It's official - 6.0L Holden Commodores

[TurboDOHCI6]

Extra V8 muscle for Holden Commodore
The Sydney Morning Herald
Friday November 18 2005

Petrol crisis, what petrol crisis? Holden is about to switch to 6.0-litre V8 power for its flagship models, reports TOBY HAGON.

If you're about to buy a new Holden Commodore SS or V8-powered Calais or Statesman, be warned: Holden is only weeks away from replacing its 5.7-litre engine in favour of a 6.0-litre V8 claimed to deliver a class-leading 264kW of power.

The new engine, codenamed L76, will arrive next month in preparation for stricter emissions regulations that come into force for all new cars sold from January 1 next year.

Drive understands the existing 5.7-litre V8 engine, codenamed LS1 but also known as the Gen III, does not meet the new Euro 3 emissions regulations.

Holden is yet to confirm the L76 for the Commodore. However, Drive sources suggest it will be phased in from late December so Holden dealerships have the new models when the new regulations come into effect.

Significantly, it is not the same 6.0-litre engine fitted to the HSV range. Holden's performance-car division has the 6.0-litre V8 that's used in the latest Corvette. The Holden 6.0-litre (the L76) is an engine primarily designed for truck use, according to Drive sources.

The engine switch also explains why Holden has crammed so much equipment into the Commodore SSZ limited-edition model, with extras such as bigger brakes, leather trim, Bluetooth phone connection - and only a $49,990 price tag. With the arrival of the 6.0-litre Commodore SS, Holden can ramp the price back up to its usual $51,000-plus.

The flagship of General Motors V8 range, the 297kW LS2, will be kept exclusively for the performance HSV models, providing more incentive for buyers to upgrade to the flagship of Holden's performance line-up.

For the number crunchers, the L76's claimed 264kW is 5 per cent more than the 250kW currently squeezed from the 5.7-litre. More importantly for owners, particularly those looking to tow, is the increased engine capacity also has the potential to quell one of the bugbears of the outgoing LS1; lacklustre middle-rev-range performance.

Such output improvements from the new 6.0-litre are also expected to deliver spin-off benefits in fuel consumption, which is crucial as high fuel prices continue to cause headaches for motorists.

The L76 is also expected to appear in other locally made Holden derivatives, such as the Statesman, Caprice and Calais.

As Drive went to press, it was unclear about the future of the V8-powered Adventra four-wheel-drive, which has been a flop since going on sale in late 2003.

Engineering the 6.0-litre L76 for the low-volume Adventra appears to make little sense, given the costs involved.

The arrival of the new L76 V8 engine gives Holden a perfect chance to address one of the major issues of the existing V8 - the clunky four-speed automatic transmission.

Now that rival Ford is offering a world-class six-speed automatic transmission on some models, Holden is under increasing pressure to respond.

http://www.drive.com.au/editorial/ar...vf=2&bg=1&pp=0

How will Ford respond?

[big_waity]

Originally Posted by TurboDOHC

How will Ford respond?[/B]

By continuing to provide quality vehicles that don't need to have the biggest engine to try and be better.

[ED Classic]

Originally Posted by big_waity

By continuing to provide quality vehicles that don't need to have the biggest engine to try and be better.

Exactly what Ive been saying too. Drop weight, Get better Gearing, Make the weight more balanced, Better aerodynamics, Flatter Torque curve etc etc Then watch how stupid the 6.0 litre badge looks getting blown away by a 5.4 or 4.0 turbo. All of the above helps braking and handling too, something that maximium kw doesnt.

[Dave_au]

Originally Posted by SMH

Holden is yet to confirm the L76 for the Commodore. However, Drive sources suggest it will be phased in from late December so Holden dealerships have the new models when the new regulations come into effect.

Right, so the author of the article says yes - holden are getting the L75 6.0L, then turns around and says "but we're not sure - we don't have confirmation" - so really the article is about as useful as those "my mate's an engineer at holden and recons" threads.

It may even be possible that the author of the article has been too busy reading that thread over on ls1. A hell of a lot of HSV owners will get burned - although as if that doesn't happen already. Im quite suprised that the HSVs don't have a resale value worse than a TL Magna ES.

Anyway, it will be hell funny if Holden just goes ahead with the 5.3 - be a bit of a pie in the face for this journalist if he's wrong.

Be awesome if Holden does go 6.0L - I would consider getting one if I could afford the fuel bill. Probably would wait for a VE though.

[loxxr6]

The Holden 6.0-litre (the L76) is an engine primarily designed for truck use, according to Drive sources.

For the Ford owners being beaten up about the Boss being a truck engine, this is good to hear. You can now give this criticism back to the Holden drivers....

[MADDER]

Truck engine or no, 264kW will make the unchanged for BF, BOSS260 look a bit silly. At least til now Ford has been ahead on power if not outright speed.

Awaiting the facts.

[gtfpv]

Originally Posted by loxxr6

For the Ford owners being beaten up about the Boss being a truck engine, this is good to hear. You can now give this criticism back to the Holden drivers....

i thought truck engines were diesel powered .

[ltd]

Originally Posted by gtfpv

i thought truck engines were diesel powered .

Nah, you're getting confused with the GEN3's. They are petrol powered but have so much piston slap that they sound like a big diesel.

By the way, is the L76 going to encounter the same problem as the LS1? They still have the same hollowed out piston design to reduce reciprocating mass, a major contributing factor to the redundant engines woes.

[Dilan]

The engine name reminds me of the Leyland p76 for some reason. Maybe this engine will suffer the same fate :

[Thunder]

Seriously, what's the need for 6 litres in a aussie sedan? Thats just ridiculous. If Holden want some cred in engineering or development then 6 litres would mean more if it were a V10 or V12. If people want 6 litre engines then they are the type of people who would buy the 350 chevy and stroke it.

As i always say........"if you can't beat them with brilliance, then baffle them with bullsh!"........

Whats next? a 150 litre fuel tank to go with it? :

or a 200 litre glove box compartment? :

[dansedgli]

Yay! Gen 3's will become even cheaper!! Woo hoo!

[Fairlane]

Oh well cant say im really suprised, the LS1 was as dead as a dodo. But well :MrT_anim: who bought the LS2 HSV. Not only do you have a motor which is less advanced than the holden motor but with a minor edit I bet this new motor will be pushing 285+ kw and have a good dose of torque.


It does really cause Ford any concern, though it might provide the incentive to go something about the Boss 260 eventually down the track.

[Steffo]

Originally Posted by Fairlane

Oh well cant say im really suprised, the LS1 was as dead as a dodo. But well :MrT_anim: who bought the LS2 HSV. Not only do you have a motor which is less advanced than the holden motor but with a minor edit I bet this new motor will be pushing 285+ kw and have a good dose of torque.


It does really cause Ford any concern, though it might provide the incentive to go something about the Boss 260 eventually down the track.

What makes you say the L76 is more advanced then the LS2?

[vztrt]

So whats the difference between this 6.0L engine and the LS2? Heavier Block?

[Fairlane]

Variable Valve Timing and DOD

[MrSparkle]

Well this should be a pretty competitive engine to run against the 2010 BL Falcon XR8 with ... you guessed it.... Boss260, which will be referred to in Ford marketing as "Still The Boss".

[AU-MUSTD]

Originally Posted by MrSparkle

Well this should be a pretty competitive engine to run against the 2010 BL Falcon XR8 with ... you guessed it.... Boss260, which will be referred to in Ford marketing as "Still The Boss".

Ha ha i think i get your point?? :ticking:

[Jake F6]

Well, I bet that Ford Oz now regret not giving the BF XR8
a bit more oomph. How will it compete on the drag strip against
the XR6T & SS ????
:
Surely they will give it a lift in power for BFII

[Thunder]

Originally Posted by BLACK XR6-VCT

Well, I bet that Ford Oz now regret not giving the BF XR8
a bit more oomph. How will it compete on the drag strip against
the XR6T & SS ????
:

Like it always has, less power and slower! But does not need to match the dunnydores to sell now does it?

[Falcon Coupe]

I'm all for displacement, a quad cam 351 5.8 Boss would be a nice upgrade to bring us closer to Holden.

[Falcon Freak]

I said that Holden would introduce the 6.0 litre V8 engine two months ago:

Here is the proof

All the talk about Holden introducing a 5.3 litre V8 was bull#$@&.

FF

[ratter]

Forget about the cubes, it is a financial decision. They have to get the cars to meet euro3 regulations, so what do they do, they use an existing engine from the GM production line. Why wouldn't they do it this way, they are a buissness and buissness need to keep their operating cost down.


Fuel economy will probably be even better again (if driven lightly) than the current car

[WASP]

They don't have the trans so their adding more cubes. The more things change, the more they stay the same..

Would still rather a quad cam high tech 5.4 with a 6 speed auto behind it! The BOSS 260 has always produced impressive power well up on the Holden version of the LS1's in stock form anyway. It's how the Ford gets it to the ground that been the problem. The BF 6 speed auto will change all that IMO. Good move for Holden none the less.

[AnthonyQLD]

Originally Posted by CDAA

They don't have the trans so their adding more cubes. The more things change, the more they stay the same..

Would still rather a quad cam high tech 5.4 with a 6 speed auto behind it! The BOSS 260 has always produced impressive power well up on the Holden version of the LS1's in stock form anyway. It's how the Ford gets it to the ground that been the problem. The BF 6 speed auto will change all that IMO. Good move for Holden none the less.

I thought that holden were going to get a 6 speed auto for there next model. The same one as ford have for the BF.

[WASP]

Originally Posted by AnthonyQLD

I thought that holden were going to get a 6 speed auto for there next model. The same one as ford have for the BF.

Hi Anthony,
From my inderstanding, Holden insiders are said to be very keen on using the ZF trans and have already had discussions with the company. However there is much pressure on Holden to use the existing 6 speed auto unit that exists with-in the GM Family, yet offers nothing on the ZF auto apparently. It's all going to come down to money in the end so we will see what happens.

[xxxc]

hmmm sounds ok to me

[HSE2]

Its not so much that this engine jumps the power number up but unless low to mid range was improved in BF BOSS, not only in auto form but across the line up, Ford have missed an opportunity to address a well known and document weakness. Again they should have known this was going to happen as just about everyone else did. It is again predictable and it will be interesting to see the SS as a package.

A drive of the LS2 and no doubt this LS7 will highlight the BOSS hole in delivery. To a degree the LS1 let it off the hook. It’s not a number but a deficiency that can be felt when driven back to back and that tends to get airplay and rate on potential owners play lists.

[ray38l]

I know alot of people wont like the engine because its in a holden but it really is a good engine.
The facts that i know so far is that its a alloy block,the engine is lighter then a LS1 and LS2, its designed to run a six speed gearbox and it comes from the same engine family as the LS1/LS2. It also uses the same computer as the LS1 so LS1edit will work on it.
Who needs quad cam engines when pushrods make more power and are more reliable.

[SSBUB]

in stock form i didnt find the gen 3 overwhelming in power down low it really needed an edit to get the power going low down...i have never driven an ls2

[HSE2]

Originally Posted by SSBUB

in stock form i didnt find the gen 3 overwhelming in power down low it really needed an edit to get the power going low down...i have never driven an ls2

I would agree with that or it’s certainly an opinion I share with you. The LS2 is the engine the LS1 should have been all along especially given its displacement. I am a big fan of the LS2. It’s a nice unit with a far more linear delivery.

Assuming we are seeing VE power levels and features, it’s certainly sounds like a very nice unit. Let’s hope it’s not a repeat of the HFV6 for Holden’s sake. Credit where it is due.