Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com Autoblog http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.autoblog.com/media/feedlogo.gif Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com en-us Copyright 2009 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Melbourne 2008: Holden unveils VE Sportwagon and adds SS for flavor]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/02/28/melbourne-2008-holden-unveils-ve-sportwagon-and-adds-ss-for-fla/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/02/28/melbourne-2008-holden-unveils-ve-sportwagon-and-adds-ss-for-fla/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/02/28/melbourne-2008-holden-unveils-ve-sportwagon-and-adds-ss-for-fla/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,


Click image for a high-res gallery of the VE Sportwagon SS-V

Wagons are cool. They're practical, too -- a fact most of the world outside North America seems to fully understand. Alas, we're here in the land of the crossover. Sure, there are some nice ones, but they aren't nearly as fun as what Holden has brewing. Following up the "concept" that made its debut in Sydney last October, Holden has formally unveiled the VE Sportwagon, which comes in the same range of trim levels as the VE Commodore sedan, up to and including the musclebound, tire-immolating SS-V, which is shown above.

Depending on trim level, non-SS models generally come with one of two 3.6L Alloytec V6 engines (this is the same 3.6 you'll find in any number of US GM vehicles -- the Alloytec-branded motors are manufactured in Australia, however). The standard one is good for 241 hp / 243 lb-ft via a 4-speed automatic. The "high-output" version delivers 261 hp / 250 lb-ft courtesy of a 5-speed auto with a manumatic feature. The SSvand SS-V get the 6.0L, 362-horsepower / 390 lb-ft V8 as standard equipment. It's mated to a 6-speed automatic, also with a manual-shift feature. Optionally, the Calais V can be had with this powertrain as well.

The SS-V is our fave, with HID lamps, big 19" wheels, and the full muscle-machine look of its sedan counterpart, just with more space for your stuff. Sadly, Pontiac won't be getting a version of the VE Sportwagon, which would have been a much cooler Poncho family hauler than the '87 Safari 9-seater (navy blue with the woodgrain stickers and yacht-like steering) this Autoblogger learned to drive in. Chalk up yet another win for Aussie gearheads, who'll get a highly practical and stylish vehicle that can do burnouts at will.

Gallery: 2008 Holden VE Sportwagon SS-V


Gallery: 2008 Holden VE Sportwagon Calais V


[Source: Holden]

Continue reading Melbourne 2008: Holden unveils VE Sportwagon and adds SS for flavor

Melbourne 2008: Holden unveils VE Sportwagon and adds SS for flavor originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 28 Feb 2008 21:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>calaiscalais VCalaisVSSSS-Vve sportwagonVeSportwagonThu, 28 Feb 2008 21:55:00 EST<![CDATA[The rocky road to the Holden VE Sportwagon]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2007/10/26/the-rocky-road-to-the-holden-ve-sportwagon/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/10/26/the-rocky-road-to-the-holden-ve-sportwagon/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/10/26/the-rocky-road-to-the-holden-ve-sportwagon/#commentsFiled under: , , ,



You'd think after looking at it that the Holden VE Sportwagon was one of those no-brainer vehicles that was a production lock from the moment it was a twinkle in some designer's eye. According to GoAuto, that wasn't exactly the case. The outgoing VZ wagon was a fleet darling, beloved for its exceptional cargo capacity. That added space came courtesy of the same LWB architecture used for the Caprice and Statesman sedans. In a departure from tradition (the wagons had been built on long-wheelbase platforms for decades), the VE proposal was based on the shorter underpinnings used for the Commodore sedan. With that comes reduced capacity and a total package that's less attractive to fleets. After ultimately seeing a clay model of the car presented in Sydney, Holden execs greenlit the project anyway.

And that's where we, the US and Canada, come in. One of the factors that pushed the VE wagon into production was its obvious export appeal. No agreements or contracts are in place, but according to GoAuto, Holden sees exports of 10,000 per year as being the goal, and North America the biggest target market outside of Australia and new Zealand. Meanwhile, Holden feels it can mitigate the expected downturn in fleet sales at home by leveraging the VE's great looks and sporty practicality to sell more profitable examples to consumers, especially ones looking to get out of SUVs. Assuming the stars line up and the car comes over to the US as hoped, it would be after the arrival of the Ute, which appears to be next in line according to the GoAuto piece. There's a lot more to the article, which is interesting, wide-ranging, and worth a read. As for the VE Wagon, well, this Autoblogger's all for it. It's a hell of a lot cooler than the '87 Pontiac Safari my parents had, and that I learned to drive in. Let's leave the wood stickers off this one, though, okay?

[Source: GoAuto]

Gallery: Holden VE Commodore Sportwagon

The rocky road to the Holden VE Sportwagon originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 26 Oct 2007 19:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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