VE - Diesel..?

[spiritfc]

Does anyone know what the possibility of Holden releasing the VE (in particular the Calais) with a diesel engine? or even LPG as an option right across the range instead of just the executive?

I personally think the VE will be a massive failure unless Holden do something drastic with the economy of their cars and I hope they don't just fiddle with ratios to improve the economy as all that really does is improve the highway economy rather then urban economy.

[Jac001]

from http://carsguide.news.com.au/news/story_page/0,8269,16750914%255E21822,00.html

"We are already working on diesel as an insurance policy, but I'm not convinced that in the long term people are going to justify the added cost of diesel. It's the same with hybrids."

I for one would love to see a diesel berlina (or even a calais if i can stretch the budget ) and would serious consider upgrading.. ;)

I believe that biodiesel is going to be the fuel that gets us thru till hydrogen powered vehicles are the norm.

[spiritfc]

Maybe Holden could use this system on the VE:
(Full article: http://www.italiaspeed.com/news_2003/news_2003_081orbital.html)

ORBITAL/FIAT-GM ELECTRON ENGINE

Orbital air-assisted injection technology is being utilised on the new all-alloy GM/Powertrain-developed V6 that is currently being tweaked by Alfa Romeo engineers to replace the current long-serving V6 'family'. No final decision on use has yet been made, but insiders regard the possibility as 'strong'.

Orbital uses a a very small air compressor to generate a fine spray of fuel ( 8 microns ) into the combustion chamber. Orbitals proprietary air injector is coupled with a standard fuel injector to accomplish that feat.

ORBITAL

Orbital is an Australian company that specializes in all aspects of the internal combustion engine, has been in business for over 30 years and has 140 inventions covered by over 1,000 patents worldwide.

Orbital has already licensed their proprietary "Orbital Combustion Process" (OCP) to General Motors, Ford, Fiat, Texmaco (Indonesia), Tohatsu Marine (JP), Bombardier/Rotax, Aprilia, Peugeot Motorcycles, Piaggio/Vespa, Kymco Motorcycles (Taiwan), Siemens/VDO Automotive, and Delphi Corp. Orbital's direct injection systems are found in Mercury Marine Optimax outboards, Tohatsu outboards (tldi) engines, Bombardier Sea Doo PWCs, Bombardier (jet) sport boats, Aprilia "ditech" scooters, Peugeot "tsdi" scooters and Piaggio "Pure Jet" scooters.

Each of these products have allowed the manufactuers to meet increasing stringent emissions requirements while simultaneously giving unprecedented improvements in fuel economy on the order of 40%.

Orbital’s system works on both 2-stroke and 4-stroke gasoline powered engines, ranging from a 50cc scooter to GM's 300hp XV8 concept engine. Mercury also recently began providing its Optimax engines to the US military for use with JP5 fuel.

ORBITAL & ALFA ROMEO

Based on the brand-new "Premium" platform, developed with GM & Saab, the Alfa Romeo 158 will offer two and four wheel drive options. The suspension will be double
wishbone at the front with a highly revised multi-link set-up at the rear. The 158 will use the new family of all-alloy V6 engines being developed by GM
at present. These will include 2.8 & 3.2-litre versions while a 300 bhp 2.0 JTS unit will utilize a twin-turbo set-up"

The dimensionally larger 156-replacement is testing at present with the new GM HFV6 that has PFI, DI, and Turbo capability designed into the engine, possibly to be tagged as the 'Electron' unit. Orbital's air-assisted direct injection system could make its first production application in this engine if the ongoing trials prove successful.

[Evil LS1]

I'll take one the Mercedes triturbo V6 diesel, with 230kW and 750Nm all from 3.0l :eek:

Trouble is now diesel is as dear or dearer than 98 octane at a lot of places.

[Danv8]

VE Turbo diesel running home brew biodiesel
yes please! :)

[mmciau]

Holden indicated earlier that they were looking at the 6V30 from this Company

http://www.vmmotori.it/en/01/00/01/dettaglio.jsp?id=9

Mike

[chevypower]

they should release E85 compatible petrol engines... E85 fuel should be around 80c per litre at the moment if it was sold here. The engines would be similar cost up front, efficiency should be pretty much the same, but cheaper to run, and better for the economy and environment
Turbo diesel would be ok, but wouldnt satisfy all the people who love V8s, and I am somebody who likes Turbo diesel engines, but more so in utes and 4wds. The cost up fromt for a good CRD Turbo diesel engine, and extra cost in fuel would need to see a MASSIVE fuel efficiency saving to make it worthwhile (say running at 5L per 100km combined or less) with no more than a $3000 premium over the V6 and a minumum of 160kw/ 500Nm

[747]

I just walked away from Holden and picked up my brand new Mercedes Turbo Diesel e class today (with more torque than an SS) and cant believe how well it drives and with 7.5 l/100km average (6 on highway). It might have been $25000 more than a WL but I doubt I will be going back to Holden now.

Give it 2 years and you are going to see Diesel/HYbrid cars take a BIG share of the market

[747]

I might ad that the turbo diesel in the mercedes was $1000 CHEAPER than the same capacity V6 petrol engine and with the same 7 speed gearbox.

Now work that out

If mercedes can do it so can GM

[chevypower]

Well if they make a twin turbo 6L V8 CRD diesel (with CGI block) VE Caprice for $70,000 with a 6 auto - it would be worth looking at....

[HRT]

Holden might actually be able to salvage something from the current ZC Vectra.
In Europe, they have a ZC Vectra which is powered by a 3.0L CDTi turbo diesel.
Since the medium car segment hasn't been dominated by turbo diesels yet, now would be the time for Holden to make a move and start importing turbo diesel ZC Vectra's in.

[Swordie]

As far as I know (which is not much) Holden is considering diesel. I would assume you would pay an extra 2-3K when it's available (in 2 to 3 years time) in the VE Series II.

LPG is apparently on its way for the V6 soon especially as demand has increasing with growing fuel prices. LPG is probably a niche Holden needs to cover as Ford has had growing sales in this segment.

I personally would not be running in for the first of the Holden LPG motors. A Ford LPG is a safer bet. I haven’t seen any Alloytech taxis yet.