VF Holden

[T4ME]

How do you bag a car that you have never owned?

Its like saying I don't like the taste of that without ever trying it.

Glad I sampled some blue oval as a Holden man....there are a few things I dislike about them but I wont slag them off for it.

[DanielXR8]

Originally Posted by DASH GT

No they don't... The BA release was entirely around the Fairmont Ghia!!

And the most prominent commercial for the BA around the XR6. It was a bloody good one too.

[DanielXR8]

Originally Posted by MAFIA

This was taken what people said on Facebook!
Ford Territory Bonnet
Daewoo Epica front end
Merc Benz driving light
Mazda6, Kia optima, Toyoata Aurion Back end

Seriously the exterior of the car is very Korean inspired. Where is the Australian styling in this VF???

Ford fans with voodoo economic theories on how the less Falcons you make, the more profit you can generate, until you end up with one Falcon sold a year and make a trillion dollars, please avert your eyes now.

Given mass production involves making enough to return costs and make a profit and the Aussie car large car market is in a long term decline, they had to make an internationally appealing car. That means high spec trim and features and unfortunately a more generic design language that will work in more markets then Australia.

I agree the new VF has lost some of its local identity. On the latest Autoblog podcast they were discussing the Calais reveal and one of them joked how it was ironic that the Aussies can design an American car better than they do.

[Windsor220]

Originally Posted by b0son

performance fpv, yes. premium? debatable. as he's already said, power isnt everything, and if you're not fussed about power, what does the FPV actually offer? if an SS comes better equipped than an FPV, well, thats a bit embrassing for FPV isnt it? thats a 'downgrade' i'd be happy to make, quite frankly.

It is called Ford PERFORMANCE vehicles for a reason. The whole point of it is its power and performance. The same with other performance divisions in the world. Holden has no option but to add features as they can't compete for power at the moment. Reminds me of the AU days. Ford made the T series prestige because they had no answer to HSVs power until T3. It was the HSVs that everyone raved about though as performance was what was the important thing. People dont talk about M3s and AMGs for their dual zone climate control.

Ford answered their fans requests by building the best V8 Australia has seen but now they are apparently rubbish and the way people go on around here you would think FPVs came standard with an AM radio and no air con.

[grandpa_spec_F6]

Originally Posted by T4ME

How do you bag a car that you have never owned?

Its like saying I don't like the taste of that without ever trying it.

Glad I sampled some blue oval as a Holden man....there are a few things I dislike about them but I wont slag them off for it.

Agreed.

Not sure about the rest of you but I used to be a Holden man until I drove a Ford, then it was time to upgrade, I found Holden had the superior product.

Next upgrade was HSV vs FPV and for me the F6 was the superior product.

I voted with my wallet, not a button on the forums. As far as I'm concerned if that means I notice quality control issues on my car or have a sook about a feature added to the HSV's I'm bloody well allowed to!

For me competition like this is golden as it forces innovation, that's only a good thing for consumers (US!).

I like this new Holden, but I'm waiting to see what Ford's reply is before talking $$$.

[Mighty Reds]

Chev version has 309 kw LS3, auto has paddle shift levers.

[dimka100]

2014 CHEVROLET SS PRELIMINARY SPECIFICATIONS

Overview
Model: Chevrolet SS
Body style / driveline: front-engine, rear-drive
Construction: unitized body structure and frame; two-sided galvanized steel (except roof)
EPA vehicle class: large
Manufacturing location: Elizabeth, Australia

Powertrain
Engine: 6.2L OHV V-8
Displacement (cu in / cc): 376 / 6162
Bore & stroke (in / mm): 4.06 x 3.62 / 103.25 x 92
Block material: cast aluminum w/ cast-in-place iron bore liners
Cylinder head material: aluminum
Valvetrain: overhead valve; two valves per cylinder; roller lifters
Ignition system: coil-near-plug ignition
Fuel: sequential fuel injection
Compression ratio: 10.7:1
Horsepower (hp/ kW @ rpm): 415 / 309 @ 5900
Torque (lb-ft / Nm @ rpm): 415 / 563 @ 4600
Fuel: premium recommended not required
Transmission: Hydra-Matic 6L80 6-speed automatic w/ TapShift

Chassis/Suspension
Front: multi-link MacPherson strut; direct-acting stabilizer bar; progressive-rate coil springs; fully adjustable camber, caster and toe
Rear: four-link independent; progressive-rate coil springs over shocks; stabilizer bar; fully adjustable camber and toe
Steering type: electric power

Brakes
Front
Type: ventilated disc
Rotor diameter x thickness (mm): 355 x 32
Caliper four-piston fixed
Rear
Type: ventilated disc
Rotor diameter x thickness (mm): 324 x 22
Caliper: single-piston sliding

Wheels/Tires
Wheel size and type: 19 x 8.5-inch forged, fully polished aluminum (front)
19 x 9-inch forged, fully polished aluminum (rear)
Tires: P245/40R19 (front)
P275/35R19 (rear)

Dimensions
Exterior
Wheelbase (in / mm): 114.8 / 2916
Overall length (in / mm): 195.5 / 5185
Overall width (in / mm): 74.7 / 1898
Overall height (in / mm): 57.9 / 1491
Track (in / mm): front: 62.6 / 1590
rear: 62.4 / 1612

Interior
front / rear
Seating capacity: 2 / 3
Legroom (in / mm): 42.3 / 1074 39.7 / 1008

[Auslandau]

Originally Posted by T4ME

How do you bag a car that you have never owned?

Its like saying I don't like the taste of that without ever trying it.

Glad I sampled some blue oval as a Holden man....there are a few things I dislike about them but I wont slag them off for it.

..... never drove a Lada Niva but I am quite sure I wouldn't like it? Ssangyong might make the best cars ever but I know I would not like them too! Looks in the eye of the beholder and no point in driving something that is ugly as sin.

Do not blame people on these pages to be biased towards Fords. I am not a member on LS1 because I have no interest in them as there are many on LS1 that wouldn't be a member here for the same reason ...... 1 brand forums will have their bias .... not happy with that find another forum where Lada Niva's are talked about with high regard.

Of course other cars can be bagged out with out being driven. Design, looks and preconceived ideas come into play on what people like? Naive to think other wise. They have done a good job of the VF for what it is ..... I will not ever buy one, never liked the styling of Holden or the way they drive and I am quite sure that most here would have been in a VE, VZ, VN etc to be allowed to pass some judgement ..... in a forum environment

[BHDOGS]

Originally Posted by Mighty Reds

Chev version has 309 kw LS3, auto has paddle shift levers.

the american version gets a few things more then the aussie version typical really like a shark fin spoiler and metal seat inserts.

[bigwil]

Originally Posted by Auslandau

..... never drove a Lada Niva but I am quite sure I wouldn't like it? Ssangyong might make the best cars ever but I know I would not like them too! Looks in the eye of the beholder and no point in driving something that is ugly as sin.

Do not blame people on these pages to be biased towards Fords. I am not a member on LS1 because I have no interest in them as there are many on LS1 that wouldn't be a member here for the same reason ...... 1 brand forums will have their bias .... not happy with that find another forum where Lada Niva's are talked about with high regard.

Of course other cars can be bagged out with out being driven. Design, looks and preconceived ideas come into play on what people like? Naive to think other wise. They have done a good job of the VF for what it is ..... I will not ever buy one, never liked the styling of Holden or the way they drive and I am quite sure that most here would have been in a VE, VZ, VN etc to be allowed to pass some judgement ..... in a forum environment

Once again beautifully said.

[Mighty Reds]

Originally Posted by BHDOGS

the american version gets a few things more then the aussie version typical really like a shark fin spoiler and metal seat inserts.

Holden leaving this stuff until VF2 maybe.

[rjr]

It was a bit strange watching the Commodore going around Daytona today.

[XtRmn8]

Chev SS looks impressive spec wise. Seats look the business too.

[XR Martin]

Not sure if its been mentioned, but the rear spoiler has been downsized simply for fuel economy. The VE SV6/SS one contributed to up to .3L/100km on the highway.

[BHDOGS]

really i heard it was downsized to save money hence y its an optional extra now.

[olds]

You have to give them credit selling a vehicle into the U.S market to be the flagship in Nascar

[MethodX]

Originally Posted by Charliewool

Have I missed something in all this Holden group hugging? No ones mentioned the new hi tech donk? It HAS got a whole new range of donks, has'nt it? An all new V6, A brand spankin new triple cam, 6 valve per cylinder 9.8 litre V8? How ANYONE can compare a vehicle, with arguably the best hi tech supercharged V8 engine ever built in the world...To a vehicle that ok,has a pretty neat new interior and new front and rear clip, but still has basically a souped up 1960's OHV pushrod small block Chev drivin the wheels. It IS the same V8 as VE, VZ etc isn't it? It IS the same sludgebox 6 speed auto isn't it? Same ****** suspension? Guys, guys.. It's STILL "just" a Commodore!

And the Falcon is simply a heavily updated XK.....
We are lucky we still have both.... for now.

[P6LTD351]

Originally Posted by olds

You have to give them credit selling a vehicle into the U.S market to be the flagship in Nascar

Who are we giving the credit to though? It's not Holden. GM in America made this happen. Let's not make it out to be good 'ole little Australian Holden making it big in the US. Make no mistake, this car is the brainchild of GM America. You just have to look at it to know that.

[GCRXR6]

[QUOTE=MethodX;4633192]And the Falcon is simply a heavily updated XK..... Are you sure you're a Falcon fan? Ya don't know much about them.

[MethodX]

[QUOTE=GCRXR6;4633229]

Originally Posted by MethodX

And the Falcon is simply a heavily updated XK..... Are you sure you're a Falcon fan? Ya don't know much about them.

Dont i?
basically the far flung outpsts make do with hand me downs and limited budgets.
Way its always been.

[csv8]

Australians look set to pay at least $10,000 more for the Holden VF Commodore SS than Americans.

The VF Commodore is produced in Australia and shipped to the United States where it will be sold as the Chevrolet SS from late 2013.

Although official pricing will remain a secret until the Chevrolet SS goes on sale in the final quarter of 2013, Chevrolet chief engineer David Leone has suggested it will start as low as the mid-$40,000 range.

Asked if the Chevrolet SS would fit between the pricing of the Chevrolet Camaro SS and Chevrolet Corvette Stingray, Leone indicated that was likely.
Advertisement

“You’re in the right neighbourhood,” he said when asked about a mid $40,000 price tag.

The new VF Commodore SS-V is similar in specification to the upcoming US-spec Chevrolet SS, but it gets the bigger, more powerful 6.2-litre engine from the HSV ClubSport that sells for $66,990 drive-away.

In Australia a current Commodore SS-V costs $55,290 plus on-road costs; Holden has hinted that prices of some VF Commodore variants will increase slightly - but not much.

Despite the apparent price gouging Holden says that it will still make a profit on the 5000-odd cars it plans to sell there each year.

"We wouldn't do it if there wasn't a business case for it," says spokesman Craig Cheetham.

Australians already pay significantly more for cars than many developed countries, especially high performance and luxury models.

Holden has been vocal about the difficulties of exporting cars in an era of record high Australian dollar. Holden has partly used the strength of the currency as justification for recent job cuts and slowing sales.

Holden last year secured $275 million in government funding in return for a commitment to at least $1 billion in investment in local manufacturing until at least 2022.

The new VF Commodore is a crucial car for Holden and is hoped to arrest the dramatic slide in large car sales that has been happening for more than a decade.

Holden's Cheetham wouldn’t comment on the expected price difference between the VF Commodore and the Chevrolet SS.

“No pricing has been confirmed for either the VF Commodore or the [Chevrolet] SS,” he told Drive.

It’s not the first time American buyers have paid significantly less than Australians for imported Australian cars. The original Pontiac G8 was up to $10,000 cheaper than the equivalent Commodore when it went on sale in 2008.
http://brisbanetimes.drive.com.au/mo...216-2ejoa.html

[csv8]

charlie wool you forgot the Brock Polariser on the Omega and the Flux Capacitor on the SS !!!

[Anthony9five]

I think it looks really nice. Definitely reminiscent of a Cruze but still cool

[Sioso]

some good pics here:

http://www.autoblog.com/2013/02/16/2...ts-live-debut/

whoever chose those wheels deserves to have their eyes poked out.

[madmatty]

Originally Posted by Brazen

What size wheels are these? They look really big for a Calais.


image

yes they are 20 inch wheels
saw the ss gold version at eastern creek on sat
they look huge and the front wheels stick out at the sides wider than the guards

[chookaradley]

Just on the web looking for reactions from the yanks on the SS. Have to say while Australian reaction has been generally positive the Yanks seem to be really dissapointed in the conservative styling. A lot of really negative comments, still very early obviously

[babyf6]

Originally Posted by chookaradley

Just on the web looking for reactions from the yanks on the SS. Have to say while Australian reaction has been generally positive the Yanks seem to be really dissapointed in the conservative styling. A lot of really negative comments, still very early obviously

Can't seem to find any US reviews, all i find is carsguide.com.au news hahah, can you post some links, might make for an interesting read.....

[Smoke Pursuit]

The wheels on the export SS are VE 12.5 SS redline wheels...

[DanielXR8]

Originally Posted by Windsor220

would think FPVs came standard with an AM radio and no air con.

YOu would go and give Ford bean counters that idea...

[DanielXR8]

Originally Posted by eb2monty

Who are we giving the credit to though? It's not Holden. GM in America made this happen. Let's not make it out to be good 'ole little Australian Holden making it big in the US. Make no mistake, this car is the brainchild of GM America. You just have to look at it to know that.

Everything to do with Falcon and Territory would'n't happen without US approval too. They are US based and owned companies after all.

The styling in VF is more overtly American, because thats one its export markets. Makes sense to me.

That said I can't imagine many engineers or designers thought the AU styling was their first pick for an Aussie Falcon. Quite clearly it had a lot of US styling forced onto it and then it took a pom to restyle the thing and make it more Australian. ;)