American dream

By Alastair Sloane

If you ever wanted to play spot the difference try identifying the changes Holden has made to the new VT Commodore.

Now we know because we cheated - we already have the two cars to compare.

The badges on the new Commodore have been revised, the wheel covers are new, and minor changes have been made to the grille. The upholstery is different, too, but you'd have to get inside to pick that one.

But wait, there's another difference. It's not cosmetic but it certainly changes the car.

It's under the bonnet. The old VT came with a choice of three engines: V6, supercharged V6, or V8.

The new VT - or VTII, as it's officially called - comes with the same three engine choices. But the V8 is no longer made in Australia, and it's no longer a 5-litre.

It's a whopping great 5.7 litres and it's made in America, where size is everything.

Holden calls it the Generation III engine, on account of it being a detuned version of the General Motors engine that powers the lickety-split Chevrolet Corvette.

The pushrod powerplant can trace its lineage back to the original 1955 Chevrolet "small block."

But it has been extensively reworked over the years and the block and cylinder heads are now made of aluminium alloy.

It is not much heavier than the standard Commodore V6 but its output is 220kW and 446Nm - 23 per cent more power and 11.5 per cent more torque than the outgoing Australian V8.

It's also more fuel-efficient, returning in town-and-around tests 13 litres for every 100km, a 13 per cent improvement.

The first shipment of the VTII Commodores landed in Auckland mid-week. They will be good cars, too.

The original VT won applause for its looks, approval for its build quality, friends for its comfortable driving environment and awards for its overall packaging, including 1997 Car of the Year in New Zealand.

The Generation III engine in the Executive and Acclaim models will be a $5200 option. The Berlina and Calais will carry the V8 as standard. Also standard will be the supercharged V6.

All models have remote door deadlocking; side airbags are available as standard on some models and optional on others; and traction control is an option on V6 and V8 automatics.

Also available later in the year will be a six-speed manual transmission for the Commodore SS.

The price of the VTII ranges from $39,045 for the standard Executive to $64,295 for the Generation III Calais.

The last word on cosmetic changes is in the Holden blurb: "The Calais is further identified by a slim chrome bar on the rear decor panel ... the leather-covered transmission handle and hand brake are highlighted with chrome buttons."