Spy pic of Commodore interior & rumour of possible turbo

[Brazen]

Here it is on the Drive website..




Click here for the article and other photos:

http://smh.drive.com.au/motor-news/i...0607-xpgi.html

Inside the new Holden Commodore Series 2 ANDREW HEASLEY, MOTOR INDUSTRY REPORTER

EXCLUSIVE: Take a peek inside the updated Holden Commodore Series 2, which will come with a more user-friendly layout and high-tech touch screen.

Here's the picture Holden doesn't want you to see ... yet.

It's the first look at the interior of the facelifted Series 2 Commodore, which is due to be revealed in August before going on sale shortly afterwards, seen here in left-hand-drive form for its export markets.

Have you seen the new Commodore? Do you know more?
Email us at editor@drive.com.au

While the exterior of the current VE model continues to enjoy widespread appeal, the styling of its interior has aged significantly against more recent offerings from rivals, including the Ford Falcon.

Holden has been working on an interior revamp to bring the interior up to date for the first major styling update of the billion-dollar VE since its 2006 introduction. In the 32 years Holden has been producing Commodores the VE has gone the longest without a significant visual update.

Drive understands that the facelifted model is likely to be called the Commodore Series 2, rather than the VF, as has been widely reported.

The new Commodore Series 2 will also be given an exterior styling update, although Holden is not saying anything of the top secret new model yet.

"We will be updating our Commodore range later in the year," said spokesman Jonathan Rose. "We're not in a position to discuss what that entails at this stage, other than to say that we think the changes will make a great car even better."

This is the second time in a row Drive has brought you pictures of what is believed to be the new Holden Commodores ahead of its official release, after we brought you photos of the then yet-to-be released pictures of the VE Commodore in 2006.

The most obvious change is the prominent pair of eyeball air vents protruding from the dash. And a multifunction LCD screen flanked by 10 push buttons, has been moved higher up on the console to address one of the major ergonomic failings of the VE: that the driver has to take their eyes of the road to fiddle with buttons that are presently set too low.

The display will be a touch screen, as the boss of Siemens VDO – which will supply the technology – recently let slip.

"Our new unit offers touch screen, more connectivity options with iPod and iPhone," CEO Zoran Angelkovski was reported as saying at the time, claiming Holden's new Commodore would have "features that are seen on some European cars".

Despite the touch screen functionality for the new Series 2 Commodore, the dials for the heating and air-conditioning are still set low, but are tizzied up with some chrome framing.

Whether the new, dark coloured interior shown here gets the nod from prospective customers remains to be seen; but there may be alternative colour schemes across the range.

Holden is expected to give varying Commodore models significantly different interior looks, something that was most prominent on the VE Commodore. The Commodore range comprises of entry-level Omega and Berlina models (each sharing a 3.0-litre V6), luxurious Calais, Calais V and sporty SV6 (with a 3.6-litre V6) as well as the 6.0-litre, V8-powered SS and SS V.

The centre console looks to protrude more from the dash structure than is presently the case, a move probably designed to lend a more cockpit-feel for the driver.

It also sees a reworking of the dash trim, in what appears like piano black here, to look more integrated and less like a stick-on afterthought than the VE's non-sporting variants that have a horizontal band tracing the width of the dash, along with an awkward join along a third of its length.

The automatic gear shift sports a new grip but retains the same basic design and the gate for manual shifts.

The steering wheel retains buttons on the spokes, though the car caught here has a Pontiac badge on the hub.

Two features our reviewers have persistently criticised have been retained in the makeover: the finger-pinching handbrake lever and the counter-intuitive placement of the electric window buttons on the centre console, which makes winding down a window for a car park boom gate and ticket processing a two-handed affair. The large A-pillars on either side of the windscreen – often citicised for creating a blind spot – also remain.

Of course the car seen here is in left-hand drive for export markets, but is expected to be a mirror image of cars built for Australia.

Interestingly, this is the third interior for the Commodore-based vehicles: there is an alternative interior for the long-wheelbase Statesman sold in China as the Buick Park Avenue. The Chinese-built car gets a higher placed centre console and electric window buttons where most car buyers would expect to find them: on the driver's door elbow rest.

The photograph here was snapped by an avid fan in Oakleigh recently. The car's exterior was in undisguised export Pontiac G8 form.

Holden's avid fan of Oakleigh heard a distinctive whistle from under the bonnet as he trailed the car from a car park onto the road, lending credence to rumours some variants will sport a turbo or twin-turbo engine.

Holden's V6 engine – available as a 3.0-litre 190kW version and a 210kW 3.6-litre – is based on a global design that's built in various capacities and guises.

The V6 is available as a twin-turbo overseas, something Holden is believed to have been looking at as a rival for the potent Ford Falcon XR6 Turbo.

And there are rumours that the Series 2 Commodore may come in for a revised suspension tune, adopting lessons Holden learned in engineering the reborn Chevrolet Camaro for the US.

Have you seen the new Commodore? Do you know more?
Email us at editor@drive.com.au

Interesting the possible turbo.. I still think the FG interior is top-notch.

[Paxton]

Pass. Those round vents are ugly.

[Wretched]

Turbo will be interesting.

[irlewy86]

Most of the dials are still mouned low, round vents does not flow with the rest of the car and is the avid fan sure the turbo whine wasn't just another busted GM gearbox/diff?

[chevypower]

"The V6 is available as a twin-turbo overseas, something Holden is believed to have been looking at as a rival for the potent Ford Falcon XR6 Turbo."
So it's just a rumour that Drive is trying to start. LOL

[GS608]

Holden won't be looking at a turbo V6..it'd smoke their V8 they don't want that.

[Brazen]

Originally Posted by irlewy86

Most of the dials are still mouned low, round vents does not flow with the rest of the car and is the avid fan sure the turbo whine wasn't just another busted GM gearbox/diff?

Hmmm I always wonder about these 'reader rumours' I know the big publications sign confidentiality clauses with the various manufacturers to not release embargo material, also they have a lot of contacts within the companies themselves which they cant really use as sources. But there is nothing stopping them publishing rumours they hear from readers. I wonder if Drive knows of the turbo, but cannot say it themself so they let Mr Reader put it out there.

Its like when the very heavily camoed AU ute was caught testing, apparantly the reader noticed there was a slight movement between the tub and cab when the ute was pulling out of a servo - even though this was all covered with vinyl with no join, this lead the magazine to suggest that perhaps Ford was developing a seperate cab/chassis Falcon ute for the first time (I wonder how the magazine figured that one out).

[T3ts50]

Those vents remind me of the new Jag's vents (but nowhere near is good).

By the looks of it HSV might lose the dash top gauges.

[Poidevin]

If they lose the round vents then it's a winner in my books, not as good as the FG interior but getting there.

[Chopped]

Are they air vents or drink bottle holders !.(cup holders are sssoooo nineties!)

A lot Better than it was and now looks a little more upmarket (not hard).

[AUIIPURSUIT]

agree with others. looks nice, but the vents are too full on. turbo and holden has been on the cards since the torana revamp that was a flop. since then, who cares. see it, believe it.

[Brazen]

I have read that only the sport models get round vents, other variants get the more tradional vents with a high mounted storage lid.

[ebxr8240]

Looks like the Pontiac C6 I hired...

[Airmon]

Only took them 4 years but they've finally realised how crappy the current screen placement is.
I look forward to seeing the new product. Although; "While the exterior of the current VE model continues to enjoy widespread appeal," gave me a good chuckle.
I still think its ugly as sin and has aged terribly.

[Chopped]

I just noticed that it is LHD.
Maybe those Pontiac badges (dead) are really Chev badges and the export program is back on (just a thought).

[vztrt]

The other shots

[Mr Hardware]

so it's still got the stupid handbrake but they stole the vents from a 1999 toyota echo and the piano black from a bf fairmont. whoop de do.

[Brazen]

Maybe im a creature of habit but geeze do those centre mounted window switches annoy me.

[CFOUR]

I did hear a rumor of a turbo diesel and turbo 4cyl petrol in developmental testing, but that was almost 6 months ago now.

[Mr Hardware]

Originally Posted by Brazen

Maybe im a creature of habit but geeze do those centre mounted window switches annoy me.

for the fact that every other car manufacturer in the world doesn't do it like that would lead me to be relatively sure it's wrong. imo it's a relic from the VN days.

[ltd]

Meh, looks better than before but you have to remember, they were starting from the bottom and have a long way to go up. Still has the cheap hand brake and those vents are garish to say the least. Makes the rest look very cheap and tacky.

Whats with the A pillars? The last time I saw pillars that big on something they were holding up a building in Athens.

[Smoke Pursuit]

Least they have made the hazard light button easy for the GM boys to find.. lol.

[irlewy86]

Originally Posted by Airmon

Only took them 4 years but they've finally realised how crappy the current screen placement is.
I look forward to seeing the new product. Although; "While the exterior of the current VE model continues to enjoy widespread appeal," gave me a good chuckle.
I still think its ugly as sin and has aged terribly.

VY/VZ had it in the same place as well, down the bottom and pointing straight ahead.

Originally Posted by Brazen

Hmmm I always wonder about these 'reader rumours' I know the big publications sign confidentiality clauses with the various manufacturers to not release embargo material, also they have a lot of contacts within the companies themselves which they cant really use as sources. But there is nothing stopping them publishing rumours they hear from readers. I wonder if Drive knows of the turbo, but cannot say it themself so they let Mr Reader put it out there.

....

Yeah however the XR6 Turbo slaying all conquering turbo Commodore has been rumored and spied since about 2003. You tend to get cynaical when they have been telling you since 1998 "They're just round the corner from a hybrid commodore, but before they do we'll see diesel and high output DI turbo engines." It's 2010 and we are still eagerly awaiting these mythical cars. So while the media has been trying to kickstart the "Turbo six rumor" you have to put most of them in the same vein as "GTHO" rumors. Don't take them for granted.

[Mr Hardware]

the exterior styling of the VE?
The wheel arches arrive 15 minutes before the rest of the car.

[Airmon]

Originally Posted by irlewy86

VY/VZ had it in the same place as well, down the bottom and pointing straight ahead.

True but they only really told you Audio info, which was available on the cluster anyway. The VE among colour screen has a bit more stuff. Imagine using the sat-nav in the VE.

Originally Posted by bfiipursuit

Least they have made the hazard light button easy for the GM boys to find.. lol.

Nah they've made it harder. They usually put it on a big Red button in the middle of the dash. Its black now nobody will find it.

One of the design features I hate that made it onto the FG, the Hazard light being one of the main focus' of the dash.

[fordv8!]

Originally Posted by XR-CHIEF

Holden won't be looking at a turbo V6..it'd smoke their V8 they don't want that.

i agree with you there

[sk8xr8]

Honestly, compared to the radio units holden have had in the past, this is a MAJOR improvement, get into a VZ Maloo and you still have that rubbish green display!!

[DBourne]

Originally Posted by Mr Hardware

so it's still got the stupid handbrake

King oath, how can anyone think that handbrake looks good.. seriously! it has to be the ugliest POS ever

[Bundy]

Talking of UGLY, Have you seen the Ponitac left over, throw back from the states, front grill on the VE.... UGLY VEry Ugly. If the AU had a ugly cheese grater grill its got nothing this GFC fire sale reDumbnet POS. Honestly what were they thinking??? My guess nothing not after the gay Audi / Volvo birth defect that on front of the new HSV E2. LED smiles my backside.

[Rodp]

Apart from the air vents, looks almost identical apart from the location of the hazard light switch.