First Drive: New HSV Grange LS2 Luxury-Sports Sedan

[JoeT]

First Drive: HSV Grange Arrives At Last

Byron Mathioudakis
25 May 2007
www.goauto.com.au

Holden Special Vehicles (HSV) has finally launched its long-awaited long-wheelbase version of its successful E Series.

The WM Grange has been a while coming. It was unveiled at the Australian International Motor Show in Sydney last October, before prices were revealed at the Melbourne International Motor Show in March.

Priced from $82,900, the latest WM Grange range represents a $7000 drop compared to the $89,950 WL Grange that was discontinued in July last year.

On sale this week, HSV is expecting the Grange to continue the trend of its smaller brethren by breaking HSV sales records.

Year-to-date in 2007, 1685 HSV vehicles have found homes, double that of the same period last year, and 30 per cent up on 2005’s January to April result.

April represented the eighth consecutive month of unprecedented growth for HSV, with 475 units shifted. The company claims it already has a “firm” order bank for its new luxury sedan.

Moving the Grange is a Chevrolet-sourced 6.0-litre Gen IV LS2 V8, delivering 307kW of power at 6000rpm and 550Nm of torque at 4400rpm.

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Review: HSV Grange

Mike Sinclair
6 June 2007
www.carpoint.com.au

The best looking Holden ever? One thing's for certain, against six-figure Europeans HSV's Grange is suspiciously good value.

What we liked
>> Could be the best looking Holden
>> MRC suspension
>> Space, pace and no lack of grace

Not so much
>> Too subtle for HSV diehards?
>> Handbrake execution lets down dash/console
>> Where are the personalization options?

Overall rating: 4.0/5.0
Engine/Drivetrain/Chassis: 4.0/5.0
Price, Packaging and Practicality: 4.5/5.0
Safety: 3.5/5.0
Behind the wheel: 4.5/5.0
X-factor: 4.0/5.0

Overview

The Grange is unique -- in the true sense of the word. You see, there is no other domestically-built car that competes head-on with the latest from Holden Special Vehicles.

Sure, the 'donor' Holden Caprice is a lot of car for the money, but ultimately it misses out on the Grange's tweaked cosmetics, dynamic abilities and extra power. Ford's announcement it has killed off its local Fairlane and LTD limos (coincidentally just a week or so before the Grange's launch) ensures that the Blue Oval's go-fast division, FPV, has no opportunity to take the HSV flagship on head-to-head. Not now or even when Orion arrives sometime in 2008...

And the other local carmakers? They've never even looked like pitching a car against the long-wheelbase models from Holden and Ford. They're not about to start now. Little wonder then that this model is HSV's strongest performer in terms of customer loyalty.

And that retention and reputation is only likely to improve with this latest model. Based on Holden's billion-dollar-plus VE/WM range, the latest Grange is simply, in this tester's opinion anyway, the best looking HSV or Holden ever.

That it packs more goodies, more neddies and more refinement into its Euro-style glasshouse than any General Motors Holden product before speaks volumes. That it's a hefty $6960 cheaper than the model it replaces -- even before specification adjustments are considered -- is simply icing on the cake.

According to HSV, the best ever annual sales of Grange to date was 241 units in 2001. We're betting that given half a chance, this $83K luxo could eclipse that -- by a factor of three or four!

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Holden Special Vehicles Website
New HSV Grange Luxury-Sports Sedan Is Now On Sale
HSV To Take On Europe's Finest & May Even Release It's Own Models, Say New Boss

Grape expectations: Another fine vintage for Grange

[RipS-10]

Very nice!!

[eosandov]

I know there is a RWD impala coming, but can this car be the next caprice??

[mikmak]

Originally Posted by JoeT

Grape expectations: Another fine vintage for Grange

That is the lamest caption ever^^^

[mikmak]

According to the review, they like it but the gearbox sucks. I don't think I have read a single positive review for the 6speed auto in the Holden lineup.

[redimpss5]

Kinda looks like the G8.

[YSSMAN]

Chevrolet Impala SS anyone? Throw in the LS3 with the 6L80E, and you've got instant magic in the US! Now what would be an extreme case of awesome at GM would be the option of AWD on the car, pushing it further against the low-lying Audi A6 and the BMW 5er xi in terms of performance, however carrying a price thousands less.

We'll see what happens in the coming months, but I'm still banking on having the Statesman/Caprice/Grange becoming the new Caprice/Impala/Impala SS.

[roteague]

I got to see the car up close (see the avartar) at the Sydney motor show. It is more stunning than these pictures can show.

Originally Posted by YSSMAN

Chevrolet Impala SS anyone?

No, the Impala (even the SS) isn't in the same class as this car. This car is very much a sport luxury car (think 5-Series BMW); the workmanship, fit and finish, and materials are stunning.

[AusCalais]

Originally Posted by roteague

I got to see the car up close (see the avartar) at the Sydney motor show. It is more stunning than these pictures can show.



No, the Impala (even the SS) isn't in the same class as this car. This car is very much a sport luxury car (think 5-Series BMW); the workmanship, fit and finish, and materials are stunning.

IMO from a sports luxury perspective you are correct...however from a size point of view it is more like 7 series...the Calais V is more a 5 chaser whilst HSV Senator is akin to M5.

Accordingly an Impala would be too down market (and a waste)... more like Buick (and dare I say it) higher.

[Aych Es Vee]

The Grange could be a Cadillac even. Make the lights, rear and front, a bit thinner, and it would even look like a Cadillac.



Australia doesnt have all the different GM brands. We have Holden and Saab (and now Hummer), and its Holden itself that has to fill all the markets.
Sport, luxury, econo, etc....
So its not wonder the Grange is such a spectacle.

[kenman923]

Reminds me of the Chinese Park Avenue.

[Aych Es Vee]

Originally Posted by kenman923

Reminds me of the Chinese Park Avenue.

yeah, they're pretty much the same car....

[CmicasatheGreat]

Originally Posted by RipS-10

Very nice!!

Yes it is... but it just doen'st seem like something I would compare to an S-Class or 7series. Why don't Aussies get Cadillacs imported? If the rear wasn't so ... 2006-2007 "Impala-ish" looking perhaps my tune would change. I love that (Impala) car, but with the rear styling being so boring, I wouldn't put it above a Lucerne let alone an S-Class. I thnk Caddy would so well in Australia... bring them straight outta China.

[Aych Es Vee]

Originally Posted by CmicasatheGreat

Yes it is... but it just doen'st seem like something I would compare to an S-Class or 7series. Why don't Aussies get Cadillacs imported? If the rear wasn't so ... 2006-2007 "Impala-ish" looking perhaps my tune would change. I love that (Impala) car, but with the rear styling being so boring, I wouldn't put it above a Lucerne let alone an S-Class. I thnk Caddy would so well in Australia... bring them straight outta China.

The Grange is expensive enough.
I dont think Cadillac will be overly great over here, because the luxury levels dont seem to be that great over the HSV Grange and HSV Senator, and the Cadillacs will definitly be priced much more than the HSVs.
The BMWs and Mercs dont sell anywhere near what would be considered 'great' either.

[HoosierRon]

No matter how hard I try, I will never be able to figure out Holden's method for naming its vehicles. Can some explain the difference between the Statesman, the Caprice and the Grange?