The last Holden ECOTEC V6 engine will roll off the Port Melbourne production line next week after a stellar 16-year career powering Australia's favourite cars.

Holden Engine Operations workers will complete the last engine, which will be framed for display at Fishermans Bend, on Friday August 6.

Production is being wound down for the introduction of the state-of-the-art Alloytec V6 engines, powering the new VZ Calais, Commodore and WL Caprice and Statesman models.

Alloytec production has commenced at Holden's new $400 million Global V6 engine facility at Port Melbourne, which is also producing Global V6 engines for export markets.

More than 1.4 million ECOTEC engines have been produced at Port Melbourne since 1988 for domestic and export use.

ECOTEC-powered cars have graced the roads of the Middle East, Asia, South Africa and New Zealand as well as Australia.

ECOTEC began production in 1988 in the VN Commodore range and, received a significant upgrade in 1995 to increase performance and efficiency. A supercharged V6 variant was developed in 1996. Locally, ECOTEC has powered the following vehicle ranges:

• Commodore - VN (1988), VP (1991), VR (1993), VS (1995), VT (1997), VX (2000), and VY (2002);
• Ute - VG (1990);
• Statesman/Caprice - VQ (1990), WH (1999), WK (2003); and
• Crewman and One-Tonner variants (2003). Holden's Manufacturing Director Jeff Jamieson said ECOTEC had served Holden extremely well for well over a decade.

HEO employees will mark the last ECOTEC engine with a ceremony in the plant once the last engine is produced.

Mr Jamieson said the majority of employees that worked on ECOTEC had been redeployed to the new Global V6 plant in Port Melbourne that produced the all-new Alloytec V6.

The Alloytec V6 engines will deliver more peak power and considerably more torque across the rev range than the current 3.8 litre ECOTEC V6 while maintaining a similar level of fuel economy and producing fewer emissions.