Although often overlooked today, when the VN Commodore was launched in 1988, Holden had high hopes claiming that the new model had been designed to make the kind of market impact reserved only for the most significant Holden models. While this may seem to be little more than hype, the VN did indeed place Holden back on top of the Australian Passenger Car market and at the same time scooped the 1989 Wheels Car Of The Year award.

With a style that was a vast departure from all Holdens before it (OK- a case can be argued that there is a whole lot of VL in that front end), the VN’s major inspiration came from the German Opel Omega albeit with panel and mechanicals adapted to better suit the Australian conditions and market. Holden designers and engineers choose to keep the steeply raked windscreen, flush fitting side windows and low profile headlights, all results of the Omega’s wind tunnel testing, in their new wider body built around a modified VL floor pan.

The 1987 Opel Senator (left) and 1988 Opel Omega (right) showing many similarities with the VN Commodore. Click to enlarge.

Another carry over from the VL before it- or more precisely the VL SS Group A ‘Walkinshaw’- was the fuel injected 5.0litre V8 although fitted with a single throttle body as opposed to the Group A's twin (the exception being the VN Group A which also had a twin set up). Initially, thoughts had been given to using the twin throttle body set up throughout all VN V8s, however it was decided that the buying public may not have been overly keen on the necessary bonnet bulge found on the Group A models. Even with the revised inlet manifold and single throttle body, the claimed power figure of 165kw gave the VN an impressive power to weight ratio for the time and even more so for a full bodied family sedan. So successful was this motor that it would continue until the release of the 5.7 litre Gen III Chevorlet V8 which became the standard V8 in the Series II VT range.

The other power plant option came in the form of a 3.8litre EFI Buick motor in favour of the previous 3.0litre Nissan sourced six found in the VLs that delivered as much power as the earlier carby-fed V8. A four-cylinder version of the VN was made available for export markets utilising a 2.0litre version of the Family II engine, similar to that found in the JE Camira, with Bosch Motronic EFI and was mounted north-south driving the rear wheels. On most models, each engine was backed by either a locally built Borg Warner T5 5 speed manual box or the American 4 speed overdrive Turbo Hydramatic (TH700). Steering and suspension was as in the VL.

Both the engine options available to the Australian public gave the VN plenty of power and when coupled with the original 14 inch rims offered on early models had a tendency for wheel spin. So much so that the motoring media at the time decalared the VN as being not suitable for inexperienced driver's and possibly even unsafe.

Further details of all drive trains offered across the VN range can be found here.

The interior was also all new and updated with a one piece fascia with a wide centre console housing air conditioning controls, the stereo head unit and other minor switches while all other controls- wipers, lights, cruise control etc. - were fitted to a protruding binnacle on either side of the steering wheel within fingertips reach.

After becoming the country’s leading selling car in 1989, March 1990 saw the VN range upgraded with an illuminated ignition lock, higher quality sound system, new wheel trims, VQ style climate control to Calais models, an eye level stoplight added to the lower centre of the rear windscreen to comply with new ADRs and slight modifications to exterior mouldings (the front bumper becoming a one piece moulding- the rear remained three piece). The SS also received an interior upgrade with the seats approaching Calais standard.

October 1990 brought about the improved V6 designated EV6 featuring many internal modifications and a new ignition system, resulting in a smoother, much improved powerplant which continued into the VP series.

1991 saw the introduction of an optional front bench seat and column shifter- as seen in the VG series.

A full list of models in the VN range can be found here.