Holden HSV E-Series lineup unveiled
The Holden HSV E-Series cars officially broke cover yesterday, courtesy of the Australian Drive.com website. This comes just a few days after shots of a ClubSport R8 were accidentally leaked onto the web.
The ClubSport R8 in the leaked photographs is joined by the the the similarly bespoilered GTS and the more staid Senator Signature. All three cars share the same powertrain: Chevy's 6.0L LS2 V8, which is mated to either a 6-speed manual or a 6-speed automatic transmission. The combo is good for 411 horsepower and 405 lb-ft of asphalt-shredding torque. With the manual shifter, the E-Series cars run to 62 mph in 4.96 seconds. Cars equipped with the auto accomplish the feat in 5.04 sec. Either way you cut it, they're fast.
While they're based on the new VE Commodore, the HSV E-Series vehicles incorporate unique front and rear fascias and large vents aft of the front wheel wells to visually differentiate them from the standard-issue Commodores. In fact, the cars feature 301 elements that are unique to them.
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[Source: Drive.com.au]
The three trim levels break down as follows:
ClubSport R8
The volume seller of the group, the ClubSport retails for over $10,000 AUD less than the Senator Signature and GTS. It manages this by offering a lower level of equipment compared to the others. It sports cloth seats and a traditional "touring suspension" package, stability control, a CD changer, 19" alloys, and the aggressive "Sports Performance" bodywork. Pricing is $62,890 for the manual, and $64,890 for the automatic. All currency values discussed are in Australian dollars.
Senator Signature
The Senator Signature sports a conservative look compared to its brothers, as it wears a traditional grille up front and features a very subtle rear spoiler that's integrated into the trunklid. Positioned as a luxury-marque fighter, it features attractive 10-spoke alloys, a leather/suede seating, magnetic ride control, a DVD entertainment system, and more. Pricing is set at $76,990 AUD, and it can only be had with the automatic.
GTS
The GTS is the ultimate performance machine of the group. Wearing the same aggressive "Sports Performance" kit as the ClubSport, it one-ups the less expensive car by adding a 20" wheel/tire package and incorporating many of the options seen on the Senator Signature, such as magnetic ride control, leather, and DVD. That one-upmanship comes at a cost, lthough. With an automatic transmission, the GTS retails for $76,990 AUD -- the same as the Senator Signature. Opting for the manual knocks $2,000 off that number.
If you ask us, the ClubSport and GTS would look very nice wearing Pontiac badges. As for the Senator Signature, how about changing its name to "Regal GS" or "Roadmaster," fitting a waterfall grille, and giving it to Buick?
Whatever GM's US plans are, we hope they include the hot E-Series cars in some way or another. Time will tell.
PHOTOS
Clubsport R8
Senator Signature
GTS
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
anonymousinsights 7:30AM (8/22/2006)
yeah, but we get the impala and malibu.
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SuperCarNews 8:02AM (8/22/2006)
I was very impressed when I saw the E Series, and the GTS with 20" wheels as standard, absolutely awesome. If only I could afford one
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Queelis 8:06AM (8/22/2006)
Oh. My. Gawd. That is one astonishing car.
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James 8:08AM (8/22/2006)
I have two words for you, and they are both 'hubba'.
*drools*
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paulmon 8:10AM (8/22/2006)
From the rear quarter it looks like a Mazdaspeed 6 to me. Particularly the tail lights.
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dreesemonkey 8:11AM (8/22/2006)
Very cool, very agressive. The front end reminds me of a muscleised Evo X.
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flow_aus 8:29AM (8/22/2006)
"As for the Senator Signature, how about changing its name to "Regal GS" or "Roadmaster," fitting a waterfall grille, and giving it to Buick?"
Change the name if you want, but leave the car be. A waterfall grill, may be a trademark of buick, but not of HSV. Buick build Buicks. HSV build HSVs.
And for those concerned with the price conversion (ie. that this is really expensive) - GTOs were significantly cheaper in the US than the Monaro was in Australia. Lets just call it market forces...
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Zach G. 8:32AM (8/22/2006)
I love the Senator. What a great looking car.
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Blind 8:35AM (8/22/2006)
wow, that car does look amazing! I wish we had it in the US.
http://www.carchops.com
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Supercujo 9:01AM (8/22/2006)
The front end of the Senator looks like the current Euro Ford Focus.
http://www.ford.co.uk/ie/foc_c307/foc_c307_downloads/foc_c307_wallp/c307_wall9_800/popup/-/69591/
It seems Holden looked to Ford for inspiration for the VE series Commodores. The base models ape the look of the BA Falcon...
http://ford.com.au/range/falcon/models/xtsedan.asp
http://www.holden.com.au/www-holden/action/modeloverview?modelid=4000&modelid=4000
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Rich 9:40AM (8/22/2006)
I'd buy one in a heartbeat; awesome looking car.
Why does the U.S. always get the etremely mass produced, smaller variety, with fewer drivetrain options and less power, crap from Europe and Japan.
Europe gets the Focus convertible, U.S. gets poop.
Europe gets a 350hp AWD Focus that will smoke all AWD cars, U.S. gets poop.
Europe gets the BMW Z1, and Japan gets the Skyline; U.S. gets double poop.
This must be some government comspiracy to civilize our country; by giving it the garbage that Europe knows suckers will buy because their heads are so far up their butts.
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Alex 9:52AM (8/22/2006)
This car is astonishing. I want one here in the States!
Solution for GM:
Fire Wagoner and other Detroit managers. Bring in managers from Holden to run the show.
Solution for Ford:
Err..forget it, there isn't one.
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Sid 9:59AM (8/22/2006)
Too bad North Americans want underpowered beige Toyotas. I doubt anyone would buy this even if GM bought this over.
Gorgeous cars.
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Sebastian S. 10:00AM (8/22/2006)
Look at these cars, they look great, WHAT IS GM WAITING ON? Having vehicles like thses here in the US would definity cause us to look at GM differently.
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Tom T. 10:32AM (8/22/2006)
If GM (or Ford for that matter) offered a car like this, I wouldn't have bought a Lancer Evolution. I really wanted a bad-a$$ RWD V8 car with 4 doors wearing an American nameplate. That didn't exist, so I made the next best choice.
How long will it take US automakers to wise up? Do I need to move to Austrailia GM? It's infuriating to watch this process unfold.
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Brian 10:39AM (8/22/2006)
And the Pontiac / Holden GTO was a huge success? Personally I would love this car at the righ price (30-35K) but I doubt they could pull it off at 35K. Regardless, whining about how it will not come to the states will not change the fact that GM got burned bad by the GTO.
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Jon 11:33AM (8/22/2006)
Senator Signature = Buick Regal GS.
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David P B 11:40AM (8/22/2006)
Wait, wait, wait! GM makes this car? No way!
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LegacyB442 11:56AM (8/22/2006)
GM and FORD need to take a look at what their Aussie partners are doing and bring back the old school American RWD 4 door, not unlike Chrysler's Merc parts bin 300C, up from down under. The thought of a RWD or for that matter AWD tire shredder 4 door would put me back into an American name plate as soon as I make my next car purchase, which would be around the time that they would be able to crash test those Hot Rods and sell them state side! Oh and don't let the state side designers take too much out of the sheet metal. For GM it is just new front and back clips and as for Ford, it's very simple, bring them over as is........
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Ward 12:20PM (8/22/2006)
Remind anybody else of an RX-8 in terms of appearance?
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