Motor February - VE Pics

[Steffo]

Hmm... 230kg weight gain.

So lets assume for a moment the LS2 will not gain any power in the transition from VZ to VE...

HSV Clubsport = 297kW 530Nm, 1696kg... 175.11kW/tonne and 312.5Nm/tonne

New improved heavy Clubsport = 297kW 530Nm, 1926kg... 154.2kW/tonne and 275.18Nm/tonne

BF FPV GT Auto = 290kW 520Nm, 1855kg... 156.33kW/tonne and 280.32Nm/tonne

I'm thinking Holden/HSV are about to lose their acceleration advantage over the Ford/FPV V8's (they never beat the turbo sixes anyway).

[xr8gn3]

I guess I'll be the first to say it but it looks a helluva lot like a BA.

[ED Classic]

Doesnt look too all new. A bit BA.

230kg woohoo there goes any displacement on demand ecomomy benefits. I wonder how well the brakes will be improved to cope? Base 6 economy may suffer the most?

Will there be a BF 2 with a bit more equiptment and 6 Auto on more models?

[Falcon Freak]

Originally Posted by ED Classic

Will there be a BF 2 with a bit more equiptment and 6 Auto on more models?

No as the ZF six speed is too expensive to fit to all models. The 4 speed auto will disappear in 2008 and the new box will have an extra cog.

FF

[ED Classic]

Originally Posted by Falcon Freak

No as the ZF six speed is too expensive to fit to all models. The 4 speed auto will disappear in 2008 and the new box will have an extra cog.

FF

If Commodore gets 6 Auto though Ford will have to compete. I think given there is already a slightly lower spec developed for the NA 6 it would a)not have been worth developing this just for Fairmont Ghia 190 b) An all new box would be more to develop than using the one already developed even if it were just a 5 speed.

I dont think it will be std on XT but it will work its way down from the Ghia soon even as an option its just a question of if they will do it before the next Falcon.

[Falcon Freak]

Say what you like but they are the facts (as they currently stand).

FF

[AUIII XR8 MAN]

The over all styling hasn't change that much from the VZ, it looks like the square edges have been round off. But will have to wait & see when the final product is released to see just how good this range of cars before passing judement.

[bathurst77]

That hoop roof is very AU/BA (and that was one the things really criticised about au at first). And thers somethign wierd about the rar door cutout nhape. have to see it undisguised. The bottom suill looks strange too onteh one without side skirts.
IS that single shut doors, on a commodore, finally?

Looks like a VZ had it off witha AU somewhere.

[Abacus]

Originally Posted by bathurst77

That hoop roof is very AU/BA (and that was one the things really criticised about au at first).

I agree with other writers have said that while the AU shape was a radical at the time, if it were released today it would hardly raise an eyebrow. That general shape is mainstream now.

Some have argued that Ford should have released something like a BA shape first, then followed it up with something like the AU.

The high, sloping roof has been adopted by many, if not most, new releases of the past few years. Certain Mercedes Benz models now have a back end that looks more than a little bit similar to the AU.

Ford stuffed up big time with the AU Forte, and its toothy grille and ridiculous wheel covers. Unfortunately, when you mention AU, that's the model that immediately comes to mind to non Fordies, and motoring journalists in particular. The rest of the car is not so notable these days because industry styling trends have generally gone in that direction.

[Valknutr]

Im sorry but i dont like it sits to high for me and the front part looks really compact.
Plus all these comments about it taking stylings from the BA, ford and holden have been looking more and more like twins over the past few years its not funny and its annoying me. :jab:

[phillyc]

Originally Posted by Abacus

Some have argued that Ford should have released something like a BA shape first, then followed it up with something like the AU.

I agree with much of what you have said. ie
The shape now 'fits in',
Rear of the new CLS Mercedes is a dead ringer (even at up to $250k)
The progression styling wise from EF to BA to AU would have made much more sense.

Anyway back to VE, it's potentially quite a good looking car. Hasn't strayed too far from the successful VT based cars and adopted many of the quality design cues of the BF too.

Of concern to Holden and delight to me is the prospect of up to 230kg weight increase. I wonder how they will hide the true weight this time? Remembering that Holden were bagging Ford to the media about bringing in a heavier car, whilst understating by up to 50kg on some models their own by not including fluids or the aircon which isn't standard in executive (Motor did a weighbridge comparison) whilst Ford were in fact overstating by up to 20kg.

It's obvious though that they have had to engineer some actual refinement (like a BF) and increase the weight in the front end etc (Motor and Wheels both acknowledge the VZ is at least a generation behind in this regard.)

The base model won't increase this much as they will be adopting the basic rear end which will be about 20kg lighter and won't have as many of the electrics either. So a 175-200kg increase is on the cards. They'll need the 5spd auto standard. No choice at 1750kgs/340Nm.

At present the Ford is about 104kg to 150kg heavier. So it looks like at this stage the Falcon will have a handy 80-100kg advantage. This is without alloy motors too.

Looked on the web and found some information on the modular motors.
This was off the Mustang and Fords site
4.6 and 5.4 Weights
4.6 SOHC 500 lbs (227kg)
4.6 DOHC 425 lbs (aluminium block) (193kg)
5.4 SOHC 525 lbs (239kg)
5.4 DOHC 540 lbs (245kg)
NB unsure if this is with or without ancillaries.

ie difference between SOHC/DOHC 5.4L is the 4v heads add 15lb.
Therefore it's clear that there is at least a 90lb reduction available. ie 41kg.

The tables could well and truly be turned!!! Please Ford give us an alloy block boss motor and barra motor too!

[-jjM-]

personla ewww, not because of the ghey patern or nthing i can see past that

i recon looks ugly, n not say that cause i hate holdens, just ew

[smoo]

That front shot of the Executive reminds me of the Viva...



Oops, I meant this one 4: :

[ltd]

The bonnet is BA as well as the headlights. Look at where the grille is and you can see the exact same sheet metal as BA. Also, the exec stands a little high, considering it has 17's on it. Should sell though, as there are enough holden die hards who would want the newer and albeit better looking car. What will be interesting to watch will be the fleeters especially now that the car is in its first phase and won't be heavily discounted as Holden try to recoup some of their R&D costs.

[seano14]

i dunno but when i see the pic of the VE from the side it keeps reminding me of one of them newish nissan maxima 's. i guess mainly the high waist line, roof and window shape.

[Falcon Freak]

I don't like the high waistline look which most recent new car releases have incorporated into their designs. I hope Orion bucks this trend.

FF

[DailyDriver]

It does seem to have some elemenst of BA/BF & VZ, but Holden can't risk bringing in a brand new model that looks completely different & maybe aleinating some of it buyers.

When the BA came out they looked just like the VX/VY versions, especially when I parked next to a hyper yellow colored Falcon....ALL Aussie-made cars share similar looks just a different badge at the front!

[nb_351]

that looks like a new astra, vectra style s***box... all the same, a lot like that torana they had, i think they saw peoples reaction to it and thought, hmmm we can make a commodore out of that... hope they do it in pink lol

[Iphido]

I think its going to be a nice looking car..

But very simular to BF.. I wonder where the innovation and selling points are for VE..

[Lukeyson]

see the executive has the exhaust tip on the right hand side, not passenger ? unless they flipped the image

[Brute6]

That was one of the first things I noticed......

[phat_stak_tipa]

Its basically the smae bloody car as they got know sticky tapeand weird paint cant hide basic shape,form AU to BA the whole front and rear changed form vz to ve aint much changed more weight coz they realise ford still whoop em eventhough they are heavier or maybe its coz they finally might make the interior a nice place to be and bring build quality up to ford standard long live the blue oval via the BA revival

[SSBUB]

Originally Posted by phat_stak_tipa

Its basically the smae bloody car as they got know sticky tapeand weird paint cant hide basic shape,form AU to BA the whole front and rear changed form vz to ve aint much changed more weight coz they realise ford still whoop em eventhough they are heavier or maybe its coz they finally might make the interior a nice place to be and bring build quality up to ford standard long live the blue oval via the BA revival

wow yur fooly sik bro :

[outback_ute]

History repeats - the VT was 175kg heavier than the VS

[ltd]

Guys, the new "Rear Admiral" (see my earlier post) will still be a serious contender. The weight might bring some of the fleet market back to ford, as well as Holden having less of a margin in the car and hence not be able to discount as much; but even still it will sell. In a way, Holden have given a free kick to Ford, who now have to come up with something better, more inspirational in order to regain no.1 status.
Ford are already commited to next years car, being 18 months away means they can play with the appearance in order to pip Holden. In a way, you could say Holden has sought of prematurely ejac.... er, exhibited their car.
Criticizing things like the wheels is a bit ridiculous, considering Ford will probably do the same thing on the new model next year - and the good thing here is if the tyres are the same size then they are cheaper for the consumer when they need replacement.
Ford will probably always maintain a lead over Holden in the pricing of spares, as Holden like to reward their loyal customers with exhorbitant prices on everything.
So all in all, if this new model is a copy of everything else then the consumer will most likely see past it. On top of that, the diehards were always going to buy Holden anyway so there's no point trying to convince them.

[phat_stak_tipa]

so much hostility ssbub fooly sick bro hahahahahaha seems like thats all u got im not a wog so doesnt offend just shows how easy it to ark u up

[Bossxr8]

Adding all the extra weight is not a good thing for Holden, petrol prices aren't going to drop any time time soon and increasing consumption may well be a disaster for them, i'm sure the fleets wouldn't be too happy if the economy was worse. Ford have the advantage here as they would have been aware of the high petrol prices early enough to make sure fuel economy would be a priority, as would bringing weight down to help this. Lets hope the new Falcon is lighter which will really give Holden a good kick in the goolies.

[64compact]

First look isn't it the same as the 380?? with different lights, and stupid torana flares

[MethodX]

Hate rice, not this car.

give it a rest some of u