HSV turns up the heat

[mikmak]

HSV turns up the heat

Carpoint.com.au


words - Joshua Dowling
VE Series II range to get more technology, more power, better economy

The 12-month cease fire in the Ford versus Holden power war is about to be broken.

A year after the new Ford Falcon went on sale, Holden Special Vehicles is planning a more powerful range of V8s. Holden dealers have begun telling customers about HSV's Series II VE range due to go on sale in October.

Incredibly, some of the details have appeared on social networking websites such as Twitter.

A post by "Motorama74" says: "HSV are releasing a new model in October including new 20-inch wheel options on GTS and Clubsport, and two new colours, Poison Ivy and Wild Fire."

But the Carsales Network understands these changes barely scratch the surface of the HSV VE's first significant overhaul. If history repeats, the 6.2-litre V8 is expected to make another 10kW step up in power, to 327kW.

The VE HSV launched in August 2006 with 307kW from its 6.0-litre LS2 V8, and power went up to 317kW when the 6.2-litre LS3 V8 was fitted in April 2008. HSV is yet to announce exact power figures or fuel economy claims for the Series II but dealers have been told there will be "an improvement" on the current car.

If HSV steps up to 327kW, this would increase the power gap between its engine and that of the FPV GT, which has 315kW. Currently, both flagship V8s are separated by just 2kW difference.

According to magazine reports, FPV is said to be working on reviving the famous GTHO, with a target of 350kW from either a 5.8-litre V8 or a supercharged 5.0-litre V8, but it will not arrive in showrooms for two years.

In the meantime, the HSV Series II power gain is expected to come from improvements to engine management calibration, as well as new exhausts designed to give HSV's typically quiet V8s more of a roar.

Cosmetic changes are understood to have been kept to a minimum although there are rumours the Clubsport R8, GTS sedans and the Maloo ute could all get the twin nostril bonnet from the Pontiac G8 -- or one similar to it. The 20-inch wheels are also expected to be redesigned so that they can accommodate larger, six-piston brakes, which may become an option across the range. There is also said to be a more advanced traction control system.


HSV E-Series 2 update to focus on fuel economy, styling

Toby Hagon, drive.com.au, June 30, 2009

Drive.com.au
There will be a fraction more power for HSV’s updated 6.2-litre V8, but expect most of the engineering effort for the E-Series 2 to centre around increased fuel economy.


An updated HSV E-Series 2 is expected to focus more on fuel economy rather than increased power in a sign of the times for performance car manufacturers trying to improve their environmental footprint.

Improvements of around 5% or more to fuel economy are expected while power is expected to increase by a maximum of 2.5%.

The new HSV E-Series 2, due on sale in September, will use the same 6.2-litre V8 but is expected to consume up to one litre less fuel per 100km. That would reduce consumption to something under 14L/100km, which is still well about the 7.5L/100km-odd for small cars and 10L/100km-odd for six-cylinder large cars.

Peak power for the new HSV E-Series 2 is expected to jump slightly from 317kW in today’s car to either 320kW or 325kW. It is not expected to continue the move to have the number 7 on the end, as with the 307kW E-Series original or the 317kW update that brought the current car’s 6.2-litre V8.

Dealers have been told to expect a power output of "320-something".

To coincide with the arrival of the new Holden Commodore VF – the September update for the VE Commodore - the new E-Series 2 will also get styling changes designed to freshen the look of the Commodore-based performance cars.

[mikmak]

Originally Posted by Article

Cosmetic changes are understood to have been kept to a minimum although there are rumours the Clubsport R8, GTS sedans and the Maloo ute could all get the twin nostril bonnet from the Pontiac G8 -- or one similar to it.

Personally, I hope that doesn't happen, but if it does, it best be feeding a compressor.

[Brenie]

Holden has probably got a stack of G8 bonnets sitting around that HSV could have on the cheap.

[jbernie]

Not too sure on the hoodscoops... getting to see some G8s in person (one in the car park at work every day) i prefer it more to the GTO nostrils.

That being said, nice to see HSV giving FPV a kick in the groin in the performance world.

By the time Ford gets their 350Kw GT-HO to market HSV will be at 347Kw standard based on a 10kw per year increase.

[PistonsFan]

Originally Posted by mikmak

I wish we had that over here in the States. That looks great. The front fascia has some similarities to the Mitsubishi EVO, but better.

[Masynee]

See also this article on Drive.com.au.

It talks about the HSV beign a VE series 2 but the main Commodore range updating to the VF.

That sounds like an odd move. I wonder if they're right.

[civilzues]

All I can say to that is sorry to Oz....

[mikmak]

Originally Posted by Masynee

See also this article on Drive.com.au.

It talks about the HSV beign a VE series 2 but the main Commodore range updating to the VF.

That sounds like an odd move. I wonder if they're right.

Thanks. Added to first post

I would just like to add:

Originally Posted by Toby Hagan

The new HSV E-Series 2, due on sale in September, will use the same 6.2-litre V8 but is expected to consume up to one litre less fuel per 100km. That would reduce consumption to something under 14L/100km, which is still well about the 7.5L/100km-odd for small cars and 10L/100km-odd for six-cylinder large cars.

Does anyone else smell a significant shift in editorial brief? Aside from an over reliance on spell checker (about? ), why would they bother pointing out the obvious discrepancy between the economy of the HSV (obviously a performance vehicle) and a small 4 cylinder?

I smell a rat.

[chinamonty]

Originally Posted by Brenie

Holden has probably got a stack of G8 bonnets sitting around that HSV could have on the cheap.

Holden would only have spares sitting around. Holden and Fords warehouses are really Toll vehicles. The parts don't sit at either manufacturer any longer than they need to.

[ZvetteGuy]

Originally Posted by civilzues

All I can say to that is sorry to Oz....

Why is that...?! Being that they have what we in America have been crying for for ages... and, they have continually had these type of cars with constant improvements in the pipelines... all while we here struggle to see our beloved companies put out some nice worthy cars.... it wasn't until late that we have started to see this actually turn around...

The G8 is nice and with it's nostrils... your taste may be subjective... but, so is mine...

[Dr. Show-Me]

A Corvette IS cheaper.

[RedVee8]

Originally Posted by Dr. Show-Me

A Corvette IS cheaper.

NOT HERE

[jbernie]

Originally Posted by Dr. Show-Me

A Corvette IS cheaper.

A Corvette will pretty much cost more than any vehicle in the HSV line up, the only potential price competitor is the W427 @ AUS$150k and it is the only HSV over $100k. Saw something about someone in Australia (QLD?) doing a RHD conversion of the ZR1 and it was heading into the AUS$400k

Now...when the C7 Vette is out and GM makes ir RHD from the factory... then we might be having some fun

[Road Kill]

Like so many other cars people on this site say should be brought here and when they do they don't sell worth a crap,like the G8. Most of the people on thjis site may be fans but not very practical.

[Bvonscott]

Question for the Australian guys:
When they say they're updating the commodore to the vf, what kind of styling changes can we expect? Is it like the mid cycle enhancements we have here which can see significant changes in the looks or is it going to be mild? Such as a whole new front end with new headlights etc...? I can see putting a pen to paper and really updating the looks to kill the falcon but I wonder if Holden will be making those kind of changes. I don't see g8 noses going on though. I'm hoping it comes out looking even better than it already does.


(man posting using an iPhone is a pain in the rear)