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Camaro: Be-Holden to Zeta
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A requirement for 2010
Camaro aficionados-in-training is getting
heads-up on the car's genealogy, so get used to
the words "Holden", "Commodore", "Zeta"–uh,
maybe start calling your friends "mate", too.
Holden has been GM's
Australian brand since the early 1930s. For the last
decade, the Holden Commodore has been the best selling
car down-under. The current version, introduced in Fall,
2006, is the Commodore VE. Think of it as the Aussie
Chevy Impala and you'll have the right idea.
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Image: GM Holden Ltd. |
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Image: GM Holden Ltd. |
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The revised Commodore
is built on a new, worldwide, mid-sized, rear-drive
platform GM calls "Zeta" (say "Zay-tah"). A key part of
GM's current philosophy is that platforms, or
"architectures", are basic underpinnings which can be
shortened, lengthened, widened, raised, lowered or
whatever, then fitted with various powertrains,
interiors and exteriors. The result is a variety of
models which can be manufactured and marketed in
different parts of the world. |
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This is the
front suspension module for the
Commodore VE. Our guess is that,
excepting the steering rack for
right-hand rule-of-the-road countries,
we're looking at the 2010 Camaro's front
suspension. Image: GM Holden, Ltd. |
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The rear
suspension module of the Commodore VE is
quite high-tech with coil-over-shocks
and half-shafts having constant-velocity
joints. This 3/4 right-rear-view of the
VE rear suspension is probably a lot of
what we'll see in the mew Camaro. Image:
GM Holden, Ltd. |
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Zeta was developed by
Holden and its initial use is under the Commodore VE,
however, with a little wheelbase shortening, it lends
itself quite well to a rear-drive, two-door, sports
coupe.
Light comes on.
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You got it, mate! The
2010 Camaro will be on the Zeta platform and this new
Holden is an important precursor of the Camaro to-be.
Thus, everyone here at Tom Henry Chevrolet and www.camarohomepage.com, is following the Commodore story
closely. |
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Image: GM Holden Ltd. |
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GM Powertrain's "Global" V6 engine, designed and developed
by Holden in Australia and the base engine in the
Commodore VE. It's an all-aluminum, 60° bank-angle,
dual-overhead-camshaft design. It has four-valves per
cylinder and variable valve timing. It's possible a
variant of this engine will be the base engine in the
'10
Camaro. A Camaro "three-six" V6 might generate
240hp@6200 rpm.
Image: GM Holden Ltd. |
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Commodore has one of
three engines, a pair of 3.6L V6es (either 240 or 260hp)
and a 360 horse six-liter V8. The Camaro will have a
base V6–probably the same 3.6L, "worldwide" V6
manufactured by Holden–and a 6.0L or 6.2L Gen IV V8 of
400hp or so. The Commodore has both a six-speed manual
and a six-speed automatic available. We think the new
Camaro will use the same gearboxes. The Zeta platform is
front-engine/rear-drive with four-wheel-independant
suspension–struts up front, a four-link, control arm
setup at the rear. The Camaro will be shorter than the
Holden and, obviously, it's going to look like the
Camaro Concept rather than a two-door Commodore.
Performance cars have
a strong following in Australia so, expectedly, Holden
has a performance version of its top seller. The
Commodore VE SS and up-level SSV are both
high-performance, V8 sports sedans. |
What can we expect
from the 2010 Camaro? The Commodore VE SS's performance
tell us a lot about that. The car weighs about 3900 lbs
and Jason Laird, Holden's National Manager for Public
Relations, told us via email that Australian car
magazines have published 0-60 times of 5.2-5.3 seconds.
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Under the hood of a
Commodore VE SS is this six-liter Gen 4 V8. In
Holden trim it makes 362hp. We think the Camaro will
have a 6.2L version of this of about 400hp. It will be
quite similar in drivability and feel to the LS2
currently in the Corvette. Image: GM Holden Ltd. |
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We think a "Camaro
SS," six-speed-manual might: weigh 350-500 pounds less,
be a tenth or so quicker from 0-to-60 and run the
quarter in the mid/low 13s at 105 mph or so. The
down-under automotive press says the Commodore VE SSV
has stiff structure, 50/50 weight bias, a well-sorted
chassis with near neutral handling and 19" wheels. With
most of that carrying over to a Camaro SS, you can
figure on a car that handles better, steers more
responsively, brakes better, rides nicer and is more
refined inside than was the 4th Gen Camaro which had a
live axle rear suspension and structure based on that of
the 3rd Gen ('82-'92) car. |
Based on early reviews
of the new Commodore, we all have a lot to look forward
to with the 2010 Camaro. In the meantime, maybe we can
get the Aussies to send us a stick-shift Commodore SSV
to drive for awhile. Please ship it to: Webmaster,
www.camarohomepage.com, care of Tom Henry Chevrolet.
Whadaya say, mates?
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