Chevrolet Special Vehicles (CSV) to launch in Middle East, U.S. could follow

Australia’s Holden Special Vehicles (HSV) is the successful performance arm of GM-Holden and has been modifying and building its own cars for the past 20 years. GM officials now hope to copy that success in other markets where Holden products are sold and the first of these will be the Middle Eastern market where an E-series HSV Commodore was recently spotted.

In the Middle East the cars are sold as Chevrolets hence the name Chevrolet Special Vehicles (CSV). The guys over at DriveArabia managed to get their hands on a list of 2008 models from General Motors Middle East, and one of the cars mentioned was a “CSV CR8” with “400+ horsepower.”This means that the Aussie built HSV R8 will be sold in the Middle East. The car is also sold in the UK as the Vauxhall VXR8.

Under the long hood sits a 6.0L LS2 V8 with 412hp (307kW) available at 6,000rpm and 550Nm of torque peaking at 4400rpm, enough to see it reach 100km/h in about five seconds. Other features include the choice of six-speed auto or manual transmissions, 19in wheels, a DVD entertainment system, leather trim and LED taillights.

If the car proves successful in the Middle East it could eventually be sold in the U.S. as a performance version of the Pontiac G8. We just hope they don’t call it a PSV.