THE countdown is on. In a matter of months we’ll all be caught up in a whirlwind romance of the new VE Commodore. Much will be said, and published, about Holden’s newcomer. Adjectives will be as forthcoming as a politician’s promises at election time. The VE will be sleeker, safer, stronger, possibly heavier but hopefully quicker than the last of the current Commodores. The Holden chorus will echo loudly as the VE is sung in to its new position at the top of the Holden food-chain and the VZ is gracefully retired. However, Holden has already given us a taste of the future with the Gen IV 260kW 6.0-litre V8 in the sporty SS sedan – it’s an engine that will appear in the VE. As we discovered, if this sweet-revving performance oriented bent eight is a guide, expect the VE to be full of surprises.