The Holden Commodore, Berlina plus Calais, and Ute range of full-size vehicles were the eleventh instalment of Holden Commodore, a model produced by Holden, the Australian subsidiary of General Motors. Produced between October 2000 plus September 2002, the VX served because minor update with the VT series from 1997 plus premiered revised styling, better model differentiation, together with gains inside crash protection. An intermediate Series II was established inside August 2001, featuring a revised suspension program amidst alternative changes.Rear-wheel drive usually places the engine inside the front of the car as well as the driven wheels are situated at the back, a configuration termed as front-engine, rear-wheel drive design. The front mid-engine, back mid-engine plus back engine layouts are additionally employed. This was the conventional vehicle design for many cars up till the 1970s plus 1980s. Nearly all motorcycles plus bicycles utilize rear-wheel drive too, either by driveshaft, chain, or belt, because the front wheel is turned for steering, plus it will be truly difficult plus complicated with "bend" the drive system about the turn of the front wheel. A reasonably uncommon exception is with all the 'moving bottom bracket' kind of recumbent bike, where the whole drivetrain, including pedals plus chain, pivot with all the steering front wheel.
Visually, the outdoor qualities a revised headlamp shape over the preceding VT amidst alternative changes. These include the tail lamp panel today changed by 2 separate individual light assemblies. The Berlina plus Calais sedans though retain the full-width boot-lid panel incorporating the tail lights as well as the registration plate.
The VX series introduced further mechanical updates with the 3.8-litre Ecotec V6 engine, that received changes with the engine administration computer with bring energy about 152 kilowatts. Fuel economy was equally improved over the past model by 3 with 4 %. The optional Supercharged Ecotec V6 extended its service with the Executive plus Acclaim variants, with all the 171-kilowatt output figure remaining unchanged within the VT. Also as the supercharged six-cylinder, an a lot more effective 5.7-litre Chevrolet-sourced Gen III V8 engine was available. The powerplant received force increases from 220 with 225 kilowatts.

A modified front suspension setup received lower control arm pivot points. The Series II update showcased the addition of the fresh back cross associate, revised back control arm assemblies with fresh fashion bushing plus toe-control hyperlinks with the semi-trailing arm back suspension with greater keep the toe settings throughout suspension movements, causing more predictable vehicle handling, noticeably over uneven surfaces, plus improved tyre wear.
Automobile handling plus car handling are descriptions of the method wheeled cars do transverse with their way of motion, very throughout cornering plus swerving. It equally involves their directional stability whenever moving inside steady state condition. Handling plus braking are the main components of the vehicle's "active" protection. The maximum lateral acceleration is often discussed individually because "road holding". Automobiles driven about public roads whose technology needs highlight handling over comfort plus passenger room are called sports vehicles.
The center of mass height, relative with the track, determines weight transfer,, from side with side plus causes body lean. Whenever wheels of the car give a centripetal force with pull it about a turn, the momentum of the car actuates weight transfer inside a way going within the vehicle's active position with a point about a path tangent with the vehicle's path. This weight transfer presents itself inside the shape of body lean.

Height of the center of mass relative with the wheelbase determines weight transfer between front plus back. The car's momentum works at its center of mass with tilt the vehicle forward or backward, respectively throughout braking plus acceleration. Because it happens to be just the downward force which changes plus not the place of the center of mass, the impact on over/under steer is opposite to this of a actual change inside the center of mass. When a car is braking, the downward weight found on the front wheels increases plus which found on the back reduces, with related change inside their ability with take sideways weight.

A lower center of mass is a main performance benefit of sports vehicles, compared with sedans plus SUVs. Many vehicles have body panels made from lightweight contents partly for this cause.

Body lean could additionally be controlled by the springs, anti-roll bars or the roll center heights.
The entry-level Executive had been a prevalent choice among fleet customers, plus available standard attributes including anti-lock brakes, a driver's air bag, trip computer, plus central locking. Along with all alternative variants, steering wheel sound controls, a CD player, plus an electrically retracting energy antenna were today standard. The naturally aspirated 3.8-litre Ecotec V6 came standard found on the Executive, with all the choice of the Supercharged Ecotec V6 or Gen III V8 engine. V6 motors were combined with a five-speed guide transmission, plus V8s came with a six-speed guide. A four-speed automatic transmission was accessible because an optional additional, irrespective of the engine choice.
The 2nd tier Acclaim was advertised because a family-oriented variation of the VX range, with a sturdy focus about protection. Building found on the equipment degrees of the Executive, the Acclaim furthermore showcased 4 airbags, cruise control, traction control, air conditioner plus force windows. A four-speed automatic transmission was truly the only transmission accessible, though customers did have the chance with choose the Supercharged Ecotec V6 engine.
Offered because a stylish alternative with the Acclaim was the Commodore S. Based found on the entry-level Executive, attributes came inside the shape of the sports body kit, electrical windows, 16-inch alloy wheels, sports suspension, air conditioner, cruise control, along with a leather steering wheel. However, leather upholstery, traction control, 4 airbags, 17-inch alloy wheels as well as the Supercharged Ecotec V6 were available because choices.
The SS continued about with all the sporting trend of the Commodore S, yet incorporated bumper-integrated foglamps, plus more aggressively styled alloy wheels. Instead of the six-cylinder engine standard found on the "S pack", a Gen III V8 engine plus six-speed guide transmission came because standard. A more advanced suspension setup, traction control along with a passenger's airbag were additionally standard, nevertheless side impact airbags plus leather upholstery stayed optional.

Building found on the qualities the Acclaim showcased the Berlina added climate control air conditioner, plus adjustable seatbelt anchors. 17-inch alloy wheels, sports suspension, limited slip differential plus an eight-cylinder engine were all produced accessible because optional extras.
The flagship Calais shares the prestige design exterior with all the Berlina, nevertheless is distinguishable by its 16-inch alloy wheels plus chrome outlined foglamps. An eight-speaker sound program, with a 10 stack CD player plus supercharged V6 engine were furthermore standard. The Calais presented the same optional attributes because the Berlina, however, enabled for the inclusion of leather upholstery. With the Berlina, the centre system was completed with either the black or beige plastic panel depending found on the inside color scheme, nonetheless the Calais upped the ante with a lumber grain-faced system, or perhaps a satin-finished façade for Series II variants.
Before the VU, Holden had advertised their Commodore-based utility models below the Holden Utility plus Holden Commodore utility names, though the expression “Holden Ute” was additionally utilized inside their official advertising literature. The VU Ute's successor was assigned the same model code because the sedan it is actually based about.
The VU changed the VS Utility. The VU's arrival was 36 months following the VT Commodore sedan, meaning it arrived inside time for the release of the VX Commodore. The VU utilises the same wheelbase because the VT Commodore station wagon plus WH Statesman/Caprice, meaning a wheelbase heighten of 116 mm. The Ute uses the same interior because the Commodore, whilst moreover selecting up the VX's upgraded equipment lists plus re-styled outdoor shape.

Base : Built up within the Commodore Executive's specification. Available with 3.8-litre 152 kW Ecotec V6 - 4sp car, 5sp guide or 5.7-litre 225 kW Generation 3 V8 - 6sp guide or 4sp auto
S : Based about Commodore 'S' specification. Available with 3.8-litre 152 kW Ecotec V6 - 4sp car, 5sp manual speed.
SS : Based about Commodore SS specification, minus side-impact airbags. Available with a 5.7-litre 225 kW Generation 3 V8 - 6sp guide or 4sp auto

The range received a minor refresh with all the VX Series 2 models 12 months later, with all the main upgrade being an more 5 kW with Holden's Generation 3 V8's.

The VU was superseded by the VY ute inside September 2002.
The VX Clubsport was introduced inside early 2000 plus showcased the same V8 engine because the Clubsport VT Series II, nevertheless with an improved energy output, up by 5 kW with 255 kW. During the development of the VX Clubsport HSV responded with countless customers' complaints regarding how Clubsports were difficult with distinguish from standard Holden Commodores. The improvements due for this included a more flamboyant, distinctive bodykit plus exclusive HSV interior attributes.
The principal concept of the universal joint is based found on the shape of gimbals, that have been used because antiquity. One anticipation of the universal joint was its utilize by the Ancient Greeks about ballistae. The initially individual recognized with have recommended its employ for transmitting motive force was Gerolamo Cardano, an Italian mathematician, inside 1545, though it is very unclear whether he yielded a working model. In Europe, the device is usually called the Cardan joint or Cardan shaft. Christopher Polhem of Sweden later reinvented it, providing rise with the name Polhemsknut inside Swedish.

The system was later described inside Technica curiosa sive mirabilia artis by Gaspar Schott, that called it the paradoxum, however mistakenly advertised it became a constant-velocity joint. Shortly afterwards, between 1667 plus 1675, Robert Hooke analysed the joint plus found which its speed of rotation was nonuniform, nevertheless which this property can be utilized with track the motion of the shadow found on the face of the sundial. In truth, the component of the equation of time that accounts for the tilt of the equatorial airplane relative with the ecliptic is completely analogous with the mathematical description of the universal joint. The initially recorded employ of the expression universal joint for this device was by Hooke inside 1676, inside his book Helioscopes. He published a description inside 1678, causing the utilization of the expression Hooke's joint inside the English-speaking planet. In 1683, Hooke proposed a answer with the nonuniform rotary speed of the universal joint: a pair of Hooke's joints 90° from stage at either end of a intermediate shaft, an arrangement which is today termed as a kind of constant-velocity joint.

The expression universal joint was selected inside the 18th century plus was inside prevalent utilize inside the 19th century. Edmund Morewood's 1844 patent for a metal coating machine called for a universal joint, by which name, to support little alignment mistakes amongst the engine plus rolling mill shafts. Lardner's 1877 Handbook described both easy plus double universal joints, plus noted which they were much selected inside the line shaft systems of cotton mills. Jules Weisbach described the mathematics of the universal joint plus double universal joint inside his treatise about mechanics published inside English inside 1883.

19th century uses of universal joints spanned a variety of applications. Many universal joints were employed with link the control shafts of the Northumberland telescope at Cambridge University inside 1843. Ephriam Shay's locomotive patent of 1881, for illustration, employed double universal joints inside the locomotive's drive shaft. Charles Amidon utilized a much small universal joint inside his bit-brace patented 1884. Beauchamp Tower's spherical, rotary, excellent speed steam engine selected an adaptation of the universal joint circa 1885.

The expression Cardan joint appears with be a latecomer with the English code. Many early uses inside the 19th century appear inside translations from French or are firmly influenced by French use. Examples include an 1868 report found on the Exposition Universelle of 1867 plus an post found on the dynamometer translated from French inside 1881.
The 2000 VX Series brought a facelift with more angular styling with a distinctive 'egg-crate' grille whilst the VX Series II added toe-control hyperlinks with the IRS, in addition to Microdot development with deter theft. Most of the principal changes with the VX Senator are largely outdoor changes, with graphic styling was again tailored by past Tom Walkinshaw Racing designer Ian Callum. These changes included a chrome grille highlight, crossed hatch lower grille, rooftop spoiler along with a discerning boot installed spoiler. Power improved by 5 kW for the today 255 kW LS1 V8. The VX Senator was partly based found on the Holden Calais at the time. Electronic Traction Control comes because a standard way. Many attributes which come with all the $72,881 Senator include 10-stacker CD player, 2 subwoofers with a premium sound program, 4 airbags, automatic climate control, cruise control, energy mirrors plus windows.

For the very first time the Senator line up qualities back parking sensors that beep whenever close with an object when reversing. An optional satellite navigation program plus sunroof were accessible. The 4 speed automatic transmission is retained as well as for brakes there are 2 front ventilated discs plus standard non-ventilated discs at the back. Many of the dimensions are because follows: size is 4,964 mm, width 1,842 mm, height 1,450 mm as well as the wheelbase dimension is 2,788 mm. The Senator weighs 1,710 kg plus utilizes 18.1/100 km of gas from the city, the gas tank ability is 75 litres. When again the self leveling back suspension showcased plus piece of the entertainment package a 6 stacker CD player plus 8-speaker sound program was added. ABS plus traction control was added for additional protection. Throughout the cabin there is leather trim plus dark lumber grain found on the dash board. Many additional choices that have been furthermore accessible at additional expense was the premium brakes, Satellite navigation, leather-pewter plus an upgraded entertainment sound program.