HSV Maloo News

The supercharged HSV GTS Maloo has sold out before it officially goes on sale, Holden is trying to build more. Holden has sold out of the world's fastest ute even though it is not yet officially on sale -- and not due to go into production until later this year.  As reported exclusively by News Corp Australia last week, Holden Special Vehicles has told dealers it is preparing a supercharged V8 ute so that the Australian icon ends on a high note, and leaves a legacy that will last long after the factory in Adelaide closes in 2017.  Dealers have told News Corp Australia the initial planned allocation of 150 cars is sold out -- despite the $85,000 price, the dearest ute ever to be sold in Australia -- and Holden is now scrambling to find a way to build more.  Following our scoop last week the HSV GTS Maloo also made big news on social media and dealers reportedly sold out within 24 hours. Holden and its performance car division both refuse to confirm publicly that such a car exists. "We don't discuss future model plans," says HSV boss Tim Jackson.But sources within the dealer network say Holden may build 50 to 100 more to keep customers happy -- and still retain the car's exclusivity.  If 250 HSV GTS Maloo utes are built, they will still be more rare than the final Ford Falcon GT, of which 500 will be made, and more rare than the HSV GTS sedan, of which more than 1000 have been sold to date.  One dealer who was allocated five cars says he has 16 signed orders; most other dealers we spoke to say they could have sold twice their allocation of two to four cars each. No dealers would speak on the record because Holden and HSV have instructed them not to talk to media. The previous generation HSV Maloo currently holds the Guinness World Record for the world's fastest ute after Holden racing driver Mark Skaife set an average top speed of 271km/h on the Woomera rocket range in 2006, defeating the previous title holders which were high-powered US pick-ups from Ford (237kmh) and Dodge (248km/h).

Holden could be without a V8 in its showrooms in 2018 as Camaro still not confirmed.  Australians still can't get enough of their V8s. There was so much demand for the first and the last of the "final" edition Falcon GT that Ford had to auction them off for charity to avoid a backlash among buyers -- and dealers.If you want to make a sizeable donation to a worthy cause, the National Breast Cancer Foundation, and end up with either car 001 or car 500 of the GT-F, get onto e-Bay between August 17 and 24.Meanwhile, following our exclusive story last week about the epic new HSV GTS Maloo, our dealer sources tell us the initial allocation of 150 cars are sold out and Holden and HSV are scrambling to see if the factory can squeeze in another 50 to 100 cars.One dealer had an allocation of five cars but has 16 signed deposits. Other dealers we spoke to said they could sell twice as many as they were allotted.Collectors fear not, however. HSV and Holden are unlikely to flood the market. We suspect they will cap it at 250 maximum, if they can indeed get enough of the extra bits to put them together.Most of the heavy-duty parts (and, of course, the supercharged V8 engine) are carryover from the GTS sedan. But the lengthened tail-shaft is unique, as are some interior bits and pieces, we hear.Keep in mind that HSV and Holden have not even publicly confirmed the GTS Maloo even exists yet, which it makes it all the more remarkable that it's already a sellout.I hope Holden is watching this love of V8s closely (our guess is that Holden at least has some idea, given that it will introduce a Craig Lowndes special edition at Bathurst to mark 20 years since the V8 Supercar driver debuted in a Holden).Even though Holden's sales and marketing boss Philip Brook told dealers late last year there were plans to introduce a Camaro in 2018, we now hear that was not necessarily true.Apparently the comments were made to pump the dealers with confidence after last year's announcement about the factory closure in 2017.Reliable sources in Detroit say there is still no plan to build a right-hand-drive version of the Camaro.As incredible as it seems, Holden dealers could be without a V8 in their showrooms in 2018 for the first time since 1967.For the sake of Holden fans, here's hoping the arrival of the Ford Mustang next year will give General Motors all the incentive it needs to approve the Camaro for Australia.

HSV is set to build the world's fastest ute, the LSA supercharged V8 GTS Maloo.

The new Gen F HSV range has benefitted from many of the VF Commodore’s technological advances. Racing driver Cameron McConville explains many of these key features.

The HSV Maloo, sold in the UK as the Vauxhall VXR pick-up, now holds the record for the fastest light commercial vehicle on a Worcestershire hill climb track called Shelsley Walsh (try saying that after a few beers). Somewhat appropriately, it was ex-pat Australian Steve Cropley, who is Autocar magazine’s editor-in-chief, who drove the brutish ute. “The plan was not just to set an LCV record time at Shelsley, but make it respectable enough to stick for a while,” Cropley says. “Despite the track being dampish, and littered with wildlife that thought the hillclimb season had ended, we managed a 38.65 second run. The Maloo’s huge torque, decent launch control and easy handling made the whole experience less of a chore than it should have been, too.”  

The base model ClubSport and Maloo join the Holden Special Vehicles' lineup to lead a new value drive and start celebrations for the brand's 25th birthday. Prices have been pegged at $58,990 for the Maloo ute and $64,990 for the ClubSport, with no loss of punch from their 6.2-litre V8 engines. The only thing missing, compared with the R8 version of the ClubSport, is HSV's high-tech Enhanced Driver Interface system. But the cars do get a new 20-inch alloy wheel called Pentagon. The born-again ClubSport is much the same as the short-run GXP Commodore but, says HSV managing director Phil Harding, this time it's a "real HSV, all the way around". "We brought the ClubSport back as a GXP a couple of years ago and there was a desire to bring it back in a more solid way. It satisfies a need," Harding tells Carsguide. "It won't be significant volume, but it helps bring people to the marque. It's for the sort of guy who perhaps had an HSV but fell off the ladder and wants to come back." He admits the pricing is an important reason for the ClubSport and Maloo tweaking, but says HSV is happy with its sales despite the large-car downturn that has hit the Holden Commodore and Ford Falcon. "The biggest change to get to a ClubSport from the R8 is the loss of the EDI system. It helps us get down to a price poiint. With the Luxury Car Tax, once you take something out it has an added effect. "As for sales, we're about where we wanted to be at this time of the year. We're not panicking and we're doing alright." The new starter car comes as HSV goes public with a range update called MY12.5, although there will be other significant 25th anniversary action. "There is nothing that's public yet. Watch this space," Harding says to deflect any extra questions. The 12.5 changes are very minor, although the ClubSport R8, Maloo R8 and ClubSport Tourer R8 pick up a power boost to 325 kiloWatts in addition to the 20-inch alloys and leather seat trim. Power in the Senator Signature also improves to 325kW, together with optional 20-inch forged alloys and `Vector' hood scoops and side vents. The 25th anniversay is refected in a special `start-up' screen in the infotainment system, build plate, internal identification and sill plates.  

Even at a time when fuel economy is top-of-mind with a growing number of Australian drivers there is plenty of space on the roads for Commodores and Falcons with old-fashioned V8 muscle under the bonnet. They burble menacingly at idle. They are the backbone of V8 Supercar racing.Yet V8s in the 21st century are not what they were in the days when they first conquered Mount Panorama and a GTHO Falcon or a Monaro - or even a Valiant V8 - was a dream machine for a generation of Aussie youngsters.Since 1970 the crude oil price has exploded from $20 a barrel to double that amount during the Iran revolution, over $70 during the first Gulf War, broke through the $100 barrier ahead of the Global Financial Crisis and has now settled at just below $100.In Australia, petrol prices have correspondingly risen from about 8c a litre in 1970 to about 50c in 1984 and almost $1.50 today.Despite all this, and despite one attempt at a death sentence by Ford in the 1980s, the V8 has not been wiped from Australian showrooms. Holden and Ford have continued to produce large cars with a V8 alternative and continue to slog it out at Bathurst.But Australian cars, even the ones that now have American V8s imported for local use, are not the only bent-eight blasters on the road.Germans are prolific builders of V8s and produce some of the most powerful engines in the world thanks to AMG-Mercedes, BMW and Audi. English V8s are built by Aston Martin, Land Rover and Jaguar, while the Americans provide V8s in the Chrysler 300C sold here. Even the Japanese luxury brand Lexus has a V8 in its IS F hero and its luxury saloon LS460, as well as the LandCruiser-cloned LX470.Most V8s are powerful enough breathing ordinary air, but there are many forced-induction models with either turbo or supercharging to liberate even more power. Walkinshaw Performance does the job in Australia for Holden, BMW is going down the turbo V8 road for its latest M cars and Benz had a time with a supercharged AMG V8.But V8s are not just about unrestricted power. The push for greater fuel economy has also reached V8 land and so Chrysler and Holden have V8s with multiple displacement technology which shuts down half the cylinders when the car is just cruising to improve fuel economy. Formula One racing engines now do the same thing when they are idling on a grand prix starting grid.Holden's Active Fuel Management (AFM) was introduced on the V8 Commodore and Caprice in 2008 and the red lion brand is committed to the engine - with future technology updates - despite near-record fuel prices."It is incumbent on us to keep it relevant and continue introducing new technology that delivers on our customers' needs," says Holden's Shayna Welsh.Holden has the biggest stake in V8s with more models than any other company selling in Australia. It has a total of 12 models with V8 engines across four nameplates and four body styles, including Commodore SS, SS V, Calais V, Caprice V and the recently introduced Redline range. V8s account for about one quarter of Commodore sedan sales and almost half of Ute sales."We see it as being more than just the V8 engine - it's about the entire car. It's the whole performance package that appeals to people and we want to continue making cars that people are proud to own," Welsh says."The combination of features and technology, great handling and braking and outstanding value is consistent across our V8 model range."Ford fans are also committed to V8s, according to company spokesperson Sinead McAlary, who says a recent Facebook survey was overwhelmingly positive."We asked whether they worry about petrol prices and they say 'No, it's the sound of the V8 we love and we are prepared to pay the price'," she says.Both Ford and Holden also have performance divisions where the V8 was, and still is, king. Ford's is Ford Performance Vehicles (FPV) and Holden's is Holden Special Vehicles (HSV).HSV marketing manager Tim Jackson says their sales are "on par" with last year."That's despite the fact that last year we had the limited edition GX-P which is an entry level product for us," he says. "We don't have that model in our range at all this year and you would expect numbers to come off, but we've been able to maintain sales volume."All of HSV's range are powered by a naturally aspirated V8 engine (6200cc 317kW-325kW), while the opposition at FPV has gained the kilowatt advantage with forced induction (supercharged 5000cc 315kW-335kW).Jackson says their LS3 V8 has been "validated" by customers."We're not getting guys screaming at us to go turbocharging. The LS3 is an extraordinary unit. It's a light engine with a good power-to-weight figure. There is not a turbo engine that would do it for us at the right development cost. But I wouldn't rule it (turbo) out or rule it in."Jackson says there have been no repercussions from the rise in petrol prices."Our customers don't have other choices in their repertoire," he says. "A small car doesn't suit them and they're not into an SUV. They're of a certain level where the whole cost of running the car is easy for them to absorb."The top-selling HSV is the ClubSport R8, followed by the Maloo R8, then GTS.However, the greatest HSV in history is debatable, Jackson says.HSV engineering boss Joel Stoddart prefers the all-wheel-drive Coupe4 and sales boss Darren Bowler the SV5000."The Coupe4 is special because of its engineering but I like the W427 because it's the fastest," Jackson says.FPV boss Rod Barrett says they are also experiencing strong sales growth. He says they sold about 500 cars in the first quarter, which is up 32 per cent on the previous year. He also says sales of the F6 have slowed since the launch of the supercharged V8 engine variants late last year, as customers "opt for power". Ford no longer offers a V8 with the demise of the XR8 sedan and ute last year."Our middle name is performance so we have all the V8s," Barrett says. "When we were launching this new supercharged car all the V8s came across here."Barrett says their supercharged engine has changed people's minds about "dinosaur V8s"."The turbocharged F6 was a cult hero car in its day and people thought a V8 was a low-tech dinosaur," he says. "But when we produced a high-tech all-alloy five-litre supercharged V8 built in Australia people started to think that V8s aren't all that bad after all. I'm not seeing the demise of the V8 just yet, but for us, the future is hi-tech."The supercharged 5.0Litre V8 335kW FPV GT continues to be FPV's top-selling vehicle followed closely by the supercharged V8 5.0 litre 315kW GS sedan and GS ute.Barrett believes the current GT is the best FPV car yet with its segment-leading power, light weight and improved fuel economy."However, I think our most iconic car was the 2007 BF Mk II 302kW Cobra in white with blue stripes. That car brought back the passion of '78 with the original Cobra. If you have a look at the second-hand prices, they are still holding up very well" he says.

HSV is using the Australian International Motor Show to launch its SV Black Edition models. They’ll join vehicles from Porsche, BMW and Mercedes in earning a black label.

"It has its own following," says McDonnell about the V8 ute.  "It's a hero for us. It's close to our hearts." The first Maloo was launched in October 1990 at the Sydney Motor Show as the first V8 sports ute.  It still holds the Guinness record for the fastest ute with a speed of 271.44km/h set in 2006. In its 20th year, HSV celebrates the Maloo's milestone with a special model limited to just 100.  The new ute goes on sale in October and will be a highlight at the Deniliquin Ute Muster (October 1-2). The new Maloo features large air scoops at the side, 20-inch black wheels from the GTS, matte black hood scoops and a bi-modal exhaust."It's more aggressive than in the past," says McDonnell.

Instead of increasing power for the new HSV E Series 3, the performance car company has chosen to fit a range of hi-tech electronic gadgetry to its E3 models, offer dual gas/petrol power, increase the price by up to $1000 and give it a facelift. So the HSV range stays with the 317kW/550Nm 6.2-litre V8 (GTS and Grange are 325kW), while FPV will this week release its new range with a 335kW/570Nm five-litre Coyote V8.  HSV boss Phil Harding says that while there is no increase in power and torque, fuel consumption and CO2 emissions are marginally down.  “We didn’t have increased power and torque on our list of actions for this model year update,” Harding says. Engineering general manager Joel Stoddart admits the 6.2-litre V8 engine is “getting close to its maximum potential”.  There is no talk yet of moving to the coming compact global GM V8. VALUE Prices have increased by $1000 on all but the Senator which is up $560.  HSV justifies the price rise on the increased technology and inclusion of standard satnav and reversing camera. The E3 range also includes a 20th anniversary Maloo ute model which is limited to 100 vehicles. It costs $67,600 in manual which is $3000 more than the standard model and $69,600 for the auto. TECHNOLOGY HSV boss Phil Harding says the E3 is “more than just a facelift”, pointing out three “firsts” for an Australian manufacturer.  They are an automatic liquid propane injection (LPi) system, side blind zone alert system (SBZA) and an enhanced driver interface (EDI) which is like a computer game for the performance car. “There are more ideas generated internally than we can afford to make business decisions on,” Harding says.  “We’re never short of ideas on sales, product, marketing and manufacturing to make our business more efficient and exciting.” HSV is proud of its LPi system that automatically and seamlessly switches between gas and petrol, even though they only expect about 5 per cent take-up.  It is offered as a $5990 option ($6390 on Maloo) on all but the ClubSport R8 Tourer. Stoddart says it has the same performance as in petrol-only mode, although it does switch seamlessly back to petrol when the car operates above 4000rpm.  The EDI is an elaborate graphic system displayed on Holden’s new touch screen that provides a wealth of information from G forces to “race” information such as brake and throttle percentages and a stopwatch. The information system was developed in conjunction with race technology company MoTec and details can be downloaded on a USB stick and analysed on a laptop just as a race engineer would in Formula One or V8 Supercars. The Windows-based software can also work with the GPS satnav system to record lap times on major Australian racetracks which are loaded into the vehicle, or plot new tracks. SAFETY The $1990 optional blind spot warning system is similar to the one developed by Volvo.  When selected it shows a blue light on the side of the dashboard which turns red when the ultrasonic sensors detect a vehicle in the blind spot. If the driver indicates and moves into that occupied spot, it flashes. There is no audible alarm. The system can be turned off and it defaults to how it was left when the car was last used. To overcome continued adverse comments about the dangerous lack of rear vision caused by the rear spoiler, all HSVs now come with a reverse camera with rear parking assist sensors and a lower spoiler. STYLING Inside are new trims colours and materials, more leather, restyled instruments and gauges, and a HSV welcome and build number displayed when the touch screen is switched on. Outside, there is more chrome, a “superflow” rear spoiler, chrome exhaust tips integrated into the rear bodywork like in the Honda Civic Type R, a new fascia and, for the first time, the Grange gets an engine power designation badge on the boot to mark the increase in power to match the GTS.HSV E3 Prices: ClubSport R8 $67,600 (manual) $69,600 (auto),ClubSport R8 Tourer $68,600 (m) $70,600 (a)Grange $88,900 (a)GTS $82,900 (m) $84,900 (a)Maloo R8 $64,600 (m) $66,600 (a)20 years of Maloo R8 $67,600 (m) $69,600 (a)Senator Signature $83,990 (m/a)Engine: 6.2-litre V8Power: 317kW (325kW GTS, Grange) @ 6000rpmTorque: 550Nm @ 4600rpmTransmissions: 6-speed manual and auto (Grange auto only)Options: SBZA $1990 (standard on Grange and Maloo 20th);LPi $5990 (ute $6390)Turismo Rosso leather $1490 (GTS and Senator)