First look: Holden shows VF Ute, Sportwagon

THE drip-feed of Holden VF Commodore models continues with the release overnight of images of the new Holden Ute and Sportwagon, showing new front treatments but only minor changes to the rear.

The Ute has been shown in SS V guise, with the same black twin grille nose as the sedan revealed on Friday, while the Sportwagon is the Calais V version that again mimics the flagship sedan shown more than a week ago.

But as expected, the two alternatives to the sedan fundamentally get only the VF’s new nose – including the aluminium bonnet and new front lights.

The sheetmetal around the back of the vehicles appears to be carryover from the superseded VE, on which all VFs are based.

No interior shots have been presented, but expect the two vehicles to get the all-new dashboard and seats of the VF sedan, along with the high-tech electronic safety devices such as collision warning and lane departure warning.

Holden says the Sportwagon and Ute will be launched mid-year, at the same time as the sedan range. Neither vehicle has been slated for export to North America as part of the Chevrolet SS range revealed at Daytona on the weekend, but that might change with the Sportwagon.

Next cab off the protracted Holden VF launch rank is expected to be the base model, which will probably carry the Omega name but move upmarket to absorb the Berlina into one vehicle.

Holden has also announced it is doing more than 1.4 million kilometres of local and overseas validation testing before the first VF Commodore reaches Holden showrooms in June.

“This includes 350,000km of customer verification testing of early production models by Holden employees across the business over the coming months,” it said.

Holden said it had mined customer feedback dating back to 2003 to help guide its test strategy.

Holden chief engineer Brett Vivian said Holden had put VF through its paces around the globe – from Sweden to North America to the Middle East.

“But the most critical testing is the thousands of evaluation kilometres we cover on local roads in Australia,” he said.

“Whether sedan, Sportwagon or Ute, the new VF is a car we can all be very proud of – it’s a truly great drive.”