Newtechfresh | Consumer Electronics Guide: HOLDEN CAPRICE

Holden has just rolled out the long-wheelbase version of its Commodore series, the Caprice(offered by GM as the Chevrolet Caprice police car in North America), which gains the new interior of the VF Commodore, but misses out on the aluminum body part upgrades and exterior revisions.

On the other hand, both the 2014 Caprice V6 LPG and Caprice V V8 benefit from a substantial $10,000 price cut over the outgoing 2012 models (read our test drive here). While Australian buyers will surely appreciate this move, it also raises some reasonable questions about Holden's previous pricing policy…

The locally made Caprice starts at AU$54,490 with the 3.6-liter LPG-fueled V6 engine mated to a six-speed automatic transmission, and at AU$59,990 for the Caprice V with a 6.2-liter V8 powerplant paired to a six-speed auto,

Along with the completely new dashboard and interior borrowed from the Commodore VF (sold as the Chevrolet SS in America), the 2014 Caprice V also gains an all-new rear seat entertainment system with remote control, DVD, AUX input and dual channel wireless headphones.

"We think we’ve made a smart investment in our long wheel base models," commented Holden Executive Director of Sales and Marketing, Philip Brook. "Caprice has always been an extremely well designed, well-proportioned large car and the all new interior is particularly important to customers in this segment,” he said.

"Holden has added the features and advanced technology that customers would only expect from prestige brands to Australia’s own large luxury car – and we’ve made Caprice available with an RRP under $60,000 for the first time," he added.

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The presentation of the redesigned 2014 Holden Commodore VF Series (offered as the new Chevrolet SS in the States) earlier this year has been followed up with the release of the Holden Special Vehicles (HSV) flavored editions of the car known as the GEN-F range.

HSV touts the GEN-F as one of its most important updates ever as it features "the most significant exterior styling makeover since E-series" and includes the most powerful performance production car ever built in Australia, a country known for its muscles cars, the 577hp (585PS / 430kW) GTS. Unfortunately, it may also be the last of its kind as GM is considering a front-wheel drive replacement for the next Commodore due in 2017.

The GEN-F range includes Commodore-based sedan and station wagon models, utes (two-door,pickup truck version of the Commodore) and a long-wheelbase version built on the Caprice named the Grange.

We'll start with the flagship GTS sedan that brings the thunder with its 6.2 liter supercharged LSA V8 engine producing 577hp (585PS / 430kW) at 5,900 rpm and 740Nm (546 lb-ft) at 4,200 rpm.

At the bottom of the range you'll find the Clubsport sedan and SportWagon, and the Maloo Ute that are all motivated by a 6.2-liter V8 churning out 425hp (431PS / 317kW) at 6,000 rpm and 550Nm (406 lb-ft) at 4,600 rpm.

The Clubsport R8, Tourer R8 and Maloo R8, all feature a slightly more potent 6.2-liter V8 rated for 436hp (442PS / 325kW) at 6,000 rpm producing the same peak torque of 550Nm (406 lb-ft) at 4,600 rpm.

The Caprice-based Grange gets a tweaked 6.2-liter V8 delivering 456hp (462PS / 340kW) at 6,000rpm and 570Nm (420 lb-ft) of torque at 4,600rpm.

All engines and models are offered with either a 6-speed manual gearbox or an optional 6-speed automatic transmission driving the rear wheels. Pricing for all GEN-F models will be announced closer to launch later this year.

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