BBQ Stopper! HSV LPG V8 Power A Step Closer

[JoeT]

HSV’s “BBQ Stopper”

Holden Special Vehicles
30 June 2009
www.hsv.com.au

Holden Special Vehicles’ LPG technology is a step closer to becoming an approved product program following the establishment of a dedicated ‘dyne’ facility at the company’s Clayton headquarters.

After 18 months of evaluating a range of alternative fuel options, including everything from diesel to ethanol, LPG is firming as the front runner to power Australia’s favourite luxury and performance vehicles.

HSV Chief Engineer Joel Stoddart said LPG technology had well and truly moved beyond the stigma of BBQ powered taxi fleets, funny smells and other nefarious perceptions.

“We are seeing performance figures comparable to our 317kW LS3 powered range and it has certainly bought a smile to the face of the engineers testing the technology when they pull into a servo and can fill up for around $20!” he said.

Other advantages of the system include a range of up to 1000 kilometres due to the dual-fuel capabilities of the car, dedicated service station infrastructure across Australia and of course, greatly reduced running costs.

The Holden Special Vehicles LPG program is yet to be finally signed off by HSV management as an approved product program with that decision set to be made later this year, with more validation and testing steps to be undertaken.

If approved it is likely to take the form of a tick-the-box option along with the obligatory sun-roof and satellite navigation systems.

“For a small up front premium we believe customers would see a cost saving within the first two or so years of running an LPG powered HSV,” Stoddart said.

Liquid Fire: HSV LPG First Drive!!!(Video Added to first post)

[jbernie]

Originally Posted by JoeT

“For a small up front premium we believe customers would see a cost saving within the first two or so years of running an LPG powered HSV,” Stoddart said.

and right there you will have demand...

Now to have one of the car customizers pimp the ride so they can provide a build in BBQ

[chinamonty]

A bit of aluminium foil over the motor should get hot enough to cook a steak or sausage!

[nota]

^^ (full-size BBQ enclosed within)


Having your V8 fuelled by LPG makes so much sense it isn't funny. Nor has been the decades-long wait for a optional factory-supplied and warranteed system to eventually appear for same - a tale of lost opportunity which sentenced V8-LPG aspirants into the vagaries of the aftermarket, or to give up on V8s. Anyway its great to see the end finally in sight, and we can only hope that HSV will also see for to offer factory gasser-V8s combined with manual transmission, hopefully to bleed down into availability for regular, more affordable Holdens.

As an aside, anyone recall the interesting GTi Stealth LPG system which debuted some years ago on the ABC New Inventors? Was quite a promising concept imho. GTi Stealth for HSV Clubsport etc, also link to technical description within.

Btw our local servo currently sells LPG @ 0.47c per litre, versus regular unleaded @ $1.35. This allows my wife's dual-fuel Falcon in typical urban commuting to deliver the 'cost equivalent' to petrol of 5.1 km/L or 55 mpg in the old money - a sensational result for a 4.0 L 6cyl automatic! And unachievable for Corolla or even Yaris 'petrol wowser' in similar operation. During those regular fuel-price fluctuations I often got the equivalent of 80 mpg in hwy use from my LPG Mercedes.

[Rick_VT]

Is LPG in use much at all in NA?

[V8GMT360 Guy]

Originally Posted by Rick_VT

Is LPG in use much at all in NA?

Definitely it is -- especially in commercial/fleet vehicles. Delivery trucks, taxi cabs, city busses, and some other full size cars and trucks in several fleets I've seen are running on LP. In fact there has been quite a bit of publicity given to Roush Racing's LP conversion kit designed for the Ford F150.

Most of the vehicles I've seen here running on LP are actually termed PPVs (Propane Powered Vehicles) though.

[Rick_VT]

Originally Posted by V8GMT360 Guy

Definitely it is -- especially in commercial/fleet vehicles. Delivery trucks, taxi cabs, city busses, and some other full size cars and trucks in several fleets I've seen are running on LP. In fact there has been quite a bit of publicity given to Roush Racing's LP conversion kit designed for the Ford F150.

Most of the vehicles I've seen here running on LP are actually termed PPVs (Propane Powered Vehicles) though.

But is it used as an option like Holden and Ford have here, Holden with the duel fuel Commodore and Ford with the dedicted LPG Falcon.

With the new liquid injection system about to be released here it makes a V8 option a good option, do any Aussies know if the V8 will be able to run this system alone?

I wonder how popular it might be if GM or Ford offered a V8 on LPG as an option for their cars?? Similar power and less cost, always nice.

[mmciau]

Originally Posted by Rick_VT

But is it used as an option like Holden and Ford have here, Holden with the duel fuel Commodore and Ford with the dedicated LPG Falcon.

With the new liquid injection system about to be released here it makes a V8 option a good option, do any Aussies know if the V8 will be able to run this system alone?

I wonder how popular it might be if GM or Ford offered a V8 on LPG as an option for their cars?? Similar power and less cost, always nice.

Holden currently have discrete VIN Numbers and Engine Numbers to identify the Dual Fuel V6 Alloytec that is installed at the Factory.

I am to understand that the factory assembled Alloytec V6 has 'hardened' valve components for the dual fuel. There may be other hardware bits too.

I'm sure that Holden will ensure that the V8 engines to be used for dedicated LPG will be also identified as appropriate.


Mike