History of Development
The VT project was the outcome of an A$600 million development programme that spanned more than half a decade. The new model sported a rounded exterior body shell, improved dynamics, and many firsts for an Australian-built car. A stronger body structure, 30 percent stiffer than the VS increased crash safety.
As with previous Commodore models, Holden looked to Opel in Germany for a donor platform. The proposal was to take the Omega B and broaden the vehicle’s width and mechanical setup for local conditions. In the early days, Holden considered adopting the Omega as is, save for the engines and transmissions, and even investigated reskinning the existing second generation (VN—VS) architecture. Later on, the VT bodywork spawned a new generation of Statesman and Caprice limousines. Holden even went as far as resurrecting the iconic Monaro coupé from the 1960s and 1970s. The revived Monaro attracted wide attention after being shown as a concept car at Australian auto shows, and it drew a large waiting list after production began. The Monaro was released to the Australian market in 2001.
Read more about this topic: Holden VT Commodore
Famous quotes containing the words history of, history and/or development:
“Anyone who is practically acquainted with scientific work is aware that those who refuse to go beyond fact rarely get as far as fact; and anyone who has studied the history of science knows that almost every great step therein has been made by the anticipation of Nature.”
—Thomas Henry Huxley (182595)
“If you look at history youll find that no state has been so plagued by its rulers as when power has fallen into the hands of some dabbler in philosophy or literary addict.”
—Desiderius Erasmus (c. 14661536)
“And then ... he flung open the door of my compartment, and ushered in Ma young and lovely lady! I muttered to myself with some bitterness. And this is, of course, the opening scene of Vol. I. She is the Heroine. And I am one of those subordinate characters that only turn up when needed for the development of her destiny, and whose final appearance is outside the church, waiting to greet the Happy Pair!”
—Lewis Carroll [Charles Lutwidge Dodgson] (18321898)