VE will use same Alloytec V6 as VZ - first VE built in Japan!

[bigdongers]

just caught this article from www.carsguide.com.au

http://carsguide.news.com.au/news/story_page/0,8269,15474643%255E21822,00.html

They say the VE will use the same V6 Alloytec as used by VZ. I reckon it will have more power though.

Also, they have built the first VE in Japan?

[vzsv6]

Hmmmm, but what we really want to know is if they will still be using the 175 in the base models or will it be the 190 across the range???
The VE built in Japan was purely for testing and development of the tooling...nothing more I would think. :)

And couldn't they have found a more suitable advertisement to put in the middle of a Holden article?? :rolleyes:

[Falcon Freak]

The same with the engine. The first Alloytech engines were built in Japan in January 2003 in Nagoya. I was there to witness the first build. The reason they built them in Japan is because it was a Japanese company who built the assembly line. So as part of the 'buy off' a number engines were built to confirm that the new line was OK and then the whole thing was shipped to Port Melbourne.

FF

[daabido]

Great news. Now time for a decent engine. I haven't driven the 190 V6 but have driven the 175 extensively. To me anyway, it is breathless, rough and ill matched to the old 4 speed auto (which is a pig itself).

I know that we are stuck with this engine in some form for donkey's years. Hopefully Holden will be able to weave some of its magic on it, like how it turned the previous V6 from a noisy, vibrating piece of .... into something resembling a decent piece of metal.

Some articles suggest that the 190 is a lot better than its nobbled 175 cousin. If that is the case, hopefully the 190 and the ex-BMW 5 speed auto will become the norm.

Surely it will. It would be awful to think of the new VE (whose quality has been pitched at Audi level internally at Holden) to be mated to a truck gear box and a wheesing and whiny bastardisation of an engine, even if it is a new engine.

Just my 2 cents.

[VYBerlinaV8]

Will the base engine be available with manual transmission in the VE sedan??

[Goggles]

Will the base engine be available with manual transmission in the VE sedan??

doubt it, Holden hasn't offered a base model manual sedan for a while now - the fleet buyers don't buy them and therefore the volume is very small.

[lxhatch]

I haven't driven the 190 V6 but have driven the 175 extensively. To me anyway, it is breathless, rough

it would appear you got a dud......or we got a beauty..... :D

[mavss]

Things are happening again on the VE front.

Spider senses tingling. :bash: :bash: :bash: :bash:

[clixanup]

The VE built in Japan was purely for testing and development of the tooling...nothing more I would think. :)

These days, manufacturing in Australia is an extremely expensive exercise. John Howard's requirement of manufacturers to use full absorption costing to value finished goods on hand may be the last straw for many.

I don't believe that Japan is much cheaper, but you can bet your bottom dollar that the domestic vehicle manufacturers are looking to south east Asia for a cheaper manufacturing solution.

[Sonnymad]

We have been servicing quite a few vz's at the workshop and i noticed the auto's are made in france and are a french gearbox...... :rolleyes:

Ps: it changes gears very harshly and holds second for ages,i have seen this reapeadly in the 190kw models :eek:

regards sonny

[PJK]

The VE built in japan was to test tooling for the new panels etc. Japan supplies the dies for the panel presses - the cars will be built here though

[daabido]

it would appear you got a dud......or we got a beauty..... :D

Perhaps but it has been similarly noted in a number of reviews. I guess it is all relative to what you are comparing it to. In my case, our previous VT and our current Territory.

Compared with the Territory, the VZ also feels like a bunch of disparate bits held together with twist ties and chewing gum.

I'm not trying to start a Ford v Holden flame war. I think it is more along the lines of Holden reaching the conclusion of what it can do with an 8+ year old platform. I must admit the leather wrap stearing wheel on the Lumina is very nice, the seats are great. The stereo is beyond woeful though.

For a $30k+ car I guess I was expecting more.

I would love an SS ute, but buggered if I'm going to put up with the truck auto box.

Territory needs a 6 speed auto too. Four speed is so 1988, or 1990 I think for Ford.

[Falcon Freak]

Territory needs a 6 speed auto too. Four speed is so 1988, or 1990 I think for Ford.

6 speed auto is only four months away.


doubt it, Holden hasn't offered a base model manual sedan for a while now - the fleet buyers don't buy them and therefore the volume is very small.

Well I am in this minority as I have a poverty pack model company car with manual transmission. Thank you Ford!

FF

[PaulST]

6 speed auto is only four months away.

Will that be for the whole range, or just the Ghia as WHEELS suggests? You'd think they'd struggle to keep the price down on the TX if it got the 6-speed too.

[Danv8]

Surely it will. It would be awful to think of the new VE (whose quality has been pitched at Audi level internally at Holden) to be mated to a truck gear box and a wheesing and whiny bastardisation of an engine, even if it is a new engine.


I wouldn't even come close on calling the gearbox as a "Truck gearbox" For one a truck gearbox are very strong and reliable.

Secondly latest auto truck gearboxes outwits many car automatic transmissions as well in shift and shift quality

Things that shites me is weak automatic gearboxes thats fitted to some cars today.

Just my 2 cents without GST. :)

The Citroen C5 auto wins for the dumbest auto transmission award.

The truck gearboxes I am talking about is the real heavy duty ones like Alison, ZF etc thats fitted to large trucks and buses. ;)

[Nobby]

Will that be for the whole range, or just the Ghia as WHEELS suggests? You'd think they'd struggle to keep the price down on the TX if it got the 6-speed too.

I heard Futura +

[PaulST]

I heard Futura +
Sorry, I should have clarified that I was talking in reference to the Territory. I"m led to believe that the Fairmont and XR6T upwards were to recieve the new ZF unit.

[Nobby]

Sorry, I should have clarified that I was talking in reference to the Territory. I"m led to believe that the Fairmont and XR6T upwards were to recieve the new ZF unit.

Nah mate, my mistake.

[fester1]

They say the VE will use the same V6 Alloytec as used by VZ. I reckon it will have more power though.

I don't think power is an issue - the 190 has plenty. It's an issue of increasing refinement and balance. A bloody good engine (but not great - YET), and a terrific auto box means a good base to build from. A few refinements and with a new body matched to the power plant should make that a monty for the best car ever built in Oz. Can't wait.

[Dacious]

I reckon you'll find the 175/190 in the VE will be like a whole new motor. The older chassis was engineered and evolved around the Buick mill. The new one can have completely different mounts and resonance and vibration damping.

In the Caddy the same motor is well-regarded for NVH. I think journos here just jumped on the 'it sounds just like the old one' bandwagon. Well derr, it's a 60% V6.

[mavss]

Good thinking Dacious. Your logic sounds good.

[V-Car]

I reckon you'll find the 175/190 in the VE will be like a whole new motor. The older chassis was engineered and evolved around the Buick mill. The new one can have completely different mounts and resonance and vibration damping.

In the Caddy the same motor is well-regarded for NVH. I think journos here just jumped on the 'it sounds just like the old one' bandwagon. Well derr, it's a 60% V6.

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