As the mid-range offering, the Berlina builds on the Omega with chrome twin-blade grille, chrome-surround foglights, rear parking sensors, 17-inch seven-spoke alloys and bright exterior mouldings.
The Berlina essentially takes over where the Acclaim left off. It has side impact airbags as standard while curtain airbags are optional with leather trim seats.
Inside the Berlina gains a six-inch multi-function central display screen, six-disc in-dash CD player with MP3 compatibility, Bluetooth connectivity, dual-zone air conditioning and leather wrap steering wheel.
At launch, engine choices were the 3.6-litre Alloytec V6 from the Omega, developing 180kW @ 6000rpm and 330Nm @ 2600rpm and mated to the four-speed automatic or the optional 6.0-litre V8, which develops 270kW at 5700rpm and 530Nm at 4400rpm. The V8 is mated to a six-speed automatic.
In September 2009 the VE range was updated, with the centrepiece being a new direct-injection, EU4-compliant 3.0-litre V6 for the Omega and Berlina variants offering improved fuel economy by a claimed 13 per cent over the 3.6-litre unit it superceded.
The 3.6-litre engine continued throughout the rest of the V6-powered range and also received the direct-injection treatment.
In addition to the new engines, Holden also improved noise and vibration levels through the use of low rolling-resistance tyres for models fitted with 16 and 17-inch wheels. Suspension revisions designed to increase high-speed stability, lane-change performance and on-centre steering precision also made it into the upgrade.
A new dual exhaust system reduced noise, along with extra acoustic deadening between the cabin and the engine compartment.
