VF Holden

[Dave R]

As with VE, the base model looks dull and out of proportion, while the Flagship is gorgeous. I see Holden was a fan of the 50th Anniversary G6E wheels...

[Chopped]

That side on pic of the Omega looks distorted in some way. It makes it look woeful.

The rear shot on that Calais looks pretty good. I like that colour.

[SS_01]

Base Model Comparo, I actually think the XT looks more upmarket and obviously better proportioned!

[XplosiveR6]

Originally Posted by Adrenaline

As with VE, the base model looks dull and out of proportion, while the Flagship is gorgeous. I see Holden was a fan of the 50th Anniversary G6E wheels...

image

You can see where the cost cutting is, the base model looks like it has exactly the same bumpers as the Calais, only with different inserts.

[Bucknaked]

The omega looks awful. At least the XT looks good as a base.

[greenfoam]

On the other hand I think itll look great as a door slammer Lol. Already has the right shape and aero. But pretty bad for a road car

[csv8]

Lets hope the FH has more differentiation than the current model..between XT and G6E (hopefully Titanium badging)
It needs a look to get peoples attention..Chrysler have done this with the new Cherokee...

[flappist]

Originally Posted by csv8

Lets hope the FH has more differentiation than the current model..between XT and G6E (hopefully Titanium badging)
It needs a look to get peoples attention..Chrysler have done this with the new Cherokee...

Titanium is a bit expensive, I think they will stay with plastic......

[csv8]

Originally Posted by flappist

Titanium is a bit expensive, I think they will stay with plastic......

I meant, replace G6E with Titanium as in Focus and Mondeo....

[csv8]

General Motors will begin offering 4G service in vehicles next year in a partnership with AT&T, opening up the opportunity for future Holdens to begin offering mobile Wi-Fi hot spots and streaming video in its cars.

The faster mobile data speed will first be available in most 2015 model year vehicles (released in 2014) in the United States and Canada. The company says additional markets and service providers will be announced in coming months, raising the possibility that it will be available on the new VF Commodore at some time during its product cycle. The technology won’t be available on the vehicle when it is launched in May, but is likely to be part of a longer term roll-out strategy.

Holden’s director of external communications, Craig Cheetham, says the technology could take some time to reach local vehicles.

"This is not something that will be available in Holdens immediately but naturally we continue to evaluate all of GM's global technology when relevant to the market," he says.
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GM says the move is the largest commercial deployment of 4G LTE (long term evolution) services in the car industry.

"We're making a global commitment to embed 4G LTE (long term evolution) mobile broadband across all of our vehicles," Mary Chan, president of GM's Global Connected Consumer, said in an interview.

The new VF Commodore will come with a new electrical architecture that has been developed to be compatible with GM systems worldwide, so it theoretically could benefit from any upgrade of GM’s OnStar in-car communications system.

The fact that VF Commodore will be exported to the United States as a Chevrolet SS from later this year also makes the 4G upgrade more likely at some stage.

More: Chevrolet SS could save Commodore

Long-term evolution, or LTE, is a higher speed, fourth-generation wireless technology compared with third-generation, or 3G. LTE allows mobile users to load videos and stream music as much as 10 times faster than 3G, according to the statement.

With 4G, GM said it could include in-vehicle wi-fi hotspots, streaming videos and faster application downloads.

"This enables them to actually have the capabilities to support all kinds of innovative services and needs that consumers may evolve or may desire in the future by having this technology available," said Thilo Koslowski, an industry analyst based in San Jose, California.

GM didn't disclose pricing details but Chan said the new service would be tailored to customer tastes and budgets.

"There's going to be different tier levels of service that customers can choose and buy from," Chan said. The faster service won't be available for older vehicles, she said.

- With Richard Blackburn
http://brisbanetimes.drive.com.au/mo...227-2f4ta.html

[Auslandau]

Originally Posted by csv8

I meant, replace G6E with Titanium as in Focus and Mondeo....

I think he knew that .....

[Bossxr8]

Looking at the Omega makes me feel sick.

I think a cars beauty should really be determined by the base model, not the top luxury and sports versions, cause if it can look good as a base model then it truly is a great design.

The VF fails miserably.

[LeadFoot81]

I saw a VF Calais on the drive home last night.

At first glance I thought it was a VE Caprice.

The front is nice, but the tail just doesn't gel with the cabin.

Overall VF looks like a different take on the VE design, rather than a new car. This happened with VX to VY as well, the nose doesn't scream all new, it just looks like an alternate nose. Gone are the days when you could be forgiven for thinking a mid life update was an all new car (EF replacing ED, VR replacing VP etc)

That VF Omega is a very unfortunate looking thing. What happened to the days of nice looking base models? Eg VX Executive, EF GLi??

[buggo]

Surely this is an inside joke gone horribly wrong

[Bossxr8]

Those wheels look like they are about 14 inch's.

[DanielXR8]

Originally Posted by flappist

Titanium is a bit expensive, I think they will stay with plastic......

Titanium is good. That will allow supersonic speeds for Falcon. Just need to tweak the boost on the turbo and supercharged models.

[Bucknaked]

There a website. Seems to be a few months old

http://www.vfcommodore.com/

Think it was started for anticipation of the VF's arrival.

[Dave R]

Originally Posted by Bossxr8

Looking at the Omega makes me feel sick.

I think a cars beauty should really be determined by the base model, not the top luxury and sports versions, cause if it can look good as a base model then it truly is a great design.

The VF fails miserably.

You tend to get the feeling that the VE/F was designed as an SS/Calais first and foremost, with the base models taking a back seat in priority. If they really cared about what the base models looked like, they would never have come out with those stupid flared wheel arches. I don't necessarily agree about the base models determining whether the design is great or not- imagine a watered down, no frills version of an E Class or 5 Series with 16 inch wheels and scant exterior detailing, they would look pretty shocking too.

[Auslandau]

Originally Posted by Adrenaline

You tend to get the feeling that the VE/F was designed as an SS/Calais first and foremost, with the base models taking a back seat in priority. If they really cared about what the base models looked like, they would never have come out with those stupid flared wheel arches. I don't necessarily agree about the base models determining whether the design is great or not- imagine a watered down, no frills version of an E Class or 5 Series with 16 inch wheels and scant exterior detailing, they would look pretty shocking too.

The AU Forte when released didn't help the rest of the brand even though the Fairmont/Ghia/Fairlane/XR was accepted. Every time the AU is mentioned it is the Forte that is bought up as the catalyst for Falcon's downturn and not the high end models.

[dimka100]

Why does the Calais in the pictures features an antenna on the roof?

[BHDOGS]

because the shark fin antenna is only for the americans like everything good on this car Australians can get ****** according to holden.

[Dave R]

Originally Posted by Auslandau

The AU Forte when released didn't help the rest of the brand even though the Fairmont/Ghia/Fairlane/XR was accepted. Every time the AU is mentioned it is the Forte that is bought up as the catalyst for Falcon's downturn and not the high end models.

That is true - and plays to my point in fact. While the bare bones Forte was under appreciated, the XR6/8 really was a great design that was ahead of its time and still looks good more than a decade later. I think the same applies to VE (and now VF) to an extent. The flagships really are terrific in their design, but the need for a stripped out fleet model brings the whole range down because (unlike Ford's relatively low XT sales) Holden sells the base model in volume so that's the car you tend to see on the road.

[BHDOGS]

holden can chrome the outside to hell it still looks like a pile of American designed dog ****

[FGII-XR6]

to call it ugly would be being kind. those tail lights are dreadful , like they finished it and said we forgot the tail lights these don't really fit but we have them so whack them on.

[FalconXV]

I saw a VF Calais with Victorian plates, in that exact colour earlier picture above, tonight on the Central Coast NSW. Would that be the only evaluation prototype running around like that?
Really random, Like at a roundabout less than 500 m from my house!

Anyway my 'valuable' 2c: The grille was the first thing that hit the eye, initially I thought it was an Insignia, but then, as I realised it looked like something I've only seen in internet pictures, it looked interesting, but very understated and then bland as it went past. Proportions aren't great, and the rear tail end treatment looks better in photos.
As for the Omega, I think it kind of works the same way a Falcon XT works, as an understated, handsome anonymous car.
Definately an opportunity with FU to trump VF, which might be the result of trillions of US clinics ( I bet it will be a great drive though).

[MercurySilver]

yeah that looks fantastic....not

[Uwish]

That looks a lot better than any ford dash atm.
Especially the Falcon.

[Smoke Pursuit]

Holden said they want to move away from base fleet sales... Make the car ugly and bobs your uncle, however I dont think fleets really care about looks, more about fuel economy etc.

[Wretched]

Originally Posted by Uwish

That looks a lot better than any ford dash atm.
Especially the Falcon.

The only issue with the Falcon dash is the quality of the plastics and other components and how they all fit together. Improve that it and they won't be far off if not on par with the VF Calais.

[anto]

what is Holdens infatuation with oversized knobs and dials on the dash ?

Another thing I always wondered was why is the hazard light always prominent in the centre, how often does anyone ever actually use it ? its like that in a friends VZ as well which I thought was really odd.