Jalopnik: Hsv

HSV Senator Signature SV08 Has The Floor

Mark Arnold — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 13:40:00 EDT

Unveiled alongside the 40th Anniversary GTS, the HSV Senator Signature SV08 is a limited edition of the more luxury-oriented version of the Holden Commodore. It's a bit more exclusive, with just 20 equipped with a manual transmission and 30 automatics. It's also a bit more expensive, with a price tag equivalent to just over $57,000 in Ameros. For that, you get additional chrome accenting on the side mirrors and door handles, and 20" rims standard. More importantly, you still get the same 412 HP 6.0-liter LS2 V8 as the normal HSV Senator. Too bad we can't get something like this in America badged as a Buick Park Avenue.

[HSV]

HSV 40th Anniversary GTS Unveiled in Sydney

Mark Arnold — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 12:15:00 EDT

First used in 1968 on the HK Monaro, the GTS badge now celebrates its 40th anniversary with 100 units of this special edition HSV GTS. Though the name GTS stands for "Gran Turismo Sportivo," the 40th Anniversary edition is merely an appearance package available only in red or white, with black stripes and plenty of '40 years of GTS' logos all over the car. Of course, with about 425 HP ready to be sent to the rear wheels, and Magnetic Ride Control to keep you planted, the GTS is nothing to scoff at. It's certainly better than the standard Holden Commodore on which it's based, or the Pontiac G8 GT.

[HSV]

Top Gear Australia's Ratings Slump Despite Holden Vs. Ford Shootout

Mark Arnold — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 12:43:00 EDT

If we lived down under, we would have tuned in to SBS on Monday at 7:30 to watch the Top Gear Australia shootout between the iconic Holden Commodore and Ford Falcon...but we don't. Watch the clip and judge for yourself, but we think that even though it may not be quite as polished as the UK original, this segment wasn't all that bad. So why did the ratings for this second episode drop off significantly from the series premiere's, even though they were actually expected to go up?

About 674,000 viewers watched episode 2, which was about 250,000 fewer than the first episode. Even worse, it was the least-watched show in its time slot, and only the 26th most-watched show of the whole night. Nonetheless, everyone feels the new Top Gear still has potential to improve. After all, the first season with Clarkson at the helm of the BBC show wasn't amazing either. [TheAge, YouTube] (Thanks Brett!)

Holden HSV Tourer Announced, Will Haul Ass and Take Names

Ben Wojdyla — Mon, 12 May 2008 12:00:00 EDT

Let us all rise, and solemnly acknowledge the beginnings of the wagon wars. With the stroke of a key and the sending of an image, Holden has loosed a battle cry the likes of which are rarely heard. The Holden HSV Tourer will not only haul little Timmy and Sally to school in the morning, it'll haul ass all day with an LS3 V8 pumping 426 HP and 405 lb.ft. of torque out of that 6.2 liters of goodness. And just look at that garish, chav-tastic styling! We're in love. We need two tickets to ~~paradise~~ Australia.

That's right, although Holden may be the new Pontiac, the General has denied us this bit of sportwagon goodness. Come on Uncle Bob, build some excitement in our pants and reverse that decision on the Pontiac G8 GXP Sport Wagon. You know you want to. And you know we want to get a shot at renaming it the "Station Wagon." [WheelsMag]

LS3 Goes Down Under: HSV To Build Higher Horsepower Hooning Machines

Ray Wert — Wed, 26 Mar 2008 07:45:00 EDT

It's not even Australia Day, but we're hearing GM's giving their high-performance team down under a gift of power. Holden's Special Vehicles team announced last night they'll be fitting the US-built LS3 engine across their range of E-Series and WM Grange vehicles. That's the same engine found in the base model of the new Corvette as well as the one found in the Australian-built Pontiac G8 GXP. So that means the new ClubSport R8, GTS, Senator Signature, Maloo R8 and WM Granges will see a power boost from the current 307 kW (412 HP) and 399 lb-ft of torque provided by the ol' and busted 6.0-liter LS2 to 317 kW (425 HP) and 406 lb-ft of torque with GM's new 6.2-liter hotness under the hood. More cost-savings on the high-end across GM's global business? Check. More hooning power? Check. Greater potential for said hooning power to drop in price stateside? One would hope. Full press release after the jump.

New LS3 engine to power HSV from April
Holden Special Vehicles today announced a running change to its award winning E-Series and WM Grange vehicles, with the new GM LS3 engine to be fitted across the range for cars on-sale from April.

The upgrade will see the ClubSport R8, GTS, Senator Signature, Maloo R8 and WM Granges power output rise to 317kW.

Managing Director Scott Grant said the new engine was a welcome upgrade to the range of vehicles from Australias luxury and performance car maker.

We know our customers want the latest and greatest technology in their cars, Scott Grant said.

The General Motors LS3 engine continues the HSV tradition of scouring the world for technological advancements to enhance the driving experience.

It is built by General Motors Powertrain in North America and is available in the current Chevrolet Corvette. It will also be the engine used in the new Pontiac GXP, to be built by Holden in Elizabeth from the end of 2008 and exported to the United States.

The HSV LS3 engine has a capacity of 6.2 litres, producing 317kW of power at 6000rpm and 550NM of torque at 4600 rpm, as fitted to the HSV range.

Despite the power output increase, the new engine will deliver a slight improvement in fuel economy for Maloo R8 and WM Grange, while the short wheel base models return figures of 14.5 litres per 100km, as opposed to 14.4ltr/100km for E-Series LS2, in automatic mode.

Production of the new LS3 range begins this month and is available in dealerships from April. Vauxhall s VXR8 and the CSV R8, sold in the United Kingdom and Middle East respectively, will also receive the LS3 engine in 2008. New Zealand launches the LS3 engine with a limited edition Murph pack themed ClubSport R8 and Maloo R8.

HSV have released a new colour palette to coincide with the engine upgrade and for the first time WM Grange and Senator Signature will be available in Red Hot. Automatic transmission coolers are standard across the upgraded range. HSV will also introduce a new 20 inch wheel option across its fleet, including Grange, Senator Signature and ClubSport R8.

The wheel is a $2500 option for those customers and a no-cost option for GTS and Maloo R8 performance pack purchasers. The running changes have also resulted in a new pricing schedule with average price increases of between 1.3% and 2.8%.

What's Your Favorite Australian Car?

Matt Hardigree — Fri, 29 Feb 2008 12:00:00 EST

With the Melbourne International Motor Show in full swing we thought we'd focus on all the things that make us love the cars from down under. On the new side, it's hard not to love the Z06-powered HSV Super Sedan or the new FPV Ford Falcon (a car so hot the Mark Fields personally asked for his own to be delivered to North America). And what about those utes? The HSV Maloo or FPV Falcon Ute? Why not both? And those are just new cars. If the classic cars weren't great people wouldn't be stealing them constantly.

And what about the fictional cars? There are at least a few V8 Interceptors running around the outback doing their best Mad Max. What's your favorite Australian car, old or new?

New FPV Lineup Leads Ford Attack On Aussie Muscle Market

Mark Arnold — Fri, 29 Feb 2008 11:20:00 EST

Don't think the Muscle Car Wars are only taking place here in America. Our Aussie brethren — the people who invented the word "hoon" — have themselves a bitter rivalry going strong for years; Holden HSV vs. Ford FPV. And with Ford's new FG Falcon, FPV has itself some new hardware to do battle with. The team at Ford Performace Vehicles doesn't want to release official numbers until the official launch in June, but we're expecting big power from both the turbo inline six and the 'Boss' V8 mills. Although rival Holden's weaponry is shared among GM's global empire with British Vauxhalls, American Pontiacs, and even Chevys in the Middle East, these Aussie Fords will stick to doing battle in their homeland. Though a few will probably sneak into the UK on the gray market, we won't see these FPVs on 'merican shores at all (come on Ford, think Mercury here!). Galleries below and full press release after the jump.

Ford Performance Vehicles Reveals New Model Range
Ford Performance Vehicles (FPV) today publicly unveiled its new performance GT and F6 sedans at the Melbourne International Motor Show.

"This is the first chance for the public to get a close-up look at some of our new models, ahead of their release in June," said Ford Performance Vehicles General Manager Rod Barrett.

"Our new model range offers performance enthusiasts the ultimate in performance engineering, luxury appointments and sports styling."

For the first time, the Ford badge will not appear externally on an FPV model. The GT and F6 sedans on display both feature FPV badges prominently on the centre grille and centre boot lid, which is consistent with the entire new range.

"Featuring the FPV badge on all our new models is a major repositioning for the FPV brand," said Barrett.

"It signifies the maturing of our brand and the evolution of FPV as Ford�s performance partner."

As with Ford, FPV has repositioned its high performance sedan and Ute model variants, with eight stunning vehicles divided into the GT series and F6 series families.

"The repositioning of the vehicle line-up has been done for similar reasons to the Ford
G Series," said Barrett.

"It is all about growing the brand and attracting new customers. The GT series family continues our strong iconic heritage, while the F6 series family caters to a new segment of performance car enthusiasts who prefer a slick turbo charged six-cylinder to a thundering V8."

The GT series family retains the familiar GT and GT-P sedan nameplates, and introduces the stylish new luxury GT-E sedan.

The bold exterior styling of the new GT and GT-P is highlighted by the trademark unique front grille treatment, rear wing, side striping and V8 bonnet bulge accented with a newly designed hood decal.

Visually, the new GT-E is distinguished from its V8 siblings by its refined rear lip spoiler, chrome accenting and distinctive GT-E badging.

The GT-E's unique 19-inch alloy wheels are matched by a premium brake package, with six-piston Brembo brakes now featured as standard.

"The GT-E is a sophisticated luxury performance car that will cater for those buyers that don't want the stripes, wings, and seats offered in the GT-P, however, want to retain all the performance attributes of that car," said Barrett.

The Super Pursuit and Pursuit Ute variants complete the GT series range.

The F6 series family features the F6 and F6 Ute, the Typhoon and Tornado nomenclature are discontinued on the new vehicles.

Significant ride, handling and safety advancements have been made to the new FPV stable. Each new model variant has been fully engineered and designed to provide the performance enthusiast with the ultimate in Australian performance motoring.

Safety advances include the addition of Dynamic Stability Control (DSC) on FPV sedan & Ute vehicles for the first time.

Significantly, FPV customers will also have a choice of manual or automatic transmissions at no additional cost in the sedan range.

"The option of automatic or manual transmissions in the sedan range at no extra cost caters for both our luxury and overt sports customers, without penalising either for their choice of transmission," said Barrett.

FPV has produced exhilarating performance upgrades across the GT and F6 range, however, the exact engine performance power and torque figures will be revealed closer to the on sale date in June.

"The unique FPV enhanced design gives each vehicle a bolder road presence," said Barrett.

"Coupled with performance upgrades, the new FPV range is a revolution in Australian performance motoring. I'm sure our loyal and passionate customers will be extremely impressed."

HSV W427 "Supercar" Revealed In Melbourne Gets Z06-Level Power For Increased Hoonage Potential...Mate

Ray Wert — Thu, 28 Feb 2008 19:00:00 EST

Yeah, this limited-edition Aussie madman from the folks at Holden Special Vehicles has got itself a 7.0-liter V8 under the hood — the same one found in the Corvette Z06. Really, we think that's all that needs to be said. Check out the gallery below and the press release after the jump.

Holden Special Vehicles unveil seven litre Supercar the W427 Holden Special Vehicles today unveiled a seven litre program at the Melbourne Motor Show, the last instalment of the companys 20th anniversary celebrations. The car to be known in its final development stages as the W427 is finished in the same Panorama Silver paint scheme as the original Group A SS VL Commodore, released at the Melbourne Motor Show of 1988, exactly 20 years ago. HSV Managing Director, Scott Grant, said the W427 was a tribute to how far the company has come in just twenty years. To be able to produce a vehicle of these proportions is truly remarkable, Scott Grant said. The W427 will be quite possibly the fastest road registrable Supercar ever produced in Australia and among the quickest anywhere around the world, he said. While power output figures are still to be confirmed, the W427 is likely to produce in excess of 370kW of power and 640NM of torque. It will also be one of the safest cars HSV has ever put on the road, Scott Grant said. A new six piston front braking system will provide a 50% increase in pad area, while the W427 also receives a revised ESP calibration, six air bags, improved handling and new Magnetic Ride Control settings. The W427 receives a bimodal active exhaust system to improve noise quality and back pressure management. Styling and design highlights include an all new front fascia, a three piece carbon fibre rear spoiler, 20 inch machined faced alloy wheel, unique exhaust tips and red leather interior. Scott Grant said HSV would be introducing a unique customer relations program to accompany the launch of the new vehicle. The W427 will only be produced in limited numbers and we want to reflect that exclusivity in how we connect with our Supercar customers, Scott Grant said. This program will see the LS7 engine being fitted at Clayton, along with the dry sump system and a range of other engineering features. We are looking at opportunities to allow owners to visit HSV and view the unique manufacturing process that goes into building this car.
The W427 will go into production in the middle of the year and will be available for
sale in dealerships in the third quarter of 2008.
Make no mistake, while the specifications of the car unveiled on the stand today at
the Motorshow may change slightly between now and when production begins, this
car is destined to make as big an impact as the original Walkinshaw twenty years
ago.

Hoon Of The Day: Holden Test Drive Crash Experience

Matt Hardigree — Wed, 26 Dec 2007 15:30:00 EST

All teenagers think that they're God's gift to motorsports and, unless they're a Foyt or an Andretti, chances are their skills don't quite match up to their aspirations. Take the case of a 19-year old hoon from Victoria, Australia, who apparently took what's left of this VY HSV Clubsport out for a test drive. While the young man became very familiar with the power and handling of the tuned Holden, he never quite got a handle on the brakes.

According to im4ges.com:

"A 19 year old [hoon] took out a VY HSV Clubsport out for a test drive from Bundoora Holden in Victoria. On the drive back to the dealer he gave a little too much gas around the last corner before the Dealership, lost control of the car, mounted the curb and flew 10 metres over the gate into the Front Yard of the dealership!"

We're guessing this kid doesn't get a good deal on financing. [IM4GES via DIGG

The Finns Want To Know Your Favorite Color For A New El Camino

Ray Wert — Thu, 29 Nov 2007 09:30:00 EST

The friendly Finns at the site all about the Fans of Cars around the World have found themselves an online configuration tool for the new Holden HSV Maloo R8 Ute and they're asking a very important question. Namely — what color would we choose for our very own down-under El Camino re-make. Seriously — they want to know what we think — so give it to 'em boys! [World Car Fans]

HSV Maloo R8 Ute On Sale In Oz

Jonny Lieberman — Fri, 12 Oct 2007 09:45:00 EDT

We're posting this out of raw spite, lust and jealousy. If you lived in Australia, you could walk out your front door, jump on the back of the first passing kangaroo and hop on down to the Special Vehicles wing of your local Holden dealer where the friendly (g'day) salesbloke will sell you a 407 horsepower 'camino. Not angry yet? The automatic transmission is optional and costs extra. Grrrrr! Sure the styling is less Mad Max than Georges Pompidou, but who cares? Sub-5 second factory car/trucks are the very fabric of dreams, 'camino dreams. How did Australia become heaven on earth again? [via Motor Authority]

Vauxhall VXR8, Now in Supercharged

Mike Spinelli — Tue, 04 Sep 2007 11:15:01 EDT

For seven thousand quid over the price of a Vauxhall VXR8 — that's the UK version of the Aussie Holden HSV Clubsport R8 — muscle-headed Britons can get a kit that boosts horsepower from 412 to 540. By kit, we mean a supercharger and other nondisclosed hardware. It means a tarmac-smoking hooligan that can keep up with supercars is available on the isle for under £40,000. Over there, that's a bargain. [Carscoop via Autoblog]

Shots Of Next-Generation HSV Maloo Leak Out Onto The Web

Ray Wert — Thu, 30 Aug 2007 13:15:00 EDT

That image above is supposedly of the next generation of HSV's most powerful ute — the Holden Ute-based Maloo — and it appears to have found its way onto the internet weeks ahead of the official debut at the Sydney Motor Show in October. Like the Maloo's lower-powered Holden Ute brother, the HSV Maloo looks to be straying further from its traditional appeal as a workhorse, and appealing more as a sports coupe or a lifestyle vehicle. In fact, I'm not entirely sure you could even carry anything in the back of that there car with what appears to be a tonneau-covered truck bed. We'll let the folks at Drive.com.au give you the rest of the specs they've gleaned:

"The all-new E-Series Maloo will draw its power from the same 307kW/550Nm 6.0-litre V8 as HSV's E-Series sedan range, giving it more power and torque (up 10kW and 20Nm) than the last-generation (VZ) model that last year entered the Guinness Book of Records as the world's fastest ute (271.44km/h).
In fact, the Maloo could be Australia's first sub-5sec Ute - the model it replaces was capable of 0-100km/h in 5.1sec - though to do this it would need to overcome a weight increase, potentially of up to 150kg heavier if Commodore Ute figures are any indication. "

OK, for serious, I'm totally having a truck-cargasm at the thought of getting a sub-five second El Camino stateside. [via Drive.com.au]

Holden To Announce LS7-Powered HSV Commodore?

Ray Wert — Tue, 26 Jun 2007 09:30:00 EDT

Our mates over at Wheels magazine have some news for the followers of power-upgrades in Aussie muscle cars. The Australian buff book claims the Special Vehicles unit of Holden is bringing a 7.0-liter LS7-powered supercar to Sydney's Australian International Motor Show in October. There's no word yet on a name, but Wheels posits that HSV

"...could dust off the unused 427 moniker, or maybe the GTS-R badges from the 2004 concept race car. Our bet is for a combination of the two and the car to wear GTS-R 427 badging..."

All we're betting is if this news is true it greatly heightens the possibilities for dropping that 500 HP-plus LS7 engine into the 2009 Chevy Camaro, the Commodore's Zeta-platformed cousin. And don't even get us speculatin' on an LS7-powered Camino SS for 2011. – Ray Wert

HSV's King Hit! The LS7 Commodore Is Coming!!! [GMInsideNews via Supercars.net via Wheels]

Elfin Magic: With New Owner, Australian Sportscar Builder Could Become Lotuslike

Mike Spinelli — Fri, 15 Dec 2006 10:41:47 EST

Unlike, say, Chrysler's SRT or Ford's SVT — both wholly owned entities — Holden's HSV performance arm is a tieup between the GM division and an Scottish entrepreneur, Tom Walkinshaw. Now, Walkinshaw's taken over Australian roadster builder, Elfin, and he wants to blow it out to become Oz's version of Lotus. Elfin, if you'll recall, builds the MS8 Clubman and MS8 Streamliner, two GM-Holden LS2 V8-powered sportscars. Now, with the financial and sales-network muscle of Walkinshaw Group, the possibility for a more mainstream car line to complement its specialty cars, and left-drive models for the US, has suddenly become a real possibility. HSV-tuned cars in the US? Get thee to a container ship. [Thanks to David for the tip.] – Mike Spinelli

New owner wants Elfin to be Australia's Lotus [GoAuto]

Lightning McQueen a Holden? Australian 'Cars' Promo

Davey G. Johnson — Fri, 17 Nov 2006 01:00:00 EST

Since every car on the NEXTEL Cup circuit today is based on a four-door sedan anyway, and the Holden HSV E Series GTS actually does look a bit like the Butterscotch Stallion-voiced protagonist of Pixar's Cars, this DVD-release tie-in promo actually makes quite a bit of sense. Contestants can either enter online or via a coupon enclosed in Australian copies of the film's DVD. The GTS is a near piece of kit, but we'd prefer a Hudson Hornet. – Davey G. Johnson

Cars, Australia [via Autoblog]

Hot Holden Hatch: The HSV VXR Debuts in Sydney

Mike Spinelli — Thu, 26 Oct 2006 10:15:36 EDT

If you thought badge engineering was a purely American game, check your head. GM's bringing a version of the UK's Vauxhall (Opel) Astra VXR to Australia as the Holden VXR. Never one to leave well enough alone, Holden's HSV performance group — likely gone dingbat on Aeroplane Jelly, Redback and pie floaters — worked up the 2006 HSV VXR, unveiled at the Sydney show this week. Powered by a turbocharged 2.0-liter 16-valve Ecotec-4 producing 237 hp and 236 lbs-ft of torque, the lil' hatch can get from zero to 60 in 6.4 seconds. It rides on 19", 10-spoke alloys and comes with ESP, traction control, ABS and brake assist and Recaro seats. Maybe one day we'll see a Saturn that's similarily equipped, but we wouldn't bet the gee-gees on it. – Mike Spinelli

Lumina SS Spotted In Metro Detroit: Big Whoop

Davey G. Johnson — Fri, 25 Aug 2006 18:00:00 EDT

Kodak's Lumiere slide film always made us think of the Chevrolet Lumina, even though it referenced French filmmaking brothers, rather than crappy-ass midsize GM cars of the Dark Times. But for some reason, GM has persisted in using the Lumina name in foreign markets. Why? We have no goddamn idea, but at least in foreign Bizzaro-World, it's rear-drive and is available with an LS2 stonker. And some kid in Ypsitucky with a penchant for Metallica's unfortunate Late Period and far-worse car-stereo n -metal video'd one on some outing or another. He posits that they're bringing it here. All manner of crazy crap is spotted around Metro Detwa, and we're sure that if GM brings the rebadged Commodore to the US, it won't be called a Lumina.

Spied: 400hp Lumina SS (american version) {Streetfire]

Thunder From, Well, You Know: More on the HSV GTS E-Series

Mike Spinelli — Mon, 21 Aug 2006 13:00:00 EDT

Muscle-car heads from the land of Oz are getting a new HSV runner with zero-to-60 figures in the sub-five-seconds range. Remember this little number we brought you last week? It's been unveiled (see above) and the specs are in.

At base, the HSV GTS is the faster sibling of the VE Commodore, the first GM model to be built on the Zeta (sorry, global RWD architecture) platform. It's powered by a tweaked-out 6.0-liter LS2 — and plans for a top-range LS7-powered model may be in the works.

Design chief Juilan Quincey said of the car's performance and technology — including the GM-developed magnetoelectric ride system found on some Cadillacs and the Ferrari 599GTB — "We want to conquer Europe and we can genuinely do that now." Right-o, but how about the US? If GM doesn't start diverting his kind of hardware to American ports of call for Chevy and Pontiac soon — FYI: GM's got an announcement regarding its rear-drive plans coming this week — we're seriously considering a Jalopnik Canberra outpost.

VE NEWS: HSV's super-sedans break 5.0sec barrier [Drive.com.au via Winding Road]

Hold on, Holden! Secret HSV E-Series Photos Leaked

Mike Spinelli — Thu, 17 Aug 2006 09:23:58 EDT

Shots of the secret E-Series, a super-sport Commodore sedan from Holden's performance division HSV made their way to the Intersplice a week before GM planned, by way of an embargo-date mixup by a government office (Ministry of Speed?). Australian muscle-car watchers have been waiting for the E-Series for months, though we're admittedly not quite up on its backstory (Yozzie, a little help?). The car's expected o have a modest bump in power to go along with its funky-fresh body kit, though the large taillights and huge vents behind the front wheels are the most telling differences from the Commodore. Drive.com.au has the skinny. No word on whether Vauxhallites in the UK will see a version.

Spy Video: Holden Commodore HSV Spotted?

Mike Spinelli — Thu, 13 Jul 2006 08:18:10 EDT

Sussing why GM doesn't have a serious in-house tuning shop for Chevrolet (or Pontiac, for that matter) cars in the US is probably beyond our pay grade (which isn't saying much at all). But down under in Bizarro America (sorry, mates), Holden has its HSV division, which wields Corvette V8s like Thor's mighty hammerage. They've even offered a car fitted with an LS2 juiced by famed Corvette tuner, Callaway in Connecticut and sent around the world for installation. But enough drooling. The folks at Drive.com.au say they've caught the new Commodore VE in HSV trim — a model that'll compare to, say a Chevy version of the Cadillac CTS-V on methamphetimine. Just remember to convert from kilowatts; that's Bizarro for horsepower.

New HSV Caught on Camera [Drive.com.au]

Related:
Spy Photos: Holden Commodore VE [internal]