2004 HSV Avalanche Reviews

The HSV Gen-F project took 33 months from start to finish. As Holden began to finalise the VF Commodore in December 2009, HSV got into full swing once it was signed off by August 2010. By December 2010 HSV had done the initial computer simulation testing on how an LSA engine would fit in the engine bay of a Commodore and what components would need to be strengthened. The development of the Gen-F was the first time HSV had run to a General Motors timetable. In HSV's words, "we made the same decisions we used to make, but we made them earlier". The new HSV range was tested in extreme hot and cold conditions, for durability testing and stability control settings, including Sweden, North America, Spain and outback Australia. HSV tested Bridgestone and Continental tyres back to back during most of the VF development process. The company was reluctant to sever its loyalty to and its long ties with the Japanese tyre company. But test after test the Continental tyres delivered more grip, quicker lap times and performed better in all criteria. The dial to adjust the driver settings in the GTS is from the Corvette, but with unique lettering for use in the HSV. The water pump used on the engine is from the Holden Volt plug-in hybrid electric car. HSV is expecting the weight and fuel consumption of most models to come down, but is yet to finalise figures. The GTS will likely be the same weight as before (or even a little heavier) given the heavy duty hardware added. In transport mode (between Holden and HSV) the supercharged LSA engine is limited to 1500rpm so delivery drivers and other car wranglers can't thrash it. This reporter is on Twitter: @JoshuaDowling    

 HSV MalooEngine: LS3 6.2-litre V8Power: 317kW and 550NmHighlights: Navigation, rear camera, front and rear parking sensors, self parking technology, blind zone alert, reverse traffic alert, sensor key with push button start (remote start available on automatic transmission), electric park brake, electric power steering, cloth seats, soft tonneau cover, SS sill covers. The rear bumper is new but the tailgate is the same as before. The 20-inch wheels are cast alloy painted silver. Maloo R8Engine: LS3 6.2-litre V8Power: 325kW and 550NmHighlights: Power increases to 325kW thanks to the fitment of a high-flow intermediate exhaust system and bi-modal mufflers. Gains leather seats with four-way electric adjustment for the driver, remote locking hard tonneau cover (redesigned with smaller humps and sail planes to improve rear visibility), sill covers unique to Maloo, plus EDI driver interface, forward collision alert, lane departure warning, heads-up display and rain sensing wipers. The 20-inch wheels (8.5-inch front and 9.5-inch rear) are cast alloy with a machined face and gloss black accents. Maloo R8 SVEngine: LS3 6.2-litre V8Power: 340kW and 570NmHighlights: The SV option includes a power and torque upgrade to 340kW and 570Nm, achieved through the addition of a bi-modal air intake system (borrowed from the Camaro), high-flow headers and catalytic converters, and a high-flow zip tube. The intermediate exhaust section and the bi-modal mufflers are the same as the R8. The 20-inch wheels (8.5-inch front and 9.5-inch rear) are forged alloy finished in graphite (borrowed from the 25th anniversary GTS). Matte black fender vents and mirror scalps. New “R8 SV” and “340” badges. ClubsportEngine: LS3 6.2-litre V8Power: 317kW and 550NmHighlights: Navigation, rear camera, front and rear parking sensors, self parking technology, blind zone alert, reverse traffic alert, sensor key with push button start (remote start available on automatic transmission), electric park brake, electric power steering, cloth seats. The 20-inch wheels (8.5-inch front and 9.5-inch rear) are cast alloy painted silver. Clubsport R8Engine: LS3 6.2-litre V8Power: 325kW and 550NmHighlights: Power increases to 325kW thanks to the fitment of a high-flow intermediate exhaust system and bi-modal mufflers. Has the same equipment as the Clubsport but gains leather seats with four-way electric adjustment for the driver, Bose sound (sedan only), EDI driver interface, forward collision alert, lane departure warning, heads-up display and rain sensing wipers. The 20-inch wheels (8.5-inch front and 9.5-inch rear) are cast alloy with a machined face and gloss black accents. Clubsport R8 SVEngine: LS3 6.2-litre V8Power: 340kW and 570NmHighlights: The SV option includes a power and torque upgrade to 340kW and 570Nm, achieved through the addition of a bi-modal air intake system (borrowed from the Camaro), high-flow headers and catalytic converters, and a high-flow zip tube. The intermediate exhaust section and the bi-modal mufflers are the same as the R8. The 20-inch wheels (8.5-inch front and 9.5-inch rear) are forged alloy finished in graphite (borrowed from the 25th anniversary GTS). Matte black fender vents and mirror scalps. New “R8 SV” and “340” badges. HSV Senator SignatureEngine: LS3 6.2-litre V8Power: 340kW and 570NmHighlights: The Senator comes standard with the 340kW “SV” pack.  Standard fare includes magnetically-controlled suspension, eight-way electric adjustment on the driver and front passenger seat, leather upholstery, nine-speaker Bose audio, navigation, rear camera, front and rear parking sensors, self parking technology, blind zone alert, reverse traffic alert, sensor key with push button start, remote start, electric park brake, electric power steering. Other highlights include EDI driver interface, forward collision alert, lane departure warning, heads-up display and rain sensing wipers. The charcoal 20-inch wheels (8.5-inch front and 9.5-inch rear) are made from forged alloy. The Senator’s front bumper is the same as the Clubsport and Maloo but a blank is put in during the manufacturing process to leave space for a unique grille. The rear bumper is the same as the rest of the sedan range. HSV GrangeEngine: LS3 6.2-litre V8Power: 340kW and 570NmHighlights: The Grange comes standard with the 340kW “SV” pack. Standard fare includes magnetically-controlled suspension, eight-way electric adjustment on the driver and front passenger seat, leather upholstery, nine-speaker Bose audio, navigation, rear camera, front and rear parking sensors, self parking technology, blind zone alert, reverse traffic alert, sensor key with push button start, remote start, electric park brake, electric power steering. Other highlights include EDI driver interface, forward collision alert, lane departure warning, heads-up display and rain sensing wipers. The charcoal 20-inch wheels (8.5-inch front and 9.5-inch rear) are made from forged alloy. The front and rear bumpers are unchanged from the previous model because HSV doesn’t sell enough to justify the investment for new facias. HSV GTSEngine: LSA supercharged 6.2-litre V8Power: 430kW and 740NmHighlights: The HSV GTS gets the LSA engine from the Camaro ZL1, with heavy duty transmission, differential and axles fitted on the production line at Elizabeth, South Australia. Six-piston front brakes and four-piston rears (with two piece rotors and top-hat) are standard. Other highlights include magnetically-controlled suspension, eight-way electric adjustment on the driver and front passenger seat, leather upholstery, nine-speaker Bose audio, navigation, rear camera, front and rear parking sensors, self parking technology, blind zone alert, reverse traffic alert, sensor key with push button start, remote start (on automatic models), electric park brake, electric power steering, EDI driver interface, forward collision alert, lane departure warning, heads-up display and rain sensing wipers. The charcoal 20-inch wheels (8.5-inch front and 9.5-inch rear) are made from forged alloy. The GTS 25th anniversary wheels are a no-cost option. The only other option is a sunroof and red accented leather. This reporter is on Twitter: @JoshuaDowling  

The new HSV GTS has become the fastest-selling model in the company’s 25-year history -- before the first one has even arrived at dealerships and before buyers even know the price. HSV dealers across Australia are holding more than 150 paid deposits for the Commodore powered by a supercharged V8 borrowed from a racing version of the US Chevrolet Camaro. The early orders came in based purely on speculation about the new model, but this year’s allocation of GTS sedans is likely to sell out quickly now that official photos -- but not price -- have been released.   The new HSV GTS is expected to start at about $95,000 plus on-road costs, making it the second most-expensive Holden Commodore in the past 10 years (after the limited edition HSV W427 sold for $155,500 in 2008 and 2009). The last time a HSV GTS cost close to $100,000 was the Callaway V8-powered version from 2003, with an RRP of $97,500. “This is the biggest response we’ve had for any HSV launch in our history,” said HSV director of sales and marketing boss Tim Jackson. “We’ve genuinely been overwhelmed by the reaction.” HSV GTS customers will need to be patient, however. Although the Clubsport, Maloo, Senator and Grange are due in showrooms in July, the first HSV GTS sedans are not due until late September. As exclusively revealed by News Limited last month, the new HSV GTS will have 430kW of power and 740Nm of torque, making it the most powerful family sedan on sale in Australia until the new Mercedes-Benz E63 AMG arrives later in the year. But the HSV GTS will outgun its European rivals on price, most of which cost in excess of $200,000. HSV is yet to publish acceleration times for the new GTS, but it is expected to reach 100km/h in less than 4.5 seconds. Top speed is electronically limited to 250km/h, as per General Motors’ global guidelines. The HSV GTS also has the biggest brakes of any Australian-made production car: two-piece 390mm discs with six-piston calipers up front and two-piece 372mm discs with four-piston calipers on the rear (up from 378mm and 350mm respectively). The tech-heads may also like to know the front discs have 72 cooling vains (the same as a V8 Supercar), up from 48 with the old model. The rest of the HSV range has four-piston forged calipers and 367mm discs front and rear. In a major leap for the Clubsport, Maloo, Senator and Grange, they now have bigger rear brakes than the front brakes of the previous model (365mm and 350mm). The HSV GTS will earn notoriety for its epic power but it is also loaded with advancements, including a “torque vectoring” cornering control system inspired by Porsche and McLaren, and suspension technology also used by Ferrari. Top models will come with a heads-up display that reflects vehicle speed and other key data into the windscreen in the driver’s line of sight, similar to that used by BMW. HSV cars also retain Holden’s self parking technology, standard across the new VF Commodore range. Social media reaction to spy photos has centred on the more conservative design of the HSV Gen-F range. HSV says it wanted to create a classier looking range, and make it more aerodynamic. To that end it used the wind tunnel at Monash University to develop the front bumper bars and rear wings. The result: 0.358cD for the Clubsport (which has a more modest rear wing) and 0.365cD for the GTS. These are not numbers likely to win fuel economy challenges but better than they were before. The GTS has a gaping mouth because HSV had to guarantee General Motors’ powertrain bosses in Detroit that it would be able to feed enough air to the LSA supercharged V8 engine to keep it cool on hot days. GM demanded 128,000mm2 of air flow but HSV delivered 130,000mm2 after testing the car extensively in the Australian outback in the peak of summer (The previous HSV E2 had 74,000mm2 of air flow through its front bumper). HSV even made the new GTS grille mesh thinner and removed the foglights to allow the LSA engine to breathe better. To handle the epic grunt, the GTS is equipped with heavy duty automatic and manual transmissions (the latter with a double-plate clutch) and a massive 9.9-inch differential with cooling fins. The whole unit is about the size of an outboard boat motor. To give the HSV GTS enough ground clearance for the differential, it has fitted a slightly taller profile of tyre across the range: 255/35 up front and 275/35 at the rear (compared to 245/35 and 275/30 before). HSV has ended its 25-year relationship with Japanese tyre maker Bridgestone and switched to a high performance European Continental 5P tyre that was originally developed for Mercedes-Benz. While the big news is the supercharged 6.2-litre V8 GTS, the rest of the HSV range retains the Corvette-sourced 6.2-litre V8 from the previous generation (with the same outputs as before of 317kW and 325kW, depending on the model). An option pack with 340kW of power and 570Nm of torque is available at extra cost on the Clubsport R8 and Maloo R8. Pricing, weight and fuel economy figures for each model are due later this month. This reporter is on Twitter: @JoshuaDowling    

Today Carsguide can exclusively lay bare classified information on what will be the fastest and most powerful car Australia has ever produced -- and likely ever will produce -- the new HSV GTS “Gen F”.Given the uncertain future of local manufacturing, and an imminent switch to four-cylinder economy cars, the new HSV GTS is poised to become the Australian automotive equivalent of the iconic racehorse Black Caviar.The new generation Holden Special Vehicles GTS will be powered by a 6.2-litre supercharged V8 borrowed from a race-bred Chevrolet Camaro, known as the “LSA”.Its epic 430kW of power and 740Nm of torque eclipses that of any car previously made in Australia, and has more grunt than the world’s fastest sedans currently on sale in Australia (see table below). Only the new Mercedes E63 which goes on sale locally later this year will match its kilowatt output.In imperial measurements the new HSV GTS “Gen F” has 575 horsepower, only 25hp less than a 2012 V8 Supercar. Performance times are yet to be announced but the new HSV GTS is said to accelerate quicker than most Porsches, reaching 0 to 100km/h in “comfortably less” than 4.5 seconds, which also happens to be the unofficial time for the latest supercharged Ford Falcon GT.While most of the HSV’s European peers can top 300km/h on an autobahn, the GTS has been electronically speed-limited to 250km/h, to meet General Motors’ global guidelines but still enable enthusiast drivers to explore its potential on a race track.To tame its mammoth grunt the HSV GTS “Gen F” will be fitted with performance technology never seen before on a locally-made car, some of it inspired by Porsche. Electronic “torque vectoring” brings new levels of driver control by apportioning power to the outside wheel when accelerating out of corners.The stability control system on the new GTS will have five settings (up from the current three) that will also adjust steering and suspension feel at the press of a button, from “comfort” to “track” mode.The shock absorbers use the same technology as Ferrari, with tiny magnetic particles adjusting the damping forces in milliseconds, enabling the car to better respond to road conditions.New Continental tyres, which end HSV’s 20-year relationship with Bridgestone, were initially developed for Mercedes-Benz and are said to have achieved an amazing double-act: more grip and longer wear.Given the raft of new technology and hardware upgrades required to handle the extra power, the new HSV GTS won’t come cheap. It is the second-dearest car to wear a HSV badge since the limited edition HSV W427 V8 sold for $155,500 in 2009.The new HSV GTS is due on sale mid-year with an RRP of about $95,000 -- but the transaction price will be closer to $100,000 once on-road costs are added. That’s almost triple the cost of a basic Holden Commodore, but less than half as much as its European rivals.As our computer-illustrated images show HSV has taken a much more conservative approach to the design of the new model. It is unclear whether fans will embrace the change, having grown accustomed to greater visual differentiation between HSVs and Holdens over the past seven years.The new HSV “Gen F” lacks the twin bonnet vents, the large trapezoidal exhaust tips, the repositioned tail-lights and the prominent blacked-out nose treatments which were signatures of the current line-up. Even the front fender garnishes are the same as those found on the regular VF Commodore, albeit with different finishes (black instead of chrome).Unusually, HSV will not highlight the GTS output by displaying its power number on the bootlid, as it has done with its flagship model for the past 25 years. Instead of the numbers “430”, the bootlid badge will simply say “LSA”, the code for the Camaro-sourced engine.HSV has fitted LED tail-lights that are different from those fitted to the standard Commodore, but they occupy the same space -- unlike the bespoke tail-lights on HSV’s VE range which looked dramatically different from the Commodore and were mounted lower. It is understood that it would have been too costly to make changes to the aluminium bootlid.While there has been widespread speculation about what might power the new HSV range -- given the Commodore’s link to the US Camaro’s underpinnings and its engines -- no-one has to date published more than guesswork.Contrary to perception, fitting the LSA engine in the Commodore was not a straightforward process. While the supercharged V8 engine was readily available off the shelf, significant upgrades were required to the clutch, gearbox, tailshaft and axles to handle the awesome power. A new heavy-duty differential with extra cooling and extra mounting points had to be developed, as did extra under-body strengthening.HSV first secretly fitted an LSA engine to a test mule about four years ago, but it was by no means a guarantee that HSV would get the go ahead to build and sell the finished product. HSV had to pass stringent engineering protocols put in place by General Motors head office in Detroit. Having passed all the reliability and durability requirements during the development of the GTS, HSV finally got the green light about 18 months ago.As with most HSVs built over the past 25 years, the new GTS is built to a partially-complete form alongside regular Commodore models on the Holden production line at Elizabeth near Adelaide. It is then transported to HSV's final assembly area in Clayton near Melbourne, where the performance brakes, tyres, suspension and unique bodywork is fitted.The 6.2-litre supercharged V8 is fitted on the production line in Adelaide. HSV's previous horsepower hero, the W427 built in 2008 and 2009, had its engine fitted at its Clayton facility. This makes the LSA the most powerful engine to ever be fitted to a car on the Holden production line.HSV considered offering a detuned version of the LSA engine in a special edition Clubsport, but this was ruled out because of the high cost of the engine, and the extra cost involved in recalibrating a lower power output.In the end the company decided to keep the LSA exclusive to the GTS where HSV has the best chance of recouping the vehicle’s considerable development cost. Carsguide also understands there will be no further power upgrades to the LSA engine during its four-year run to the end of 2016, when the VF Commodore will bow out to make way for a locally-made four-cylinder front-drive sedan.The end of rear-drive Commodores is likely to ensure the HSV GTS “Gen F” will become a future collector’s item, given that it is unlikely any locally-made car produced after it will eclipse its power output.The new HSV GTS “Gen F” was so secret only an inner-circle of senior Holden executives were allowed in the planning meetings over the past four years. The HSV performance car outfit -- a separate business to Holden -- also took unprecedented security measures. Most of its own staff didn’t know it was coming.Only the designers and engineers who developed the GTS had intimate knowledge of the LSA supercharged V8 engine that would power it. Early HSV prototypes were assembled by hand so they didn’t go along the regular Holden production line. Only in the past few months were a handful of pre-production cars sent down the assembly line in Elizabeth.But with the unveiling of the new HSV range just around the corner, News Limited has exclusively obtained key data on the most exciting car to ever wear a made-in-Australia stamp.HSV was able to keep the epic supercharged GTS engine under wraps because it is continuing with the Corvette-based 6.2-litre V8 for the rest of its model line-up, including the Clubsport, Senator and Grange sedans and the Maloo ute.There will be three engine outputs available from the regular 6.2-litre V8 -- 317kW, 325kW and a new 340kW/570Nm option which achieves its new peak thanks to a high-performance air intake. The 340kW “Performance Pack” will be a $6000 option (paired with unique wheels and other equipment) on the Clubsport R8 sedan and wagon and the Maloo R8 ute, but standard on the Senator and Grange luxury sedans.Meanwhile 20-inch rims will be standard across the range (HSV didn’t see the need for bigger wheels). The charcoal-finish, multi-spoke, lightweight, forged-alloy 20-inch wheels first seen on last year’s 25th anniversary GTS will become an option across the “Gen F” range.Six-piston brakes -- with lighter calipers and two-piece rotors for improved cooling -- will be standard on the GTS, but the rest of the range will retain four-piston brakes. Some models have trimmed about 30kg in weight but the GTS weighs about the same as before because of the added heavy-duty hardware.When News Limited asked HSV to comment on the new line-up the company chose to maintain its silence, saying it doesn’t comment on future model plans.Even top-level HSV dealers were only just informed about the new model in the past few weeks. They too can’t believe HSV has been able to keep such big news so secret for so long. Thankfully, we’ve been able to piece together this story with their help, more than a month ahead of the official unveiling.Unfortunately, enthusiasts will need to wait a little longer yet for the mighty GTS. HSV will launch its new Clubsport and Maloo line-up in June but the GTS is not due to start production until August.Although it is HSV’s intention to maintain the GTS as a regular part of the model range, production will initially be limited, with only about 500 LSAs due to be built in this year’s allocation.This reporter is on Twitter: @JoshuaDowlingHSV GTS “GEN F”Price: $95,000 plus on-roads (approx)Engine: Supercharged 6.2-litre V8Power: 430kW and 740NmTransmission: Six-speed manual and six-speed automatic0 to 100km/h: Less than 4.5 seconds GTS technology highlights: Twin-plate clutch, heavy-duty limited-slip differential with extra cooling, five-stage stability control (also adjusts steering and suspension feel). Two-piece brake rotors, lighter brake calipers (six-piston front, four-piston rear on GTS, four-piston front and rear on the rest of the range). Foglights make way for extra cooling and an engine air intake. The weight-saving from the Commodore’s aluminium bonnet, boot and other parts has been offset by the extra weight of the GTS model’s heavy-duty performance equipment, so it weighs about the same as before. RIVALS BMW M5Price: from $229,500Engine: Twin turbo 4.4-litre V8Power: 412kW and 680NmTransmission: Seven-speed twin-clutch auto0 to 100km/h: 4.3 seconds Mercedes-Benz E63Price: $240,485Engine: 5.5-litre twin turbo V8Power: 386kW and 700Nm (upgraded to 430kW/800Nm later this year)Transmission: Seven-speed twin-clutch auto0 to 100km/h: 4.3 seconds Porsche Panamera TurboPrice: $382,400Engine: 4.8-litre twin turbo V8Power: 382kW and 700NmTransmission: Seven-speed twin-clutch auto0 to 100km/h: 4.1 seconds Jaguar XF-RPrice: $189,900Engine: Supercharged 5.0-litre V8Power: 375kW and 625NmTransmission: Eight-speed automatic0 to 100km/h: 4.9 seconds Ford Falcon GTPrice: $70,790Engine: Supercharged 5.0-litre V8Power: 335kW and 570NmTransmission: Six-speed manual or six-speed auto0 to 100km/h: 4.5 seconds Ford Falcon GTHO Phase III (1971)Price: $5250Engine: 5.8-litre V8Power: 280kW and 513NmTransmission: Four-speed manual0 to 100km/h: 6.8 seconds HSV W427 (2008 to 2009)Price: $155,500Engine: 7.0-litre V8Power: 375kW and 640NmTransmission: Six-speed manual0 to 100km/h: 4.7 seconds HSV “GEN F” ENGINE LINE-UP-- Clubsport: 6.2-litre V8, 317kW and 550Nm-- Clubsport R8: 6.2-litre V8, 325kW and 550Nm-- Clubsport R8 Performance Pack: 6.2-litre V8, 340kW and 570Nm-- Senator: 6.2-litre V8, 340kW and 570Nm-- Grange: 6.2-litre V8, 340kW and 570Nm-- Maloo: 6.2-litre V8, 317kW and 550Nm-- Maloo R8: 6.2-litre, 325kW and 550Nm-- Maloo R8 Performance Pack: 6.2-litre V8, 340kW and 570Nm 

Thankfully, HSV saw the error of its ways mid last year and re-introduced the 'entry level' ClubSport or Clubbie as it's affectionately known.Cashed up bogans love this car which has almost legendary status in certain quarters. Sure, the R8 and GTS are "better" but the Clubbie is the 'everyman' hot Holden, as is the Maloo ute which also made a comeback last year. HSV had been inexorably edging upscale with its range edging towards the hundred grand mark. That's a far cry from the original HSVs 25 years ago which were essentially Commodores with more powerful engines, bigger wheels and stiffer suspension.Starting from $64,990 the new ClubSport picks up HSV's 20-inch Pentagon alloy wheels to complement an already impressive list of standard features; sport/touring suspension, ESC with competition mode, four-piston brake package, sat nav, rear park assist and reversing camera. It also had other cool kit features like dual zone climate control, enhanced Bluetooth and a four way adjustable electric driver's seat.We like the look of it inside and out and the standard equipment is generous. Great seats, plenty of info feeding back to the driver and the EDI is excellent. Heck, it even has a decent boot and rear seat legroom. Standard features on the Clubbie (and Maloo) include HSV's 6.2 litre, pushrod overhead valve, LS3, Generation 4, V8 which delivers 317kW of power and 550 Nm of torque. A six-speed manual is standard with an optional six-speed auto an extra two grand. We would go for the auto every day because it delivers rapid fire changes up and down the range but misses out on paddle shift.The ClubSport effectively includes all the major features of last years R8 with the exception of HSV's Enhanced Driver Interface (EDI), which will be available as a factory-fitted option.The automatic car we drove was optioned up with a bimodal exhaust system and the EDI system to add an extra element of fun to driving this big, boofy V8 sedan. It consumes an alarming amount of fuel hovering in the mid to high teens per 100km and it’s premium too. Still, most of these cars would be funded through companies so what's it matter.At 1800kg, this is a big, weighty car but one that's still capable of putting away a 0-100kmh sprint in around 5.0 seconds. Engage the competition mode and you can really feel the Clubbie's power pushing you into your seat.It rumbles, squats in the rear end, lifts its nose and bellows en route to stopping the clocks in a more than respectable time for such a big beast. But in this case, it's spoiled a tad by the oversoft suspension and steering that could offer a bit more feel. We reckon the optional six piston brakes should be standard though the four pots fitted do a pretty good job on the road. Track day the Clubbie and you'd find the end of the brakes before finishing the first lap.Though the bimodal exhaust sounds good at idle, it's too quiet on the move unlike most of the European V8 sports sedans that get better the harder you drive them. You can punt the Clubbie fairly hard on a winding road limited by its weight and in this case, the softish suspension.This model is due to be replaced later this year when the 'F' range of HSV cars comes down the line possibly with a 400kW plus supercharged 6.2-litre V8. Now that would be something else again.

If capped priced servicing sounds like cheating, modern car design is just too damned homogenous to your eyes, then some left-field classics might get the blood pumping.Trawling the darkened depths of the Carsguide website found some interesting old - and some not so old “time” machines on the market.For the price of a mid-spec four-cylinder small car there are vehicles on the market that stand well apart from the shopping-trolley crowd.As beefy Brits go this is one of the beefiest - the Jensen Interceptor was a four-seater grand-tourer with a Chrysler V8 under its elongated snout.Only a handful - in global terms - were built in the UK during the 1960s and 1970s, and some made it to Australia, so the chances of seeing one driving the other way are minimal.The rounded rump was a distinctive look for the Jensen and it also had the distinction of being the first all-wheel drive sports coupe.Glass's Guide says the rear-wheel and four-wheel drive models were available here from 1970 through until 1976 (when imports ceased) in the 6.2-litre and 7.2-litre forms, hooked up to a three-speed automatic and priced at a little over $22,000 when they were new - Holden had the HQ Monaro on offer around the same time and its retail price ranged from $3800 for the 4.2-litre V8 manual to just under $5000 for the 5.8-litre three-speed automatic model - nowadays, mint versions of the latter can fetch upwards of $60,000.De Tomaso is one of those interesting Italian brands - born in 1959, it was involved in motorsport (including a brief and nasty stint in F1) as well as owning brands like Bugatti and Ducati.It went into liquidation in 2004 and was briefly back in business before controversy again had the brand in trouble and it was up for sale in 2012 - it keeps threatening a 21st century revival.The two-door Longchamp was born from the same chassis and drivetrain as the Deauville four-door, using a 243kW/440Nm 5.8-litre Ford Cleveland V8 that also powered the more svelte Pantera.A top speed of well over 200km/h and an opulent interior were among the car's highlights, but given its $65,000 new pricetag it want to have plenty.A total of 409 Longchamps were built (395 coupes and 14 spiders) until 1989, with only a couple per year built during the final years.One for the locals - while many remember the much-be-spoilered Walkinshaw VL SS Group A (with a 180kW/380Nm five-litre V8 and priced at $45,000) that kicked off the Brit's relationship with Holden Special Vehicles.The red VL SS Group A was the last Commodore produced by Peter Brock's Holden Dealer Team - Holden's relationship with Brock went sour in 1987 after Brock and his crew came up with a device known as an “Energy Polariser” and fitted it, as well as other features not tested by Holden.There was a little less hoopla when the VN version popped up in 1990, sporting a $68,950 asking price in the showrooms, it packed a 210kW/400Nm five-litre V8 hooked up to a six-speed ZF gearbox (borrowed from the Chev Corvette), weighed in about 200kg heavier but was draped in less-polarising (if you'll pardon the Brock pun) bodykit styling.Track versions of the car were reportedly quicker in a straight line but not as good on the bends as the VL's bodykit actually worked, providing downforce.The VN was the final Group A, part of the era of Australian production-based touring car racing that was slaughtered by the all-conquering Nissan GT-R.The build-run never made it to the planned 500, with 302 seeing the light of day, based on a Berlina but fitted with a Momo leather-wrapped steering wheel, velour interior trim, sports seats and instruments, Bilstein dampers, a limited slip diff and a Mongoose remote control alarm.1970 Jensen Interceptor coupePrice: $24,990Engine: 7.2-litre V8Transmission: 3-speed autoThirst: 20L/100kmOdometer: 78,547kmThe big Jensen coupe was rare and expensive car when it was new - it sold new for just over $22,000 but was hand-built and had airconditioning, alloy wheels and power windows. At the time it was more than double the cost of a V12 E-Type Jag and at least four times the price of an HQ Monaro. Such is the profile of the odd British beast, it was even featured as a classic car in the Gran Turismo 4 game.Phone: 02 9119 54021983 De Tomaso Longchamp 2+2Price: $30,000Engine: 5.8-litre V8Transmission: 4-spd autoOdometer: 23,000km The Italian luxo-coupe with a muscular Aussie heart - the engines were sourced for the car from Australia when the US sources for the beefy V8 dried up, and Australia supplied the engines until V8 production ceased in the late 1980s. Hooked up to a four-speed auto, the Longchamp has air conditioning, power steering, power windows,remote central locking, cruise control among its leather-trimmed interior - when new it sold for $65,000, which was about the same money being asked for a Mercedes-Benz 380 SE V8 sedan.Phone: 07 3188 05441990 HSV VN Commodore SS Group APrice: $58,990Engine: 5-litre V8Transmission: 6-speed manualOdometer: 152,364kmThirst: 16l/100kmNot as famous as the VL but a genuine Aussie musclecar nonetheless, the HSV VN SS Group A popped up with a six-speed manual (a vague but strong gearbox borrowed from the Corvette) as well as upgraded brakes and bodykit. Capable of a sprint to 100km/h in 6.5 seconds and a 14.5-second quarter-mile, this example is number 83 of a planned 500-car build run, but the economy brought it to a halt at 302. The VN Group A SS came with air conditioning, a Mongoose alarm, 17in alloy wheels, cruise control, central locking, a limited slip diff and a chunky Momo leather steering wheel.Phone: 02 9119 5606

A fast blast from Holden Special Vehicles is expected to soon set a new horsepower high for Australia's favourite Commodore. The hot Holden shop has been working overtime to create something special to headline its VF range and is believed to have come up with a supercharged V8 engine that will trump anything from HSV in the past. The new record is still top secret but insiders say the result betters the reigning champion, the limited-edition HSV W427 that cranked out 375 kiloWatts and 640 Newton-metres from a 7.0-litre V8 back in 2008. The standard for the current E Series cars from HSV is 325 kiloWatts from the 6.2-litre LS3 Gen4 V8. HSV refuses to even discuss details of its VF-based models despite Holden's official unveiling of the family favourite and its own previews last month to dealers and small group of company insiders. "I cannot talk about future models," the managing director of HSV, Phil Harding, tells Carsguide. "My job is to sell the cars I have now." But HSV knows it has to hit hard as it moves into the VF era, as it's almost certain to be the last old-school Commodore with a thumping V8 in the nose and old-school rear-wheel drive. Harding is a stickler for detail and engineering excellence, two of the reasons why HSV - despite years of research and testing - has not done a number on the locally-made four-cylinder Cruze. He says the car cannot provide the power and handling improvements necessary to win an HSV badge. But the F Series, definitely not a plain-James VF, is looking like a new champion. “We don't have a project in our business called VF," Harding says, while again refusing to discuss the new Commodore. But others are more open. "The car looks fantastic. The body kit is much more aggressive," one of the guests at a preview tells Carsguide. "It's going to set a power record," says another. The F Series is the first HSV model to be developed since the death of the company's founder and guiding force, Tom Walkinshaw. He was one of the fans of the four-door HSV 427 and even shipped one to Britain for use as his personal car. This reporter is on Twitter @paulwardgover  

Walkinshaw Performance is selling what must be the most desirable used ute in Australia. The rare and genuine Walkinshaw Performance HSV E3 Maloo is from their VIP fleet and is being moved on to make way for new fleet vehicles. Any doubts about the desirability? Just read some of the details in the ad. It's a 2011 plated super low km (<3,500kms) vehicle that features some of our finest work. This thing has more soul than Marvin Gaye, more power than seven of the Toyota Yaris -- and looks-wise it would give Miranda Kerr a run for her money (note: also faster than Miranda). Lists are usually boring, but this one is not. Read it while seated. First up we whacked a WP230 Supercharger atop the LS3 engine which turned a 317Kw Maloo into a 480+kw Maloooooo. It also now boasts more torque than a political rally while actually producing results. The wheels. We thought "20s would look nice". Up onto the hoist and shortly after the beast was shod with HSV SV Black 20" wheels with Bridgestone Potenza 275/30 rears and 245/35 fronts. Looks. A Maloo is already the best looking ute out there, but we added an HSV GTS front bar in matt black and a number of HSV Black parts (Bonnet and side vents) to make angry look angrier. The factory bimodal exhaust remains (As Top Gear's Richard Hammond once said "Makes it go to eleven"), but we added our billet aluminium matt black tips to ensure it was very WP styled. It has a towbar with a WP cap on it for when you're not pulling an Airbus A380 for a friend (did we mention 800nm of torque?). Of course it has a full service history, with all work done by us and backed by a balance-of-new- car warranty from WP. This ute has been snapped up by a buyer that says he is "very excited."    

The home of Holden in Cairns has been transformed into a state-of-the-art dealership, which not only looks good but meets high environmental and cyclone rating requirements.The Ireland family is investing $3 million in the Mulgrave Rd property, which exceeds exacting GM Holden standards. Ireland Holden and HSV now boasts a new showroom, upgraded workshops, a new service reception area, increased sales staff space and reception, new administration and corporate offices, new IT and customer contact centres and will soon have a newly renovated parts department and used vehicle sales offices.Holden dealer-principal Richard Ireland said the showroom was double the size of the previous building, able to fit nine Holden Caprices comfortably. He said the showroom, fronting Mulgrave Rd, featured high-quality fixtures and fittings, including custom tiled floors, stainless steel features, exterior cyclone-rated aluminium cladding, energy efficient lighting and larger window space."One of the surprises will be a 4m by 2m high-definition LED television screen which will show the latest product images and previews, advertising and special events such as Bathurst. The audio will include internal and external speakers,'' Mr Ireland said.The showroom and other parts of the building include heat shields to reduce the need for costly airconditioning. The aluminium panelling outside is designed to eliminate mould and reduce dust surfaces. A new sales reception area is included in the showroom as well as room for eight sales staff, an increase on the previous five.Customer sales desks and chairs are scattered throughout the showroom and there is a dedicated HSV area. "We don't want our customers to feel closed in. We have created an open and friendly environment,'' Mr Ireland said.Holden's high-tech Volt electric car will feature pride of place in the showroom and there is a designated rapid power-charging station outside, available to Volt buyers. Wheelchair access and automatic doors, the latest Holden and HSV corporate branding signs and paint finishes are included.The service reception area features a large TV, lounges and tea and coffee making facilities. Four customer service work stations with free wi-fi have been installed and customers are able to watch their cars being serviced. The heat shields and large overhead fans cool the workshops down to make conditions more comfortable for staff, while improving environmental impacts from cooling systems.The building features compartmentation which is automatically triggered in the event of fire, to isolate half the dealership and assist in mitigating damage. A $100,000 elevator gives easy access to the second floor which houses the dealer-principal's office, the boardroom, administration and corporate offices, the IT and customer contact centres.The administration area has doubled in size with a further eight people working in the department, now totalling 14. Ten extra staff have been hired at Ireland Holden with 130 in all. The customer contact centre makes 400 services and sales calls a week. A new IT server room has a double roof and ceiling as well as extra cyclone bracing.The new boardroom easily seats 22 people, more than double previous capacity, plus there is a full kitchen for catering. Ongoing work includes the new used car centre and the parts department. Joint managing director David Ireland was the project manager, liaising between the family and the three building and design firms involved in the redevelopment.The Hartley Group designed and built the new showroom and service area, RC Harder undertook the corporate offices and board room designed by Peter Dall'Alba Design of Gordonvale, while the Chappell Group is working on the used car and spare parts refits. Design work started in December 2010 with builders on site since October 2011.