Holden VS Commodore

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Holden VS Commodore
1994 Holden VS Commodore
Production April 1995August 1997
Engine V6
  • 3.8 L 147 kW: ECOTEC
  • 3.8 L 165 kW: Supercharged
V8
  • 5.0 L 165 kW: HEC 5000i V8

The Holden VS commodore, released in 1995, was the next commodore model following the VR. Whilst externally identical to the VR, barring badging and oval side indicators in the series 2 (clear oval indicators series III Vs ute), the VS included the new ECOTEC, "Emissions and Consumption Optimisation through TEChnology", engine in the standard V6 versions (L36) and the L67 motor for factory supercharged V6's. The 5.0 L V8 versions of the VS retained the VR's engine setup. The new ecotec engine was not at its core the standard Buick V6 found in the VR. They started off with a totally new engine and only retained the dimensions of bore and stroke. The ecotec had 13% more power over the VR and 5% better fuel economy. The compression ratio was also increased from 8.5:1 on the VR to 9.4:1 on the VS. Also cross bolted mains are used in the ecotec with the same crank retained from the VR. The block was decked 1" and also the ecotec featured shorter, lighter rods with tin plated pistons and a floating pin design. The head design was revised greatly from the VR with the ECOTEC now features symmetrical ports with larger intake and exhaust valves. The end result was an engine that put out 147 kW, a 17 kW improvement on the VR, however the 0-100 km time of the new ecotec VS was only better than the VR's by 0.2 of a second.

This model was also sold as the Opel Calais in Singapore and Malaysia. It was a Holden Calais body with a Statesman front end and a 2.6 litre inline-6 [1]. The VS Commodore was the last of which to be sold as Toyota Lexcens, as Holden and Toyota ended their model-sharing scheme. The last Lexcens were built during 1997.