Holden VN Commodore

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Holden VN Commodore

Manufacturer:	Holden
Parent company:	General Motors
Production:	17 August 1988–October 1991
Assembly:	Petone, North Island, New Zealand
Predecessor:	Holden VL Commodore
Successor:	Holden VP Commodore
Body style:	4-door sedan 4-door station wagon
Platform:	GM V platform
Engine:	Straight-4 2.0 L V6 125 kW 3.8 L: 3800 V6 V8 165 kW 5.0 L: HEC 5000i V8
Transmission:	5-speed manual Borg-Warner T-5 4-speed automatic GM HydraMatic 700
Suspension:	Front: MacPherson strut, incorporating wet sleeve shock absorbers, stabilizer bar, coil springs Rear: Trailing arm with 5-link location, panhard rod, progressive rate coil springs, double acting shock absorbers, stabilizer bar Type: Front: FE2 Sports, Country Pack Rear: FE2 Sports, Country Pack
Steering:	Type: owner assisted with variable assist, variable ratio rack and pinion Turning circle: 10.4 m
Wheelbase:	Sedan: 4850 mm Station Wagon: 4896 mm
Length:	Sedan: 2731 mm Station Wagon: 2822 mm
Width:	Sedan: Executive: 1794 mm Berlina: 1802 mm Station Wagon: Executive: 1794 mm Berlina: 1802 mm
Height:	Sedan: Executive: 1403 mm Berlina: 1400 mm Station Wagon: Executive: 1422 mm Berlina: 1474 mm
Ride height:	Sedan: Executive: 143 mm Berlina: 142 mm Station Wagon: Executive: 141 mm Berlina: 139 mm
Front track:	1451 mm
Rear track:	1478 mm
Curb weight:	V6 Sedan: Executive: 1311 kg Berlina: 1370 kg Calais: 1391 kg V8 Sedan: Executive: 1377 kg Berlina: 1440 kg V6 Station Wagon: Executive: 1359 kg Berlina: 1422 kg V8 Station Wagon: Executive: 1425 kg Berlina: 1492 kg
Fuel economy:	V6 Manual: City: 11.5 L / 100 km Highway: 7.6 L / 100 km V6 Automatic: City: 12.5 L / 100 km Highway: 8.0 L / 100 km V8 Manual: City: 14.5 L / 100 km Highway: 9.0 L / 100 km V8 Automatic: City: 15.0 L / 100 km Highway: 9.5 L / 100 km
Fuel capacity:	V6 Sedan: 63 L V8 Sedan: 80 L V6 / V8 Station Wagon: 68 L
Luggage Capacity:	Sedan: 433 L Station Wagon: 2491 L (rear seat folded down)
Related:	Holden VG Ute Holden VQ Statesman Holden VQ Caprice Opel Omega Opel Senator

The Holden VN Commodore was the sixth model generation of the Holden Commodore, a large car produced by the Australian automobile manufacturer Holden.

This and subsequent versions took their bodywork from the slightly larger Opel Senator, and the car was released on August 17, 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 Commodore floor plan was widened and stretched. The Commodore could now match the rival Ford Falcon for size, and for the first time was available as a ute, which was given the model designation VG. The VN Commodore was available in Executive, S, SS, Berlina and Calais specification levels, although a more basic SL model (opt. code A9K) was apparently offered to government and fleet buyers, 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. The similarly based VQ Statesman / Caprice, were built on an even longer wheelbase which were shared with the wagon and utility models. In September 1989 the Series II of the VN Commodore was released with the EV6 motor.

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 (L) 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. Holden initially admitted to fitting the engine wrong in the VN, a problem which had been corrected in the VP. 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.

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.

1 New Zealand
2 Specification levels
3 Limited edition and other specification levels
4 Gallery
5 Notes
6 References

[edit] 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 Nissan straight-6 motor.

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 utilized a 2.0 L 4-cylinder engine.

The Berlina 4-cylinder model was a unique car for New Zealand (and other export markets), and was unavailable to Australia. Developed in Australia primarily for the New Zealand market, it was equipped with an unemissionized 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 bodystyles.

The Calais models were also offered to New Zealand, primarily in V6 form. In fact, due to a cancelled Singapore order - 20 fully equipped VN Calais models were sold in New Zealand - utilizing the Berlina's 4-cylinder motor. Additionally, it is believed that there are a few VN Calais wagons in existance in New Zealand.

An indigenous sports model, the Commodore GTS, was also offered to the New Zealand market during 1990. Based off the New Zealand Executive models, the GTS featured a bodykit (similar to that of the VN Commodore SS), alloys and FE2 suspension.

The VN was the last Commodore to be assembled in New Zealand, after GM closed its plant in Petone in late 1990, thereafter importing cars from Australia, duty-free.

[edit] Specification levels

[edit] Commodore Executive

The Commodore Executive was the baseline model of the VN Commodore range, and was priced from AU$20,014 when new.

The Commodore Executive standard features included:^[1]

125 kW 3.8 L V6
5-speed manual transmission
Power steering
14 inch steel wheels

The Commodore Executive optional features included:^[2]

165 kW 5.0 L V8
4 speed automatic transmission
Air conditioning
Cruise control
Holden Formula Bodykit
15 inch alloy wheels

[edit] Commodore S

The Commodore S was the cheapest sports variant of the VN Commodore range, and was priced from AU$21,665 when new.

The Commodore S standard features supersede and add to those of the Commodore Executive variant:^[3]

Basic bodykit

The Commodore S optional features included:^[4]

Air conditioning
Cruise control
Holden Formula Bodykit
Power Pack which incorporated:
- Front and rear power windows
- Power antenna
- Power mirrors
15 inch alloy wheels

[edit] Commodore SS

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 AU$25,375 when new.

The Commodore SS standard features supersede and add to those of the Commodore S variant:^[5]

165 kW 5.0 L V8
Air conditioning
Driving lights
FE2 sports suspension

The Commodore SS optional features included:^[6]

Air conditioning
Holden Formula Bodykit
Power Pack which incorporated:
- Front and rear power windows
- Power antenna
- Power mirrors

[edit] Commodore Berlina

The Commodore Berlina was the semi-luxury version of the VN Commodore range, and was priced from AU$24,781 when new.

The Commodore Berlina standard features supersede and add to those of the Commodore Executive variant:^[7]

4 speed automatic transmission
Air conditioning

The Commodore Berlina optional features included:^[8]

165 kW 5.0 L V8
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

[edit] Calais

The Calais was the luxury version of the VN Commodore range, and was priced from AU$31,265 when new.

The Calais standard features supersede and add to those of the Commodore Berlina variant:^[9]

Cruise control
Power Pack which incorporated:
- Front and rear power windows
- Power antenna
- Power mirrors
15 inch alloy wheels

The Calais optional features included:^[10]

5 speed manual transmission
Country pack suspension
Holden Formula Bodykit
Leather upholstery
Limited Slip Differential (LSD)
Sports suspension

[edit] Limited edition and other specification levels

[edit] 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.

Many believe that BT1 Commodores had a "cop chip" which increased the engine power output, however this is a myth, as the engine power is the same as in regular VN Commodores.

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:

FE2 sports suspension
Oil sump protector
Unique instrument cluster
Unique interior lighting
Wider wheels

[edit] 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:

165 kW 5.0L V8
4 speed automatic transmission
Air conditioning
Cruise control
Holden Formula Bodykit
15-inch alloy wheels

[edit] Commodore GTS

The Commodore GTS, was a limited run V6-engined sports model for the New Zealand market, based off the New Zealand-spec Executive model. Features included a body spoiler package, alloy wheels and FE2 sports suspension.

[edit] Gallery

Commodore Berlina	Commodore Berlina	Commodore Berlina Interior	Calais Engine Bay
Calais Interior	Commodore Vacationer	Holden Formula Bodykit	Holden Formula Bodykit