HOLDEN'S VY Commodore SS has a lot to live up to. As the performance flagship of a model range that has comprehensively outsold its direct rival at Ford for the past five years, strong sales and an even stronger image are what Holden needs SS to deliver. Arguably the most convincing of all the controversially facelifted VY models - which cost half as much to develop as Ford's BA Falcon range - SS delivers a bigger dose of HSV styling than any Holden before it, along with a fresh new interior and a few more standard features. Backing up the new cosmetics is communicative new steering, a peak power increase to 235kW, improved low-down driveability and a more fitting V8 exhaust burble - all of which makes SS more rewarding to own. But as the only VY variant to increase in price, is this enough to continue its reign as Australia's favourite sports sedan in the face of a renewed performance vehicle campaign from Ford?
Holden Commodore SS
Released: September 97
Ended: October 2002
Family Tree: CommodoreHOLDEN'S history-changing VT Commodore appeared in September 1997, replacing the VS Commodore which began life as the VN in 1988. The VT was new but Holden's performance-leading SS (pictured) continued with the locally made 5.0-litre V8 until The General saw the light and fitted Chev's 5.7-litre V8 for the VTII update in June 1999. A minor cosmetic update followed with VX in October 2000, when Commodore SS increased its peak power output by 5kW to 225kW. Control-link IRS improved Commodore handling for the VXII update in August 2001, before a midlife facelift raised the SS flagship's power bar to 235kW for this, the midlife VY facelift.
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