Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com Autoblog http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.autoblog.com/media/feedlogo.gif Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com en-us Copyright 2009 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Chevrolet Special Vehicles debuts in Middle East with the CR8]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2007/11/02/chevrolet-special-vehicles-debuts-in-middle-east-with-the-cr8/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/11/02/chevrolet-special-vehicles-debuts-in-middle-east-with-the-cr8/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/11/02/chevrolet-special-vehicles-debuts-in-middle-east-with-the-cr8/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,


Click image for a gallery of the CSV CR8

The Middle East is a key export market for GM's Holden division, as LHD versions of the Commodore, Caprice, and Statesman sedans are sold there under the Chevrolet Lumina and Caprice nameplates. Until now, the highest-performance vehicle exported to the region was the Lumina SS, a rebadged Commodore SS. Holden's performance arm, HSV, remained exclusive to Australia/New Zealand and the UK market, where the HSV Clubsport R8 is sold as the slightly more powerful Vauxhall VXR8.

That's now changed, with Holden and HSV getting together to send the heavy performance artillery to the Middle East. HSV essentially spins off CSV, Chevrolet Special Vehicles, which will market HSV exports in the region. The first vehicle is the CSV CR8, again a rebadged version of the HSV Clubsport R8, but this time sporting left-hand-drive. The placement of the steering wheel and the Bowtie badging are essentially the extent of the changes. The car, like its HSV and VXR counterparts, has a 6.0L LS2 underhood. In this guise, it's dishing out 411 horsepower and 368 lb-ft of torque.

So, why do we care about this? Well, until now, HSV cars were only sold in RHD markets. The appearance of the high-performance HSV Clubsport R8 / CSV CR8 in a LHD configuration is most welcome, as we feel that it's the clearest signal yet that the widely-expected Pontiac G8 GXP is another step closer to reality. That's reason to be excited, don't you think?

[Source: GM]

Gallery: CSV CR8

Continue reading Chevrolet Special Vehicles debuts in Middle East with the CR8

Chevrolet Special Vehicles debuts in Middle East with the CR8 originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 02 Nov 2007 07:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>chevrolet special vehiclesChevroletSpecialVehiclesCR8csvCSV CR8CsvCr8HSVHSV Clubsport R8HsvClubsportR8Vauxhall VXR8VauxhallVxr8Fri, 02 Nov 2007 07:58:00 EST<![CDATA[Sydney 2007: HSV turns 20, celebrates with anniversary-edition Clubsport R8]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2007/10/11/sydney-2007-hsv-turns-20-celebrates-with-anniversary-edition-c/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/10/11/sydney-2007-hsv-turns-20-celebrates-with-anniversary-edition-c/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/10/11/sydney-2007-hsv-turns-20-celebrates-with-anniversary-edition-c/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


click above image to view gallery of 20th Anniversary HSV Clubsport R8

Holden Special Vehicles, the performance arm of Holden in Australia, turned 20 years old this year. It was at the same Sydney Motor Show back in 1987 that HSV debuted its first vehicle, the VL Group A SS Commodore or "Walkinshaw" as it's commonly known. So it's fitting that HSV used the 2007 Sydney Motor Show to debut a special 20th Anniversary edition model of its Clubsport R8. The Clubsport R8 is a hot number on its own, so the anniversary edition adds exclusive cosmetic touches like special Sandstorm paint, 20th Anniversary sill plates, black accents on the body, leather seats with a 20th Anniversary logo and special chrome shadow wheels and brake calipers painted black and gold. That's certainly not a lot but should be enough to make the special edition Clubsport R8 a collectible. For those wishing to add one to their collection, the cost is $65,990 AU. We're sure we speak for most inhabitants of the island continent when we say here's to twenty more.

[Source: HSV]

Gallery: HSV Clubsport R8 20th Anniversary Edition

Continue reading Sydney 2007: HSV turns 20, celebrates with anniversary-edition Clubsport R8

Sydney 2007: HSV turns 20, celebrates with anniversary-edition Clubsport R8 originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 11 Oct 2007 15:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>20200720th anniversary HSV Clubsport R820thAnniversaryHsvClubsportR8HSV Clubsport R8HsvClubsportR8sydneyThu, 11 Oct 2007 15:57:00 EST<![CDATA[Brits get supercharger option for Vauxhall VXR8]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2007/09/04/brits-get-supercharger-option-for-vauxhall-vxr8/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/09/04/brits-get-supercharger-option-for-vauxhall-vxr8/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/09/04/brits-get-supercharger-option-for-vauxhall-vxr8/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


Click image for a gallery of the VXR8

GM loves to tease its American customers. While we patiently await the arrival of the Pontiac G8 GT, in Australia, multiple high-performance flavors of the VE Commodore its based on are available from HSV. In the UK, one of those cars, the HSV Clubsport R8, is offered as the Vauxhall VXR8.

With 412 horsepower (417 PS) and 405 lb-ft of torque on tap, one would think that the rebadged HSV would be sufficiently awesome for our former colonial overlords. One would also be incorrect. Carscoop reports the Brits will be offered a supercharger option that elevates power to a staggering 540 horses and adds 30-percent more torque (figure a new rating of 526 lb-ft or so). The non-supercharged VXR8 does 0-60 in 4.9 seconds, so you can expect the blown sedan to shave a few more tenths off that number while making expensive tires cry for their mothers. The cost of the kit is £6,995.

Please, General: Pontiac G8 GXP Supercharged, okay?

[Source: Carscoop]

Gallery: Vauxhall VXR8

Brits get supercharger option for Vauxhall VXR8 originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 04 Sep 2007 08:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>g8 gtg8 gxpG8GtG8Gxphsv clubsport r8HsvClubsportR8pontiac g8PontiacG8vxr8Tue, 04 Sep 2007 08:25:00 EST