Holden VN Commodore
Encyclopedia
The Holden VN Commodore was the sixth model of the Holden Commodore
, a full-size car
produced by the Australian automotive marque, Holden
. It is essentially made out of an Opel donor body mated to either a Buick V6 or Holden V8, depending on the model, with slight tweaks to the front and rear ends and the Holden lion rebadging.
, and the car was released on 17 August 1988. As well as being highly based on the Opel Senator, the VN also was similarly based on the Opel Omega, but this time, the previous Holden VL Commodore
floor plan was widened and stretched. The Commodore could now match the rival Ford Falcon
for size. The VN Commodore was available in Executive, S, SS, Berlina and Calais specification levels, although a more basic SL model (opt. code A9K) was supposedly offered to government and fleet buyers, as it was not officially listed as part of the Commodore range. The VN Commodore was also awarded Wheels Car of the Year
for a second time in 1988. From August 1990, a Commodore-based coupe utility
was offered for the first time, known as the Holden VG Utility. The Holden VQ Statesman and Caprice models, which were introduced in March 1990, were also VN Commodore based, but shared a longer wheelbase with the VN Commodore wagon and VG Utility.
Changes in the relative values of the Australian dollar
, the yen
, and the US dollar made it impractical to continue with the well-regarded Nissan engine of the VL
. Instead, Holden manufactured their own 90 degree V6 based on an old Buick design from the US, although initially it was imported. The 5.0 litre V8 remained optional and received a power boost to 165 kW. Both these engines used multi point GM EFI
and the V6 using 3 coil-packs for ignition. Although not known for its smoothness or quietness, the V6 was nevertheless praised for its performance at the time. A fuel-injected, 2.0 L engined VN Commodore Four was offered for some export markets including New Zealand
and Singapore
, which were sold as the Holden Berlina sharing an engine with the Opel Vectra A. Accompanying the changes to engines, the 4-speed Jatco automatic transmission was replaced by the GM TH700 and the Borg-Warner T-5
5-speed manual gearbox.
In September 1989 the Series II of the VN Commodore was released with the EV6 motor. Some of the changes included a new cast exhaust manifold, new camshaft sprocket profile and timing chain, improved air and fuel distribution to combustion chamber, recalibrated ignition and injector firing within the engine management computer, wider conrod bearings and revised throttle uptake. The automatic transmission was also recalibrated to match the new engines torque characteristics. These revisions helped reduce initial torque levels whilst also improving the noise and vibration levels of the V6 engine.
Under the Hawke
government's Button car plan
, which saw a reduction in the number of models manufactured locally, and the introduction of model sharing, the VN Commodore was rebadged
as the Toyota Lexcen, named after the late America's Cup
yacht designer, Ben Lexcen
. Subsequently the Toyota Corolla
and Camry
were, similarly, badged as the Holden Nova
and Holden Apollo
.
A total of 215,180 Holden VN Commodores were manufactured during the model's 3 year lifespan.
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A unique situation of the New Zealand VN Commodore was its trim levels. Where in Australia, Berlina was of higher spec than Executive; in New Zealand the roles were actually reversed. Commodore Executive was the Australian Berlina spec, while Berlina – had a similar spec to the Australian Executive models - and utilised a 2.0 litre Family II
four-cylinder engine.
The Berlina 4-cylinder model was a unique car for New Zealand, as well as other export markets, and was unavailable to Australia. The four-cylinder Berlina was developed in Australia primarily for the New Zealand market, it was equipped with an unemissionised fuel-injected 2.0 L motor (tuned to run on 96 octane fuel), essentially that of the Opel Vectra
A mounted north-south, driving the rear wheels. The Berlina was available in both sedan and wagon body styles.
The Calais models were also offered to New Zealand, primarily in V6 form. In fact, due to a cancelled Singapore order, twenty fully equipped VN Calais models were sold in New Zealand - utilizing the Berlina's four-cylinder motor. Additionally, it is believed that there are a few VN Calais wagons in existence in New Zealand.
An indigenous sports model, the Commodore GTS, was also offered to the New Zealand market during 1990. Based on the New Zealand Executive models, the GTS featured a 3.8L V6 engine, manual or automatic transmission, bodykit (similar to that of the VN Commodore SS), alloys and FE2 suspension. It was a limited build, available in either White or Dark Blue.
The VN was the last Commodore to be assembled in New Zealand, after General Motors closed its plant in Trentham in late 1990. Thereafter, GM cars were imported from Australia, duty-free.
The Commodore Executive was the baseline model of the VN Commodore range, and was priced from A$
20,014 when new.
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The Commodore S was the cheapest sports variant of the VN Commodore range, and was priced from A$21,665 when new.
The Commodore SS was released in March 1989 and was the top of the line sports model of the VN Commodore range., and was priced from A$25,375 when new.
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The Commodore Berlina was the semi-luxury version of the VN Commodore range, and was priced from A$24,781 when new.
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The Calais was the luxury version of the VN Commodore range, and was priced from A$31,265 when new.
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and featured upgraded engine, transmission, brake and wheel specifications. Only 302 examples were produced.
Holden Commodore
The Holden Commodore is an automobile manufactured since 1978 by the Holden subsidiary of General Motors in Australia, and, formerly, in New Zealand. In the mid-1970s, Holden established proposals to replace the long-serving Kingswood nameplate with a smaller, Opel-based model...
, a full-size car
Full-size car
A full-size car is a marketing term used in North America for an automobile larger than a mid-size car. In the United States, the EPA uses "large car" to denote full-size cars....
produced by the Australian automotive marque, Holden
Holden
GM Holden Ltd is an automaker that operates in Australia, based in Port Melbourne, Victoria. The company was founded in 1856 as a saddlery manufacturer. In 1908 it moved into the automotive field, before becoming a subsidiary of the U.S.-based General Motors in 1931...
. It is essentially made out of an Opel donor body mated to either a Buick V6 or Holden V8, depending on the model, with slight tweaks to the front and rear ends and the Holden lion rebadging.
History
This and subsequent versions based their bodywork on the Opel Senator and OmegaOpel Omega
The Opel Omega was an executive car marketed by the German automaker Opel between 1986 and 2003 in two generations, both manufactured at Opel's Rüsselsheim, Germany plant. The first generation, the Omega A , superseded the Opel Rekord, was voted European Car of the Year for 1987, and was available...
, and the car was released on 17 August 1988. As well as being highly based on the Opel Senator, the VN also was similarly based on the Opel Omega, but this time, the previous Holden VL Commodore
Holden VL Commodore
The Holden VL Commodore and Calais were a range of mid-sized cars manufactured between 1986 and 1988 by the General Motors Australian arm, Holden...
floor plan was widened and stretched. The Commodore could now match the rival Ford Falcon
Ford Falcon (Australia)
The Ford Falcon is a full-size car which has been manufactured by Ford Australia since 1960. Each model from the XA series of 1972 onward has been designed, developed and built in Australia and/or New Zealand, following the phasing out of the American Falcon of 1960–71 which had been re-engineered...
for size. The VN Commodore was available in Executive, S, SS, Berlina and Calais specification levels, although a more basic SL model (opt. code A9K) was supposedly offered to government and fleet buyers, as it was not officially listed as part of the Commodore range. The VN Commodore was also awarded Wheels Car of the Year
Wheels Car of the Year
Wheels magazine has announced its Car of the Year every year since 1963, with the exception of 1972, 1979 and 1986 when no cars were considered worthy of the honour . It is considered Australia's most prestigious automotive award...
for a second time in 1988. From August 1990, a Commodore-based coupe utility
Coupé utility
The coupé utility automobile body style, also known colloquially as the ute in Australia and New Zealand, combines a two-door "coupé" cabin with an integral cargo bed behind the cabin—using a light-duty passenger vehicle-derived platform....
was offered for the first time, known as the Holden VG Utility. The Holden VQ Statesman and Caprice models, which were introduced in March 1990, were also VN Commodore based, but shared a longer wheelbase with the VN Commodore wagon and VG Utility.
Changes in the relative values of the Australian dollar
Australian dollar
The Australian dollar is the currency of the Commonwealth of Australia, including Christmas Island, Cocos Islands, and Norfolk Island, as well as the independent Pacific Island states of Kiribati, Nauru and Tuvalu...
, the yen
Japanese yen
The is the official currency of Japan. It is the third most traded currency in the foreign exchange market after the United States dollar and the euro. It is also widely used as a reserve currency after the U.S. dollar, the euro and the pound sterling...
, and the US dollar made it impractical to continue with the well-regarded Nissan engine of the VL
Holden VL Commodore
The Holden VL Commodore and Calais were a range of mid-sized cars manufactured between 1986 and 1988 by the General Motors Australian arm, Holden...
. Instead, Holden manufactured their own 90 degree V6 based on an old Buick design from the US, although initially it was imported. The 5.0 litre V8 remained optional and received a power boost to 165 kW. Both these engines used multi point GM EFI
Fuel injection
Fuel injection is a system for admitting fuel into an internal combustion engine. It has become the primary fuel delivery system used in automotive petrol engines, having almost completely replaced carburetors in the late 1980s....
and the V6 using 3 coil-packs for ignition. Although not known for its smoothness or quietness, the V6 was nevertheless praised for its performance at the time. A fuel-injected, 2.0 L engined VN Commodore Four was offered for some export markets including New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
and Singapore
Singapore
Singapore , officially the Republic of Singapore, is a Southeast Asian city-state off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, north of the equator. An island country made up of 63 islands, it is separated from Malaysia by the Straits of Johor to its north and from Indonesia's Riau Islands by the...
, which were sold as the Holden Berlina sharing an engine with the Opel Vectra A. Accompanying the changes to engines, the 4-speed Jatco automatic transmission was replaced by the GM TH700 and the Borg-Warner T-5
Borg-Warner T-5
The TREMEC T-5 is a 5-speed manual transmission for longitudinal engine automobiles. It includes one overdrive gear, a light-weight aluminum housing, and is adaptable for four wheel drive use. It is manufactured by Transmission Technologies Corporation, under the TREMEC brand name...
5-speed manual gearbox.
In September 1989 the Series II of the VN Commodore was released with the EV6 motor. Some of the changes included a new cast exhaust manifold, new camshaft sprocket profile and timing chain, improved air and fuel distribution to combustion chamber, recalibrated ignition and injector firing within the engine management computer, wider conrod bearings and revised throttle uptake. The automatic transmission was also recalibrated to match the new engines torque characteristics. These revisions helped reduce initial torque levels whilst also improving the noise and vibration levels of the V6 engine.
Under the Hawke
Bob Hawke
Robert James Lee "Bob" Hawke AC GCL was the 23rd Prime Minister of Australia from March 1983 to December 1991 and therefore longest serving Australian Labor Party Prime Minister....
government's Button car plan
Button car plan
The Button car plan, also known as the Button plan was the informal name given to the Motor Industry Development Plan. The plan was an Australian federal government initiative, intended to rationalise the Australian motor vehicle industry. Industry consultation had begun in 1984 with a proposed...
, which saw a reduction in the number of models manufactured locally, and the introduction of model sharing, the VN Commodore was rebadged
Badge engineering
Badge engineering is an ironic term that describes the rebadging of one product as another...
as the Toyota Lexcen, named after the late America's Cup
America's Cup
The America’s Cup is a trophy awarded to the winner of the America's Cup match races between two yachts. One yacht, known as the defender, represents the yacht club that currently holds the America's Cup and the second yacht, known as the challenger, represents the yacht club that is challenging...
yacht designer, Ben Lexcen
Ben Lexcen
Ben Lexcen AM born Robert Miller was an Australian yachtsman and marine architect. He is famous for the winged keel design applied to Australia II which, in 1983, became the first non-American yacht to win the prestigious America's Cup in 132 years.-Early life:Born in the coastal town of...
. Subsequently the Toyota Corolla
Toyota Corolla
The Toyota Corolla is a line of subcompact and compact cars manufactured by the Japanese automaker Toyota, which has become very popular throughout the world since the nameplate was first introduced in 1966. In 1997, the Corolla became the best selling nameplate in the world, with over 35 million...
and Camry
Toyota Camry
The Toyota Camry is a series of mid-size automobiles manufactured by Toyota since 1982, and sold in the majority of automotive markets throughout the world...
were, similarly, badged as the Holden Nova
Holden Nova
The Holden Nova was a compact car that was produced by the GM-Holden-Toyota alliance, known as United Australian Automobile Industries in Australia between August 1989 and 1996. The alliance, and therefore the car, was a result of the failed Button car plan which attempted to rationalise the...
and Holden Apollo
Holden Apollo
The Holden Apollo is a compact and later mid-size car that was distributed from 1989 to 1997 by Holden, the Australian subsidiary of General Motors . As a successor to the GM-engineered Holden Camira, the Apollo was a badge engineered version of the Toyota Camry, also sold in Australia...
.
A total of 215,180 Holden VN Commodores were manufactured during the model's 3 year lifespan.
New Zealand
The VN series was assembled in New Zealand between 1988 and 1990. For the first few months of production it was actually assembled alongside its predecessor, the VL. This was due to the VL Commodore being slightly smaller, and offering a 2.0 L inline-six Nissan RB20E (for New Zealand only) or 3.0 L RB30E straight-six motor, also by Nissan.GM Family II engine
The Family II is a straight-4 piston engine that was originally developed by Opel in the early 1970s. It was used in the Opel Ascona and Opel Kadett and their corresponding sister models the Vauxhall Cavalier and Vauxhall Astra...
four-cylinder engine.
The Berlina 4-cylinder model was a unique car for New Zealand, as well as other export markets, and was unavailable to Australia. The four-cylinder Berlina was developed in Australia primarily for the New Zealand market, it was equipped with an unemissionised fuel-injected 2.0 L motor (tuned to run on 96 octane fuel), essentially that of the Opel Vectra
Opel Vectra
The Opel Vectra is a large family car that was engineered and produced by Opel. In the United Kingdom, the car was sold under the Vauxhall marque as the Vauxhall Cavalier and later as the Vauxhall Vectra, from 1995 onwards...
A mounted north-south, driving the rear wheels. The Berlina was available in both sedan and wagon body styles.
The Calais models were also offered to New Zealand, primarily in V6 form. In fact, due to a cancelled Singapore order, twenty fully equipped VN Calais models were sold in New Zealand - utilizing the Berlina's four-cylinder motor. Additionally, it is believed that there are a few VN Calais wagons in existence in New Zealand.
An indigenous sports model, the Commodore GTS, was also offered to the New Zealand market during 1990. Based on the New Zealand Executive models, the GTS featured a 3.8L V6 engine, manual or automatic transmission, bodykit (similar to that of the VN Commodore SS), alloys and FE2 suspension. It was a limited build, available in either White or Dark Blue.
The VN was the last Commodore to be assembled in New Zealand, after General Motors closed its plant in Trentham in late 1990. Thereafter, GM cars were imported from Australia, duty-free.
Commodore Executive
Australian dollar
The Australian dollar is the currency of the Commonwealth of Australia, including Christmas Island, Cocos Islands, and Norfolk Island, as well as the independent Pacific Island states of Kiribati, Nauru and Tuvalu...
20,014 when new.
- The Commodore Executive standard features included:
- 3.8 litre 125 kW V6 engine
- 5-speed manual transmission
- Power steeringPower steeringPower steering helps drivers steer vehicles by augmenting steering effort of the steering wheel.Hydraulic or electric actuators add controlled energy to the steering mechanism, so the driver needs to provide only modest effort regardless of conditions. Power steering helps considerably when a...
- power assisted disc brakes on all four wheels
- 14 inch steel wheels
- The Commodore Executive optional features included:
- 5.0 L 165 kW V8 engine
- 4-speed automatic transmission
- Air conditioningAir conditioningAn air conditioner is a home appliance, system, or mechanism designed to dehumidify and extract heat from an area. The cooling is done using a simple refrigeration cycle...
- Cruise controlCruise controlCruise control is a system that automatically controls the speed of a motor vehicle. The system takes over the throttle of the car to maintain a steady speed as set by the driver.-History:...
- Holden Formula Bodykit
- 15 inch alloy wheels
Commodore S
- The Commodore S standard features supersede and add to those of the Commodore Executive variant:
- Basic bodykit
- Sports trim interior
- Sports badging & exterior striping
- FE2 Suspension
- The Commodore S optional features included:
- Air conditioning
- Cruise control
- Holden Formula Bodykit
- Optional Power Pack which incorporated:
- Front and rear power windowPower windowPower windows or electric windows as well as electric or power window lifts are automobile windows which can be raised and lowered by depressing a button or switch, as opposed to using a hand-turned crank handle.- History :Packard introduced the first power windows in the 1940 Packard...
s - Power antennaAntenna (radio)An antenna is an electrical device which converts electric currents into radio waves, and vice versa. It is usually used with a radio transmitter or radio receiver...
- Power mirrors
- Front and rear power window
- 15 inch alloy wheels (usually colour coded)
- Metallic Paint
Commodore SS
- The Commodore SS standard features supersede and add to those of the Commodore S variant:
- 5.0 litre 165 kW V8 engine
- Air conditioning
- Driving lights
- FE2 sports suspension
- The Commodore SS optional features included:
- Air conditioning
- Holden Formula Bodykit
- Power Pack which incorporated:
- Front and rear power windows
- Power antenna
- Power mirrors
- Cruise control (Automatic only)
Commodore Berlina
- The Commodore Berlina standard features supersede and add to those of the Commodore Executive variant:
- 4-speed automatic transmission
- Air conditioning
- The Commodore Berlina optional features included:
- 5.0 litre 165 kW V8 engine
- 5-speed manual transmission
- Cruise control
- Holden Formula Bodykit
- Power Pack which incorporated:
- Front and rear power windows
- Power antenna
- Power mirrors
- 15 inch alloy wheels
Calais
- The Calais standard features supersede and add to those of the Commodore Berlina variant:
- Cruise control
- Power Pack which incorporated:
- Front and rear power windows
- Power antenna
- Power mirrors
- 15 inch alloy wheels
- Computer assisted trip/odometerOdometerAn odometer or odograph is an instrument that indicates distance traveled by a vehicle, such as a bicycle or automobile. The device may be electronic, mechanical, or a combination of the two. The word derives from the Greek words hodós and métron...
- Climate control
- Remote central locking
- The Calais optional features included:
- 5.0 litre 165 kW V8 engine, incorporating LSD)
- 5-speed manual transmission
- Alarm
- Computer assisted trip/odometerOdometerAn odometer or odograph is an instrument that indicates distance traveled by a vehicle, such as a bicycle or automobile. The device may be electronic, mechanical, or a combination of the two. The word derives from the Greek words hodós and métron...
- Country pack suspension
- Holden Formula Body kit
- Leather upholsteryUpholsteryUpholstery is the work of providing furniture, especially seats, with padding, springs, webbing, and fabric or leather covers. The word upholstery comes from the Middle English word upholder, which referred to a tradesman who held up his goods. The term is equally applicable to domestic,...
- Limited slip differentialLimited slip differentialA limited slip differential is a type of differential gear arrangement that allows for some difference in angular velocity of the output shafts, but imposes a mechanical bound on the disparity...
(LSD) - Sports suspension
Limited edition and other specification levels
Commodore BT1
The Commodore BT1 or the Police Pack was a special pack for the VN Commodore that was available to the Australian and New Zealand Police Forces. It was based on the Commodore Executive and added various specification upgrades to cater to the needs of the Police Force.- The BT1 Commodores standard features supersede and add to those of the Commodore Executive. Although the pack varied in each state, they were commonly fitted with:
- 5.0 litre 165 kW V8 engine
- 4-speed automatic transmission
- Engine tuning stage 5
- Extractors
- FE2 sports suspension
- Oil sump protector
- Unique instrument cluster
- Unique interior lighting
- SS exhaust pack
- Transmission cooler
Commodore Vacationer
The Commodore Vacationer was a limited edition of VN Commodore range based on the Commodore Executive.- The Commodore Vacationer standard features supersede and add to those of the Commodore Executive variant:
- Special Vacationer badging
- The Commodore Vacationer optional features included:
- 5.0 litre 165 kW V8 engine
- 4-speed automatic transmission
- Air conditioning
- Cruise control
- Holden Formula Bodykit
- 15 inch alloy wheels
Commodore GTS
The Commodore GTS was a limited run V6-engined sports model for the New Zealand market, based on the New Zealand-spec Executive model. Features included an extensive spoiler package, 5-spoke alloy wheels and FE2 sports suspension.Commodore SS Group A SV
The SS Group A SV was a race homologation special based on the VN Commodore SS. It was developed for Holden by Holden Special VehiclesHolden Special Vehicles
Holden Special Vehicles is the officially designated performance vehicle partner of Australian automobile manufacturer Holden. Established in 1987 and based in Clayton, Victoria, the company modifies Holden models such as the Commodore, Caprice and Ute and markets them under the HSV brandname.-...
and featured upgraded engine, transmission, brake and wheel specifications. Only 302 examples were produced.
External links
- Holden Model History - Holden Commodore / Calais - VN Series 17 August 1988 - October 1991
- The Commodore Info Page - Holden Commodore / Calais - VN Series 17 August 1988 - October 1991
- The Unofficial Holden Commodore Archive - VN Commodore / Calais
- The Unofficial Holden Commodore Archive - VN Commodore / Calais Specifications
- Unique Cars and Parts: Holden Commodore VN