Motor Authority - blog Tag: HSV

There's little chance they'll ever make the long journey from Australia to the U.S., but the muscle-car divisions of Detroit-heavyweights General Motors and Ford Down Under continue to churn out new, high-performance vehicles that we can only envy. The latest update from GM Holden's performance division, Holden Special Vehicles (HSV), is that the company will be launching a range of updates on its current E-Series lineup of high-performance sedans and utility vehicles.

The news was announced by Holden itself, and like other manufacturers it will be using a countdown to the final revealing of the details to help build anticipation and hype... There's little chance they'll ever make the long journey from Australia to the U.S., but the muscle-car divisions of Detroit-heavyweights General Motors and Ford Down Under continue to churn out new, high-performance vehicles that we can only envy. The latest update from GM Holden's performance division, Holden Special Vehicles (HSV), is that the company will be launching a range of updates on its current E-Series lineup of high-performance sedans and utility vehicles. The news was announced by Holden itself, and like other manufacturers it will be using a countdown to the final revealing of the details to help build anticipation and hype for the newly updated products. Known as the E-Series '2' range of vehicles, the final details will be revealed on September 9 this year (that's 09/09/09 for those not paying attention) but the company has given away some clues as to what the updates will involve. Speaking at a press conference for the announcement of an update to the basic Holden Commodore sedan, HSV managing director Phil Harding hinted that the updates to the E-Series 2 cars will deliver improved economy, more power and some distinctive design themes. The updates will cover the entire HSV range include the Clubsport R8, GTS, Maloo ute, W427 super-sedan and the more luxury-focused Grange and Senator models. The current range of E-Series models all feature GM's stunning LS3 engine with around 425hp, except for the W427 which uses the more potent LS7 engine from the Corvette Z06. Following the updates, however, we can expect the LS3-engined models to get a modest bump in power up to around 435hp, as well as some cosmetic changes to keep the range looking fresh.2008 Holden HSV range Read More

Even V8 performance groups like Holden Special Vehicles (HSV) cannot afford to ignore the new spate of environmental consciousness that’s sweeping the globe. Whether it’s a case of consumers griping about how much they have to pay for fuel, or a genuine desire for greener performance cars, HSV is listening to the people and is currently working on several major developments in the area.

Of course, more power never goes astray and for its latest update to the popular E-Series Commodore range, simply dubbed E-Series 2, HSV will be lifting power of its 6.2L V8 family by approximately 2.5%. Fuel economy, meanwhile, will improve by... Even V8 performance groups like Holden Special Vehicles (HSV) cannot afford to ignore the new spate of environmental consciousness that’s sweeping the globe. Whether it’s a case of consumers griping about how much they have to pay for fuel, or a genuine desire for greener performance cars, HSV is listening to the people and is currently working on several major developments in the area. Of course, more power never goes astray and for its latest update to the popular E-Series Commodore range, simply dubbed E-Series 2, HSV will be lifting power of its 6.2L V8 family by approximately 2.5%. Fuel economy, meanwhile, will improve by about 5%. Set to go on sale in Australia this September, and eventually to other markets where HSV products are sold such as the UK and the Middle East, the new range will use the current 6.2-litre V8 but is expected to consume up to one litre less fuel per 100km. That will improve fuel economy to above 16.8mpg (14L/100km). Peak power will also jump to around 430 to 436hp (320 to 325kW) from the current 425hp (317kW), reports Drive. To differentiate the new range, the E-Series 2 cars will get some minor styling changes matching the changes planned for the facelifted VF Holden Commodore range also due in September.2008 Holden HSV range Read More

Even V8 performance groups like Holden Special Vehicles (HSV) cannot afford to ignore the new spate of environmental consciousness that’s sweeping the globe. Whether it’s a case of consumers griping about how much they have to pay for fuel, or a genuine desire for greener performance cars, HSV is listening to the people and is currently working on several major developments in the area.

We’ve already reported about the Holden go-fast division’s plans to introduce smaller non-V8 models, as well as a renewed interest at the company for alternative fuels, such as liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) and diesel.

HSV has now... Even V8 performance groups like Holden Special Vehicles (HSV) cannot afford to ignore the new spate of environmental consciousness that’s sweeping the globe. Whether it’s a case of consumers griping about how much they have to pay for fuel, or a genuine desire for greener performance cars, HSV is listening to the people and is currently working on several major developments in the area. We’ve already reported about the Holden go-fast division’s plans to introduce smaller non-V8 models, as well as a renewed interest at the company for alternative fuels, such as liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) and diesel. HSV has now confirmed to Australia’s Drive that it is working on an advanced LPG system that promises to deliver similar performance to petrol. With LPG costing half as much as petrol in many parts of the globe, it’s easy to see how beneficial this system could potentially be – especially if the technology is loaned to General Motors branches outside of Australia. The new LPG system is called liquid propane injection (LPi) and is essentially an extra eight injectors fitted to the inlet manifold near a V8 engine’s inlet ports. A pump inside the LPG tank pressurizes the fuel and sends it to the injectors where it enters the engine still in its liquid form. In liquid form, air-fuel mixtures can be calculated more accurately, which in turn increases efficiency and boosts power. Current LPG systems inject the fuel in a gaseous state, making it much more difficult to mix with air in the correct ratio. There are other benefits to using LPG as well - the fuel releases less carbon-dioxide emissions when burning and it has a higher octane rating than petrol. On the other hand, LPG doesn't have the same calorific (energy) value of petrol, which means mileage is usually worse. LPG can also be difficult to find as many fuel stations don’t serve it, but any LPG model will be dual-fuel capable.2008 Holden HSV range Read More

In the battle for supremacy in the Aussie performance saloon market, the respective performance divisions for both Holden and Ford have unveiled two new special edition cars at this week’s Melbourne Motor Show. Representing the Ford camp is the F6 E concept car, which the Blue Oval is using to gauge the public’s interest before confirming production plans. Holden has gone one better by releasing a limited edition Senator through its HSV performance offshoot.

The new model costs AUD$10,000 less than the regular Senator Signature model which normally retails for $80,500. The price reduction has come at the cost of some niceties,... In the battle for supremacy in the Aussie performance saloon market, the respective performance divisions for both Holden and Ford have unveiled two new special edition cars at this week’s Melbourne Motor Show. Representing the Ford camp is the F6 E concept car, which the Blue Oval is using to gauge the public’s interest before confirming production plans. Holden has gone one better by releasing a limited edition Senator through its HSV performance offshoot. The new model costs AUD$10,000 less than the regular Senator Signature model which normally retails for $80,500. The price reduction has come at the cost of some niceties, however. These include the Senator Signature’s magnetic ride control suspension adjustment, chrome shadow wheels, luxury seats, and parking sensors. The limited edition Senator still comes with leather onyx seats as standard and is available in seven colours. HSV will build 30 manual and 59 automatic Senators, and there is no premium to pay for ticking the auto option. There are no changes to the powertrain, which means the car’s LS3 V8 engine still delivers a peak output of 425hp (317kW) at 6,500rpm and 406lb-ft (550Nm) of torque at 4,600rpm. The Senator nameplate dates back to the first model in 1992 and is currently the third most popular model in HSV’s lineup.2008 Holden HSV range2009 HSV Senator Read More

Earlier this week we reported that GM's Australian performance arm, Holden Special Vehicles, had capped production of its Corvette LS7-powered HSV W427 super-saloon at just 200 units. Now, the performance division is pondering a new halo car that would be price below the limited-edition W427 but that would remain a permanent fixture in its lineup.

The interest in the 505hp (375kW) HSV W427, which is based on the Holden Commodore, has inspired the company to branch out to expand its range. The W427 is currently selling for around AUD$150,000 ($102,000) in Australia, however HSV hopes to build a new model that would compete with European ... Earlier this week we reported that GM's Australian performance arm, Holden Special Vehicles, had capped production of its Corvette LS7-powered HSV W427 super-saloon at just 200 units. Now, the performance division is pondering a new halo car that would be price below the limited-edition W427 but that would remain a permanent fixture in its lineup. The interest in the 505hp (375kW) HSV W427, which is based on the Holden Commodore, has inspired the company to branch out to expand its range. The W427 is currently selling for around AUD$150,000 ($102,000) in Australia, however HSV hopes to build a new model that would compete with European sports cars in the AUD$100,000 ($70,000) range once the production run of the W427 is completed. Aside from a new halo model, the Australian-based performance company is also looking to include a number of less expensive, smaller cars in its lineup to give the brand a mass appeal, reports Drive. Part of this expansion could also include producing a performance oriented variant of the upcoming Chevrolet Volt, and according to HSV's managing director, Phil Harding, the brand will also petition GM to import performance-focused versions of the Opel Corsa and Insignia models. The Chevrolet Volt, meanwhile, has already been confirmed for an Australian release around 2012, making the possibility of a performance version not completely unfathomable. However, if the economic climate continues to worsen, the business case for bringing expensive, performance-oriented variants of GM cars into the Australian market may not fly. Other changes at HSV include a renewed interest in alternative fuels, such as LPG and diesel. While traditionally HSV has been associated with big petrol V8 engines, the company is hoping to expand this brand image to appeal to a wider range of performance enthusiasts, who may not want a large performance sedan.2008 Holden HSV W427 production2008 Holden HSV range Read More

When Holden Special Vehicles announced its W427 - essentially a Commodore decked out with a performance suspension and a 505hp (375kW) 7.0L Corvette engine - many declared it a relic, even before it hit the road. Such big-displacement brutishness had no place in a world of green mini-cars and electric power. But HSV continues to disagree, offering 200 examples of the W427 for sale and already planning a successor.

Originally HSV had planned to sell 427 of the cars, one for each of the vehicle's ponderously powerful cubic inches, but to protect exclusivity, and perhaps to meet the soft market, company bosses have cut that number back to less... When Holden Special Vehicles announced its W427 - essentially a Commodore decked out with a performance suspension and a 505hp (375kW) 7.0L Corvette engine - many declared it a relic, even before it hit the road. Such big-displacement brutishness had no place in a world of green mini-cars and electric power. But HSV continues to disagree, offering 200 examples of the W427 for sale and already planning a successor. Originally HSV had planned to sell 427 of the cars, one for each of the vehicle's ponderously powerful cubic inches, but to protect exclusivity, and perhaps to meet the soft market, company bosses have cut that number back to less than half. Still, HSV managing director Phil Harding is up-beat about the project, reports Drive. “Existing W427 customers have told us they want to keep their purchase as exclusive as possible, and some potential customers have asked us for clarification on exactly how many W427 supercars we intend to build. Customers want to be part of an even more exclusive club,” said Harding. Of the 200 to be built, about 100 have already been sold and another 40 have been ordered. That leaves 60 of the cars to sell before the company closes the order books in June 2009. Priced at AUD$155,000 ($106,000), the W427 is one of the least expensive 500+hp limited-edition super-sedan in the world, making them prime collectibles. Already the company is planning a similar limited-edition car within the next decade, but so far no word on what shape it may take has emerged. For more on the W427's features and specifications, check out our original coverage here.2008 Holden HSV W427 production Read More