One of Australia’s longest running car manufacturers has released the latest model in its series of sedans, the Holden Commodore VE II.
The Commodore has been among the nation’s favourite cars for some time, and the VE II offers a number of improvements on previous models. These are mostly located on the inside of the car and geared towards ease of use for the driver, and are provided at no extra cost.
One of the most notable upgrades from previous models is the introduction of new entertainment and navigational capabilities, which come in the form of the new Holden iQ system. Placed centrally on the dashboard, it features an LCD touchscreen which can provide satellite navigation, Bluetooth, stereo control, as well as a USB port for connecting iPods.
Another tweak sees the application of 3.0 litre V6 and 6.0 litre V8 engines, which will be the first Australian-made engines capable of running on E85. An environmentally friendly fuel comprising 85% ethanol, E85, has been on these shores for 3 years but only recently has it become more widespread. It will be available in up to 100 outlets in capital cities by the end of the year.
E85 gives off significantly fewer CO2 emissions (1) and should contribute positively to the battle against global warming (2). Holden estimates that emissions could be reduced by as much as 30% during an E85-run car’s lifecycle compared to a petrol-run car.
In addition the VE II boasts a number of features aimed at providing an increase in fuel economy. Run on regular unleaded petrol, the 3.0 V6 engine consumes fuel at a rate of 9.1 litres per 100km (previously 9.3) and 6.0 V8 engine uses 9.6 litres per 100km (previously 9.9). There are also aerodynamic improvements such as air deflectors and a new undertray, aimed at reducing drag.
Service intervals for the VE II are every 12 months or 15,000km, based on the recommendation of the manufacturer.
An optional add-on for the VE II is the Redline kit, which is designed to improve handling response and also provides sharper breaking and stronger suspension.
Another factor to be taken into consideration is the cost of car insurance. This can sometimes vary greatly, depending not only on the value and safety record of the car itself, but also on a number of other factors.
Chief among those is the driving history of the driver. Those who have been in accidents, have driving infringements or who have previously filed claims are considered by actuaries to be more likely to claim, making them higher risk.
Other factors that can influence premiums include demographics such as age, gender, and geography. Young males, for example, are considered to be more likely to be involved in claims whilst women are considered to be the least likely to make a claim. Also people living in areas where crime such as theft is high may be considered more of a risk.
With an increasing amount of business conducted on the internet nowadays, many websites are able to offer a comprehensive car insurance quote.
Footnote url:
(1) http://media.gm.com/content/media/au/en/news/news_detail.html/content/Pages/news/au/en/2010/0831_Commodore3
(2) http://txtwriter.com/onscience/Articles/E85globalwarming.html
Sources:
http://www.holden.com.au/vehicles/commodore
http://www.caradvice.com.au/81792/2011-holden-commodore-ve-series-ii-gets-flex-fuel-e85-compatibility/
http://www.goauto.com.au/mellor/mellor.nsf/story2/367D1E895BE4C47ACA25779A001E0BFF
http://media.gm.com/content/media/au/en/news/news_detail.html/content/Pages/news/au/en/2010/0831_Commodore3
http://www.worldcarfans.com/110083128169/2011-holden-commodore-ve-series-ii-revealed