Motor February - VE Pics

Abacus · 11-01-2006, 05:12 PM

Apparently the February edition of Motor has pics of the VE.

The "other" Ford forums has pictures posted up at:

http://www.fordaustraliaforums.com/f...ad.php?t=15489

Here they are:

Big weight penalty apparently - 230kg.

Exec gets 17 inch wheels.

SV8 gets dual pipes. SS gets quads.

Stato/Caprice get extra length in the rear doors this time.

Redrum · 11-01-2006, 05:13 PM

Love the retro paint job.........

:
Wasn't aware of other forum, might go and have a look........

spoonage · 11-01-2006, 05:21 PM

If thats an SS, it looks like an absolute beast!

EFFalcon · 11-01-2006, 05:26 PM

looks like a monaro front bar

17" on execs?
what a stupid idea

Abacus · 11-01-2006, 05:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Redrum

Wasn't aware of other forum, might go and have a look........

They've got awkward forum classifications. The action's better here

Bossxr8 · 11-01-2006, 05:38 PM

Can't they design a front end that looks different to every other model from the past 5 years. Grille, lights and bumper look the same as VZ, with Monaro fogs tacked on and the spoiler looks like VZ too. Get some fresh ideas Holden. Roof profile and back door windows look like it has been taken from BA.

Abacus · 11-01-2006, 05:45 PM

At first blush, it doesn't really look like an all new car.

Abacus · 11-01-2006, 05:46 PM

By that, I mean it doesn't look like a particulary revolutionary design...

Falcon Freak · 11-01-2006, 05:47 PM

Headlight shape looks distinctly BA!

FF

chevypower · 11-01-2006, 05:48 PM

that's the idea of the disguise... I think the Statesman looks a bit like the Maxima

rodderz · 11-01-2006, 06:00 PM

Nice styling to it, particularly in the SS...if the look is released like that they will sell very well

But as others have already said they have chosen a shape that suits and is similar to the current models, will it cater for new trends though?

Abacus · 11-01-2006, 06:16 PM

Best thing they've got going is 6.0L of grunt, and that ain't new.

Smoke Pursuit · 11-01-2006, 06:21 PM

Ill be looking closely at the SV8 when they come out, if its the around the same money as they are now then it would be a damn nice bang for buck!

**DJM83** · 11-01-2006, 07:31 PM

Going off those pics i prefer VZ im sure it will look better once the covers are off

MITCHAY · 11-01-2006, 08:30 PM

Looks nice, but I've always liked Commodores except VNs etc. 17 inch wheels will be costly when you go to put treads on a base family car but even the Subaru Liberty comes with 17 inch wheels nowadays. Hopefully this car will be able to deliver as much performance wise as it does visually.

Windsor220 · 11-01-2006, 08:48 PM

ok is it just me or does that thing look basically the same as what they got now

gmhdriver · 11-01-2006, 09:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bossxr8

Can't they design a front end that looks different to every other model from the past 5 years. Grille, lights and bumper look the same as VZ, with Monaro fogs tacked on and the spoiler looks like VZ too. Get some fresh ideas Holden. Roof profile and back door windows look like it has been taken from BA.

After reading some of your posts on here it is obvious that you would say anything just to degrade a Holden. Ever heard the term "credit where it's due?" Sure it may look like a VZ but thats the whole purpose of the disguise...Wait till you see the finished product before passing judgements.

I think these spy shots/photoshops are closer to the real thing than any we've seen before. They certainly look much better than Wheels' mediocre efforts.
IMO the blue VE in the pic looks awesome. If that is anything to go by then there are some great times ahead for Holden fans.

Lukeyson · 11-01-2006, 09:20 PM

be interesting to see how much slower they will be with that much extra weight.

Looks not bad though

BlueJ · 11-01-2006, 09:41 PM

Weight up 230kg? Sounds about right, given the areas they would want to improve on.

This is what I IMAGINE is the case with the VE.

Body strength and stiffness up for safety, handling and refinement. Body is heavier as a result.

Suspension more complex with more links for better handling and ride, and less tyre wear. Suspension heavier as a result.

Larger wheels, tyres and brakes across the board for more grip and better stopping. Wheels, tyres and brakes heavier as a result.

More interior features like electric seats, electric pedals, electronic gadgets and so on. Better interior quality with improved plastics. Interior heavier as a result.

And so on. The engines are already as light as they are going to get. And at the price it is not economic to use aluminium or magnesium for doors, bonnet, suspension arms etc to reduce weight. So the weight of the car is pretty well determined by the factors above.

This shouldn't surprise any of us. If we look at recent history, all the new models in this class have had big improvements in body stiffness, handling, interior quality and refinement. Weight has been up across the board:
Magna TE model ~1500kg
Mitsubishi 380 ~1700kg

AU Falcon live axle ~1550kg
BA Falcon ~1770kg

VT Commodore ~1600kg
VE Commodore ~1800kg?

I think they are pretty brave launching a bigger, heavier car with petrol prices as they are. No wonder their MD has been talking up diesels.

Bobman · 11-01-2006, 10:26 PM

Very interesting....

Agree with John, 17" on pov packs is extreme... given it's about $150 a hoop for a decent tyre

Steffo · 11-01-2006, 10:29 PM

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 · 11-01-2006, 10:56 PM

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

ED Classic · 11-01-2006, 11:51 PM

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?

AUIII XR8 MAN · 12-01-2006, 01:16 AM

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 · 12-01-2006, 01:21 AM

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.

-jjM- · 12-01-2006, 02:52 AM

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

Falcon Freak · 12-01-2006, 08:59 AM

Quote:

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

ltd · 12-01-2006, 09:23 AM

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.

ba-xr8 · 12-01-2006, 09:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bossxr8

Can't they design a front end that looks different to every other model from the past 5 years. Grille, lights and bumper look the same as VZ, with Monaro fogs tacked on and the spoiler looks like VZ too. Get some fresh ideas Holden. Roof profile and back door windows look like it has been taken from BA.

i agree i dont like it at all. i think they have just gotten lazy with their design. if its sposed to be a "new" model they havent done too much thinking by the sounds of it. they prolly dotn want to make the same mistake mitsubishi did changing their shape too dramatically.

SunDrifter · 12-01-2006, 10:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gmhdriver

After reading some of your posts on here it is obvious that you would say anything just to degrade a Holden. Ever heard the term "credit where it's due?" Sure it may look like a VZ but thats the whole purpose of the disguise...Wait till you see the finished product before passing judgements.

He's entitled to his opinion, just as you are yours. Unlike your post though, Bossxr8's isn't full of constant trolling/whinging.

:

I think there are many styling cues taken from the BA under wraps here (headlights, roof profile, taillights, spoiler). Imitation, they say, is the highest form of praise.