WH Statesman and Caprice

The big new third-generation VT Commodore body provided the basis for the stretched WH series, which finally and emphatically pulled away from the stalwart Fairlane/LTD in sales.

Although available with the heavily revised 147kW and supercharged 171kW 3.8-litre V6s, the star of the new Statesman and Caprice line was the American-made Chevrolet-sourced 220kW 5.7-litre GEN III V8, that finally put the old locally-made 5.0L V8 to rest.

With its eye on burgeoning Middle East export markets, Holden developed the WH series with more space, luxury, and refinement than before. Side airbags, satellite navigation, and traction control systems became available.

In May ’00 the value-added Statesman International was released, distinguished by its special metallic paint.

In October ’00 a minor facelift resulted in small trim changes, the V6 now developed 152kW of power, and the V8’s rose by 5kW to 225kW.