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E L E C T R I C A L CO N N E C T I O N
A U T UMN 2 0 16
9 3
HOLDEN VFII UTE
G
iving us every reason to celebrate and also start the
grieving process, Holden has turned out the quickest and
most powerful Commodore-based ute ever with the VFII
series upgrade that marks its final Australian-built model range
before closing the shutters on local manufacturing in 2017.
Talk about a final fling, and saving the best ’til last, the
headline act of the VFII series is a new, more powerful all-
alloy 6.2L LS3 V8 that delivers 304kW of power at 6,000rpm
(up 34kW over the previous 6.0L Gen 4), 570Nm of torque at
4,400rpm (up 40Nm) and a stirring soundtrack courtesy of
a bi-modal exhaust and locally designed mechanical sound
enhancer that pumps up the exhaust volume in the cabin and
outside the vehicle by up to 10%.
Previously the domain of HSV’s Maloo, the LS3 V8 in
Holden’s SS, SSV and the SSV Redline utes can reach 100km/h
from standstill in less than five seconds with the standard
six-speed manual, and the optional six-speed automatic is
just a tenth of a second behind.
Fuel economy takes a hit, with the 6.2 V8 consuming about
a litre more per 100km than the 6.0L V8 in the VF range, at
12.8L/100km for the SS manual and 12.9L/100km for the auto.
The pick of the bunch is clearly the SSV Redline, priced from
$50,490 in manual guise – $6,000 upstream from the SSV
and 10-grand up from the SS (auto adds $2,200) – which as
well as a host of extra equipment and features brings revised
suspension tuning to improve both ride comfort and handling,
and a Brembo braking package with four-piston callipers that
now extends to the rear wheels.
A new optional Performance Brake package, developed for
heavy-duty police application and comprising a larger master
cylinder, uprated brake pads and larger front rotors, is
available for an extra $350, while Redline customers can also
order 20" forged alloy wheels for $1,500.
All sports utes (including SV6) have a new front fascia with
larger grille and fascia ducts that are designed to improve
aerodynamic performance, while the V8s have bonnet vents
that release hot air out of the engine bay and, perhaps just
as importantly, add to the general tone of aggression at the
front end.
There are no modifications to the 210kW/350Nm 3.6L V6 and
the auto-only Evoke (priced from $33,490) continues largely
unchanged. The SV6, which starts at $33,990 as a manual and
$36,190 with auto, scores keyless entry, push-button start,
new 18" alloy wheels and the new front fascia detailed above.
As well as the big donk and design tweak, the SS likewise
adds keyless entry/start and new 18" rims, while SSV now has
new 19" alloys and a colour head-up display.
Holden
www.holden.com.au