HOLDEN WM CAPRICE

:''For a complete overview of all Caprice models see: Holden Caprice.''
The 'Holden WM Caprice' is a full size luxury car produced by the General Motors Australian subsidiary, Holden since September 2006. The vehicle debuted alongside the VE Commodore (for the first time in history) and WM Statesman on July 16 2006 at the Melbourne Convention Centre. With the Caprice's export plans, it was felt that its launch should be simultaneous with that of the Commodore, rather than months later, as had been the choice. The Caprice has two main rivals, the Ford LTD and the Chrysler 300.
Holden are already exporting the WM to the Middle East as the Chevrolet Caprice and to South Korea as the Daewoo L4X. Holden ais hoping sell 20,000 units within these countries alone. In November 2006 Holden sold a record number of 239 units, out selling the considerably less expensive Statesman model.

Contents

Development and design

Exterior design

Interior design

Engine and mechanics

Safety

References

External links

Development and design

The WM Caprice was a $190 million investment, in combination with the $1.03 billion VE Commodore program. The WM will continue to supply cars to senior Federal and State politicians, government officials, businesspeople and private buyers in Australia and overseas.^[1]

Exterior design

The WM Caprice features the same bodyshell as the WM Statesman, and possesses a sportier character than the more conservative luxury Statesman. Less chrome is incorporated outside compared to the Statesman. Visually the boot may look smaller from the outside but it is considerably larger inside compared to the VE. The front windscreen and the front doors are the only parts of the Caprice (visually) that are the same as the VE, like previous times the rear doors were not taken of the commodore. Instead the rear doors were made longer to insure that it would be easier to get in and out of the car.
Points of differentiation to the Statesman include sports suspension, larger 18 inch alloy wheels although 20 inch wheels come as an option and dual rear seat LCD screens (with DVD player), Bi-Xenon headlamps also come as standard as well as rear LED brake lights. Unlike the Commodore the Caprice receives a full size spare alloy wheel as standard.

Interior design

Compared to the previous generation, more sporting trim highlights are used in the cabin and the centre dash incorporates real aluminium. The already considerable rear leg-room has been increased over previous models. Tri-zone climate control systems feature for the first time that can regulate the car's temperature at three separate places inside the cabin. Themes for the specialist interior design team were comfort, sophistication, harmony, luxury and attention to detail. The extroverted instrument pad features a wide binnacle, unique chrome-ringed instrument cluster and integrated centre stack with a high resolution colour screen, zoned audio and climate controls and satin chrome detailing.

Engine and mechanics

The Caprice comes standard with a 6.0 litre ''L98'' V8 engine producing 270 kilowatts (362 hp) coupled to the ''GM 6L80E'' six-speed automatic transmission as featured on sports Commodore variants. A cheaper 195 kilowatt (261 hp) 3.6 litre ''Alloytec V6'' is available as an option. The semi-sports suspension is stiffened compared to the Statesman, Holden refer to the more sporting suspension as "FE1.5", sitting halfway between their standard suspension tune and the "FE2" suspension tune of their sports models. The Caprice is also 70 kilogram (154 lb) lighter than the previous model.

Powertrain

Engine	Power	Torque
3.6 L V6	195 kW (262 hp)	340 Nm @ 2600 rpm
6.0 L V8	270 kW (362 hp)	530 Nm @ 4400 rpm

Safety

In the safety aspect the Caprice comes with traction control, ABS brakes, EBD, BAS and a tyre pressure monitoring system as standard Front, side and curtain airbags come as standard which is another incentive to improve the Caprice's safety equipment, this also contributed to the fact the that the Caprice’s safety rating surpass that off its main rival, the LTD.Development commenced with the largest virtual crash modelling program Holden has ever undertaken. Emphasis was placed on considering the range of impact scenarios that occur in real world accident situations and differing occupant criteria. Safety technologies were benchmarked alongside with the world’s leading luxury brands and major engineering programs delivered a stiffer body structure and vastly increased usage of advanced strength steels. Multiple load corridor strategies for frontal, side and rear impacts improve passenger compartment integrity. They are complemented by an improved multipoint airbag sensing system and an adaptive restraint system which includes dual stage front airbags, thorax side impact airbags, curtain airbags and front seat active head restraints as standard equipment. Structurally optimised crush zones absorb crash energy and other occupant protection features include a steering column ride-down mechanism and breakaway brake pedal.

References

1.

External links

★ Official website