variant of the third generation Commodore. Model displayed is an Acclaim (VT) As with previous Commodore models, Holden looked to
Opel in Germany for a donor
car platform. The VT series was derived from the
Omega B by broadening that vehicle's width and adapting the mechanical setup for Australian conditions. The alternative would have been to adopt the Omega as is (which, notably, was also sold in
North America as the
Cadillac Catera between 1997 and 2001), save for the engines and transmissions or just reskinning the
second generation (VN–VS) architecture. The VT series ended up being a development program that spanned more than half a
decade. It sported many firsts for an Australian-built car (such as more advanced electronic systems), improved
dynamics and increased
crash safety also thanks to a body that was 30 percent stiffer than its predecessor, the VS series. Its rounder exterior design (with a 63 degree rake for the front windscreen), At the time of the
VY series launch in 2002, Holden aerodynamic engineers conceded that the design was not ideal, primarily because of the rounded trailing edge of the sedan's boot lid, which did not promote a clean separation of the airflow off the back of the car as would have a sharper change of angle. As such, the VY series rectified this problem. This
third generation Commodore also formed the basis for the resurrection of the iconic
Monaro coupé from the 1960s and 1970s. Presented as the "Holden Coupé" concept car at the 1998
Australian International Motor Show held in
Sydney, overwhelming public interest resulted in the coupé finally reaching production in 2001 as the
Monaro albeit by then based on the
VX series. As part of this project came a spend of to upgrade the
Elizabeth plant, which saw a 43 percent increase in
robots (to a total of 130), more efficient pressing process (with 59 presses instead of 104) and welding (that sees the main body spot-welded in 101 seconds), reducing the VT's final assembly time by 2.5 hours. whose styling formed the basis for the VT series. The project, known internally as "Project 127", was abandoned in early 1994, well before the VT's release but Holden made the most of the situation by exporting left-hand drive VTs to parts of
Indochina and the Middle East badged as the
Chevrolet Lumina,
Engineering The base engine was the 3.8-litre
Ecotec V6 that Holden originally launched with the
Commodore VS Series II, which remained unchanged except for new exhaust manifolds and the latest Bosch EV6
fuel injectors. was the
supercharged version of the Ecotec that was also launched with the VS II. In its latest guise, it generated a higher output of thanks to a new engine management system with individual cylinder knock-sensor control. However, when originally carried over, the European design was simplified with the removal of the
toe control link, This design was prone to distorting the suspension
camber angle and toe under heavy loads (e.g. when towing or travelling over undulated surfaces), leading to excessive rear tyre wear. Holden's performance arm
HSV re-added the toe control link on the flagship
GTS 300 model, based on the Series II update. became an option for the Acclaim and higher models from 1998 (a first for Holden and Australian manufactured vehicles). ) == Models ==