn't match the size, impact, or home-grown appeal of the Commodore."In any other year the Camry probably would have been the Star Car," Wayne Webster, of the Daily Telegraph said."This year it is only just beaten by the Commodore. The Holden is more significant and will have more appeal for more ordinary Aussies." 1. Holden Commodore VT 13pts2. Toyota Camry 7pts3. Subaru Forester 4pts PAUL GOVER, Herald Sun, Melbourne1. Holden Commodore2. Toyota Camry3. Subaru ForesterWAYNE WEBSTER, Daily Telegraph, Sydney1. Holden Commodore2. Toyota Camry3. Mercedes-Benz SLKBRUCE McMAHON, Courier Mail, Brisbane1. Subaru Forester2. Holden Commodore3. Mercedes-Benz SLKBOB JENNINGS, The Advertiser, Adelaide1. Holden Commodore2. Toyota Camry V63. Mitsubishi MagnaV6 SportMICK GLASSON, West Australian, Perth1. Lexus GS3002. Holden Commodore3. Toyota Camry