By all accounts, we believe we can safely refer to the hue of the Commodore SS shown above as "purple." The VE Commodore SS is a pretty mean piece of machinery though, and for some, purple could be a tough sell. And really, the endgame is to get the shopper to part with a down payment. What's the solution? Call it something decidedly "un-purpley." Like Morpheous. Yeah!
[Source: Autoblog]
Follow the jump for the official press release and more images.
PRESS RELEASE:
Epica Steals The Show In Brisbane
The new mid-size sedan, Epica, will headline Holden's stand at the 2007 Brisbane International Motor Show.
Making its Australian debut, Epica will boast outstanding value for money, driving refinement and excellent fuel economy. Exact pricing will be announced in due course but Epica will be aimed at the value end of the mid-size sedan segment.
It will be available from April in two highly specified variants, CDX and CDXi, with a choice of either a 2.0 or 2.5-litre in-line six cylinder engine, depending on model.
Holden also welcomes a new turbo diesel engine for Rodeo. The 120kW* 3.0-litre VCDi common rail turbo diesel engine is the most powerful diesel Rodeo yet.
Other show stand highlights include the all new VE Commodore and WM Statesman and Caprice models, the stunning Astra line-up including the newly released Astra TwinTop and Astra SRi models, and Holden's new mid-size SUV Captiva range.
Epica
Epica's in-line six cylinder engine delivers a very refined and smooth ride and returns fuel economy comparable to some four-cylinder rivals in the mid-size sedan segment.
The 2.0-litre engine produces peak power of 105kW** and peak torque of 195Nm. The 2.5- litre engine produces peak power of 115kW and peak torque of 237Nm. All models meet Euro IV emission standards.
Epica's impressive fuel economy (ADR081/01) is 8.2 litres/100km for the 2.0-litre manual variant and 9.3 litres/100km for the 2.5-litre automatic. A five-speed manual or automatic transmission will be offered depending on model.
Epica has generous interior space, excellent standard specifications and stylish fit and finish.
Manufactured at GM's Bupyong plant in South Korea, Epica was extensively tuned by Holden engineers at GM Holden's Lang Lang proving ground before its global release, ensuring it met Australia's diverse driving conditions.
New Common-rail Turbo Diesel Rodeo
Holden has added a new powerful turbo diesel engine to the already comprehensive Rodeo line up by introducing the new 3.0-litre VCDi common rail turbo diesel engine.
The new engine delivers 25 per cent more peak power at lower revs while meeting strict new Euro 4 emission requirements.
Other changes include several design enhancements, increased braked towing capability and a new five-speed manual or four-speed automatic transmission to manage the increased torque and retain a light shift feel on the new turbo diesel.
Redesigned front and rear fascias, including front and rear lamps, updated over-fender flares and a bold bonnet air-induction scoop are all part of the new turbo diesel exterior changes.
Inside, the new Rodeo gets improved driver and passenger seating, new steering wheel, HVAC controls and interior trims, updated instrument clusters and interior side vents, plus redesigned transmission levers, making this Rodeo an outstanding new model which represents great value for money.
VE Commodore / WM Statesman and Caprice
Hailed as Wheels Car of Year 2006, Holden's award-winning VE Commodore program represents the company's largest ever vehicle development program.
The VE Commodore has more power, torque and refinement than any previous Holden sedan range. It was described by Holden's Executive Director of Engineering, Tony Hyde, as "the car we always wanted to build".
A strong focus was placed on active and passive safety with features such as Electronic Stability Program (ESP®) now standard on all models.
The Holden stand will feature a range of VE Commodores including the SV6, SS V-Series, Calais V-Series, the special edition Commodore V-Series and the introduction of a brand new colour, Morpheous.
The top-of-the-range WM Statesman and Caprice models are also on show, offering more differentiation from their short wheelbase siblings than ever before.
Major aspects of the interior design, including the instrument pad, cluster, centre console, seating, door trims, fabrics and finishes are exclusive.
Detail highlights include signature LED repeater lamps in the fender vents, striking LED tail lamps and bright chrome accents. The jewelled headlamp design is also unique.
Astra
Astra, Holden's second biggest selling carline, welcomes three new additions to the already extensive range. These additions confirm Astra's position as one of the most comprehensive small car ranges on the market today.
The new retractable hard top convertible called Astra TwinTop, a sporty SRi three-door coupe and five-door hatch are the three latest additions to the AH Astra line-up.
All are driven by a 2.2-litre direct injection four cylinder ECOTEC engine that produces 110kW** of peak power and 210Nm of peak torque.
The new models are highly specified with features including 17-inch alloy wheels, Electronic Stability Program, a sports chassis pack and leather trim seats. The new model Astras will be on display joined by the turbo diesel Astra CDTi and the sporty Astra SRi Turbo.
Captiva
Holden's all new Captiva SUV range, including the Euro-styled five-seater MaXX and the luxury seven-seater LX, will be on display.
The choice of five and seven seats delivers a flexible and highly specified range that will appeal to the medium and compact-sized SUV market.
Powered by the high-performance Australian-built Alloytec 3.2-litre V6 engine, Captiva produces 169kW** of peak power and 297Nm of peak torque in the SX, CX and LX models. Captiva MaXX generates 167kW** of peak power and the same peak torque as other Captiva models.
The intelligent active all-wheel drive system found on all models contributes to Captiva's versatile appeal and is fully integrated into the ESP and ABS systems, improving vehicle control and active safety.
Small car range
To complement the small car range, the Viva five door hatch and wagon will be on display next to the Barina three door and sedan models. Like the Epica, these variants have been tailored for Australian driving conditions by Holden engineers and offer outstanding levels of standard equipment and value for money.
The Brisbane International Motor Show will be held at the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre from 2-11 February 2007.
Holden Vehicle Display – Brisbane International Motor Show 2007:
* Epica CDX
* Epica CDXi
* New Rodeo 4x4 LT Crew Cab Pickup 3.0L Diesel
* New Rodeo 4x2 DX Single Cab Chassis 2.4 litre 4-cyl SOHC Petrol
* VE Commodore V-Series
* VE Commodore SV6
* VE Commodore SS V-Series V8
* VE Commodore SS V8
* VE Commodore Calais V-Series V8
* WM Statesman V6
* WM Caprice V8
* Barina 3 Door
* Barina Sedan
* Viva 5 Door Hatch
* Viva Wagon
* Astra SRi Turbo 3 Door Coupe
* Astra TwinTop Retractable Hard Top
* Astra CDTi Diesel
* Astra SRi 5 Door Hatch
* Captiva MaXX V6 with Luxury Pack
* Captiva LX V6
* VZ SS Crewman V8
* VZ SS Thunder V8
* VE Calais V8 – Cutaway
ESP® is a registered trademark of Daimler Chrysler AG
* Power and torque figures quoted in DIN.
**Power and torque figures as per ECE regulations
