HSV News

Imported cars are hardest hit by the new LCT threshold but some of our homegrown brands also suffer.

Holden's performance arm is upgrading its engines this month, weeks before rival Ford Performance Vehicles releases its new range. HSV is updating the current 307kW LS2 to the LS3 V8, which pumps out 317kW.The upgrade should see HSV maintain its power advantage because FPV is reportedly set to offer a 315kW V8. HSV says the timing simply coincides with its supply of the LS2 running out.“Our customers want the latest and greatest technology in their cars,” HSV managing director Scott Grant says. “The General Motors LS3 engine continues the HSV tradition of scouring the world for technological advancements to enhance the driving experience.”At the unveiling of the new FPV range in February, company boss Rod Barrett said the Blue Oval performance brand would not engage in a power war with its Holden rival.FPV will rely on an upgraded version of the 5.4-litre Boss V8 for the short term, but promises more upgrades, including a reborn GT-HO.The new HSV engine comes at a price. The ClubSport R8 now starts at $64,550, up $1660, the Maloo R8 goes from $59,990 to $61,550, the GTS is up $1000 to $76,990 and the Senator Signature cops a $1200 increase to take it to $79,190.The Grange has been bumped up $1700 to start at $84,690. The LS3 unit is 6.2-litres and produces 550Nm of torque at 4600rpm, the same as the LS2. It is built in North America by General Motors Powertrains.Despite the size increase, HSV is reporting a slight drop in fuel economy for the new models.As well as the local line-up, the engine will feature in HSV's export models, the Vauxhall VXR8 sold in Britain and the Middle East-bound CSV R8. The same engine is fitted to the Chevrolet Corvette in the US.HSV says that automatic gearboxes will also get an oil cooler as standard. As an option for ClubSport, Senator and Grange buyers, new 20-inch alloy wheels will be available at $2500. 

In August 2006, a month after Holden released the new VE Commodore; HSV introduced its own new E-Series. It came with changes to the exhaust system and the LS2 engine gained an extra 10kW, powering it up to 307 kW.The latest E-Series engine upgrade means that the power output for the ClubSport R8, GTS, Senator Signature, Maloo R8 and VM Grange’s power output will increase to 317kW.Managing director Scott Grant believes the new engine, the LS3 is a welcome upgrade for Australia’s HSV models.“We know our customers want the latest and greatest technology in their cars” he said.“The general Motors LS3 engine continues the HSV tradition of sourcing the world for technological advancements to enhance the driving experience,” Scott Grant said.The LS3 engine built by General Motors Powertrain in North America will also be used in the new Pontiac GXP. The GXP will be built by Holden in Australia, which will export it to the United States at the end of 2008.The 6.2 litre LS3, produces 317 kW at 6000 rpm and 550 Nm of torque at 4600 rpm.Production of the LS3 will begin this month and should be available in April 2008. 

Coupe 60 celebrates the six decades since Holden built the 48-215 at its Fishermans Bend plant in Port Melbourne, Victoria.It provides a glimpse of Holden's future directions in design, engineering and emerging engine technologies.The sports luxury Coupe 60 is a pillarless concept car that explores the limits of Holden's current rear-wheel drive capabilities, combining racing looks and technology into a road-going sports car.Its sophisticated appearance is delivered through simple and powerful design, highlighted by the pillarless construction and V8 supercar inspired cockpit layout and side-exiting chambered exhaust system with billet alloy tips.Almost 60mm shorter than the VE sedan, and sitting on 21-inch centre-lock alloy wheels with Kumho high performance semi-slick tyres, Coupe 60 captures an exciting new design from Holden.Other racing-derived enhancements include full flat under body, rear underbody air diffuser and functional rear deck-lid spoiler with unique designed LED tail lamps.The interior one-piece carbon fibre bucket seats feature leather and suede pad design and there is a sports-inspired flat bottomed steering wheel with integrated shift light display and LCD sports instrument cluster.The high gloss carbon fibre carries through to doors and rear trim providing a contrast to the leather trimmed instrument panel and black suede trimmed pillars, headliners and parcel shelf.Under the bonnet is a 6.0-litre V8 engine incorporating the latest technologies such as active fuel management and calibrated for E85 ethanol fuel.Even the paint is a one-off; its called diamond silver by Holden designers, it gives a liquid aluminium finish. 

New chairman and Managing Director Mark Reuss, the American, struggled with some of the Australian names (Toraina, Monairo) but with a background in GM USA’s performance division, it was natural that

The King Kong of Commodores is being unveiled this morning at the Melbourne Motor Show.

New V8 Supercars driving standards observer Tomas Mezera will be under pressure to keep a lid on tempers in round 2 of the Championship Series at Sydney's Eastern Creek, starting on Friday week.Several collisions and controversial passes triggered an unprecedented level of trash talk among drivers and team owners at the Clipsal 500 at Adelaide last weekend.The normally measured David Richards, team principal of Ford Performance Racing, was seething after his driver Mark Winterbottom's race ended when he was an innocent victim of the Craig Lowndes and James Courtney incident.Stewards investigated the incident between the pair at turn 10 and declared there was no breach of the rules.Mezera, at his first V8 meeting in the role, had been unfairly blamed for letting Clipsal winner Jamie Whincup's forceful pass on Winterbottom in Saturday's opening 250km race go without reprisal.Most thought Whincup's move, which resulted in minor side contact forcing Winterbottom wide, hard but legal.“This mess was endorsed on Saturday,” Richards fumed.“It leads to someone getting seriously hurt and that is a disaster for the championship and we are all victims in this at the end of the day.“The sponsors don't want it and the car manufacturers don't want to see their cars smashed up every day.”Richards plans to approach Mezera, who has stepped into the policing role this year to replace Colin Bond, to address the driving standards issue.Points: 1 Jamie Whincup (Ford) 300, 2 Lee Holdsworth (Holden) 258, 3 Rick Kelly (Holden) 192, 4 Steven Johnson (Ford) 186, 5 Todd Kelly (Holden) 180. 

The age-old battle between Ford and Holden is set to sizzle at this year’s Melbourne Motor Show.

HSV had plenty to live up to when it was formed back in the late-1980s, following on as it did the legacy established by Peter Brock's HDT Special Vehicles.Brock wove magic in a series of mundane Holdens and created cars deserving of the 'special' tag. Brock's cars are now very collectable.Despite lacking the Brock name, HSV has established its own niche and has a strong following. Its most prominent and popular model has been the Clubsport, a name first attached to an HSV-modified Commodore in 1990.It's been HSV's mantra that they build refined performance cars and the VY Clubsport was true to that concept. Words such as refinement, sophistication and quality were liberally splashed around on the release for the Y Series in 2002.The addition of body kits had a dramatic effect on the Commodore's appearance, taking it from family-friendly four-door to sports stunner.A lower stance, courtesy of the HSV-tuned suspension, was further enhanced by some sharp 18-inch alloy wheels filling out the wheel arches.The Clubsport boasted sports seats, a leather-bound steering wheel, sports dials, bright colours and sports highlights to reinforce the concept while maintaining relative sophistication.Under the skin lay sports shocks and springs, which produced a sporting bias and sharper turn-in. It also boasted the HSV Performance Braking package, which included larger ventilated front and rear discs, and larger front calipers.The standard 5.7-litre LS1 V8 was boosted to 260kW at 5600rpm and 475Nm at 4000rpm, which made it capable of propelling the 1600kg Clubsport from zero to 100km/h in less than six seconds. HSV offered the choice of a four-speed auto or a six-speed manual, and drive was through the rear wheels. ABS antiskid stoppers and traction control assisted drivers.For an even sportier ride there was the Clubsport R8 with added enhancements, particularly the improved braking from the Premium Braking package, which included larger front and rear discs, and more powerful calipers.A year after the Y Series was released HSV updated it with a Series 2, which brought more power (285kW) and torque (510Nm), a heavy-duty four-speed auto, and on the R8 the Performance suspension that was previously only on the GTS model. Inside there were new seats with four-way power adjustment and new trim.Poor resale has been an issue with HSV cars while Brock Commodores increase in value. The LS1 V8 suffered piston problems so check if it's had a rebuild. The Clubsport's suspension offers agile handling and responsive steering.There's front and side airbags for the front seat occupant's safety. It's a tuned V8 so expect 13-15litresper 100km on average around town, 10-12 when you hit the highway.  Snapshot  HSV ClubsportVY/VY 2Years: 2002-2004Price: $25,000-$28,000 for an early Y Series Clubsport; add $2500 for the R8. A VY 2 can be had for $28,000-$31,000; another $2500 will secure an R8.Engine: 5.7L/V8; 260kW/475NmEconomy: expect 13-15L/100kmRating: 70/100Verdict: Looks good, goes hard, but it's not for the faint-hearted or inexperienced driver. RivalsFalcon XR8Years: 2003-2005Price: $23,000-$30,000 BMW 540Years: 2000-2003Price: $40,000-$70,000 Jaguar XJ8Years: 1997-2003Price: $22,000-$70,000 

My friends can't believe it - I've fallen for a ute. They might have understood if this was a meaningless one-night stand with a HSV Maloo R8, born of short-term lust for the outrageous form of that beast, but they're assuming it's a case of 'beer goggles' because I've fallen for a bare-bones, steel wheeled, working Commodore VE ute.  Nobody was more surprised than me, but the moment I hopped in the VE, it began to impress.The high-output version of Holden's V6 is great, significantly perkier than the base V6, yet more pliable and controllable on wet Sydney streets than the V8. Enough of the right sort of noise to be sure you're not driving a diesel, and any quicker from the lights and you'd be leaving the contents of your tray on the car behind you. The six-speed box pulls away acceptably in second without a load, though with a load on and from an uphill start, you'll need first. On the highway, fifth and sixth cruise comfortably and quietly.The cabin had more storage than I expected and a higher trim level than I expected, especially the wheel, gear shift, electric seat and reach-adjustable wheel. In fact, I was surprised how much of the interior I recognised from the Commodore SS-V I'd been driving a few weeks before. Sure, the bright orange leather trim was missing (not at all sorry about that) but the lower-spec audio system was more than adequate, and having no trip computer on the central electronic gauge meant I was no longer wincing at my mileage after heading out in a hurry.The load bay has literally loads of room - not the biggest available, but adequate for anything other than a 2m spirit level or a big ladder. Trade that space off against dynamics and I'll take the dynamics any day. While the VE ute was a little light and springy in the rear when I'd offloaded my 2m of mulch, it was nowhere near as bouncy as a heavier-sprung Hilux, and the traction control nicely managed the standard tires on wet, greasy sydney roads.I found it easy to sweep out the dog hair and mulchy bits from the rear when I'd finished my errands, and the gate took a pounding without complaint from two 20kg six-year-olds determined to use the ute's tray as a temporary driveway playhouse.You'd never pick it from a line-up of glamour-pusses, but the VE ute could find a place in my garage.