Holden testing facelifted VE/VF Commodore

[Jesterarts]

Wouldn't be suprised if they went with the Pontiac G8 style front end.



GM invested in those pontiac designs and now that all that has fallen through in the USA it would have sense to try and recoop costs by using those parts here.

[White Tiger]

Wouldn't be suprised if they went with the Pontiac G8 style front end.



GM invested in those pontiac designs and now that all that has fallen through in the USA it would have sense to try and recoop costs by using those parts here.

well at least it would look different to all the other new cars on the road

[Calaber]

Who else can't pick the difference between those pics and a current VE?

There'd wanna be something pretty dramatic under that car bra...

The only significant thing that MIGHT be changed is the A pillar profile. And it needs to be changed as part of the model update, although it would be expensive to do.

[PhantomSV6]

If the VF has nostrils i'll be pretty disappointed.

Anyway...What i want to see is a revised interior, improved a-pillar and a revised front end.

The 4 cylinder turbo engine is pretty big news for the Commodore. It will be interesting to see how much power it outputs.

Can't really gauge too much from those shots but the anticipation is killing me.

[Calaber]

Well, we know the G8 facia is out for the updated model anyway. So the actual external changes, which will be restricted to nose and tail, new wheels and MAYBE the A pillars, are still a mystery.

[Troy711]

I'd like to see a wiper installed on the rear window. I don't know about anyone else but I feel it needs one because the rain doesn't run off very well.

[VKCOMMO]

Who else can't pick the difference between those pics and a current VE?

There'd wanna be something pretty dramatic under that car bra...

i cant see any real differences, sorta like the VR and VS.

dont like the name either for some reason, IDK why though, it just doesn't have the same ring to it. VF??


EDIT: actually, at a holden dealer near the entrance to the F3, i saw a commy with what looked like a revised pontiac front end, maybe they were trying it on AD to see if it caught attention

[VKCOMMO]

just googled it, this is one guys chop of the VF



and here is another which looks like the real deal

[Jezza]

dont forget that there is the special edition SS-V with the pontiac front end

[VKCOMMO]

dont forget that there is the special edition SS-V with the pontiac front end

i didn't know that *scratched head*, i didn't see that in the brochure holden sent me recently either???

[VS Omega]

Definately interesting, so they're keeping the indicators on the guards and not moving them up to the indicators (unless that's a VE with VF drivetrain etc.)

I wouldn't expect anything except the headlights (TT36ish?), bumpers and interior to get a revision, sheet metal would call for something drastic... VT and VZ doors look the same, as do VN and VS doors. Hell even the AU and BA have the same doors

[Reaper]

Definately interesting, so they're keeping the indicators on the guards and not moving them up to the indicators (unless that's a VE with VF drivetrain etc.)

I wouldn't expect anything except the headlights (TT36ish?), bumpers and interior to get a revision, sheet metal would call for something drastic... VT and VZ doors look the same, as do VN and VS doors. Hell even the AU and BA have the same doors

I think you will find the configuration found in the SIDI cars will be around for a while with only minor tweaks and power upgrades. Holden seem to leapfrog themselves with a major powertrain upgrade in one model and then a body/interior change in the next.

Reaper

[Reaper]

i didn't know that *scratched head*, i didn't see that in the brochure holden sent me recently either???

It's a limited edition thing to use up left over Pontiac G8 bits and pieces when that model was canned.

Reaper

[Calaber]

Definately interesting, so they're keeping the indicators on the guards and not moving them up to the indicators (unless that's a VE with VF drivetrain etc.)

I wouldn't expect anything except the headlights (TT36ish?), bumpers and interior to get a revision, sheet metal would call for something drastic... VT and VZ doors look the same, as do VN and VS doors. Hell even the AU and BA have the same doors

Doors are the most expensive panels to change completely in a facelift, because they involve inner and outer skins, and the window and locking mechanisms, so interim model changes tend to leave the basic centre structure unchanged, with facelifted front and rear ends.

Elsewhere in this thread, reducing the thickness of the A pillar has been mentioned. To do this on the VE would be a very expensive exercise, but one that Holden really shouldn't ignore. It would require new engineering and upgraded structures within the pillar and probably more expensive steels to enable the structural integrity of the car to be retained. They might also revise the door upper frame but that is a separate component which could be altered without affecting the basic door pressings.

If the VE shape still has a couple of years left in it, I believe they will have to address this fault in the existing design.

[Tsunamix]

I'm not sure that it's the pillar thats why, but the interior packaging of the curtaion airbags alongside the pillars. Not every model has the curtain airbags. but they all use the pillar trim.

To my mind, the pillar is actually ok, but the trim is very wide - horizontally and intrudes over the dash a little making it very hard to see around.

[Calaber]

I'm not sure that it's the pillar thats why, but the interior packaging of the curtaion airbags alongside the pillars. Not every model has the curtain airbags. but they all use the pillar trim.

To my mind, the pillar is actually ok, but the trim is very wide - horizontally and intrudes over the dash a little making it very hard to see around.

That's true to a point but other manufacturers fit curtain airbags and have pillars that are much slimmer than the VE. The cost of engineering pillars with the required strength that would have been slimmer than the VE's ended up, was the reason they are so thick. To reduce the dimensions, higher graded and more expensive metals have to be used. the Commodore is still intended to be marketed in the lower cost sector of the market, so cost of production is a major factor for the company.

[SquishyShoes]

from what the spy pics are looking like - it reminds me of the Pontiac front end.

and after seeing another image of the 2006 Pontiac Monaro - i think it's EXACTLY the same.

maybe to play around they have stuck on the pontiac front end and the real front end is something different?

They do look alike... hmmmm.

[Reaper]

They do look alike... hmmmm.

I think you will find it's a US spec GTO car bra. What is underneath will be very different.

Reaper

[SquishyShoes]

Thanks for the input

[UFO]

i actually dont have a problem with my VE MY10. But then again, I'm used to driving the mrs old ride (a Honda Jazz) which had rediculous blind spots behind huge A pillars.

I reckon VE body shape is here to stay for a few more years yet... no way they are going to stuff around with the pillars until they release a completely new body shape (too costly). And since the current body shape is still selling like hotcakes, it'll be cosmetic stuff if anything... different interior, lights etc.

But god I hope they dont go round face like that butt ugly Pontiac. I honestly think the current front end looks fine... damn fine. Just get rid of the huge bling bling Holden logo the size of a dish.

[SquishyShoes]

Wouldn't be suprised if they went with the Pontiac G8 style front end.



GM invested in those pontiac designs and now that all that has fallen through in the USA it would have sense to try and recoop costs by using those parts here.

I went to my local holden dealer yesterday and ALL the commodores in their had that front on it.

[Calaber]

I had my first look at the G8 styling over the weekend. I have to confess I like it, and think it's much more effective than the boring Commodore styling on the front end.

[davey g-force]

Hmm, yeah I thought it looked ok in photos but when I saw one in the flesh a couple weeks ago, I didn't really like it.

[burnz]

two cruze's

[the_trademarc]

just googled it, this is one guys chop of the VF



This was a make up from the Coupe60 Concept a few years back.

and here is another which looks like the real deal

Those pics have been up since 2007 though, so I wouldnt look too much into them