HSV Considering Corsa VXR Hot-Hatch For Australia, But No Daewoo's

[JoeT]

Corsa Course

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

HSV crunches the numbers on a hot German micro hatch.

Holden Special Vehicles (HSV) has revealed that it is assessing the viability of importing the Opel/Vauxhall Corsa VXR into Australia.

The German-engineered, front-wheel drive, three-door hot-hatch rival to the likes of the Renault Clio Sport may lead a host of imports that HSV is looking at from Opel and elsewhere in General Motors’ global empire.

It is significant that HSV is considering cars that Holden has elected not to put into its showrooms, usually for cost-related reasons. If it gets the green light, the Corsa VXR would slot underneath the $42,990 AH Astra VXR that HSV has been selling here since September last year.

“There are some European cars in the GM family that we are having a close look at in the smaller variety ... (and) I’m quite open in saying that the Corsa is one of those,” said HSV chairman John Crennan. “We are assessing the business case for doing it. That’s an opportunity area.”

However, Mr Crennan was careful to stress that the baby HSV was still quite some time away from the showroom floor. “We are a long way from doing it,” he underlined.

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No Korean HSV's

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

Holden Special Vehicles (HSV) has moved to dispel suggestions that it could follow Holden’s lead in sourcing vehicles from GM Daewoo in South Korea.

HSV chairman John Crennan said last week that there would not be HSV-branded highperformance versions of models such as the Epica medium-sized sedan, the Viva small car and the Barina light hatchback.

“We haven’t got plans for the Epica,” said Mr Crennan, adding that there was not a large enough market to justify the means for developing such a project.

“If you are going to do something at a local level, the costs of doing the recalibration on an Epica – and to design the body packages – is exactly the same as it is on a Commodore, and we can’t sustain it.”

Even if consumers started to demand high-performance versions of Holden’s
budget-focused models from South Korea, Mr Crennan doubted that there would be much money to be made from the experience in Australia.

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Holden Special Vehicles Website
HSV Launches VXR Astra
HSV To Take On Europe's Finest & May Even Release It's Own Models, Say New Boss

Vauxhall Corsa VXR

[mikmak]

Thats a cool little car. I think it is wise to match HSVs lineup with VXRs. It's not exactly a one way street. If that's the direction HSV is going to take, I'm all for it. Bring on the VXR Vectra already.

[JoeT]

I've just been checking out the VXR Vectra at the Vauxhall VXR website.
It would be nice if all the VXR products were sold here as HSV's, but I can see it happening.
Has anyone heard anything about a new HSV XU6 model returning anytime soon?
HSV seems to be avoiding the V6 market at the moment. Maybe the VXR Vectra could fit into the lineup if a XU6 weren't to happen.

[Black AH CDX]

that VXR Corsa is a hot little thing. HSV would be mad not to bring it here and steal sales from the VW Polo GTi and take the market that Renault has abandoned now it no longer sells the RenaultSport Clio here and doesn't look like bringing the Clio III here anytime this century.

HSV should just do it!!!

[mikmak]

Defintiely would love to see the XU6 return but hopefully they can actually manage a manual version. I think that's what killed it last time. Still, i had a rid in a mates one and it was still scary enough.

P.S. That is an awesome website.

[JoeT]

It wasn't just the lack of a manual that killed it. It was mainly the crap engine in front of it. The old 3.8 was beyond the job.

I was hoping that the TT36 Torana concept's Twin-Turbo 3.6 V6 was a sneak preview of a new XU6 drivetrain, but we are still waiting.

[mikmak]

Crap engine? I thought you had a CV6!?!

[JoeT]

Wash your mouth out!!! It's a CV8! Holden should have never place the supercharged V6 in the Monaro. It was a big mistake.
They didn't sell all that many before it was cut before the V2 series 2 was released. Their resale value would be terrible.

[paul8488]

They're smart not to bother with Daewoo HSVs. As they suggest there's high devlopment costs, so they should funnel sports-oriented customers into the existing Holden-based HSVs.

[Butz]

An Epica HSV might actually do wonders to its image.

[JoeT]

But it wouldn't do much for HSV's. It would weaken it's very strong quality brand image it spent years building.

[Aych Es Vee]

Stuff an XU6, we dont need that crap returned.


Corsa yeah, Astra yeah, Vectra maybe. The Vectra VXR needs to be awd.

Thats all HSV need from Opel. I'd rather see them get the Corvette and/or the Camaro under their belt before the fwd Vectra.


I've said it before, and I'll say it again, I REALLLLLLLY hate how HSV left the Opel badge on the steering wheel of the HSV VXR, and I HATE how there are so many VXR badges on it, and I HATE the fact that its called a 'HSV VXR'.
Thats like calling the Monaro in England, the 'Vauxhall HSV'. Its LAME as.
Over here, its a HSV. Take the damn Opel badge off the steering wheel, take the VXR insignia off the intsrument cluster, gearstick, seats, and engine, and put 'HSV' on them.
It annoys me because HSV dont get their name spread overseas, but Opel and VXR get theirs spread here. Seems unfair.


So, as long as HSV doesnt do that crap on the Corsa VXR, I'll be happy.

[AusCalais]

Originally Posted by Aych Es Vee

Over here, its a HSV. Take the damn Opel badge off the steering wheel, take the VXR insignia off the intsrument cluster, gearstick, seats, and engine, and put 'HSV' on them.
It annoys me because HSV dont get their name spread overseas, but Opel and VXR get theirs spread here. Seems unfair.

More like HSV won't cough up the $$ for HSV versions of the gear going into the Aus cars...with the relatively low numbers of cars it probably doesnt make sense.

[mikmak]

Originally Posted by JoeT

Wash your mouth out!!! It's a CV8! Holden should have never place the supercharged V6 in the Monaro. It was a big mistake.
They didn't sell all that many before it was cut before the V2 series 2 was released. Their resale value would be terrible.

Yep, 32990 vs around 40K for the CV8. It is interesting that most of the CV8s have fairly high kays but the CV6 are generally around 30-50,000 ks. Must be something about driving them

[SonicAerio]

Originally Posted by paul8488

They're smart not to bother with Daewoo HSVs. As they suggest there's high devlopment costs, so they should funnel sports-oriented customers into the existing Holden-based HSVs.

True to a point...the Viva(Lacetti) is aging and will be replaced in the next 2 years so there is no reason to make an HSV version especially considering the small market of Holden, but couldn't Holden sell a version based of the Lacetti WTCC R+ that was sold in limited quantites in Europe? If I remember correctly it was s/c with 172 hp and 170 Tq....granted it wouldn't make a true HSV but could be a nice stopgap for added sales.

As for the Tosca, it was just introduced, and if rumors are true about Suzuki possibly using it next year as the next gen Verona, and they have already been working to squeeze the 3.2 or 3.6 h/o DOHC engine, it might have the power needed to go up against other rivals like the 380 Ralliart or Aurion TRD even though they are a little larger of a sedan...they all fall into the same market

Granted, both of these would probably dilute the HSV brand like the 2.4 SS Cobalt does to Chevy, doesn't mean it isn't possible to have a version