zetaman

Well said, James. It is inappropriate to make light of such an issue as one that affects the livelihood of so many people. Giving PCS the benefit of the doubt, he may just be ignorant and naiive of the facts of this matter and the seriousnes of the impact the drought has had on so many Australians.

^^ Great post!

2007 VE Commodore police pack as trialed by New South Wales Police.... VE Commodore NSW police

Thanks again for your inspired logic.... G8 production doesn't commence at Elizabeth for quite some time yet. It's the cost of efficiency .. but that's an alien concept to you, isn't it :AH-HA_wink:

Yeah, it does look bolt upright in that shot.. but as you say, I think it's the photo. Top notch- not too much style but just enough to gove it an sense of menace.

Great gallery...thanks for the link

It doesn't really look like a 3-series in the metal. Some proportions are similar - short overhangs, M flared fenders.... but this car is MUCH larger than a 3 series and looks it.

Maybe you're right. But there are a few subtle changes to the front guards that distinguish it from standard VE panels.. so there have been a couple of modifications - just very minor ones.

I keep looking at those pics ..... Why would they go to the trouble of designing all new panels to make the difference to VE/WM almost imperceptible? The US don't have VE so no one would notice the difference/similarity anyway. Just stick new headlights/taillights and front clip on a commodore and save yourself a bucket in development cost. Either that or significantly change the sheetmetal to give some truly unique styling. I'm not convinced that all is what it seems here.

From A-pillar back I can only see Statesman/Caprice (with different taillight lenses). I don't think you can determine wheelbase length from these pics - especially if the photos are from a camera phone which tend to squash the image along the vertical axis. I can see a slight revision to the front panels - kinda like a VE nose on a WM body, except with the extended character line. Who knows what it is..... G8? Impala? Chinese Buick?

Cheers Turbo200. As stated earlier it's hard to please all when it comes to car design I'm sure but I think some are looking at the VE design without considering context. The VE Commodore is a family saloon - much like the Malibu and Impala... and even Camry. By nature these cars are conservative in design as they are required to posess broad appeal - in this environment edgy design may polarise consumer opinion and alienate some buyers... Having said that, the VE has understated but not bland styling. It posesses a sort of subdued menace with it's wedged stance - ready to pounce. And that effect does not translate into photographs. The photos to date make the car appear flat and squat which is not how it appears in the metal. The devil is in the detail with this car as it's more than merely a sum of it's parts but I suppose people will just have to wait and see. Not everyone in Australia has conservative taste - just like not everyone in the US is into radical design - and it's worth noting that the Commodore's styling has been positively received locally - by the people who have seen and driven it. It's worth conceding that perhaps the front and rear clips are an evolution of the previous model - creating a visual link with VZ - and Holden could have gone further with this area of the design.... but these are details that are very simple and cheap to modify. So a US version can be made to look quite different to the Aussie version. So maybe some people can't see the forrest for the trees. A colleague of mine has just recently taken delivery of a Calais V .... and that car is a head turner as well as posessing a solid, refined feel. In any case, it seems that the G8/GP will be a version of the VE Commodore SS - which is a sweet ride

Now this is getting interesting .... The Insignia concept was RWD based on VE architecture. Could this mean Opel are considering a move away to RWD? Or will Insignia follow the Opel formula and remain as a FWD mid-size?

^^Couldn't agree more....

Yeah and the Phaeton's been a huge success for VW My point was that Opel have moved away from RWD....And anyway, who said it had anything to do with European socioeconomics?

Yeah all true.. but Opel really doesn't compete with the other RWD marques such as BMW or Mercedes... and they left RWD when the last Omega B ceased production and now embrace FWD technology.. I would love to see a Zeta as the Opel flagship and I hope it happens but I just don't think it likely.

There are only 2 variations of the zeta architecture available at this time - a SWB & a LWB. Holden and HSV do multiple variations of these to create differentiation in a market where each model has only a very small run - which is why they do tend to look the same. When the zeta architecture is to be used in other markets you could expect to see far greater differentiation between models due to economies of scale - much like the zeta car in your sig...... It would seem unlikely that Opel would use zeta as their flagship - Zeta is big RWD with Big engines - too far removed I'd think from the Opel philosophy.

Each to his own I suppose.........but the vast majority who have actually seen a VE Commodore would take issue with the description of the car as a "BMW clone..... austere interior and slab sided boring exterior" (didn't notice the wheel arches, huh?). The beauty of this car is in it's proportions - the high belt-line is offset by a long wheelbase, and short front and rear overhangs give the car a squat, muscular stance. And nowhere else have I heard the new suspension set up described as "rock hard"..... but, each to his own.

The next gen (WM) Statesman will be a completely new car and is an evolution only in the sense that both current and new models fulfill the same philosopy- large, luxurious autos. Engines and some transmissions are carry over but architecture and suspension components will be all new.

Never said that was VE, nor photos in this thread. Read the thread before diving in.

Mate, scroll to the bottom photo on LS1.com.au link. Not a fake

German Car Fans This appears unchanged from the artist rendering of some months back (above link). Word was the program was cancelled in favour of the SUV-type vehicle. Where did this new photo/chop come from?

Australian LS1 & Holden ForumsAustralian LS1 forums have the original VE mule images for comparison

The rear shot from the link in the original post shows a current VZ Commodore with flared guards indicating a wider track. Along with this, the relocated fuel filler suggest that these are VE mules, as previously stated. The VE is designed with the fuel tank forward of the rear axle which makes it compliant with US regulations as stock. It doesn't mean that VE is intended for US release, however, as this may have just been a product of the original 'Zeta' plan prior to cancellation (or delay, or whatever it is).