WITH increases in power and torque, more styling definition separating it from other Commodores, and a general sense of improved refinement, the VZ Holden Commodore SS is a classier, faster car than the outgoing VYII. It’s a big, capable sporting sedan that offers excellent performance for the money and is quite easy on the eye too. But despite styling revisions that include a new SS signature – dummy air vents behind the front wheel-arches – as well as bolder alloy wheels and a new rear spoiler, the SS Commodore is somehow not quite as brash as it has been in the past. SS buyers needing to look more special will have to delve into the options and aftermarket bins.
Holden VY Commodore SS
Released: October 2002
Ended: August 2004
Family Tree: CommodoreDIRECT predecessor to the VZ Commodore SS is the facelifted VY model launched in October 2002, which in turn replaced the facelifted VX SS in October 2000. VX was the first facelift of the all-new VT Commodore that appeared in September 1997, though the SS only packed the current Chev-sourced 5.7-litre Gen III V8 from the VTII update in June 1999. That SS offered power and torque of 220kW/446Nm (up from the Aussie 5.0-litre V8 the VT SS launched with, which made 179kW/400Nm and 195kW/430Nm in HSV-tweaked form), while successive SS models increased to 225kW/460 (VX), 235kW/465Nm (VY) and 245kW/465Nm (VYII, August 2003).
Road Test
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