Commodore update beats Ute to the punch

HOLDEN is believed to be working on a super-hot version of the Statesman, possibly powered by the 250kW V8 Gen III engine currently starring in the HSV range.

The car is said to have a premium brake package and advanced traction control system for enhanced handling, while the engine note is said to be loud enough to turn heads.

Meanwhile, Holden has almost finished development of its next generation Commodore, brought forward to July this year, displacing the launch of the new Holden Ute, which has been delayed again until closer to the Sydney motor show in November, after the Olympics.

The new VX generation Commodore has distinctive teardrop headlamps with clear lenses and a new bumper assembly front and rear, while sporty SS models come with aggressive HSV- style blisters to the bottom of the skirt.

The trademark twin kidney grille is set back further in the nose cone and is larger than the VT version.

The sporty SS model switches alloy wheels from star design to a flat five spoke with raised edge style.

The rear skirt also contains reflectors (like the Alfa 156 and BMW 3 Series Coupe) and possibly sensors connected to an electronic reversing warning system.

The VX Commodore has new tail-lights to match the front but sheetmetal work across the car is unchanged, a testament to the rightness of the original design unveiled in September, 1997.

Brake systems and anti-lock brakes are understood to have been uprated.

The Ute features a handy pull-up sun blind for the large back window while the release handle for the tailgate is located on the inside rather than the exterior of the panel.

The VX program was brought forward to counteract the early update of the Ford Falcon, expected to be shown at the Melbourne motor show, complete with bigger, squarer bumpers, revised trim and a new grille for the base model Forte. Ford will launch the AU II Falcon as part of its 75th anniversary celebrations, as well as marking 40 years of the Falcon nameplate within the Ford family.

The VX Commodore nose upgrades were first revealed in a design document Holden released at the time of the VT Commodore launch in 1997.

A design sketch (above) showed off the headlamp shape and the new nose cone, though the driving lamps on the VX are larger circular units placed further out in the front airdam, along with a pair of VS-style air scoops for cooling brake discs.

Commodore exports are booming with the Middle Eastern states clamouring for more cars while South Africa is expected to vote in favour of accepting Commodore this month, giving GM in South Africa a foil to the Ford Falcon which has been exported from Melbourne since 1996.