HSV Maloo R8 Wins 2009 Global Green Challenge, Holden Sportwagon 3.0 Best Aussie Six!

[JoeT]

HSV Maloo R8 Wins 2009 Global Green Challenge, Holden Sportwagon 3.0 Best Aussie Six!
HSV takes gold with a 7.74L/100km (30.3mpg) V8 Ute!
www.gminsidenews.com
October 30, 2009
By: David Bottin

Holden and HSV produce impressive fuel saving results at the 2009 Global Green Challenge.

Starting out from Darwin last Saturday on a 3000km journey through the dead heart of Australia, the Global Green Challenge participants finished in Adelaide this afternoon. The event, in it's 10th year, showcased the latest advances in alternative energy vehicles, including hybrid, electric, solar and low emission drivetrains from all around the globe.

To win the Global Green Challenge a vehicle must be able to demonstrate the greatest improvement in fuel economy compared to the official ADR figure.

The HSV Maloo R8 ute, with a 317kW (425hp) 6.2 litre LS3 V8 and six-speed manual transmission, averaged an impressive overall 7.74 litre per 100km's (30.3mpg), according to provisional results. That's a 48.76% reduction on it's official ADR 15.1 litres per 100km's rating!

Managing Director of HSV Phil Harding was pleased with the result.

"This shows the versatility of the Holden Special Vehicles brand," he said.

"This result confirms what I have been saying for a long time and many of our customers confirm the real world fuel efficiency of the Holden Special Vehicles range is extremely competitive."

A specially equipped HSV Senator with a dual fuel (Petrol/LPG) engine acted as the teams support vehicle. It was also undertaking final testing for HSV's Liquid Petroleum Injection (LPi) program.

Holden's Omega Sportwagon also impressed. Holden entered the event to demonstrate it's fuel efficient new SIDI direct injection technology. At the end of the event the Sportwagon recorded a 30.33% improvement on it's official 9.3 litres per 100km's ADR rating, coming in with an average combined 6.48 litres per 100km's (36.2mpg). That's the equivalent of 1100km's on a single tank! Not bad for a full-sized family wagon!

The locally produced 4.0 litre I6 Ford Falcon came in with an average of 7.04 litres per 100km's.

Holden's Vehicle Performance Manager Scott Heywood said the results show the advantages of investing in fuel saving technologies.

"Over 3000km of driving have demonstrated the improvements weve made to the latest direct injection model Commodore," he said.

"This is a standard large, six cylinder family car that can deliver fuel economy better than some four cylinder cars."

"We did the maths before the event but its one thing to do it on the back of an envelope and another thing to do it on the desert highway from Darwin to Adelaide. Were absolutely delighted in the performance of the car and our team."

A Holden Cruze Diesel acted as Holden's support vehicle. A specially converted petrol-electric hybrid Holden Viva donated to Annesley College in Adelaide also took part in the long journey.

"The Annesley College performance shows the ingenuity and determination of local students and teachers and demonstrates potential for the future development of passenger vehicles and the next generation of engineers." said Mr Heywood.

More Global Green Challenge news and results will be posted here as they come to hand.

GMI's Global Green Challenge Thread, With Exclusive Holden Updates!
Official Global Green Challenge Website

[mattyman1010]

Holden Sportwagon 3.0 Best Aussie V6!

Is that really a title we should get excited about?!

I had little doubt that the Maloo would win but 7.74 is pretty bloody amazing Great effort!!

[BBDOS CV8]

43.5 Imperial MPG. That's impressive. The Falcon also scored impressively with US 33.4 mpg or Imperial 40.13.

But I feel a bit vindicated - I wasn't telling porkies or deluded. It shows between The Motor Report's 30mpg and the official 36mpg of the Greem Challenge, a moderately careful driver could realistically get 1,000km from a tank. And a sedan would be better still, as it's lighter and probaby a little slipperier.

[prototype66]

very impressive numbers, too bad we won't see these full size in the states.

[fred96ws6]

The LS3 motors are just great motors. They make big power and get great mileage. My 08 C6 Z51 with only 800 miles on it got 29mpg on a trip from Dallas to Houston. Yet people still think V8's are gas guzzlers.

[mikmak]

Great work! now they can take the brick out from under the accelerator.

[Rick_VT]

Are the going to publish the results from the other cars Holden had there like the Cruze and the Senator id also like to know how well the Viva went to.

Makes me wonder how well that 4.5 V8 Diesel would have went if GM had the guts to bring it out.

[Tex]

Seems that the government fuel efficiency raters everywhere have trouble with the LS3. My father's 08 C6 436 HP version gets him 23 MPG city and 30 MPG on the highway at 80, while only being rated at 15/25 or something like that.

[KingElvis]

Would think the wagon would do far better with the kammback aero affect, plus the engine, but maybe the lighter weight of the UTE was a factor - plus that really tall bedcover is plus in aerodynamics.

That's a lot more power for only 6mpg.

Just so you guys know the laws of physics haven't been repealed, my 293cid 2009 Silverado Reg Cab gets about 15mpg (but there is most definitely not an egg or brick under the throttle). First gear is fun gear.

[ZvetteGuy]

Originally Posted by fred96ws6

The LS3 motors are just great motors. They make big power and get great mileage. My 08 C6 Z51 with only 800 miles on it got 29mpg on a trip from Dallas to Houston. Yet people still think V8's are gas guzzlers.

Just need to find a way to make the 4-cylinders to get twice as much mpg's than what the V8's can muster up... then we can truly see a nice competitive compact car offerings from GM.

[SCCA1995]

I don't even need to say it.








Okay, I will. This kind of truck/car will help CAFE averages in the US. Hello!! GM!! Anyone home in the Ren Center?

[Robert Ryan]

Okay, I will. This kind of truck/car will help CAFE averages in the US. Hello!! GM!! Anyone home in the Ren Center?

Try posting something like that on Pickup.com. They have some very rigid views on what is an acceptable vehicle to do "work" in the US.

[SCCA1995]

I think you mean pickuptrucks.com. It seems like PUT.com would like a new vehicle in the style of the El Camino. I know Jalopnik would love it 'til the wheels fall off.

[holdenboy]

Originally Posted by KingElvis

Would think the wagon would do far better with the kammback aero affect, plus the engine, but maybe the lighter weight of the UTE was a factor - plus that really tall bedcover is plus in aerodynamics.

That's a lot more power for only 6mpg.

Just so you guys know the laws of physics haven't been repealed, my 293cid 2009 Silverado Reg Cab gets about 15mpg (but there is most definitely not an egg or brick under the throttle). First gear is fun gear.

I would also have thought that the smaller engine and lighter wieght of the ute would have worked differently but as it goes the ute weighs more than its sedan equivalent. Go figure

[Robert Ryan]

I think you mean pickuptrucks.com. It seems like PUT.com would like a new vehicle in the style of the El Camino. I know Jalopnik would love it 'til the wheels fall off.

I posted the image below. Stunned silence for a while. One poster said "wowee". Then they decided to delete the image. Not PC enough I would think.