To catch our first glimpse of the highly anticipated Chevrolet SS sports sedan we have to go to Melbourne, where yesterday Holden revealed the new Commodore VF concept. This is, basically, the new Chevy SS, built on GM’s advanced rear-wheel drive platform and powered by the same LT1 V8 you found in the new Corvette.
Not much is revealed about the new Commodore’s specifications, as the purpose of this presentation was to show us the new design. The VF, according to Holden, features a premium upgrade to the vehicle interior and exterior, and comes with a range of high-end features such as Auto Park Assist, Head-up Display and Reverse Traffic Alert. That makes it the most advanced vehicle ever built in Australia.
Given the previous powerful rear-wheel sedan that came out of Australia, you can be sure the VF, and consequently the Chevy SS, is going to deliver a superb driving experience. Aussies love burning rubber and going sideways. Those qualities are built into the Commodore’s chassis. It may not be as fast or as refined as its European rivals, but this bad boy is more fun to drive than everything else with four doors.
Performance figures and technical specs will be revealed later. For now check out some pictures and read what the car’s designers and engineers have to say about it:
“Our aim with the new VF Commodore was to create a car that challenged some of the broader perceptions people have about the traditional Australian-made large car,” said Holden Chairman and Managing Director Mike Devereux.
“We have created a car that not only serves the loyal buyers who continue to make Commodore one of the most popular cars in Australia, but also a new breed of discerning customer who wants higher levels of luxury and technology in their car. “When it goes on sale, it will offer levels of quality and sophistication to rival some of the best cars in the world.”
Holden’s Director of Design, Andrew Smith, said the VF exterior design was a precise, contemporary execution that held true to the dynamic poise of its predecessor.
“We’ve taken a powerful existing form and brought it up to another level, with the feeling now about projecting a real sense of quality and technological aptitude,” he said.
“The styling is characterised by sculpted forms and richer detailing. There’s more gleam and polish at every point and careful attention to detail everywhere you look, from the vibrant front fascias and projector headlamp treatments through to the all-new rear end graphics.
“And the key interior elements are entirely new: instrument panel, console, cockpit, seats, steering wheel, switches, shifters, textures, you name it, no detail has escaped attention.
“Our designers set out with deliberate intent to exceed expectations by creating a cabin with premium large car ambience – a wow factor, if you like – that’s characterised by a fresh sense of luxury, comfort and convenience. “It’s a carefully cohesive design which echoes the detailed aesthetic of the exterior and places emphasis on rich, tactile materials and technical refinement. The ergonomic integration is excellent yet it retains a completely intuitive Holden feel”.
“These vehicles reflect the truly international nature of our business and they can certainly hold their own anywhere in the world”.
