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- First day of regular production for new VF Commodore at Elizabeth
- Advanced technology, lightweight materials and enhanced production processes mark the most advanced car ever created in Australia
- Luxurious ‘Prussian Steel’ Calais V first down the line
The most advanced car ever created in Australia will soon be arriving at Holden dealers across the country with the first series production VF Commodores rolling down the line at Holden Vehicle Operations (HVO) today.
Just days after the final VE Commodore was driven off the production line, the first VF Commodores are now being built for customers at Holden’s world-class vehicle assembly facility in Elizabeth, South Australia.
The first production car down the line was the new luxury flagship of the world-class Commodore range, a Calais V finished in ‘Prussian Steel’ Prestige Paint. Representing the pinnacle of Australian-made motoring, the Calais V boasts an array of advanced technologies including Holden MyLink with built-in apps, Auto Park Assist, Forward Collision Alert, Colour Head-up Display, Lane Departure Warning, Rear View Camera, Blind Spot Alert and Reverse Traffic Alert.
“The VF isn’t just the most advanced car to ever roll down the line at our Elizabeth factory, it’s the most advanced car ever created in this country,” said Holden’s Director – Business and Launch Strategy, Nick Baloglou.
“In terms of both technology and the manufacturing process, VF is a huge leap forward for Holden. It’s the best quality car we’ve ever built; it’s bursting with technology and we’ve reduced our cost to build. Everything we have done is focused on giving the customer the best possible car at the best possible price,” said Mr Baloglou.
The VF manufacturing process uses an aluminium bonnet and boot lid for the first time on an Australian car, and highlights the skills and capabilities of Australian manufacturing. Key supplier to Holden, Hirotec, stamps these aluminium panels in Adelaide before delivering them to Holden. Combined, these two aluminium components save 10.4kg compared to conventional steel pressings.
The new panels are equally as strong as their steel equivalents but are 30 per cent lighter – offering significant weight and fuel economy savings.
More lightweight aluminium is incorporated in the form of the Instrument Panel (IP) central beam, supplied by Diver Industries in Melbourne.
The fitting of a lightweight aluminium instrument panel beam – stiffer than and as strong as the steel support it replaces – also brings refinement benefits, with reductions in noise and vibration.
A $39.8 million grant from the Australian Government’s Green Car Innovation Fund (GCIF) has facilitated the addition of a number of advanced fuel economy enablers for the VF, including the use of aluminium componentry, electric power steering and aerodynamic improvements.
Another example of VF Commodore’s cutting-edge technology, and another fuel economy enabler, is the introduction of GM’s new ‘Global A’ electrical architecture – an upgrade made possible through the GCIF grant.
“I’m really proud of what we have achieved with the VF here in our Elizabeth plant,” said Holden Executive Director – Manufacturing, Richard Phillips.
“Our facility and workforce is world-class. We manage an incredible amount of complexity at HVO and incorporating the VF’s sophisticated body structure into an already diverse plant has been a challenge that the team has executed with skill and ingenuity.
“We have implemented a huge number of process and system improvements and the results speak for themselves. The VF is quite simply the best quality car Holden has ever built.”
“Holden has already received global recognition for innovation and productivity in our Elizabeth plant. Now not only do we build the only small car in Australia, the Cruze, but with the cutting-edge new VF we have taken another crucial step in ensuring Holden remains a globally competitive manufacturing base,” said Mr Phillips.
HVO is one of the most flexible plants, not just within GM but anywhere in the world, building two key vehicle architectures: the Cruze small car and the Commodore large car.
From those two core architectures, Holden will build six different body styles and nine variants for a total of 45 different models. This level of complexity is a rarity anywhere in the automotive world, and highlights the advanced capabilities of Holden manufacturing.
Manufacturing has been a central part of Holden’s DNA since the first 48-215 ‘FX’ rolled off the Fishermans Bend production line in Victoria in 1948. Since that historic day, Holden manufacturing has maintained a proud tradition of building outstanding cars for Australia and the world. Soon, Holden will again be exporting cars built at HVO to the United States when the VF goes on sale in the US later this year as Chevrolet’s flagship SS Sports Sedan.
“There’s an enormous amount of pride running through the whole organisation around VF. Pride in the product, pride in our abilities and pride in manufacturing. The VF is stunning proof that Australia can make world-class cars, even against a challenging economic backdrop,” finished Mr Phillips.
The new VF Commodore arrives in showrooms in June 2013, recommended retail prices start at $34,990 RRP for the automatic Evoke sedan. The Calais V V8 sedan which headlined production in Elizabeth today has a recommended retail price of $52,990, plus $550 for the Prussian Steel prestige paint.
VF Commodore makes cutting-edge technology an every-day luxury with Auto Park Assist, MyLink with Siri Eyes Free for compatible mobiles and Rear View Camera as standard on every model.
Combining sophisticated styling, high-class luxury interiors and Commodore’s trademark driving dynamics, the VF is the best Commodore ever.
HOLDEN VF CALAIS V V8 SPECIFICATIONS
- 6.0L 90-degree OHV V8 with Active Fuel Management (AFM) technology
- 6-speed automatic transmission
- 260kW @ 5600rpm
- 517Nm @ 4400rpm
- Anti-Lock Braking System, Electronic Brakeforce Distribution (EBD ), Electronic Brake Assist (EBA), Traction Control System (TCS)
- 8-way power driver seat
- 19” alloy wheels (4)
- Auto Park Assist
- Lane Departure Warning
- Forward Collision Alert
- Blind Spot Alert
- Reverse Traffic Alert
- Rear View Camera
- Colour Head-Up Display
- 9-speaker Bose® premium audio (sedan only)
- Satellite navigation with full colour mapping with live traffic updates, traffic management control and points of interest
- Rain sensing wipers
- Automatic headlamp mode
- Heated front seats
- Sunroof (sedan only)
- DVD (playable stationary)
Holden Commodore VF B Roll 20 May 2013.wmv
Holden Commodore VF B Roll 20 May 2013.mp4
For more information and images visit: www.media.holden.com.au or www.autonews.net.au
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