Holden Commodore (VT)
The Holden Commodore (VT) is a full-size car that was produced by Holden from 1997 to 2000. It was the first iteration of the third generation of the Commodore and the last one to be powered by a locally made V8 engine (1998). Its range included the luxury variants, Holden Berlina (VT) and Holden Calais (VT) but not a new generation utility version.
| Holden Commodore (VT) | |
|---|---|
1999 Holden Commodore (VT) SS sedan | |
| Overview | |
| Manufacturer | Holden (General Motors) |
| Also called | Holden Berlina (VT) Holden Calais (VT) Chevrolet Lumina Chevrolet Omega |
| Production | August 1997 – October 2000 |
| Assembly | Australia: Elizabeth, South Australia |
| Designer | Peter Hughes |
| Body and chassis | |
| Class | Full-size |
| Body style | 4-door sedan 5-door station wagon |
| Platform | GM V platform |
| Related | Opel Omega B Holden Statesman/Caprice (WH) HSV VT series CSV VT series Holden Coupe (concept) |
| Powertrain | |
| Engine | 3.8 L Ecotec V6 3.8 L Supercharged Ecotec V6 5.0 L 5000i V8 (Series I only) 5.7 L Generation III V8 (Series II only) |
| Transmission | 4-speed GM 4L60-E automatic 5-speed Getrag 260 manual 6-speed T-56 manual |
| Dimensions | |
| Wheelbase | 2,788 mm (109.8 in) (sedan) 2,938 mm (115.7 in) (wagon, utility) |
| Length | 4,882–5,040 mm (192.2–198.4 in) |
| Width | 1,824 mm (71.8 in) |
| Height | 1,422–1,468 mm (56.0–57.8 in) |
| Curb weight | 1,551–1,702 kg (3,419–3,752 lb) |
| Chronology | |
| Predecessor | Holden Commodore (VS) |
| Successor | Holden Commodore (VX) |
Introduced in August 1997, the VT-series represented Holden's largest development yet. On debut, it won the 1997 Wheels Car of the Year award, resulting in the fourth time that this award was won by a Commodore. It found ready acceptance in the market as many buyers steered away from the more radically designed Ford Falcon (AU), becoming the best selling Commodore and cementing its place as number one in Australian sales at its time.
The VT Series II (VT II) was released in 1999, before being replaced by the restyled VX model in 2000. In 1998, the VT formed the basis of a prototype that became the catalyst for the reintroduction in 2001 of the Holden Monaro coupé—a nameplate on hiatus since 1977.