Holden Caprice (WM)

Exterior design

Holden Statesman (WM)

Holden Caprice (WM)

The Caprice and the Statesman are differentiated with more conservative design cues on the latter, and more sportiness on the former. The Caprice gets sports suspension, larger 18 inch alloy wheels (with 20 inch wheels available as an option) and dual rear seat LCD screens (with DVD player). The Statesman has its own front bumper and grille design, along with a chrome number plate surround on the rear bumper. Both models feature Bi-Xenon headlamps as standard as well as rear LED brake lights.

The front windscreen and the front doors are the only parts of the Caprice that are visually the same as the VE. Unlike previous models, the rear doors were not taken from the Commodore wagon; the WM has its own elongated rear door designs that enable easier entry and egress. Unlike the Commodore, the Caprice receives a full size spare alloy wheel as standard.

Interior design

Interior (WM)

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.^[5]

WM Series II

The WM was updated to a Series II designation in mid-2010, alongside the Series II VE Commodore. The long-running 'Statesman' nameplate and trim was permanently discontinued, and a new 'V'-series of the Caprice was introduced as the highest flagship trim level, in line with the equivalent VE Calais-V. The WM2 Caprice gained Holden's new 'iQ' infotainment system, enabling the connection of USB devices, enhanced bluetooth connectivity, satellite navigation with traffic alerts and a reversing camera. The premium Bose audio system also became standard across the range, along with a new 18" alloy wheel design.^[6] The L98 V8 engine was also replaced with the closely related L77 V8 in the WM2, adding E85 Ethanol capability and GM's Active Fuel Management feature.

• 
  Holden Caprice V (WM II)
• 
  Holden Caprice (WM II)

WN

The new 'WN' model Caprice, released alongside the 'VF' Commodore in July 2013, brought a brand new, completely redesigned interior, dashboard and infotainment system, shared with the VF Calais-V. Larger 19" alloy wheels from the Calais-V also became standard on all models. The rear LCD screens for the Caprice-V's passenger entertainment system were also redesigned to fold into the seat backs, when not in use. Various safety technologies were added, including trailer stability control, rear cross traffic alert, backup camera, blind spot monitor, lane departure warning system, collision avoidance system, automotive head-up display, electric park brake and automatic parking.^[7] Unlike the VF Commodore, the exterior of the WN Caprice was left completely unchanged from previous WM models.

For the 2015 model year, the base model Caprice was discontinued, leaving the Caprice-V as the sole trim-level on sale. The petrol version of the LFX V6 was also removed from the lineup, but the LPG version was retained, along with the standard L77 V8.^[8]

• 
  Caprice V (WN)
• 
  Caprice V (WN)

WN Series II

The final WN II revision of the Caprice was released in September 2015. The most notable change was the replacement of the 6.0L L77 V8 engine with the 6.2L LS3 V8 from the HSV Grange, albeit detuned to 304 kW (408 hp).^[9] Minor exterior changes included a new 19" alloy wheel design (continuing to be shared with the VF Calais-V), a standard rear lip spoiler, and dual exhaust tips replacing the quad exhaust tips of previous V8 models.No BiModal exhaust option.^[10]

• 
  WN II Caprice V
• 
  WN II Caprice V

E-Series (WM)

Tuning house Holden Special Vehicles released their version of the Caprice, the E1-series Grange, for the Australian and New Zealand markets in 2007. Unlike the Caprice, the Grange was factory-fitted with a 6.0L LS2 V8 from the C6 Chevrolet Corvette, making 307 kW (412 hp) peak power. It also featured magnetic ride control suspension, HSV-designed 20" staggered wheels, unique front and rear bumper designs and a rear spoiler. The price of a Grange was A$82,990, A$13,000 more than a standard Caprice.^[15]

In mid-2008, production of the LS2 engine was discontinued, necessitating a switch to the new 6.2L LS3 V8, rated at 317 kW (425 hp) power. The Grange would go on to use the LS3 until the end of its production in 2016. Although it had received a new engine, the Grange continued to be designated the E1-series, until mid-2009 when the E2-series was formally released, featuring completely redesigned front and rear bumpers, rectangular exhaust tips on the rear and DRLs (daylight running lamps) on the front. The E2 Grange also came standard with a bi-modal exhaust.

HSV followed up in mid-2010 with the new E3-series Grange, which inherited the new 'Holden iQ' infotainment system from the WM Series II Caprice. It also received the same LS3 engine tune as the performance-oriented HSV GTS, making 325 kW (436 hp) of power at 6000 rpm and 550 N⋅m (406 lb⋅ft) of torque at 4600 rpm. The car accelerated from 0–100 km/h (0–62 mph) in 5.0 seconds.^[16]

Gen-F (WN)

In 2013, the Gen-F series Grange was launched, in line with Holden's new VF Commodore and WN Caprice ranges. The Grange continued with the same exterior as the preceding E2 and E3 series, but received an all-new dashboard and interior upgrade from the WN Caprice. It also came standard with a further 340 kW (460 hp) upgrade to its LS3 V8 engine^[17], shared with the Gen-F HSV Clubsport R8 SV edition.

HSV's Gen-F2 series of cars was launched in September 2015, coinciding with Holden's VF and WN Series II. However the Gen-F2 Grange received only minor cosmetic changes, and was the only car in HSV's lineup to not get the new supercharged 6.2L LSA V8 engine. The Grange's value proposition was also reduced by Holden upgrading the WNII Caprice to a detuned LS3, just prior to the Gen-F2 series launch.

In October 2016, HSV announced the retirement of the Grange model from its lineup, commemorating it with a final run of 50 limited edition models, called the Grange SV edition. The SV boasted four-piston AP Racing brakes with black calipers, black accents on the bodywork and 20-inch Rapier gloss black forged alloy wheels.^[18]

Chevrolet Caprice (Middle East)

Middle East Caprice

As with previous Holden Caprice models, the WM was exported to Middle East markets (including Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the UAE) from 2007 to 2017, where it was badged as the Chevrolet Caprice. It was largely identical in specification to the Holden Caprice, but came with an additional base-model 'LS' trim that was not available in Australia. It included black plastic and rubber trimmings, halogen reflector headlights, stock steel wheels with hubcaps, and the full entry-level dashboard from the similarly specified VE Commodore Omega. Higher trims included LTZ (Statesman), SS (Caprice) and the flagship Royale, which possessed a unique Chevrolet hood ornament.

The Middle East-market Caprice was equipped with same engine and powertrain options as available in Australia, although the 3.6L V6 engine was removed from the lineup for the WM Series II update in 2011. The Caprice received all subsequent updates (WN and WN Series II) through to the end of Australian production. The Middle East region comprised the majority of Caprice exports outside of Australia.

Chevrolet Caprice PPV (US)

Chevrolet Caprice PPV

The Holden Caprice was exported to the United States as the Chevrolet Caprice PPV (Police Patrol Vehicle) from 2011 to 2017. Unlike past US-market Caprices, the imported Caprice PPV was strictly police-only, and not offered to the public by Chevrolet as a new, untitled vehicle.^[19][20]

The WM PPV was remarkably different in specification to both the Australian and the Middle Eastern Caprices. It sported a unique front bumper design influenced by the VE Commodore Omega, and inherited the Omega's base-spec interior trim, seats and dashboard. It also came with stock steel wheels, deleted the foglights and side-indicators, and featured halogen rear lights in lieu of the LED units. Further, the 9C1 variant came with a foot-operated parking brake, and omitted the centre armrest, cup holders and window switches; they were replaced with a large oblong steel mounting plate for police accessories. The 9C3 version retained the full centre stack from the Holden, including the hand-operated brake. The standard engine was the same 6.0L L77 V8 as the Holden version, with the 3.6-litre LFX V6 petrol engine also becoming available from 2012 onwards.^[21] The car enjoyed a positive reception in the US, with near perfect scores in an assessment by the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department, and the only criticism being directed at over-cautious electronic stability control.

The updated WN Caprice PPV became available to the US in 2014, and gained the new interior from the VF Commodore Evoke. However, the floor shifter was deleted and replaced with a unique column shifter, that was not used in any other Caprice or Commodore. The 9C3 'Detective' variant was also permanently discontinued, leaving the 9C1 as the only trim-level available. In 2015, the PPV gained the rear vision camera from the Holden Caprice^[22], but did not inherit the Holden's new LS3 V8 engine, continuing with the original L77 unit. The car's final update for 2017 brought a limited-slip differential for the V6 model, a vinyl rear bench seat with seat-back security panel, an 18" full size spare wheel and the deletion of two exterior paint colour options.^[23]

Buick Park Avenue (China)

Buick Park Avenue (China)

Starting in April 2007, the Caprice was sold in China as the luxury-spec Buick Park Avenue, replacing the outgoing Buick Royaum. It is the only variant of the Caprice that was not manufactured in Australia by Holden; complete knock down kits were exported by Holden to China for local assembly by Shanghai GM.^[24] The Park Avenue had several different features and configurations to the Caprice, including a range of V6 engines^[25], electric reclining rear massage seats, and a unique, Buick-designed dashboard centre console (resembling the fifth-generation Buick Regal) that was not used in any other Caprice.

The Park Avenue was discontinued in October 2012 and largely replaced with the similarly sized, American-designed Buick LaCrosse.

Daewoo Veritas (South Korea)

Daewoo Veritas (South Korea)

Holden exported Caprices to South Korea in 2008, rebadged as the Daewoo Veritas, after showcasing a pre-production Daewoo L4X in 2007.^[26] Like the Buick Park Avenue in China, the Veritas had the V6 engine only, and featured a modified rear floor to accommodate the electrically adjustable rear seats incorporating a massage function. The headrests were electrically adjustable, but the dual headrest-mounted LCD screens from the Holden Caprice were replaced with a single, ceiling-mounted screen from the VE Holden Calais-V.^[27] The Veritas was discontinued in 2011, when the Daewoo brand was shuttered in Korea.

Bitter Vero (Germany)

In 2008, the small-scale German manufacturer Bitter, which had been dormant for several years, resumed its operations with the new Bitter Vero, first showcased at the Geneva Motor Show. It was an imported WM Caprice, purchased directly from Holden thanks to Erich Bitter's friendship with Holden's former managing director, Peter Hanenberger.^[28] It featured extra luxury interior fittings and a bespoke front bumper and bonnet treatment. Only ten units were built and sold in Germany before production ended in 2009.