Melbourne show: Sportwagon for $1000 extra

APART from revealing a show-stopping concept car at the Melbourne motor show this morning, GM Holden announced a $1000 price premium for its VE Commodore-based Sportwagon range due on sale by July.

Prices start at $37,790 for the entry-level 2008 Sportwagon Omega - $440 less than the $38,240 VZ Executive wagon it replaces, despite the fact that ESP stability/traction control, rear parking sensors and six airbags (inluding twin front, front side and side curtains) are now standard across the seven-variant range (up from two, not including the limited-edition VZ SS). ABS, EBD and BA are also included.

Holden also announced that the same six-airbag safety package will become standard in the VE Commodore sedan, effective immediately.

Holden says that at $41,290, the Sportwagon Berlina costs $5600 less than the $46,890 VZ Berlina wagon it will replace.

New to the Holden wagon range are the auto-only SV6 ($42,290), the SS manual ($46,290), SS auto ($48,290), SS V manual ($53,790), SS V auto ($55,790), Calais auto ($46,790), Calais V V6 auto ($55,290) and the Calais V V8 auto ($60,290).

Factory Sportwagon options will include leather seat inserts ($2500 on Berlina, Calais, SV6 and SS), a six-CD stacker ($595 on Omega and SV6), "turn-by-turn" satellite-navigation ($1290), full-colour mapping sat-nav ($1990), a full-size spare wheel/tyre ($250 on Omega, Berlina, SV6, SS, SS V, Calais and Calais V), leather trim with eight-way front-seat power adjustment ($3000 on Calais), FE2 Sports suspension ($330 on Omega, Berlina, Calais, Calais V – mandatory with LSD), a limited-slip differential ($360), overhead DVD player ($1290 on all variants except Omega, standard on Calas V) and metallic paint ($400).

Engine options reflect the VE Commodore sedan range, with the Sportwagon Omega coming standard with a 180kW/330Nm 3.6-litre Alloytec V6 mated to a four-speed automatic transmission. The base VE wagon also scores four 16-inch alloy wheels, a multi-function steering wheel, multi-function driver display, cruise control, automatic headlights and a single-CD player.

Stepping up to the Berlina wagon adds four 17-inch alloys, front foglights, leather-clad steering wheel, triple-display trip computer, Bluetooth phone connectivity, in-dash six-CD/MP3 player, four-way power driver's seat adjustment, dual-zone climate-control and a six-inch multi-function screen.

The SV6 wagon comes with 195kW/340Nm High Output Alloytec performance and a five-speed automatic with Active Select manual-shift mode, Sports suspension, four 18-inch alloy wheels, sports bodykit, sports interior, chrome highlights and a dual exhaust – but no climate-control, foglights or powered driver's seat.

The SS wagon offers 270kW/530Nm 6.0-litre V8 power, driving through a six-speed manual or automatic transmission. It comes standard with an LSD and adds Sports front seats over the SV6.

To this the SS V adds projector headlights, alloy-faced pedals, four 19-inch alloy wheels, a leather-clad gearshifter and sports steering wheel, leather seat inserts, dual-zone climate-control, 6.5-inch multi-function screen and zone-based rear parking sensors.

Calais wagon buyers get the high-output 195kW/340Nm V6 and five-speed auto combination, plus four 17-inch alloys, a leather-clad steering wheel and gearshifter, triple-display trip computer, Bluetooth connectivity, projector headlights, six-CD/MP3 player, six-way power driver's seat adjustment, dual-zone climate-control, 6.5-inch multi-function display and zone-based rear parking sensors.

In addition, the Calais V adds four 18-inch alloys chrome bodyside mouldings, chrome exterior door-handles, a leather-clad sports steering wheel, zone-based front parking sensors, rain-sensing wipers, rear overhead DVD, eight-way powered front seats, leather seat trim and driver's seat and mirror memory.

2008 Holden Sportwagon pricing:
Omega (a)	$37,790
Berlina (a)	$41,290
SV6 (a)	$42,290
SS	$46,290
SS (a)	$48,290
SS V	$53,790
SS V (a)	$55,790
Calais (a)	$46,790
Calais V V6 (a)	$55,290
Calais V V8 (a)	$60,290

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