'09 V8 Holdens with AFM to drop power

[ea90gl]

Interesting, new SS to have decreased power from 270KW to 260KW which is pretty much VZ spec. Apparently power level decrease will affect all vehicles fitted with active fuel management and all vehicles with AFM will only be availiable in auto. Wonder how the marketing team will advertise this? "Massive economy gains with minimal power loss"......

http://www.holden.com.au/www-holden/...w?modelid=4005

[SM1DY]

I can only imagine that they will put a positive spin on it. But if that's the way Holden want to go, I'm sure the loyal subjects that mount themselves behind the VE steering wheel will still be statified with the power. Still, +1 for Ford.

[ea90gl]

Funny thing is the bogans that harped on about LS3 having 2KW more than the BOSS therefore it is king will probably turn around and say no worries at all, you'll never feel a 10KW decrease

[Elks]

Originally Posted by SM1DY

I can only imagine that they will put a positive spin on it.

It now has "Corner straightening dynamics"


My VE work car already has AFM, Active Flatspot Management which enables the engine and gearbox to work together so poorly that it can enable a naturally aspirated 6.0m to act like it has turbo lag.

[DoreSlamR]

Is this the interim fix until they introduce DOD?

Can't wait to see the minimal economy gained from that lol

[data_mine]

Same as they dropped power on the 6's. Because that's what they really need, to drop what little power and torque the asthmatic 'rattle'tec 6 already had.

I'm guessing Holdens block boring machine has broken, there hasn't been a displacement increase in a while.

[ea90gl]

Originally Posted by DoreSlamR

Is this the interim fix until they introduce DOD?

Can't wait to see the minimal economy gained from that lol

pretty sure DOD is another term for active fuel management

[vztrt]

Originally Posted by ea90gl

pretty sure DOD is another term for active fuel management

Correct.

http://www.themotorreport.com.au/105...ement-in-2009/

[schnoods]

Most of them will get a Mafless tune anyways. heaps more grunt for the little bit of fuel usage.

[DoreSlamR]

Originally Posted by ea90gl

pretty sure DOD is another term for active fuel management

Ah yeah, you're right, for some reason I thought AFM was being introduced now.


Still....i feel it's highly over rated. The fuel consumption figures between the Honda Accord and Falcon is a good indication of that.

[SpoolMan]

Originally Posted by SM1DY

I can only imagine that they will put a positive spin on it. But if that's the way Holden want to go, I'm sure the loyal subjects that mount themselves behind the VE steering wheel will still be statified with the power. Still, +1 for Ford.

I think that 90% of users will enjoy the fuel saving this could be easier to market with tightening pockets and poor V8 large car sales its a positive to save money on fuel atm, the other 10% hardcore guys will make the power difference up with aftermarket tuning.

[vztrt]

Originally Posted by SpoolMan

I think that 90% of users will enjoy the fuel saving this could be easier to market with tightening pockets and poor V8 large car sales its a positive to save money on fuel atm, the other 10% hardcore guys will make the power difference up with aftermarket tuning.

Also (well from what I've read) the LS motors are all capable of DOD but its turned off. So I think tuners would be able to disable DOD and you should get more power. Sound plausible or am I missing something?

[dom_105]

The obvious question would be, who buys a SS (or an XR8, either one) and worries about fuel consumption.

EDIT: Ok, thought this move was a standard one across the board. I guess it is a good option to have, but doubt it would have crowds of people rushing down to your local Holden dealer to pick one up.

Innovation is innovation, I guess.

[EgoFG]

Might boost sales before the change - and then they can drop the plan

[Gobes32]

What happened to LPG? Or is that only HSV's?

[4Vman]

"AFM" is Holden's contribution to the automotive acronym world....
Maybe the 10kw drop is a subtle way to be able to show some kind of back to back improvement compared to the std motor with some spin doctoring?

Practicle real world "gains" from AFM or DOD are going to be minimal at best.. DOD or AFM is a marketing gimmick....

[Luke3000]

I feel AFM isnt going to gain economy wise at all, and kicking in and out of 4 cylinders to a v8 would be a noticable difference and annoying.
But in the eyes of the media or nrma it is a massive step in the right direction.
For motoring enthusiasts it is innovative, but not not good enough.

[galaxy xr8]

Originally Posted by dom_105

The obvious question would be, who buys a SS (or an XR8, either one) and worries about fuel consumption.

EDIT: Ok, thought this move was a standard one across the board. I guess it is a good option to have, but doubt it would have crowds of people rushing down to your local Holden dealer to pick one up.

Innovation is innovation, I guess.

Well me for one,
That's a pretty judgemental quote there to say, not everyone has money to splash around, especially on fuel, so for me having a vehicle that is good on fuel is very handy, we all want the best of both world's, an economical vehicle and a sport's one at that, so why can't we have both.......
In this day and age manufacturers are designing vehicle's with more power and better economy, why , to sell them to the general public, why because that's what people want, so yes people that buy SS's and XR8's do worry about fuel consumption, and those that don't are only kidding themselves or have to much money to know what to do with it, or their young, lol, but wait till they have to leave home and start a family, let's see them talk about fuel economy then, lol.

[4Vman]

Does anyone know the price of it? or is it a no cost option?

[burnz]

Originally Posted by 4Vman

Does anyone know the price of it? or is it a no cost option?

i cant imagine it being a freebie

[4Vman]

Originally Posted by burnz

i cant imagine it being a freebie

I will be interested to see what it costs.. as its purchase price may go some way to offsetting any "at the pump" gains...

[XR Martin]

Its standard on all '09 Auto V8 non-HSVs

[XR Martin]

Originally Posted by vztrt

Also (well from what I've read) the LS motors are all capable of DOD but its turned off. So I think tuners would be able to disable DOD and you should get more power. Sound plausible or am I missing something?

L76 (VZ 6.0L V8s) engines had the DOD gear in them, but I still think it was missing minor parts, L98s which 06-08 VEs had didnt have the DOD gear.

[DJM83]

If they offer it the masses (sheep) will buy them

[Daymoe]

Originally Posted by whirlpool forums

Okay, I've driven the Active Fuel Management SS Commodore and I you not, I reckon an attentive driver in an XT Falcon could take it off the lights.

It's got 517Nm of torque (compared to the SS at 530Nm) and it has 10kW less power at 260kW and you can certainly feel the difference.

The fuel use is also higher than the last SS I drove!

I'm watching this thread keenly:

http://www.caradvice.com.au/20034/ca...ed-test-fleet/

Anyone else had an experience with this car yet?

http://forums.whirlpool.net.au/forum....cfm?t=1113694

[XR6_190]

Here we go again, Holden do something that really isn't giving any serious gain, and at the same time hampers performance, on models that are squarely aimed at performance buyers. Whilst they do this the Media will give them a massive pat on the back, and find a way to rubbish Ford in the process. Before we know it the public will be saying how wonderful and economical the 6.0L SS is and how the XR8 is an abomination that is ruining the universe.

[HSE2]

So to make sure I have this right.

A dubious development in the first place, (like all fuel saving initiatives it only produces when driven accordingly to its intended design purpose) you have to order the less efficient driveline in the first place. Suffer a drop in drivability through reduce engine tuning, (presumably where the majority of the saving is coming from in the first place) and most likely pay more for it in.

What am I missing?

I have spoken about DOD before after some firsthand experience with the 300C and in my isolated opinion, it doesn't work well enough. In a large car it had to work too hard to return real time advantages that couldn't be overcome by improved start stop driving techniques in the first place.

Plus the do goobers will claim it slows down global warming and that’s simply unacceptable.

With any luck and a fair breeze Holden consumers will support manual cars and the automatic buyers will walk to the much better auto option from Ford with the benefit of better fuel economy without the added complexity of another marketing acronym.

[4Vman]

Originally Posted by HSE2

So to make sure I have this right.

A dubious development in the first place, (like all fuel saving initiatives it only produces when driven accordingly to its intended design purpose) you have to order the less efficient driveline in the first place. Suffer a drop in drivability through reduce engine tuning, (presumably where the majority of the saving is coming from in the first place) and most likely pay more for it in.

What am I missing?

I have spoken about DOD before after some firsthand experience with the 300C and in my isolated opinion, it doesn't work well enough. In a large car it had to work too hard to return real time advantages that couldn't be overcome by improved start stop driving techniques in the first place.

Plus the do goobers will claim it slows down global warming and that’s simply unacceptable.

With any luck and a fair breeze Holden consumers will support manual cars and the automatic buyers will walk to the much better auto option from Ford with the benefit of better fuel economy without the added complexity of another marketing acronym.

Pretty much sums it up, early practical independent usage "appears" to show identical fuel consumption to un DODed SS's and a noticeable reduction in performance.. well done holden!

I eagerly await Motor's spin on this and what performance numbers they produce....

[Bossxr8]

Paul Govers next headline.

Economical SS saves the planet, the whales and brings down average global temperatures.

Further on in the article he will talk about how the FG Falcon clubs baby seals to death.

[irlewy86]

Didn't the BOSS get a 8% ecconomy improvement out of the ZF gearbox?