Featured Article Summary #190

The Holden Commodore (VE) is a full-size car made by Holden in Australia from 2006 to 2013. It came in different versions including the mid-range Berlina, the luxury Calais, and utility models marketed as the Ute. The VE was the first Commodore designed and developed entirely by Holden in Australia, and it was also sold overseas under several other brand names. Production began with the sedan in July 2006, followed by the Ute in 2007 and the Sportwagon in July 2008. The VE was highly popular in Australia, winning Wheels “Car of the Year” in 2006 and often ranking as the country’s top-selling car each year. Throughout its life, Holden made regular model year updates, including improvements to equipment and fuel use, plus bigger changes like a smaller 3.0-litre V6 engine and a “Series II” refresh in 2010. The VE sedan entered official production at Holden’s Elizabeth, South Australia plant on 13 July 2006. Holden revealed it a few days later at an event in Melbourne that was streamed online, with the debut happening alongside the Statesman/Caprice (WM). After delays to the VE wagon and utility, the VE Ute was shown in August 2007, and the Sportwagon concept followed later that year, with the production model launching in July 2008. The VE sedan took seven years to develop and was Holden’s biggest and costliest project, involving around A$1.03 billion and millions of kilometres of testing. After initial design sketches and virtual refinement, Holden finalised the exterior with help from concept work like the Torana TT36, and it used the new GM Zeta platform with updated front and rear suspension for improved performance and safety. Holden also upgraded its manufacturing approach with modular construction to make repairs cheaper, and it introduced flexible interior and exterior upgrades across variants, including different interior styles and practical features suited for multiple markets. The VE Sportwagon was launched in 2007 to move away from older-style Commodore wagons and respond to fewer traditional wagon buyers, as SUVs grew and fleets dominated sales. Holden spent A$110 million and did extensive testing to create a lower, sportier wagon that could attract more retail customers instead of SUVs. Built on the sedan’s 2915 mm wheelbase, it sacrificed some cargo space (from 1402 L to 895 L) but kept the sedan’s balanced weight distribution. It also had a redesigned tailgate for an easier opening, plus suspension updates such as stiffer springs, anti-roll bar changes, and extra rear support, increasing kerb weight by about 91 kg. The Holden Ute, unveiled on 22 August 2007, was created as a “lifestyle vehicle” aimed at moving beyond the traditional work-focused ute market. The VE Ute program cost about A$105.1 million, with its design starting in 2000 alongside the VE sedan and rear-wheel-drive platform, sharing the same 3009 mm wheelbase as the WM Statesman/Caprice. Details like the horizontal tail lights, raised numberplate housing, and one-piece bumper were designed to give it a more car-like look.