10 facts you may not have known about the VN
VN Commodore, introduced in August 1988, signaled the start of many big changes for the Commodore. It was the 6th update of the Holden Commodore.
The Holden Commodore had been on the market for 10 years now. The VN Commodore was the first model of the second generation of Holden Commodores.
It would be the first full size Commodore and the first full size car for Holden since the Kingswood. The 5 Millionth Holden was a VN Commodore.
The VN Commodore was a completely new car from the ground up. It looked completely different from the VL. The body work is based on the German made Opel Senator and the Omega.
A large number of changes were made to the car to make it suitable for Australian driving conditions. The VN series 2, released in September 1989, boasted a number of engine changes.
It won wheels car of the year 1988. It was the second Commodore to win the award. (The VB Commodore also won the award in 1978).
With 215 180 units produced, the VN Commodore was a sales winner right from the start. It was the first Commodore to have over 200 000 units produced. It was in production for 38 months, the most for any Commodore at the time (August 1988 – October 1991)
In August 1990, a Commodore based Ute was available for the first time. None of the previous Commodores had a utility. The full size utility, last seen years earlier after production of the WB Holden ceased in 1984. The Ute, called the VG has a similar front end to a VN with a Ute body.
In March 1990, the Statesman and Caprice, called the VQ, returned, offered for the first time in the Commodore lineup. Neither seen since WB Holden production ceased in 1984.
The Statesman and Caprice had a longer wheelbase than the VN or the VG.
Due to changes in the exchange rate is was no longer financially practical to import the RB30E engine that was used in the VL from Japan. So Holden decided to manufacture their own 90 degree V6 engine based on an old Buick design from the United States of America. Although not known for its smoothness or quietness, like the RB30E, the new engine received praised for its performance.
It was the first Commodore to use a V6 engine as opposed to the straight or inline 6’s that were used in previous models. The V6 used in the VN Commodore owns the distinction of being the first V6 to ever be manufactured in Australia. There was also a new V8 available.
There were two engine choices available to buyers:
V6 3.8L 3800 125kW (168hp)
V8 5.0L HEC5000i 165kW (221hp)
Transmission choices limited to just two options, a 5 speed manual or a 4 speed automatic.
The SL variant disapeared, replaced by the Executive. Prices for the Executive started at $20 014 and $39 950 for the Statesman. The VN was available as a sedan and a wagon as well at a 2 door Ute.
The VN Commodore was larger than any previous Commodore model. Despite the fact that it is much larger, it is not that much heavier.
Model sharing began with the VN Commodore, a number of VN commodores were rebadged as Toyota Lexcens. This would continue up until the end of the production of the VS commodore in 1997. The differences between the Commodore and the Lexcen were minor and mainly cosmetic.
It would be the last commodore assembled in New Zealand. The manufacturing plant in Trentham New Zealand shut down in 1990. New Zealand received Holdens, duty free.