A small but dedicated team of GM engineers would
dedicate six years to the development of the
VN, travelling over one and a half million kilometers
during testing at GM's Lang Lang faciltiy.
Initially
the plan was to carry over the Nissan 6 cylinder
unit that had proved (somewhat against the odds)
to be a very flexible and smooth power plant.
But this unit lacked one key ingredient Aussie
drivers were rather fond of, plenty of low down
torque (the rising value of the ¥en didn't
help much either).
The US sourced V6 had been
designed to fit transversly into a front-wheel-drive
configuration in Buicks, Pontiacs and Oldsmobiles,
so the Holden engineers were forced to heavily
modify the unit to suit a rear wheel drive configuration.
Amazingly, despite having just on 25% more capacity
than the Nissan 6, the new V6 was 5 kilo's lighter. It
would be the first V6 ever to be manufactured
in Australia.
The V6 was certainly not technically innovative
from a design point, particularly with its overhead
valve layout, but it was endowed with the latest
in electronic gadgetry such as direct fire injection
and electronic engine management. Unfortunatlely
these, combined with a balance shaft and hydraulic
engine mounts, were not enough to prevent the
engine being considered "harsher" than many of
the competitors.
The trusty 5.0 liter V8 was
carried over to the VN, the most significant
improvement being the addition of port fuel injection
for the first time. The VN was a significant
change from the previous (more compact) Commodore's,
and now the General could go head-to-head with
the Blue Oval in the real large car market.
Size,
it seemed, was everything, with the station wagons,
Statesman and Caprice models all now using an
extended wheelbase. However there was still no
panel van, nor a two-door coupe option.
Years of Manufacture: 1988 - 1991
Number Built: 215,180
Price at Introduction:
Commodore Esecutive L6 Manual Sedan:
$20,014
Commodore S L6 Manual Sedan:
$21,665
Commodore SS V8 Manual Sedan:
$25,375
Holden Calais L6: $31,265
Statesman: $39,950
Statesman Caprice: $41,861
Models:
Commodore Executive Sedan
Commodore Executive Station Wagon
Commodore Berlina Sedan
Commodore Berlina Station Wagon
Commodore S Sedan
Commodore SS Sedan
Holden Calais Sedan
VG Utility
VG S Utility
VQ Statesman
VQ Statesman Caprice
Date(s) of Introduction:
August, 1988
Series II with EV6 motor: September,
1989
VQ Statesman & Caprice: 7th March,
1990
VG Utility: 22nd August, 1990
To Identify:
All new longer and more rounded body
shape
Slimline rectangular headlights
Holden badge in centre of grille, except
on Calais which had a seperate badge
incorporated into the bonnet
Introduction of V6, with V6 decals
Utility incorporates raised roofline
to accomodate the "Akubra" hat (a
marketing gimmick)
Station wagon, Statesmand and Caprice
built on extended wheel base floor-pan,
incorporate wrap around 3rd window.
Statesman and Caprice have individual
grille and tail-light treatment totally
independant of Commodore models
Body:
Unitary construction (Monocoque)
Exterior Dimensions Commodore:
Total Length:
4850mm
Total Width: 1794mm
Total Height
at kerb weight: 1403mm
Wheelbase:
2731mm
Front Track: 1451mm (Calais: 1453)
Rear Track:
1478mm (Calais: 1480)
Exterior Dimensions VG Utility:
Total Length: 4866mm
Total Width: 1780mm
Total Height at kerb weight: 1512mm
Wheelbase: 2821mm
Front Track: 1451mm
Rear Track: 1478mm
Exterior Dimensions VQ Statesman
& Caprice:
Total Length: 4960mm
Total Width: 1812mm
Total Height at kerb weight: 1421mm
(Caprice: 1416mm)
Wheelbase: 2826mm
Front Track: 1485mm
Rear Track: 1487mm
Kerb Weight:
Commodore Executive: 1310kg
Commodore Berlina: 1367kg
Holden Calais: 1391kg
Commodore SS Manual: 1403kg
Commodore SS Automatic: 1403kg
VG Utility: 1336kg
VG Utility S: 1327kg
Statesman: 1536kg
Caprice: 1589kg
Turning Circle:
Commodore: 10.4 metres
VG Utility: 10.4 metres
Statesman & Caprice: 11.5 metres
Fuel Tank Capacity:
Commodore: 63 liters
VG Utility: 68 liters
Statesman & Caprice: 80 liters
Instruments:
All Models have instruments located
around the steering column in four groups:
Instrument panel
Central switch bank
Control panel
Steering column control stalk
Commodore Executive, Berlina, S, SS:
Semi-circular speedo calibrated to 220
km/h
Integrated odometer and tripmeter
Quadrant temperature gauge and fuel gauge
Central warning system in horizontal
cluster for:
High beam
Brake failure
Park brake
Battery
Oil pressure
Optional trailer light
Illuminated:
Heated rear window switch
Ashtray
Windscreen wiper dwell control
Steering column control stalk for:
Indicators
Flasher
Headlamp dip
Digital clock integrated into radio
Commodore S and SS:
As above, with addition of tachometer
Calais, Statesman and Caprice:
As above, with addition of tachometer
Illuminated power antenna switch
Electronic AM/FM radio cassette player
with PIN secutity
Cruise control and trip computer switches
on instrument binnacles
Power window controls on centre console
Power exterior mirror switch on drivers
armrest
3.8 liter V6:
Capacity: 3.791 liter
Type: Conventional, watercooled four
stroke, reciprocating piston type with
6 cylinders
Configuration: Front mounted, longitudinal,
arranged in a Vee
Head: Pushrod and rocker actuated ohv,
with 2 valves per cylinder
Fuel System: Electronic Fuel Injection,
speed density fuel control, Bosch director
place style fuel injectors and Delco
electronic control module
Bore and Stroke: 96.5 x 86.3mm
Power: 125kw at 4800rpm
Torque: 292Nm at 3200rpm
Compression Ratio: 8.5:1
3.8 liter V6 "EV6" (fitted
to VN models from September, 1989):
Capacity: 3.791 liter
Type: Conventional, watercooled four
stroke, reciprocating piston type with
6 cylinders
Configuration: Front mounted, longitudinal,
arranged in a Vee
Head: Pushrod and rocker actuated ohv,
with 2 valves per cylinder
Fuel System: Electronic Fuel Injection,
speed density fuel control, Bosch director
place style fuel injectors and Delco electronic
control module
Bore and Stroke: 96.5 x 86.3mm
Power: 127kw at 4800rpm
Torque: 288Nm at 3200rpm
Compression Ratio: 8.5:1
5.0 liter V8 Engine:
Capacity: 4.987 liter
Type: Conventional, watercooled four
stroke, reciprocating piston type with
8 cylinders
Configuration: Front mounted, longitudinal,
Vee configuration
Head: Pushrod and rocker actuated ohv
with two valves per cylinder
Fuel System: Electronic control port
fuel injection, speed density fuel control,
Bosch director plate style fuel injectors
and Delco electronic control module
Bore and Stroke: 101.6 x 77.8mm
Power: 165kw at 4400rpm
Torque: 385Nm at 3600rpm
Compression Ratio: 8.4:1
Ignition and Electrical:
12 volt negative ground
Battery:
V6 75 min/350
amp nine plate
V8 80 min/400 amp eleven
plate
Exhaust:
V6: fabricated dual exhaust manifolds
V8: Cast iron dual exhaust manifolds
with single crossover pipe. Single seam
welded steel exhaust and tail pipe with
two reverse flow mufflers
Commodore S V6 (125kw) five speed
manual transmission:
1st: 64 km/h
2nd: 105 km/h
3rd: 162 km/h
4th: 208 km/h
5th: 212 km/h
0-100 km/h: 7.7 seconds
Standing Quarter Mile (400 metres):
15.7 seconds
Commodore 5.0 liter SS five speed manual
transmission:
1st: 72 km/h
2nd: 108 km/h
3rd: 157 km/h
4th: 208 km/h
5th: 228 km/h
0-100 km/h: 7.3 seconds
Standing Quarter Mile (400 metres):
15.2 seconds
Statesman 5.0 liter V8 automatic transmission:
1st: 103 km/h
2nd: 130 km/h
3rd: 212 km/h
4th: 225 km/h
0-100 km/h: 8.8 seconds
Standing Quarter Mile (400 metres):
16.3 seconds
Suspension:
Commodore:
Front:
Independent MacPherson wet strut,
linear rate coil springs, wet sleeve
shocks, 26mm stabiliser bar.
Sports Suspension (FE2):
Firmer spring rate, reduced stabiliser
bar diameter, reduced ride height
Rear: Rigid axle, Salisbury type.
5 link location with parallel short
upper and long lower trailing arms
and a Panhard rod between axle and
under body. 16mm decoupled stabiliser
bar, 30.2mm diameter dampers
Sports Suspension (FE2): Firmer
spring rate, increased stabiliser
bar diameter, fuel tank guards
Statesman and Caprice:
Front: Independent MacPherson wet
strut design, progressive rate springs,
stabiliser bar. Caprice fitted with
Bilstein gas pressure dampers
Rear: Hypoid differential, independant
semi trailing. Progressive rate minibloc
coil springs. Double acting dampers.
Stabiliser bar. Caprice fitted with
Bilstein gas pressure dampers
Steering:
Power
hydraulically assisted Rack and Pinion,
variable ratio (17.2:1 on centre to 11.8:1
on lock). Direct linkage (rear to front
wheels) from rack to steering arms. Turns
lock to lock 2.7
Optional manual rack and pinion, variable
ratio (19.7:1 on centre to 23.3:1
on lock. Turns
lock to lock 4.5
Brakes:
Front:
V6:
271mm vented disc with single piston,
sliding head and lightweight caliper
V8: 289mm heavy duty ventilated
discs
Rear:
Solid discs across all models
Wheels:
Commodore Executive, Berlina and VG Utility:
Steel 6.00JJ x 14 ventilated pressed steel
wheels and plastic wheel trims
Commodore SS: 6.00JJ x 15 Alloy
Statesman, Commodore S Sedan/Utility:
Steel 6.00JJ x 14 ventilated pressed
steel wheels
Holden Calais, Statesman Caprice: Styled
cast alloy 6.00JJ x 15
Tyres:
Commodore Executive and Berlina: P185/75
HR14 steel belted radials
VG Utility: P195/75 R-14 95H steel
belted radials
Calais, Commodore S and SS: P205/65
R-15 92H steel belted radials
Statesman and Caprice: P205/65
R-15 92H steel belted radial
Holden VQ Statesman
The Best Luxury Car We've Ever Built
(circa 1991)
"The best prestige car... has to go to the Holden Statesman which combines an excellent Independent Rear Suspension for a great level of ride and handling, with that Australian 5 liter fuel injected V8."
Bill Tuckey, Melbourne Sunday Sun
The Holden Statesman V8 with independent rear suspension, the best luxury car we've ever built.