Aussie Envy: HSV E Series 2 lineup unveiled
The HSV E Series 2 lineup - Click above for a high-res image gallery
Just as wounds from the Pontiac G8 being ripped from us are beginning to scar over, HSV has torn them open anew by revealing version 2.0 of its Commodore-based E Series lineup. It's facelifts all around for the gang of Aussie stoplight brawlers, four of which – The GTS, Maloo R8, ClubSport R8 and ClubSport R8 Tourer – even get the erstwhile Poncho's twin-scoop hood. The more luxurious Senator Signature and long-wheelbase Grange models have smooth hoods and less overall ornamentation. Either one would have made a sublime performance Buick, but oh well...
The most extreme looker of the bunch is the range-topping HSV GTS (front and center), which rocks a vicious Fu-Manchu blackout treatment on its new front fascia. All of the cars get new wheels, LED running lights, and new treatments out back as well. Every HSV machine also has an LS3 V8 pumping out 317 kW (425 hp), except the GTS – its LS3 makes 325 kW (435 hp). To further drive home the point, 317 or 325 badging is prominently displayed on the back of the GTS, Maloo, and the two ClubSports so that other drivers have a better understanding of why their doors just got blown off. The Corvette's new launch control system is on every manual gearbox-equipped car, and a manual is standard equipment on all of them but the Grange, which is only sold with a six-speed auto. Finally, new "SV Enhanced" options such as upgraded wheels, bi-modal exhaust, and, in the case of the GTS, 6-pot front brakes let drivers trick things out even further.
It's basically a massive laundry list of good stuff we'll probably never ever see in the U.S. now that GM leadership has put a bullet into the whole North American Zeta sedan idea once and for all. Obviously, this rots. Follow the jump for the official HSV press release and have a gander at the new cars in the gallery below. The photos are all labeled so you know which car is which. That way you'll know precisely what it is that we're missing out on.
Gallery: HSV E Series 2 Lineup
[Source: HSV]
PRESS RELEASE
Holden Special vehicles E Series 2 Lineup
GTS to top 325kW, new SV Enhanced options and stunning design
theme across the range
The new HSV E Series 2 range, unveiled for the first time today, represents the best
in Australian luxury and performance motoring.
As part of the unveil, each model receives its own unique character and points of
difference, which will be readily identifiable to the HSV owner.
A range of options are also available under the 'SV Enhanced' banner, to further
customise the HSV E2 Series.
SV Enhanced optioned vehicles receive a new 'Race Relations' inspired rear
designator in red, courtesy of the HSV design team. GTS owners who purchase the
new six piston brake calliper option receive their SV Enhanced and GTS badges in
yellow.
ClubSport R8
- All new front and rear design encompassing performance bonnet scoops and 'shockwave' inspired theme.
- 317kW LS3 V8 engine.
- Competition Mode ESC
- Extended Cruise Control
- Launch Control (manual vehicles only).
- Four piston front and rear brakes.
- All new E2 Sports 19 inch wheels
- Sports cloth seating as standard.
- SV Enhanced options include Performance suspension, bi-modal exhaust,
- Sports leather seats and 20 inch wheels.
- Retails from $65,990
- Maximum Recommended Retail Price only, subject to state taxes and dealer delivery charges.
Maloo R8
- All new front appearance encompassing performance bonnet scoops and 'shockwave' inspired theme.
- 317kW LS3 V8 engine.
- Competition Mode ESC.
- Extended Cruise Control.
- Launch Control (manual vehicles only).
- All new E2 Sports 19 inch wheels.
- Sports cloth seats as standard.
- Driver & passenger front airbags now include front, seat side & curtain side airbags.
- Addition of dual 8" subwoofers located in the rear cabin quarter trims. Audio output 170W.
- SV Enhanced options include bi-modal exhaust, Sports leather seats and 20 inch wheels.
- Retails from $62,990
ClubSport R8 Tourer
- All new front appearance encompassing performance bonnet scoops and 'shockwave' inspired theme
- 317kW LS3 V8 engine
- Competition Mode ESC.
- Extended Cruise Control.
- Launch Control (manual vehicles only).
- Four piston front and rear brakes.
- All new E2 Sports 19 inch wheels.
- Sports cloth seats as standard.
- SV Enhanced options include bi-modal exhaust, Sports leather seats and 20 inch wheels.
- Retails from $66,990
GTS
- All new front and rear appearance encompassing performance bonnet scoops and 'shockwave' inspired theme.
- Upgraded 325kW LS3 V8 engine.
- Hi-flow intermediate exhaust with bi-modal mufflers.
- Competition Mode ESC.
- Extended Cruise Control.
- Launch Control (manual vehicles only).
- Magnetic Ride Control (MRC) Performance suspension, stiffer and recalibrated.
- Four piston front and rear brakes. All new E2 Performance 20 inch wheels
- Performance leather seats.
- SV Enhanced options include six-piston front brake callipers, finished in SV Enhance yellow with black HSV insignia and four-piston rears with unique wheel accenting.
- Retails from $80,990
- Maximum Recommended Retail Price only, subject to state taxes and dealer delivery charges.
Senator Signature
- All new sophisticated front and rear appearance incorporating subtle elements of the shockwave graphic theme.
- 317kW LS3 V8 engine.
- Competition Mode ESC.
- Extended Cruise Control.
- Launch Control (manual vehicles only).
- Magnetic Ride Control (MRC) Premium suspension.
- Luxury Nappa leather seats.
- Four piston front and rear brakes
- All new E2 Luxury 19 inch wheels.
- SV Enhanced options include bi-modal exhaust and 20 inch wheels.
- Retails from $82,990
WM Grange
- 317kW LS3 V8 engine.
- Competition Mode ESC.
- Extended Cruise Control.
- Magnetic Ride Control (MRC) Premium suspension.
- Luxury Nappa leather seats.
- Four piston front and rear brakes
- All new E2 Luxury 19 inch wheels.
- SV Enhanced options include bi-modal exhaust and 20 inch wheels.
- Retails from $87,990
Get a WordPress.com Blog
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
Avinash machado 10:41AM (9/09/2009)
Considering how badly the GTO and G8 sold,can you blame GM for not selling these in North America?
Reply
BIG 10:45AM (9/09/2009)
yes. there are people that want them.
myself included
BoxerFanatic 10:55AM (9/09/2009)
Yes,
Yes I can.
Because outside of outlets like Autoblog searching out information on the G8, what exactly did GM do to actually try to sell G8s, or any Pontiacs, for that matter?
Part of it is just being the wrong time. It hit at the worst economic period in many decades, when car sales were in a free fall. That isn't the car's fault, although some blame can be laid at the feet of the companies that have been doing marginal business as usual, and putting themselves behind the 8-ball financially for the last few decades.
If G8 counts as GM trying to save pontiac, it is pretty slim and weak effort.
and as I said below, if it is too expensive to ship them in from Australia, why are they not being also built in Canada, along side Camaro, or in one of their other empty north american facilities?
The american public reacted to a bad financial situation, not an inherently bad car. GM didn't react at all, it simply stuck it's hand out for taxpayer bail-out, and chopping off it's own limbs hastily. It still hasn't really refined it's business philosophy, and actually gotten the point. They can't seem to distinguish between real product criticism when some of their product is less than impressive, and external market forces that aren't criticisms of their products that might actually be decent, and worth keeping.
Dan 11:12AM (9/09/2009)
Of course it didn't sell, because GM bungled it the way they bungle everything else.
Chrysler showed exactly how it was done with the LX cars.
GM proceeded to sit on their thumb for 4 years watching Chrysler get a million sales, and then brought over a low volume Australian car that was too expensive for volume trims, and hid it away in a dead showroom full of garbage rental cars.
You could give GM the Accord, the Civic and the CR-V and I'm convinced they'd find a way to fail with all of them.
Danimal 10:41AM (9/09/2009)
As purely awesome as these cars are, "over-styled" is an understatement. I think the Pontiac was my favorite version.
Now where's my Zeta Impala?!
Reply
Tael 11:48AM (9/09/2009)
http://www.caradvice.com.au/40637/hsv-e2-range-released/
lol pretty much everyone commenting on Caradvice is critiquing the styling. its pretty much universally hated there - even the HSV fans are pouring their eyes out and abandoning ship
ugg.tryptophan 3:54PM (9/09/2009)
not feeling the bmw moustache
Matt 10:25PM (9/09/2009)
Thats not the only place were its (quite rightly) copped a pasting...
http://www.themotorreport.com.au/41902/2010-hsv-e-series-2-range-launched/
BoxerFanatic 10:41AM (9/09/2009)
And yet it gets cancelled here, and not ported to Chevy or Buick... Nor being the new performance cornerstone for revitalizing Pontiac, rather than killing it entirely.
GM's handling of that car in the US has been abysmal, and if they can't make any money from that platform, it is their own daft fault.
If it is too expensive to import, why are they not building them along-side Camaro in Canada, or repurposing one of their other derelict factories to produce a good car at an affordable price?
Why must the G8 GT not have a stick, but have to step up almost 10 grand to get a GXP?
And if Buick doesn't think they can sell the up-scale model with the nicer interior materials like the Australian Caprice/Senator, or the Chinese Buick Park Avenue version, (which they could simply COPY for the US market...) then they are just as insane as Pontiac and Chevy are.
Reply
Slizzo 1:02PM (9/09/2009)
I agree with everything you said in your post, and I am a 2008 G8 GT owner.
One thing though, the lack of stick except in the GXP is largely due to the AFM system in the car I believe. Though it shouldn't have been hard for them to develop a system that worked with AFM+Stick, they probably just didn't want to spend the extra money to develop it.
Of course, that doesn't mean that a 5 speed stick couldn't have been offered with the 6cyl model, but I digress.
And it looks like those HSVs have the Pontiac hood on them. I had heard on one of my boards that Holden/HSV was going to be using extra Pontiac parts to clear out inventory. Only thing that angers me about that is that it means that those that need the replacement body parts will not get them in a (somewhat) timely fashion.
CaptPugwash 11:22AM (9/10/2009)
I'm sure they didn't need to develop anything, I would bet that all these cars are available with a manual transmission probably as standard with the auto as an option. Its just they think no one wants a stick over here. The truth is not so many people want manual transmission but I think more would if there had the choice.
Even when there are cars that are available with a stick try buying one,the dealers don't order them so there are rare. I tried to buy a Focus with a 5 speed and had to search all over the place to find one. Arrange a dealer to dealer transfer only to find someone beat me to it. When I asked the dealer why it was so difficult to find the car I wanted his response was "No one wants a stick". Well if they don't how come there are not lots of unsold cars on the lots?
Dr. Greenthumb 10:44AM (9/09/2009)
.......sobs uncontrollably into hanky, :'('''''''''
Reply
BigEd 10:46AM (9/09/2009)
HSV ClubSport R8 Touring -- what a real station wagon is supposed to be, and damn proud of it!
Reply
Sean Flanagan 11:48AM (9/09/2009)
You need a station wagon to lug that name around.
Holden HSV E2 Series ClubSport R8 Tourer
Peter 1:28PM (9/09/2009)
The touring is making my heart ache..... I want one.
I seriously looked at a G8 as a family vehicle last year but decided I needed more cargo room and went elsewhere. IF the G8 had been available as a wagon.... because I really loved the way the G8 drove, it would have been near the top on my shopping list.
dukeisduke 10:48AM (9/09/2009)
How many of these vehicles do they actually sell in a year? I see six different models, and Australia's population is less than a tenth of that of the U.S.
Reply
Emery Walker 10:53AM (9/09/2009)
GM's largest screw up. On the other hand, what are they to do when the American public is sooo fickle about nameplates and misinformed of the reliability of such nameplates? This is what the G8 should've continued to be with all the updates continuing to come from Austrailia. Why not just bring the hole Holden line up over and keep the nameplate in place. Then maybe the American public will buy it because they think it's something different and not just a "Pontiac". Well, I still love my Pontiac GTO, with a 6.0, lowered with KW coil overs, sway bars and 19" wheels. It now competes in handling, performance and looks with the "nameplates", BMW, Audi, Benz's............ Oh, well. What to do?
Reply
Poppy 10:56AM (9/09/2009)
I want a HSV ClubSport R8 Touring with manual transmission. Don't change a thing... I want it exactly as is. The GTO didn't sell well here because it wasn't what a GTO was supposed to be. If the HSV line-up was to be sold here has HSV (not rebranded) I would think they would sell well. Maybe not? I would likely pay ~45k for the ClubSport R8.. V8, RWD, manual trans, and practical as anything. what other vehicles fall into that classification (USA)? 535 wagon is it right?
Reply
rushmo1 11:31AM (9/09/2009)
My point exactly. The first GTO was a plain car that went under the radar just like the 1st Monaro. It didn't have wild scoops, graphics and such. It was a gentleman's car that went under the radar. So which standards did the GTO not live up to? I'm saying maybe, just maybe they should've have brought over a new nameplate, a new standard to be judged by instead of naming it the GTO. Just a thought. Not the Gospel.
JDM Life 10:56AM (9/09/2009)
Love it. Awesome brute cars.
Love how there's soo much variety in one car.
Reply