VE Commodore: Safe as houses

AS WELL as being the strongest car it has ever devised, Holden this week claimed the VE Commodore has a body structure right up there with the world’s best.

This is the upshot of over 5000 simulated and 79 actual barrier tests – with the former being the equivalent to three tests every day for five years.

A stiffer body structure, better occupant protection and a big increase in high-strength and ultra-high-strength steels are the safety pursuit outcomes.

In particular, much progress has been made due to the larger and more complex front rails, stronger B-pillar and increased rocker size.

Holden has revealed that today’s VE Commodore has been "future proofed" to meet pending uprated safety requirements around the world.

The company also leveraged much of the real-world accident data accumulated by the Monash University Accident Research Centre.

Standard stability control across the range is also present – an industry first in Australia.

Left: VE's front rails are more complex (top) VE has substantial floor-strengthening beams (middle) New side-intrusion door braces (bottom).It comes with three different ‘switchable’ types according to the level of intervention deemed necessary for the particular model variant it is fitted to. For instance, SS models have a much higher threshold of ESP activation.

Bigger brakes, wheels and tyres, much-improved suspension design, a double-isolated differential and stiffer chassis structural members also add to the VE Commodore’s greater passive safety and security.

There are also smaller benefits to be had with the rear location of the battery and upgraded electrical systems.

The latter forms part of an upgraded electrical interface that uses General Motors’ global GMLAN global communication system.

If the VE is fitted with Holden’s revamped ‘Assist’ program it will contact the proper authorities in case of an accident or vehicle theft.

Holden’s safety boffins have also devised airbag coverage for a much wider range of people – from a six-month-old baby up to the 95th percentile adult.

However, curtain airbags remain an option on the lower-end VE Commodore models.

In severe impacts the steering column ‘rides-down’, or collapses and retreats, away from the driver, while the VE picks up the collapsible pedal system first seen in the 1998 TS Astra.

Door trims have been profiled to minimise injury in side impacts, new and more effective seatbelt webbing has been employed, and optional active front-seat head restraints jut forward when necessary to lessen whiplash and other similar style injuries.

Both left and right-hand drive testing was carried out.

As there are different test requirements for different markets, computer modelling was used to stack up individual cars in a modular way – choosing various body, engine and gearbox permutations – and then put together as per a particular market’s requirements.

One senior VE engineer joked about his new grey hairs: "I wear those ... as a badge of honour, because I’m really rapt at where we have been able to get this car to."