Holden testing facelifted VE/VF Commodore

[Reaper]

Holden testing facelifted VE/VF Commodore

Hot off the heels of the release of Holden’s SIDI engine range, Holden has been sprung testing what has been dubbed as the VF Commodore.
The VF Commodore is rumoured to receive a revised front end and interior. Sources within Holden suggest evaluation of prototypes is currently underway with road traversing vehicles (such as the one pictured), along with public workshops on its design elements.
In addition to the design revision, Holden is likely to introduce a turbocharged four-cylinder engine into the Commodore range, allowing the vehicles to use BioFuel, similar to that currently on offer from Saab.
The iTi (Intelligent Turbo Injection) engines will be capable of using E85 ethanol fuel in a bid to possess a greener image.


Holden testing facelifted VE/VF Commodore | PAVLE.com.au

[Reaper]

Might have fixed the A pillar - with luck!

Reaper

[Calaber]

This is really interesting but why are spy pics always out of focus? There has to be something hiding under the apron or they wouldn't bother putting it on. The pillar certainly looks like it might have been slimmed down and with all the criticism it copped during the VE's life, Holden couldn't possibly ignore it. As it has to be due sometime during 2010, it's surprising that it's taken this long for spy pics to finally appear.

Hopefully, the front guard flares might be toned down a bit too. The spy pic gives the impression that the flare has been reduced but the quality of the photo could be misleading.

[Reaper]

This is really interesting but why are spy pics always out of focus? There has to be something hiding under the apron or they wouldn't bother putting it on. The pillar certainly looks like it might have been slimmed down and with all the criticism it copped during the VE's life, Holden couldn't possibly ignore it. As it has to be due sometime during 2010, it's surprising that it's taken this long for spy pics to finally appear.

The opportunity to take a pic is usually very short. Any shot is good enough as often it's a case of quick photo or none at all.

Reaper

[Calaber]

Yeah I realise that but with most cameras being auto focus capable these days, you'd think someone would get a good shot in. Still, the pics make good appetisers, don't they?

[Reaper]

Yeah I realise that but with most cameras being auto focus capable these days, you'd think someone would get a good shot in. Still, the pics make good appetisers, don't they?

Yeah.... not so sure about the TD though. From what I have heard TD is off the agenda for the foreseeable future.

Reaper

[`redoctober]

Hahaha @ the monaro shaped apron!!

[Morton]

That had better be a good disguise, because if the front end is round AT ALL, I'm going to spew

[D-Man]

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?

[mas996]

oh no, dont tell me theyre going back to the old round front, as if back pedal.

[Reaper]

oh no, dont tell me theyre going back to the old round front, as if back pedal.

Nah - I think you will find it's justa US spec GTO car-bra disguise on the front that fitted well enough.

Reaper

[Calaber]

Can anybody recognise the wheels? They look like an earlier version of Statesman, but I can't recall seeing that design on a VE.

I agree with Reaper regarding the car bra - simply adapted an existing one to the new front. You wouldn't bother coming up with a new one to suit the new design because you would be giving too much away and the idea is to conceal the new design as long as possible.

[jujibelly]

I saw something similar to the pontiac ones driving down kings way in the city. It was left hand drive and had a massive sticker on the rear bumper saying so lol. It looked rather bland.

[Reaper]

I saw something similar to the pontiac ones driving down kings way in the city. It was left hand drive and had a massive sticker on the rear bumper saying so lol. It looked rather bland.

There are still a few LHD G8's getting around. NFI why since it has been discontinued but does add petrol to the fire of rumors about a return to USA at some stage.

Reaper

[Troy711]

Might have fixed the A pillar - with luck!

Reaper

I've never found it to be an issue.. but I guess after driving a Hiace all day where you can't see anything, you get used to blind spots!

[Reaper]

I've never found it to be an issue.. but I guess after driving a Hiace all day where you can't see anything, you get used to blind spots!

Lol - maybe. I went for a herb around Apollo Bay last week (just off the Great Ocean Rd) and found the a pillar a real problem getting thru the twisties. Granted I was going somewhat quickly.

Was talking to ex HDT racing legend John Harvey a few months back comparing what we buy from the show rooms and what he raced int he 70's and 80's. In short he was very complimentary about the VE but noted that even he struggled picking apexes due to the A pillars.

Geez I love these cars :

[greenfoam]

You can't post a picture of a hatchback in the same thread as a VE, it makes the VE look full of fail . REALLLLLY full of fail

[greenfoam]

Lol - maybe. I went for a herb around Apollo Bay last week (just off the Great Ocean Rd) and found the a pillar a real problem getting thru the twisties. Granted I was going somewhat quickly.

I did most of the Ocean road in the Fiesta last night which also has big pillar's the very sharp right handers presented a large problem! I found myself laying onthe dash pretty much so I could see around the corner OR looking entirely out the side window:P, pretty stupid idea really. Goes good on the left handed corners tho

[alien]

This is really interesting but why are spy pics always out of focus?

Mainly the fact that vehicles under development are kept under strict security. Usually in no camera and no camera phone areas. Taking a photo can cost you your job in these areas.

So when photos are taken they're usually a fair distance away and low and behold zooms arn't great when the vehicles are so far away from the cameras allowed area.

[Reaper]

You can't post a picture of a hatchback in the same thread as a VE, it makes the VE look full of fail . REALLLLLY full of fail

Sorry - just wanted to show what John Harvey drove.

I did most of the Ocean road in the Fiesta last night which also has big pillar's the very sharp right handers presented a large problem! I found myself laying onthe dash pretty much so I could see around the corner OR looking entirely out the side window:P, pretty stupid idea really. Goes good on the left handed corners tho

Yeah - I think it is more a modern cars rather than peculiar to just the VE. Steeply raked windscreens don't help either as the pillar is much closer to the drivers head than before.

Compare the pillars of now vs (say) 32 years ago:





(oops - how did that get there???)

[Calaber]

Reaper

I suspect the reason "A" roof pillars have grown to be so thick is because of the angle they are now laid back at. In earlier models, where the pillars were more upright, they were able to provide the necessary strength to support the roof in rollovers because they were at a more suitable angle to withstand the stresses involved.

As the windscreens have been laid back further and further for aerodynamics and to reduce fuel consumption, thin pillars would not be able to maintain the necessary strength and rollover resistance, hence they are thickened to enable the modern vehicles to meet ADR's and other safety regs whereever the cars are marketed.

The HQ had the thinnest "A" pillars of any mass produced four door sedan in the world at the time of its introduction, because GMH designed it to comply with new "field of vision" regulations which were supposed to be introduced sometime after it was released. Those regs didn't eventuate during the lifetime of the HQ-HZ - it's obvious from the pillars on the VE that they never eventuated!

By comparison with the VE, the HQ pillars are almost upright. Obviously, at that angle, they could be thin, provide good vision for the driver and still provide the necessary structural rigidity. Bloody shame the new cars can't have pillars that slender, isn't it?

And on the comments you made regarding the poor three quarter visibility, I seem to recall a certain Cousin on this forum who was adamant that there were no blind spots on the VE and that all you had to do was use your mirrors and move your head. Yeah, like one of those parcel shelf nodding dogs!

[Stressball]

This is really interesting but why are spy pics always out of focus?

So when photos are taken they're usually a fair distance away and low and behold zooms arn't great when the vehicles are so far away from the cameras allowed area.

I saved the first pic to PC and checked the details; that photo was taken at only 67mm, whoever had the camera either was quite close, or extrapolated the photo out digitally. It's shot at only 1/100sec, so it would be blurry without image stabiliser, and it's aperture is only f3.5 so the depth of field wouldn't be very large. All in all, this shot seems to have been taken in twilight, hand held at only 1/100sec and then possibly digitally enlarged.

Can't say much for other situations, but this one was just poor lighting

[stocky]

There are still a few LHD G8's getting around. NFI why since it has been discontinued but does add petrol to the fire of rumors about a return to USA at some stage.

Reaper

well i know tommo82 on here as been driving the LHD recently, for the work on the police cars

[Reaper]

Reaper

I suspect the reason "A" roof pillars have grown to be so thick is because of the angle they are now laid back at. In earlier models, where the pillars were more upright, they were able to provide the necessary strength to support the roof in rollovers because they were at a more suitable angle to withstand the stresses involved.

As the windscreens have been laid back further and further for aerodynamics and to reduce fuel consumption, thin pillars would not be able to maintain the necessary strength and rollover resistance, hence they are thickened to enable the modern vehicles to meet ADR's and other safety regs whereever the cars are marketed.

For sure that's got a lot to do with it. They are dimensionally much larger these days than ever before. The other bit that affects things is that it is indeed much closer to the drivers eye near the top. My VE one is not far infront of my eyes at all where it meets the roof.

The HQ had the thinnest "A" pillars of any mass produced four door sedan in the world at the time of its introduction, because GMH designed it to comply with new "field of vision" regulations which were supposed to be introduced sometime after it was released. Those regs didn't eventuate during the lifetime of the HQ-HZ - it's obvious from the pillars on the VE that they never eventuated!

By comparison with the VE, the HQ pillars are almost upright. Obviously, at that angle, they could be thin, provide good vision for the driver and still provide the necessary structural rigidity. Bloody shame the new cars can't have pillars that slender, isn't it?

It has a bit to do with glass technology and GM's policies of the day too. Till the late 70's GM had a mandate regulating the rake of the windscreens.

And on the comments you made regarding the poor three quarter visibility, I seem to recall a certain Cousin on this forum who was adamant that there were no blind spots on the VE and that all you had to do was use your mirrors and move your head. Yeah, like one of those parcel shelf nodding dogs!

Yeah well that certain Cousin isn't about any more and if he can reverse my trailer with no blind spot he is either elastic man or has invented a new branch of physics or both.

Reaper

[davey g-force]

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...