THIS is a big Holden with very few compromises when compared with its WL forebear. Designed from the ground up to deliver world-standard structural integrity, best-possible suspension and steering geometry and almost-meticulous fit and finish, the WM Statesman/Caprice is an entirely new breed of top-end Australian luxury car that only looks as if it’s connected to its predecessor. With impressive drivelines and dynamic abilities that redefine what we expect of a locally built car, the big new Holdens back up their swish styling with real substance. We don’t want to can the outgoing WL, but the WM is a car that can stand up proudly and declare itself on the world stage.
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Holden WL Statesman
Released: August 04
Ended: September 06
Family Tree: StatesmanHolden's WL Statesman/Caprice was the swansong in a long-wheelbase VT Commodore-based sedan range that dates back to the WH of June 1999, when it replaced the VS Series III Statesman. The WL Statesman introduced the 190kW/340Nm version of Holden's 3.6-litre Alloytec V6 (with five-speed auto) and was also available with a 245kW/465Nm version of Chev's Gen III 5.7-litre V8 (with four-speed auto). The WL Caprice offered a 250kW/470Nm version, but tighter 2006 emissions laws saw the Gen IV 6.0-litre V8 replace it for the first nine months of this year.
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