HSV Colorado SportsCat 2018 pricing and spec confirmed

Holden Special Vehicles (HSV) has announced pricing for the first model it has built since the Aussie Commodore factories turned off the lights last year.

The HSV Colorado SportsCat will be available in two tiers, starting at $60,790 for the entry-spec SportsCat, and jumping to $66,790 for the slightly hotter SportsCat+. Opting for an automatic transmission increases pricing by $2200. Prices listed are before on-road costs. 

The HSV-fettled dual-cab is based upon the current $54,990 Holden Colorado Z71, with significant styling changes and off-road handling modifications.

The standard SportsCat will have a widened stance, extra ride height, sports suspension, a rear de-coupling anti-roll bar and AP Racing brakes.

There is no additional power for the engine, which continues unchanged as a 2.8-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel engine capable of producing 147kW of power and either 440Nm (manual) or 500Nm (automatic) of torque.

What you do get is 18x10-inch alloys wrapped in Cooper Sports all-terrain tyres, a widened stance, extra ride height and sports suspension. SportsCat+ buyers gain a rear de-coupling anti-roll bar and AP Racing brakes, and will also have the option of SupaShock suspension for $3600, and a Sail Plane for $1300.

HSV went to town on the Colorado’s exterior features, adding a bespoke grille and fascia, LED fog-lights, wide and aggressively styled fender flares, a restyled tailgate and a hard tonneau cover. The SportsCat+ is instantly identifiable by its exclusive bonnet bulge.

Inside the 4x4 dual-cab remains mostly unchanged, but it has been treated to 'premium' HSV Sports seats and red-stitched leather and suede touches throughout.

Inside is largely unchanged apart from 'premium' sports seats.

The new SportsCat is set to compete with the Ford Ranger Wildtrak which starts at $59,590, and the Toyota HiLux SR5 that comes in at $54,440.

With every option box ticked, the SportsCat+ will run just over $76,000, placing it in the region of the new Ford Ranger Raptor that is expected to be priced around the $80k mark.

HSV managing director Tim Jackson said the SportsCat pricing structure would attract a wide range of buyers.

“Given the breadth of styling, comfort and engineering enhancements, we’re confident the SportsCat range represents outstanding value,” he said.

The choice to leave the SportCat's engine untouched came down to a cost-benefit equation.

“Our two-tier product strategy provides buyers with the flexibility to choose the model that best suits their work and lifestyle requirements.”

According to Mr Jackson, the choice to leave the SportCat's engine untouched came down to a cost-benefit equation.

“The cost complexity for a minor power increase, and the impact to other elements, it didn’t make sense,” he said.

“Feedback from customers was that it’s about the total package. Traditional customers were about ‘power, power, power’, but now it’s the total package that’s important,”.

2018 HSV Colorado SportsCat list pricing

Colorado SportsCat – manual – $60,790
Colorado SportsCat – automatic – $62,990
Colorado SportsCat+ – manual – $66,790
Colorado SportsCat+ – automatic – $68,990

Does the SportsCat live up to its HSV badge? Let us know what you think in the comment section below.