Unlike its predecessors, which used Opel-sourced platforms adapted to mechanics and sizes that would suit the local market, the VE was the first Commodore entirely designed and developed by Holden in Australia.

To minimise export redevelopment costs, features, such as a symmetrical centre console housing a flush-fitting hand brake lever, facilitated the conversion to left-hand drive.

With only four years left before the car's launch, and without having undergone practical testing or real-world engineering, the team turned to a computer-aided industrial design program, Autodesk Alias.

GM's new premium rear-wheel drive Sigma platform, which was set to debut in the Cadillac CTS, was offered to Holden's engineers, who believed that it was unsuitable for the car's requirements.

Strength enhancements include the incorporation of tailor-welded blanks in the front chassis rails and floor reinforcing, resulting in a bare shell mass of 70 kilograms (150 lb).

[28] The development of the VE prompted Holden to redesign its facility in Elizabeth, South Australia, which would facilitate the assembly of entire sections of the car off the foremost production line.

The production method permits the easy removal of the entire front-end as a single-piece unit, resulting in reduced repair costs and easier access to the engine bay.

[35] The handbrake is flush-fitting and integrated into a symmetrical centre console allowing the car to be easily re-configured for left-hand drive markets and thus reducing redesign and redevelopment costs.

Representing an A$110 million investment and over 500,000 kilometres (310,000 mi) of road testing,[14] the VE Sportwagon programme aimed to address the changing station wagon market, due to the growth of the sales of sport utility vehicles (SUV) and the overreliance on fleet purchasing.

[47] The Holden Ute—the coupe utility body style[48]—was unveiled on 22 August 2007 via the Internet and was designed to be a "lifestyle vehicle", a shift from the traditional "workhorse" market.

[53] The horizontal tail light was meant to give the Ute what Tony Stolfo—the chief designer of the VE—describes as "a more car-like persona", as did the raised numberplate housing and full one-piece bumper.

[63] Subsequent safety upgrades were extended to other VE-based models, including the Ute and WM Statesman/Caprice, with the inclusion of the seat belt reminder becoming standard as part of the MY10 update in August 2009.

Although LPG prices are lower than petrol, the engine uses a large 100 kg (220 lb) cylindrical gas tank which results in decreased boot space and slightly increased fuel consumption.

[78][79] The Omega and Berlina variants gained variable valve timing similar to the High Output engine; however, the "premium" dual exhaust system and the five-speed automatic were excluded.

The new engine receives Spark Ignition Direct Injection (SIDI) technology, officially claimed to yield a fuel consumption reduction of up to 12 percent contingent upon the variant.

[90] Holden also modified the 3.0-litre V6 to accept E85 bio-ethanol, in addition to petrol, stating that using E85 provides a sizeable increase in performance and reduces CO2 emissions between 20 and 40 per cent, depending on the distance the fuel is transported from the production site to the filling station.

Concerns have been raised about its practicality; the Royal Automobile Club of Victoria has published studies indicating that these thinner, temporary spare tyres significantly degrade a car's driving dynamics.

Launched in the middle of 2006, the V-Series Commodore featured air conditioning, a sports-oriented body kit, 17-inch alloy wheels, a rear spoiler, and colour-matched wing mirrors and exterior door handles.

[168][169] Available from March 2009, in sedan and Sportwagon variants, the International models featured alloy wheels from the Calais V, front fog lamps, a six-disc CD changer, leather trim, and Bluetooth connectivity.

[171] To commemorate the discontinuation of the VE before the introduction of the VF models, a Z Series Commodore—released on 5 September 2012—was designed to combine luxury and sports features to appeal to a wide audience.

[179] The subsequent introduction of the SS V marked Holden's first application of the "V-Series" naming convention on a series-produced car, which was implemented to differentiate specific models from special-edition programmes.

[187] The exterior styling is similar to the Omega but has extra touches, such as larger tail-lights, front fog lamps, seven-spoke 17-inch alloy wheels, and the Luxury-type interior.

[194] The Calais V 60th Anniversary Edition features an electronic sunroof, 19-inch alloy wheels, a leather interior, alloy-faced pedals, and chrome exterior door handles.

Standard features such as air conditioning, 16-inch alloy wheels, body-coloured wing mirrors and door handles, and a new grille insert with chrome accents were added to the Omega models.

The MY10 versions of the VE series were released in September 2009, featuring new 3.0-litre and 3.6-litre V6 engines with Spark Ignition Direct Injection (SIDI) technology, paired with a new six-speed automatic transmission (see above).

[206] Announced on 31 August 2010, and launched on 10 September,[206] the MY11 series brought extensive styling updates across the VE range, including redesigned front fascias, aerodynamic lip detailing on sedan decklids, and new alloy wheels on Berlina and higher models.

[208][212] The iQ head unit replaces the previous mechanical CD stacker with a single slot and flash-drive storage for approximately 15 CDs worth of music.

[216] The cosmetic updates included new features across various models: the Omega received seven-spoke 16-inch alloy wheels and chrome accents on the lower outboard fascia inserts, while the Berlina was fitted with chrome-trimmed fog light surrounds.

[215] The Redline editions of the SS V featured redesigned 19-inch wheels, red-painted brake callipers, and the "FE3" suspension option extended to include the Sportwagon and Ute body styles.

[228] The Clubsport lineup included variants such as the R8 Tourer (station wagon),[229] models such as the CSV CR8 for export to the Middle East,[230] and high-performance versions such as the Vauxhall VXR8 for the United Kingdom.