HSV Clubsport 2013 News

Walkinshaw has just raised the Australian performance bar with the launch of two supercharged W Series packages for the  6.0-litre Holden VF Commodores and 6.2-litre Gen-F HSVs. Both costing $18,990 fitted, the packages are named for their power outputs.The W457 package for the 6.0-litre VF Commodore V8s will deliver 457kW at 5600rpm and 780Nm at 3700rpm -- a massive 187-197kW and 250-253Nm rise,  with the torque peak also arriving 700rpm earlier.The W497 package for LS3 6.2-litre Gen-F HSVs gives you 497kW at 5560rpm and 955Nm at 3690rpm. Again, that's a considerable 157-180kW and 385-405Nm benefit over the standard models: the 317kW/550Nm Clubsport, 325kW/550Nm Maloo and 340kW/570Nm Grange and Senator Signature.Goodies in the packages include a WP230 supercharger package, large high flow injectors, Eaton Twin Vortices 2300 Series (TVS) Gen VI rotors, water to air intercooler package, custom moulded heater hoses, cast aluminium coil covers, unique Walkinshaw Performance injection moulded cold air intake package, heavy duty serpentine belt drive system, 12” long intake runners, custom moulded intercooler hoses, self-contained oil system, full stainless steel exhaust system -- including ceramic coated headers and high flow catalytic converters.You'll also get a full dyno tune from an authorised Walkinshaw Performance Centre, W Series Certificate of Authenticity and Vehicle Identification, and full drive line warranty for the balance of the manufacturer’s new vehicle warranty for eligible vehicles.Walkinshaw Performance general manager Tony Harris described the force-fed kits as the peak of local engineering and design."The W Series has already seen the naturally aspirated W310 and W375 packages which offer terrific performance and value for money that we have developed thanks to the outstanding base vehicles -- the VF SS Commodore and the Gen-F HSV," he said. "Today we take another step with the W457 and W497 packages. These packages represent the pinnacle of Australian automotive design and engineering capabilities."On power figures alone it's impressive, but as we always say; drivability is the number one goal and we believe that these W Series twins are exceedingly well mannered in this key area. That said, it's hard to hide the performance results and these cars are guaranteed to bring a smile to the face of every motoring enthusiast.""Back in 2004, the 297kw VZ ClubSport was rightly heralded as a significant development for HSV. At the time a journalist said it was "ferocious off the line" and that it brought "high-end performance within easier reach of more people". We see these packages offering similar- and yet so much more.”This reporter is on Twitter: @KarlaPincottWatch Walkinshaw's W457 and W497 video here. 

Holden Special Vehicles may have created the fastest and most powerful car ever made in Australia with the new GTS but that has prompted aftermarket tuning companies to go one better – for less money than the $100,000 Holden.Harrop Engineering, which built its reputation in V8 Supercars and now manufactures superchargers for Lotus and Ford Performance Vehicles (as well as the tuner trade) has turned its hand to the new HSV Clubsport.It has fitted a bigger supercharger to the Clubsport’s 6.2-litre V8 than the one that comes standard on the HSV GTS. The result is a car with more power and torque for $25,000 less than the HSV GTS.The Harrop supercharged kit costs $12,500 “drive-in, drive-out” to use the aftermarket parlance, which includes a driveline warranty backed by Harrop for the remainder of HSV’s new-car warranty.Incredibly, Harrop has managed to extract 500kW and 900Nm (the HSV GTS is rated at 430kW and 640Nm) without having to “crack the engine open” to modify the internals.Excuse the tech jargon for a moment but the power jump is in part because the standard HSV Clubsport’s 6.2-litre V8 has a higher compression ratio (10.7:1) than the HSV GTS’s 6.2-litre V8 (9.1:1) – and the Harrop supercharger has a bigger rotor group which can pump 2.3 litres of air per revolution versus the GTS’s 1.9 litres.That doesn’t sound like much but the difference becomes apparent when the supercharger spins up to its maximum of 18,000rpm. The finishing touch: Harrop dials up a tad more boost for the supercharger, up from the GTS’s 8psi to 10psi. But of course, most enthusiasts rarely stop there so Harrop has come up with its own long list of extras.The performance brake package has six-piston front and four-piston rear calipers (as with the HSV GTS) although the discs are smaller in diameter than the GTS’s. The HSV GTS has a massive, strengthened differential to handle all the power; so Harrop came up with its own strengthened diff centre that uses the same ratio as standard ($1925).For those who want more noise without creating an ear-bleed, the Harrop 3-inch exhaust system (from the catalytic converters) adds carbon-fibre tips and $2110 to the bill. For the truly keen there is a German suspension set-up that’s been adopted by Harrop that has nine levels of adjustment front and rear ($2940).Don’t like the standard wheels and tyres? The massive 9-inch-wide front and 10-inch-wide rear wheels add $6860. You can refit the standard Continental tyres that come standard with the new HSV range. Before you know it, you have a BMW-like parts option pricing list. But most of that is forgotten the first time you feel the acceleration.The Harrop Clubsport has so much torque it’s difficult to remember what life was like without it. Helpfully, the power is delivered evenly rather than in a sudden rush which helps preserve the rear tyres. You know a car is fast when you need to spend most of your time not using too much throttle for fear of breaking traction.Despite being a manual (autos tend to launch harder and faster) the Harrop Clubsport gets away smoothly but only once the speed gets above 40km/h can you open the throttle. And yet it’s incredibly driveable and not temperamental, as other modified cars are.Our only regret? Not bringing a timing device with us to test the 0 to 100km/h potential. But having travelled more than 1000km in a new HSV GTS I can vouch that this Harrop monster feels quicker. Do you need all the added extras? I’d say the supercharger, the stronger differential and the free-er flowing exhaust are musts. As good as the other options are, they’re not necessities in my opinion.That still brings the Harrop package in at $20,000 less than a HSV GTS – and adds $16,525 to the price of a $62,990 Clubsport.VERDICTIt’s not a HSV GTS but it’s a worthy alternative for those who can’t quite stretch the budget to $100K drive-away for the real deal. The most complete, refined and “normal” feeling aftermarket supercharged HSV I’ve driven.Harrop HSV ClubsportPrice: $62,990Engine: Harrop supercharged LS3 6.2-litre V8Power: 500kW and 900NmSupercharger: $12,500Exhaust: $2110Strengthened diff: $1925 

Walkinshaw Performance has unleashed a new W375 upgrade kit for naturally-aspirated Gen F HSV models. The kit lifts outputs to the 375kW of power reflected in its name, beyond the standard 317kW, 325kW and 340kW versions of HSV’s 6.2 litre LS3 V8. It also adds at least 106Nm of torque beyond the standard variants, with a new total of 676Nm. These W375 boosts comes thanks to ceramic coated headers, high-flow catalytic converters, a sonorous stainless steel cat-back exhaust system, a revised cold air intake system, plus ECU revisions to make the most of the kit’s improved breathing ability.“Our sister company HSV have delivered an incredible vehicle straight out of the box. But for those who want more, our W375 package offers the best naturally aspirated drivability result imaginable,” Walkinshaw Performance General Manager Tony Harris says. “This package puts you in serious European sports car power territory while costing a fraction of the European price.”Priced at $6,495, the package is signified by a W375 build plate and badging on the rear, and Walkinshaw will back the kit for the duration of HSV’s 3yr/100,000km factory warranty.The W375 package joins the existing 310kW W310 kit that arrived earlier this year for 6.0 litre V8 VF Commodore models. Walkinshaw Performance hasn’t specified performance gains for the W375 package, but it’s bound to take your Gen F Clubsport, R8, Maloo or Tourer that much closer to the 4.4 second 0-100km/h figure of the  supercharged 430kW, but $92,990 HSV GTS.This reporter is on Twitter: @Mal_Flynn 

Holden Special Vehicles has announced pricing for its new Gen F line-up but the savings are not as great as they are on the new Holden Commodore VF, which saw RRPs slashed by up to $10,000.The price cuts on the new HSV Gen F line-up range from just $210 to $4000. In some cases the price doesn’t change at all, or has gone up.The flagship HSV GTS sedan, the fastest and most powerful Australian made car of all time, starts at $92,990 for the six-speed manual and $95,490 for the six-speed auto, which is $2000 dearer than the old model. But HSV’s first supercharged V8 is not the dearest GTS of all time. The 2004 VYII GTS retailed for $97,500.The price of a Clubsport has been rolled back by $4000 to $60,990 plus on-road costs. The last time a Clubsport dipped below this mark was 10 years ago, in 2003. The better equipped Clubsport R8 has been trimmed by $210 to $71,290.The Maloo ute price is unchanged at $58,990 and the better equipped and more powerful Maloo R8 is trimmed by $210 to $68,290.When asked why HSV models do not have the same cost savings as the regular Commodore range, HSV sales and marketing director Tim Jackson said: “Compared to the model it replaces, we have a lot more technology and a lot more equipment.”In reality, Holden’s RRPs merely reflect the transaction prices people have been playing in recent years. And it removed most of the big dealer bonuses when slashing the price of the car.Dealer sources tell Carsguide that HSV has made a similar move, bringing its RRPs closer to transaction prices and trimming dealer bonuses.HSV GEN F PRICESMaloo 317kW: $58,990 (unchanged)Maloo R8 325kW: $68,290 ($210 off)Clubsport 317kW: $60,990 ($4000 off)Clubsport R8 325kW: $71,290 ($210 off)Senator Signature 340kW: $83,990 ($3000 off)Grange 340kW: $85,990 ($3000 off)GTS 430kW: $92,990 ($2000 increase)Options-- SV Enhanced option on R8 models (340kW/570Nm upgrade, 20-inch lightweight forged alloy wheel in satin graphite, black mirror covers and fender garnishes, matte black spoiler on sedan): $4995-- Red accents on leather seats $695-- 20-inch lightweight forged alloy wheel in satin graphite: $1495This reporter is on Twitter: @JoshuaDowling