Holden Calais International Offers Performance

Holden Calais International Offers Performance, Style And Exclusivity

Holden, which has enjoyed remarkable and market leading success with its Commodore range - New Zealand’s best selling carline last year and year to date 2001 - has just released a limited edition version of the range-topping V8 Calais.

Targeted at luxury car buyers and based on the established, high level of appointments of the VX Series Holden Calais, the exclusively equipped model - dubbed the Calais International - offers distinctive styling cues and unique interior treatments. It is anticipated that just 60 examples of the expected production run of 350 units produced at Holden’s South Australian facility will cross the Tasman.

Externally, the VX Series Calais International is set apart by a unique metallic paint finish called Delft Blue, 17-inch six spoke alloy wheels shod with 235/45R low profile tyres and a special identification badge on the boot.

Inside, the car features a two-tone trim combination of light shale-coloured Howe leather seating complemented by pewter-coloured soft trim highlights, and embroidered carpet protection mats. A restyled cockpit fascia, instrument cluster and console continue the unique interior trim. The instrument cluster has a Delft Blue face with sport style surrounds in satin silver and contrasting white indicator needles, while the cockpit fascia and console are enhanced by a subtle, finely textured grey metallic finish.

The smartly styled VX Series Calais International - recommended retail price $67,900 - is powered by Holden’s advanced 5.7 litre 225 kW GEN III alloy V8 engine matched to an electronically controlled four-stage automatic transmission.

Other features incorporated in the VX Calais International include: eight-way electric front seat adjustment, ‘dual-zone’ climate control air conditioning, a ‘twilight sentinel’ system that turns the headlights on at dusk and off at dawn and a ‘priority key’ system that remembers audio and climate control settings, trip computer read-out preferences, the time delay on headlights, instrument panel brightness and electric antenna height.

Electric windows, cruise control and a ten speaker stereo sound system - including an electronic tune radio, cassette player and boot concealed ten-disc CD changer, are also standard. Audio controls are mounted on the two-texture leather-covered steering wheel.

Holden’s technologically advanced side impact airbags mounted in both front seats of the VX Series Calais International help to reduce the risk of head, neck and chest injury in the event of a severe side impact collision. These, together with driver and front passenger airbags, pyrotechnic front seat belt pre-tensioners that minimise forward movement in a frontal collision, ‘anti-submarining’ front and rear seat ramps, crash pulse-optimised front structure, traction control for stable acceleration on difficult road surfaces and anti-lock braking to help maintain full steering - even under heavy braking, comprise a world-class, total safety system.

Like all Holden passenger cars, sport-utility/recreational four-wheel drive and light commercial vehicles, the VX Series Calais International is covered by a three-year 100,000 kilometres warranty - whichever occurs first. Normal service intervals - following the first inspection at 1500 kms, are at every six months or 10,000 kilometres while the vehicle’s braked towing capacity - with Holden approved equipment, is 2,100 kilograms.

The Calais International also comes with ‘Holden Advantage,’ a motoring assurance package delivered through the collective resources of Holden Dealers and the New Zealand Automobile Association and which operates 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Benefits, which apply to the vehicle rather than driver and are thus transferred on resale, are a breakdown and recovery service and where applicable, an overnight accommodation and/or alternative transport plan - all in accordance with the formal document that accompanies the vehicle. The service is accessed through the toll free number 0800 HOLDEN.

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