Item: 2006 Holden WM Statesman/Caprice
Rating: 3.5

Spacious and comfortable interior
Powerful 6.0-litre V8 engines
Accurate, well-weighted steering
Generally good ride/handling balance…

… but firm ride for Caprice
3.6-litre ‘Alloytec’ V6 engines lack refinement
Thick A-pillars impair forward visibility
Awkward handbrake position and operation
Pre-May 2007 Alloytec V6 petrol engines susceptible to stretched timing chains
3.6-litre SIDI V6 engines susceptible to carbon build-up on intake valves

Holden WM.I Statesman and Caprice (2006-10)

Overview

Released in September 2006, the Holden WM Series I (WM.I) Statesman and Caprice were long wheelbase sedans. Manufactured in Elizabeth, South Australia, the rear-wheel drive WM.I Statesman and Caprice were available with 3.6-litre V6 and 6.0-litre V8 petrol engines that were mated to automatic transmissions.

Engines: Alloytec V6, L98 V8 and L76 V8

Of the engines,

The 3.6-litre ‘Alloytec’ LY7 V6 petrol engine had all-aluminium construction, a forged steel crankshaft, forged powdered metal connecting rods, double overhead camshafts (DOHC), sequential electronic fuel injection, four valves per cylinder, continuously variable intake and exhaust camshaft phasing, electronic throttle control, twin knock control sensors and a compression ratio of 10.2:1. For the VE range, the Alloytec engines were fitted with new variable intake manifolds, Bosch E77 engine control systems with digital sensors for crank and camshaft positions, front and rear oxygen (O₂) sensors, retuned harmonic balancers and a new dual exhaust system;
Introduced in September 2009 (‘MY10’), the 3.6-litre LLT V6 petrol engine had direct injection (Holden’s Spark Ignition Direct Injection or SIDI) – whereby fuel was pressurised and injected directly into the combustion chamber compression – and a compression ratio of 11.3:1;
The 6.0-litre L98 pushrod V8 engine had all-aluminium construction, flat-topped pistons, forged powered metal connecting rods, a billet steel camshaft, two valves per cylinder, external knock sensors and a compression ratio of 10.4:1. For the VE range, changes included a high-flow exhaust system with 2.25-inch pipes and four outlets; and,
Introduced in January 2009, the 6.0-litre L76 V8 engine had displacement on demand hardware (Holden’s Active Fuel Management or AFM) that could shut down four cylinders under light throttle loads in higher gears. Although similar to the L98 engine, the L76 engine had a different camshaft profile and a smaller sump.

For the WM range, new engine control systems were introduced which used digital sensors for crank and camshaft positions. Service intervals for the V8 engines were also extended to 15,000 kilometres (previously 10,000 kilometres).

Transmissions

The V6 engines were initially available with five-speed 5L40E automatic transmissions, though for the 3.6-litre LLT engines, these were replaced by six-speed 6L50 transmissions. The V8 engines were solely available six-speed 6L80 automatic transmissions. Both the 6L50 and 6L80 transmissions had an ‘Active Select’ function which enabled the driver to perform sequential gearshifts by tapping the gear shifter.

Development and dimensions

Developed at a cost of $190 million – in addition to the $1 billion for the VE Commodore program – the WM Statesman and Caprice were underpinned by GM’s Zeta platform which – due to its higher proportion of advanced-strength steels – provided a more rigid body. Like the VE Commodore, the WM Statesman and Caprice had a stiffer engine cradle with six mounting points, acoustic laminated windscreens, new engine covers and bonnet insulators, new sound absorption packages (behind the engine bay and between the transmission and transmission tunnel), insulating carpets and a new double-isolated ZF differential. Tyre pressures were also increased to 250kPa (36.25 psi) to reduce rolling resistance and improve fuel economy.

Compared to the WL Statesman and Caprice , the WM Statesman and Caprice were 77 mm shorter (at 5160 mm), 52 mm wider (1899 mm), 21 mm taller (1480 mm) and had 70 mm longer wheelbases (3009 mm).

From September 2009 (‘MY10’), the Statesman and Caprice were fitted with additional engine bay insulation and a quieter muffler, while the Statesman was fitted with low rolling-resistance Bridgestone Turanza tyres for improved fuel economy.

Suspension

The WM Statesman and Caprice had ‘Linear Control’ suspension which consisted of double-pivot MacPherson strut-based front suspension with dual lower links (with individual ball joints), a tension link, lateral link and a direct acting stabiliser bar. The rear suspension was a four-link independent system with coil-over shock absorbers, three lateral ball joints per side and a decoupled stabiliser bar.

In September 2009 (‘MY10’), the rear suspension was revised with an additional cross-axis ball joint (in place of a rubber bush in the lower control arm).

Holden WM.I Statesman and Caprice specifications
	Engine	Production	Trans.	Peak power	Peak torque
Statesman, Caprice	3.6-litre LY7 petrol V6	Sep 2006 to Sep 2009	5sp auto	195 kW at 6500 rpm	340 Nm at 2600 rpm
	3.6-litre LLT petrol V6 SIDI	Sep 2009 to Sep 2010	6sp auto	210 kW at 6400 rpm	350 Nm at 2900 rpm
	6.0-litre L98 petrol V8	Sep 2006 to Dec 2008	6sp auto	270 kW at 5700 rpm	530 Nm at 4400 rpm
	6.0-litre L76 petrol V8 AFM	Jan 2009 to Sep 2010	6sp auto	260 kW at 5700 rpm	517 Nm at 4400 rpm

Safety equipment

Standard safety equipment for the WM Statesman and Caprice included dual front airbags, front side airbags, full length curtain airbags (i.e. for front and rear occupants), ABS, electronic brake force distribution, brake assist, traction control, electronic stability control, active front seat head restraints and front seatbelts with pretensioners and load limiters.

Brakes

WM Statesman and Caprice models with V6 engines were fitted with 298 mm by 30 mm ventilated front brake discs with twin-piston callipers and 302 mm by 22 mm ventilated rear discs with single-piston callipers. Models with V8 engines, however, were fitted with 321 mm by 30 mm front discs and 324 mm by 22 mm rear discs.

ANCAP crash testing

Although the Statesman and Caprice were not specifically tested by ANCAP, they were awarded ratings based on ANCAP’s crash testing of the VE Commodore Omega and evidence that they would perform similarly. From September 2009, the Statesman and Caprice were fitted with a passenger seat belt reminder and these models were awarded a five star adult occupant protection rating with a score of 33.45 out of 37. Prior results for the VE Commodore, however, were not comparable due to its omission of side and curtain airbags.

Features

Standard features for the WM Statesman included ten-spoke 17-inch alloy wheels, a 230 watt sound system with eleven speakers, a six-stack CD player, MP3-compatibility and auxiliary inputs, dual-zone climate control air conditioning, a 6.5-inch multifunction display, leather seats, an eight-way power adjustable driver’s seat and four-way power adjustable front passenger seat, cruise control, Bluetooth mobile phone connectivity, front fog lamps, front and rear parking sensors, automatic projector headlights, rain-sensing wipers, a leather-wrapped steering wheel and gearshift, remote central locking, power mirrors and windows, a height and reach adjustable steering wheel, 12 volt power outlet, cargo net, trip computer, an alarm and immobiliser.

The WM Caprice was further equipped with five-spoke 18-inch alloy wheels with sports suspension, a ten speaker Bose sound system, three-zone climate control air conditioning, soft touch leather seats, deep-bolstered front sports seats with ten-way power adjustment, bi-xenon headlights, DVD player with twin headrest-mounted LCDs, heated door mirrors, driver’s seat and mirror memory settings, rear passenger headrests and tyre pressure monitoring.

Brochure: WM Statesman and Caprice

Holden WM.II Caprice (2010-13)