HSV News

Ford Performance Vehicles boss, Rod Barrett, says although his heart his willing, the FPV chequebook is reluctant to open in the service of returning the GT-HO to the road.The poor sales response to Holden Special Vehicle's hot one-off W427 Commodore is believed to have indirectly cooled FPV's desire to recreate the halo Falcon. HSV built just 137 7.0-litre V8 W427 sedans with a pricetag of $155,000.The Clayton carbuilder had originally intended to build up to 427 hot Commodores, referring to the car's cubic-inch capacity. Barrett admits he was a keen spectator to the whole W427 process. "I think there was a huge learning experience for us in that car," he says. "I'd hate to think that I would be putting a car on the market that was as expensive as that. "I would like to be able to do something at an affordable price for the man in the street."Despite the sobering W427 experience, Barrett's desire to build a GT-HO remains strong. "The GT-HO is a dream of mine," he says. "I'd love to be in charge of FPV when we bought out a GT-HO."Dealers around the country hold thick files of prospective orders for a GT-HO but Barrett admits the mystic surrounding the original may not transfer into modern-day sales. Despite keen interest, the company has not even crunched the numbers of how many it could build or sell.But Barrett is adamant it would not be a limited-edition Cobra or special 40th anniversary car. "It would be something entirely unique," he says. With such a car comes a responsibility not to "stuff it up", he says. "I've always said I'm not to prepared to even think about it until we've got all the hardware we require and the financial resources to do it properly," he says.A GT-HO needs to be a car that has unique performance, handling, braking, aesthetics, colour and limited build number "and it needs to reflect what the Phase III was", he says."Whether I'm there, or any man that follows me into the chair at FPV, it is a very brave move to put out a GT-HO if you don't do it right and don't have the financial backing to do it right."Barrett admits 2011 would be an ideal time to introduce a new GT-HO, which would mark the 40th anniversary of the Phase III car. "It is a constant question, it's the question that comes up at every car club event I go to," he says. "I love it but it is so far away from being a reality at the moment it's just off the table."FPV is on track to sell about 1975 cars this year, just 3 per cent down over last year's figure of 2035 cars.Barrett says the full tally is still good considering the economic meltdown. "We're not too bad considering the state the rest of the industry is in," he says.V8s still make up most of the FPV volume with 41 per cent of cars being six cylinder models. "Going forward, we're heading for a pretty good year under the circumstances," he says.Barrett also believes buyer confidence is coming back into the market. "Inquiry levels are up and I'm very confident about the future of FPV," he says.However, FPV's figures still trails arch-rival HSV by a significant margin. HSV sold 4778 cars last year and to the end of July, sold 1551 cars.

The company is not revealing too many details about the HSV E Series II upgrades but buyers can expect some visual and engine tweaks to deliver more power from the 6.2-litre V8 without sacrificing fuel economy.Power is believed to have been lifted from 317kW to around 320kW but engine emission tweaks have delivered slight gains in fuel economy.HSV spokesman, Simon Frost, says the company is focusing on fuel consumption but there will also be a number of significant visual improvements to the cars.HSV managing director Phil Harding says the multi million dollar program includes "major visual differentiation and introduces at least five Australian auto firsts, a huge shot in the arm for the local industry"."We know our customers want the latest technologies, as well as distinctive luxury and performance features in their HSV," he says."The new range delivers in improved economy, more power, some truly exciting driver enhancements and distinctive design themes across the board."The new HSV line-up arrives in showrooms around September.

Holden Special Vehicles boss Phil Harding is cagey about it.He's been misquoted before on future supercars from the Clayton-based brand but says the W427 won't be the last super car from HSV.Mr Harding says there needs to be a time gap and low production numbers to maintain exclusivity."Some have called it an Australian icon and I'm happy with that, but you need a timeout and then come back later and do something like that again - but I don't know what that timeframe is.""One customer has bought two, one on bricks and the other is being driven, so they probably think its going to help them in the future with car value," he says.The model mix has not swung in the smaller four-cylinder direction but HSV is still looking at additional four-cylinder models, including examining an HSV version of the Cruze."We have a lot of internal activity, I don't think I'm ready to say more than that, on Corsa and Insignia we have business cases to finish off, that's still happening.""But since then in the public domain the Cruze has entered the melting pot, that's given us another opportunity that we're looking at."We're looking at the concept, I'm not confirming that we're going to do it."The Corsa and Insignia haven't gotten any worse - in fact they've gotten better - so I don't want to throw them out in a product sense, they'll only be thrown out if the business case doesn't work," he says.The company's sales tallies have followed the market down by about 20 per cent but Mr Harding says the figures are in line with the company plans."We're in line with our plan, which is down on last year, but like every car company we're doing all the right things - controlling costs, motivating our dealers, focussed on selling cars and the sales are where we thought we'd be at the end of quarter one, we're down about 20 per cent in line with the market."Mr Harding has ruled out any HSV versions of a Holden SUV and has expressed a preference for the exciting product like the W427."We're also bringing LPG to the market later this year, that's progressing. We're doing well with that.""We've existed for 20 years and we've got great products."It's tough, but we've been in the tough times before and we'll come out of it and we'll have some great times," he says.

There were a couple of late arrivals including the gorgeous new BMW Z4 sportster, as well as more details on everything from the fuel miser Suzuki Alto to the Honda Insight which was shown as a left-hand-drive concept but will soon be sold as a $30,000-something hybrid hero.One of the genuine surprises was on the GM Holden stand, but it was not the Cruze.The unexpected news was details of a couple of limited-edition showroom specials to keep the Commodore ticking along.The International pack for the Commodore sedan and Sportswagon was not a shock, because dollar deals on Australia's favourite car always go well, but the arrival of a limited-edition Senator from Holden Special Vehicles was completely unexpected.The car is priced from $69,990, which doesn't look like much of a bargain until you clock the regular Senator at $80,500.Stripping the price means dumping some stuff, including the excellent 'magnetic ride' suspension, but the mechanical package is based on the latest Clubsport and that will be more than enough for most people."Today's release of the E-Series Senator is designed to appeal to customers seeking the performance our company is renowned for in a subtle - yet identifiably HSV - package, with a very attractive price point," says the managing director of HSV, Phil Harding.Only 89 cars will be built and it still gets 317 kiloWatts and 19-inch alloy wheels. In the style of every limited-edition model the car comes with a special logo, in this case on the headrests."We think it's a good time to put some extra value into the range and the Senator should do well," says Harding.Find out more on the 2009 Melbourne Motor Show

Leading teams have formed a cartel and plan a touring troupe through the coming summer season to ensure the best drivers and cars front for the major meetings across the country.The new franchise system means the end of the current World Series Sprintcar setup but should lead to much better racing and a better deal for fans.The umbrella organisation for the new push is Sprintcar Racing Pty Ltd, which is already supported by more the 20 teams and drivers such as Brooke Tatnell, Max Dumsney and Robbie Farr.The new push is led by long-time motorsport identity Dale Rogers, the former owner of Revolution Racewear in Melbourne, who is the CEO under a board topped by former sprintcar and V8 Supercar racer Tony Noske.Team owners Shane Krikke, Robbie Farr, Noel Gessner and John Farrell are also on the board.Rogers says the new group has only just opened negotiations with track owners and race promoters but is hoping to revitalise sprintcar racing in Australia."This is something that had to happen. We think it is going to be very good for speedway in Australia," Rogers says."This is the start of a new era for sprintcar racing. For too long, sprintcar racing has floundered along looking for direction."Rogers says the new group is working on a touring schedule for the 2009-2010 summer season, as well as ensuring the top drivers make all the major meeting, but it is too early to make any firm promises.Instead, he says Sprintcar Racing Pty Ltd will soon establish a website to keep fans up to date with plans. 

The production run of the E-Series Senator Signature will be just 30 manual and 59 automatic cars. They will be powered by HSV’s LS3 317kW V8 engine, with HSV performance suspension and 19” billet silver Senator wheels with silver brake callipers incorporating the black HSV logo, while the Senator logo features on the front and rear headrests. The Senator comes with leather onyx seats as standard and is available in Heron, Sting, Phantom, Nitrate, Karma, Voodoo and Evoke. It will be priced from $69,990.   The 2009 Melbourne International Motor Show...  

The highest bidder will receive the fender from HSV’s W427, which spectacularly collided with a wall of tyres at Oran Park late last year.The prize also includes a ‘hot lap’ in the HRT rides car and lunch with the man behind the wheel of the famous Aussie Supercar at the time of the prang, the Toll Holden Racing Team’s Garth Tander, at the company’s Clayton headquarters.According to the 2007 V8 Supercar Champion, the money raised will be a small contribution to support the victims of the bushfire tragedy.“So many people have lost everything and both HSV and HRT wanted to put together a unique opportunity to make a donation to this most worthy cause,” Tander said.‘I’d urge all V8 Supercar fans and motoring enthusiasts to get behind this auction – not only will they be supporting a really worthy cause but it’s a chance to own a pretty special piece of motoring history.”The auction has a reserve of $1000 with last bids due by 4.25pm on Friday February 27.For further details and to place a bid visit www.hsv.com.au or www.hrt.com.au. 

The burly Scot is just past 60 these days and looks a little more relaxed than he was during his early days in Australia in the 1980s, but don't be fooled. Walkinshaw is a hard-headed businessman who hates to lose just as much as he did when he was winning car races and championships for everyone from Ford to Jaguar and Benetton F1. Just ask Mark Skaife, who lost a tug-of-love for the Holden Racing Team last year, or anyone from Ford Performance Vehicles who has to front up each day to battle the might of Big Tom's Holden Special Vehicles. Walkinshaw has rebounded from the time when he faced bankruptcy and lost his mighty Tom Walkinshaw Racing (TWR) empire in Britain as a result of a cash crisis for his Arrows Grand Prix team. He is now kicking goals and cashing cheques, which means he is finally happy to sit down and talk. Walkinshaw is still not happy about his setbacks in Australia, but emphatically denies he was ever bankrupt or in danger of losing HSV. "I'm not bankrupt. I was never bankrupt," he says blunty. He also says the loss of HRT, which cut him deeply and sparked his motorsport comeback plan down under, was entirely down to the ambitions of former Holden head Peter Hanenberger. Walkinshaw is open on almost every front except Skaife and keen to set the record straight. Particularly on HSV and his other local business interests. "I think we've got to manage a way with HSV through the tight financial times we find ourselves in. Keep our volume as near as possible as we can to last year, keep the structure in place . . . and support Holden through the same process, as they are our partner and biggest customer. Is he confident? "Yes." But Walkinshaw had a health scare last year, he is not getting younger, and the travel between the UK and Australia gets him down despite a home-away-from-home in Melbourne. So, is he thinking about retirement? "No. I go down and have a coffee with Bernie Ecclestone (the 78-year- old F1 supremo) from time to time and realise I've got a long way to go," he says. "I wouldn't know what to do. The wife would throw me out. She's quite happy every morning when I go out to work." Here, then, is what Walkinshaw has to say on the key issues facing him and his companies: PERSONAL HISTORY: "The last year I raced seriously was 1985 in the Jaguars we brought to Bathurst. "I was pretty good. I think I had a strong head. I was brought up in single seaters so in a touring car nothing was happening very quick. "I was good at getting cars engineered to perform properly. I was driving the factory Ford in the UK, and they had a special vehicle operation. I was asked to look at some of the Ford product and I got the job of developing the RS2000 Escort as an engineering job. "Then I picked up another job that meant I had to hire someone to help me. It sort of grew from there. "I've worked for Ford, BMW, over 60 brands. Saab, Volvo. On all sorts of things. "Most of the work we did with TWR was confidential, so people don't need to now about it. "I probably had 2000 people working for me at one time. Now it's about 600. We've got Australia and we've got stuff in India. There is not so much stuff in the UK any more. It's too expensive." HOLDEN SPECIAL VEHICLES: "I think it's got a very bright future," Walkinshaw says. "I think we're as good as anything in the market, irrespective of where it comes from. We're much better value than Audi or BMW or Mercedes. "We say we're better, but let's say we're comparable and at a much lower price. "To be honest with you, we've not looked at Ford that much. We were tasked originally to create a high-performance car for Holden. We benchmark everything with the European products. "The latest car is by far the best and the latest range of HSV products is exceptionally, exceptionally good. The 427 is a phenomenal car, and I think it's the best high-performance car ever built in Australia. It sits at a price, but for that price it had to be very unique and very special. "We're keeping growing every year. I think we're an integral part of the Holden product range. "We will do, as we do with the Astra at the moment, look at a broadening the range with smaller cars. "I think exports are going reasonably well. They're a bit slow at the moment with currencies flowing up and down all over the place so you've got to be careful not to get your fingers burned. "We've sold about 1500 if you include New Zealand." ELFIN: "That's a good question. I've asked myself that several times "When we decided to invest everything was roaring ahead. Once we got into it we realised it really needed to create a better product than we had at the time. The guys have done that. "At the moment the car is launched and we will build a modest volume until the economies improve through the world. It is very difficult to plan. . . "What I'm pleased about is that, in the, T5 we've produced a cracking car. And I think it's the right size for today's human being. "At the moment you wouldn't make anything for the UK because it's too expensive and nobody is buying toys. It's not everyday transport, it's something you take out on the weekend and have fun in." HOLDEN RACING TEAM: "I'm not a good loser. I think it was particularly difficult to take last year, because it was the third year in a row that we threw Bathurst away. The last two years we were leading, and . . . "It's just not acceptable. For whatever reason. This is not what we're paid to do. "Nothing was working. They were all fighting with each other. Then Holden asked me to come in an manage it, tell them what was going wrong. "I think we are starting again and getting re-focussed. We are not paid by Holden to go motor racing to have fun. We're paid to get results and we're re-focussed on that. That's as it should be. "I expect them to win a lot of races. I think they are two good young drives, both with enormous ability, and I think Will Davison will extract the performance back out of Garth Tander that he is capable of." "I'd like to know who's won more races in V8 Supercars than me. If you look at the support we've given the formula over the last two decades I doubt anyone comes close to investing the money we have. "We're got to get back to winning races regularly and Bathurst and the championship. The priorities are quite easy." FORMULA ONE: "It ended badly, but not really through any fault of our own. It was venture capitalists being too damn greedy with Arrows. "I was the one that brought Michael Schumacher into Benetton. I was put into Benetton to sort it out from being a comedy outfit into a decent team. I actually restructured Benetton, and I had 35 per cent of the company of the time. "We were fairly fundamental to the success of that team. "Arrows failed because we had an offer of $160 million from Red Bull, and the venture capitalists wanted more. We were tied up in so many rows . . . the whole thing then very quickly fell over. "The problem then was to get to the end of a year I put in a lot of money from TWR . . . and you had the knock-on effect on the TWR governance on debt. "I often think back and ask how I did not go crazy. You were dealing with things that you thought could never happen. But it did, and so you have to deal with it. "Nothing in Australia was affected by it. We were asked to give up the ownership of HRT because there were people at Fishermans Bend at that time who had aspirations of running a race team. We didn't need any pressure on our core business and that's why I agreed to roll over. MARK SKAIFE: Let's be quite clear. We're not revisited everything that went on last year. It's time to move on. There has been far too much written about what went on. "I'm not opening that up again. I think it's inappropriate. "I met Mark for lunch yesterday. We had coffee and lunch. There is no problem between Mark and I on that front. Mark, I don't think, has any clear process on whether he is even interested in racing now."  

The fresh new face of Team Red was finally made public at Holden headquarters in Fishermans Bend on Wednesday.But as Will Davison jumped up to fill Mark Skaife's giant shoes at the Holden Racing Team, stepping into the spotlight alongside Garth Tander for the first time, there was no sign of the man he is replacing.Instead, Skaife was taking it easy and looking after his motorsport future, with his 13-year-old son Mitch.The youngster clearly plans to follow his dad and grandad Russell into racing and was deeply into a final tuning session with his father at the Oakleigh go-kart track in suburban Melbourne."We were doing a bit of go-karting," Skaife said."Mitch has had a couple of goes. I'm not pushing him at all with it.He's had two or three runs over the summer and he's back to school later this week so it was the final chance for a go."He is bloody good. He's got good car control. He's enjoying it."The same applies to Davison, who has graduated to the benchmark team in V8 Supercar racing after making the big breakthrough last year - including his first win - with Dick Johson Racing.He has jumped the fence from blue to red in a smart move which positions him as the brightest young star in the Holden camp, as well as setting him up to learn and pressure Tander in a revitalised HRT operation for 2009 and beyond.But Davison has no intention of becoming the new Mark Skaife."I'm Will Davison. I'm my own person," he said."I'm not in this thing to be anyone else, simple as that. But this is a new era and I'll be looking to do as good as I can."Davison is set for success with a team that knows how to win, but refused to set a timetable for his first win or championship."I know I'm ready to win, but I don't know when. I just know I'll put in 110 per cent," Davison said.Tander is also pumped with the youngster alongside him although, like Davison, he has no plan to become the next Holden icon following Skaife's retirement at the end of last year."Why does there have to be another Mark Skaife? Why have one when you can have two with Will and me," Tander said.He is expecting a tough challenge from Davison, who was set for a career in Formula One and tested for Paul Stoddart's Minardi team before the money ran out."Obviously the first bloke you want to beat is your team mate, because he has the same equipment, but having said that we both want the bes for the team and Holden. I think it's a good chance to replicate what Rick Kelly and I had at the HSV Dealer Team, when we won two championships," Tander said.He is fit and focussed and believes the latest incarnation of Team Red, with Tom Walkinshaw back at the top, has a big chance to return to its glory days in 2009."There is more that needs to be achieved. I'm certainly not relaxing."This week is a big one for driver confirmations, as teams return to business without the gag of contract restrictions.James Courtney is now finally official at Dick Johnson Racing, where he takes over Davison's former spot alongside Steven Johnson, as Jason Richards moves to Brad Jones' Commodore team and Davison's older brother Alex returns from Porsche racing in the USA and Europe to become team leader with Stone Brothers Racing.But that was no real interest to Skaife, who was getting his kicks with the kids."I've always liked watching kids learning the craft, and seeing them learning and experiencing karting," Skaife said."I love it with Mitch. He's got to stop me from tweaking all the team.He thinks I'm a bit overboard."That's no surprise, considering Skaife's laser-lock approach to his own career in motorsport.He is still to confirm his plans for 2009, although he will be an ambassador for Holden and V8 Supercars and is likely to do commentary work for Channel Seven, and said he is learning to take things a bit easier."I'm the most relaxed I've been in years. I've had a month off with the kids at the beach, just fooling around. I think I could get to like this." 

Bargwanna backJason Bargwanna is back in a full-time V8 Supercar ride this year. Since the collapse of the WPS Racing squad just before the start of last season, he has rebuilt his career at the top level, driving everything he could and starring in the Mini Challenge last year. The former Bathurst winner will now partner Greg Murphy at Tasman Motorsport, driving a Commodore in Sprint Gas colours.Algarve impressesGrand Prix drivers have begun testing at a new circuit in Europe on the Algarve in Portugal. Ferrari and McLaren were first on to the impressive new layout and have praised everything from its location to a track design that takes advantage of the rolling country where it was built. It has Formula One test approval until 2011.Detroit derailedIndycar racing has taken a hit with the cancellation of one of this year's headline events, the Detroit Grand Prix. Motown has been hit hardest by the economic downturn and the race, run since 1990 on Belle Island and revived in 2007 as an IRL event, has not been able to raise the sponsorship necessary to continue.Call to BathurstCashed-up racers are being called to Bathurst for the WPS 12-hour race next month. There are plenty of race places available, including several in HSV R8s built by former V8 Supercar racer Cameron McLean. Details on the spots, and the race, from www.bathurst12hour.com.auCruze controlThe latest Chevrolet Cruze compact, to be produced in Australia as a Holden from next year, will be General Motors' spearhead in the World Touring Car Championship. A three-car Cruze team will go up against factory entries from Seat and BMW in this year's series, replacing the previous Daewoo Lacetti hatchbacks.Daytona's old magicJames Hylton is hoping to become the oldest driver to qualify for the classic Daytona 500 when the Nascar season starts next month. Hylton, 74, who was Nascar's rookie of the year in 1966, aims to run a full program in the Sprint Cup this year.Hickman surprisesDarren Hickman was the surprise winner of the latest round of the SRA sprintcar series at Avalon Raceway in Geelong on the evening of Boxing Day. Hickman, a former star in super sedans, scored the unlikely win in a 350 racer from youngster Tim Rankin. Darren Mollenoyux finished third and is now second in the Eureka-sponsored series behind Matthew Reed as the championship moves on to Horsham on January 10.