HSV Gen-F GTS full ad

The car sits atop the latest Gen-F range of high-powered sedans, utes and wagons and comes to the market with a supercharged LSA V8 engine borrowed from a race-bred Chevrolet Camaro.

The engine delivering 430kW of power and 740Nm of torque -- more than the world’s best performance sedans -- to the rear wheels via a six-speed manual or six-speed automatic transmission.

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.

The ad plays the familiar theme of escaping the mundane and gets the message across rather bluntly.  There’s nothing blunt about the product it’s promoting, however, as the 2013 GTS is one sophisticated performance sedan. In addition to its mighty powerplant, the GTS also benefits from an electric rear differential and a version of General Motors’  magnetic ride suspension.

There’s even a Driver Preference Dial that allows everything from the vehicle’s stability and traction control systems, launch control, bi-modal exhaust, differential, suspension and electronic power steering to be adjusted.

The new HSV GTS is due on sale next month 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.