The last of the locally built Holden Commodores is going out with a mechanically augmented V8 roar.
The same 6.2-litre V8 fitted to the Chevrolet Corvette will be found under the bonnet of more than half of the updated VF Series II cars as nostalgic Aussies and automotive speculators rush to buy the last home-grown V8.
V8 Commodore owners wanted "more of everything" from the final Commodore — and the engineers delivered. The sound of the engine has been boosted inside the cabin by fitting a "mechanical sound enhancer" while still keeping the exterior noise under the legal threshold. The cosmetic changes to the VF II's look are minor, running to front and rear bumper tweaks with lamp updates and new alloy wheel designs.
The V8 exhaust is a bi-modal job, with an internal flap that opens at higher revs to liberate more of the roar. Aggressive black bonnet scoops on SSV models aren't there just for looks. Designed in Monash University's wind tunnel, they channel air into the engine bay - just as the bumper vents direct airflow to the front brakes and out of the wheel arch. Top-spec Redline models gain Brembo front and rear brakes to help restrain the performance — the big sedan will hit 100km/h just 4.9 seconds after launch.
