Supercharged HSV?

[Alex81]

Maybe HSV will go back to special order builds for the GTS with this blown engine, would take the GTS back to where it belongs. A car to aspire to own like they were in the early HSV's.

[macca_779]

Well, that sounds reasonable....I don't think it'll ever be a mainstream engine...I mean 432KW in a Clubsport?.....well, it'd be nice for sure, but for ages people have been saying that HSV need a "Hero" car.....well, maybe if the rumours are true....it will be....it'll also be interesting to see what power they give it?.....maybe downgrade & leave something for the future?
Cheers, Pickles.

It won't be around for long. Euro 5 and euro 6 emissions kick in next year. The engine will not pass I don't think. This is why the yanks are ditching their large capacity engines. As good as the LSA engine is. It's been around for a long time now. Hsv should of got onto it a long time ago.


iPhone 5

[Pickles]

An oldish thread.....but pehaps becoming more relevant, as HSV "VF" release draws closer?
There's been a bit in the press from several different sources, so maybe it IS happening.
Personally, I believe HSV needs a F.I. engine....give the brand a bit of a lift.....something "special"?......and for sure, a bit more performance.
Cheers, Pickles.

[planetdavo]

An oldish thread.....but pehaps becoming more relevant, as HSV "VF" release draws closer?
There's been a bit in the press from several different sources, so maybe it IS happening.
Personally, I believe HSV needs a F.I. engine....give the brand a bit of a lift.....something "special"?......and for sure, a bit more performance.
Cheers, Pickles.

In relation to the "giving the brand a lift" comment, things are tough out there. Large cars are well out of favour, and the best engine ever fitted to a local car (in the latest FPV- supercharged V8) has hardly troubled HSV in the sales charts...or in fact troubled the sales charts.
Manufacturers NEED to make money. No point creating a teenage boy's wet dream if hardly anyone buys it (or the cheaper variants either)...
It's sad really. People say HSV/FPV must do things...then buy something else anyway.

[bouka]

Gee some people are slow on the uptake (about the lsa GTS).

Dave, you got the way it works arse end about. The only way a manufacturer will make money is if they make what people want. The purchaser determines what they want, not the manufacturer.

HSV would do well to figure that out (and I believe they have with the VF, more than ever before).

FPV was never going to bother HSV from a sales perspective. Heck, they aren't even competitors remember. But you make a point, FPV built the best motor we have ever seen locally and the performance figures are staggering. Why didn't it sell in bigger numbers? Who knows, but I can tell you that the ford bunch are the most fickle, cannibalistic lot I have ever seen. And the Holden lot are too blindingly loyal to appreciate what is out there (for the most part).

[C4B]

......People say HSV/FPV must do things...then buy something else anyway.

Because they never do......

[Plenty]

Gee some people are slow on the uptake (about the lsa GTS).

Dave, you got the way it works arse end about. The only way a manufacturer will make money is if they make what people want. The purchaser determines what they want, not the manufacturer.

HSV would do well to figure that out (and I believe they have with the VF, more than ever before).

FPV was never going to bother HSV from a sales perspective. Heck, they aren't even competitors remember. But you make a point, FPV built the best motor we have ever seen locally and the performance figures are staggering. Why didn't it sell in bigger numbers? Who knows, but I can tell you that the ford bunch are the most fickle, cannibalistic lot I have ever seen. And the Holden lot are too blindingly loyal to appreciate what is out there (for the most part).

Engine and gearbox aside the FPV simply can't compete on the basics. The Falcon has even dropped out of the top twenty in the sales.

[Maccas]

if the do end up putting the LSA into the HSV's if only the GTS which i hope! But if its an option i damn well hope u can get it in the Maloo now that would be a real fun car!!

[planetdavo]

Gee some people are slow on the uptake (about the lsa GTS).

Dave, you got the way it works arse end about. The only way a manufacturer will make money is if they make what people want. The purchaser determines what they want, not the manufacturer.

HSV would do well to figure that out (and I believe they have with the VF, more than ever before).

FPV was never going to bother HSV from a sales perspective. Heck, they aren't even competitors remember. But you make a point, FPV built the best motor we have ever seen locally and the performance figures are staggering. Why didn't it sell in bigger numbers? Who knows, but I can tell you that the ford bunch are the most fickle, cannibalistic lot I have ever seen. And the Holden lot are too blindingly loyal to appreciate what is out there (for the most part).

I don't think you represent the regular HSV sort of buyer bouka.
I don't think I got it wrong at all. HSV, like all BUSINESSES, are in the business of making money. No point making a local car of utter brilliance if the tossers with the full wallets just go "I'd rather one with a Euro badge on the bonnet for 10K more"...
Maybe you'll see my point one day. I hope HSV do many things, including the release of supercharged engines, but I also see that most buyers just don't care about the locals anymore.

[vyls1wa]

Given that they haven't given us a product in recent time that suits the taste of Aussie buyers gives one good reason why people don't care about buying local anymore.

Even if a charged motor only came out in a limited number GTS it gives the brand a real flag ship and puts a car on the road people crave over, vx-vy GTS was that car. A flag ship model that isn't 150k for an engine change allows people to believe holden "special" vehicals and serious about making special cars.

[redvxr8clubby]

I don't think you represent the regular HSV sort of buyer bouka.
I don't think I got it wrong at all. HSV, like all BUSINESSES, are in the business of making money. No point making a local car of utter brilliance if the tossers with the full wallets just go "I'd rather one with a Euro badge on the bonnet for 10K more"...
Maybe you'll see my point one day. I hope HSV do many things, including the release of supercharged engines, but I also see that most buyers just don't care about the locals anymore.

All fair enough, I would think with HSV building supercharged GTS, as has already been discussed in other thread, just a matter of price dictating sales really, like W427 at $145K, I think it was 137 or so sales. If Ford can do a S/C GT, why can't HSV do a similar value S/C Clubby, given HSV sales vs FPV sales, it should sell in reasonable numbers.

[planetdavo]

Given that they haven't given us a product in recent time that suits the taste of Aussie buyers gives one good reason why people don't care about buying local anymore.

Even if a charged motor only came out in a limited number GTS it gives the brand a real flag ship and puts a car on the road people crave over, vx-vy GTS was that car. A flag ship model that isn't 150k for an engine change allows people to believe holden "special" vehicals and serious about making special cars.

Not exactly right.
I see the W427 "it's just an engine change" mentality coming out , but there has been a fundamental shift in buyer habits in this country. Women have taken far more control of the buying decisions formally taken by men (more SUV purchases), fuel costs have sky rocketed (small cars sales have exploded), and many more people these days have quite a bit more money (more Euro sales). Add in the (still) excessively high Aus dollar making imports far more affordable than they "should" be, and people start going..."why would I buy a Holden/HSV when I can buy a VW/AMG etc. Substitute various other brands as required.
Spending a crap load on stuff like you feel HSV "need" to do MUST be balanced against the likliehood of a return on investment. There are far fewer buyers of local performance cars out there now than there used to be.

[C4B]

Given that they haven't given us a product in recent time that suits the taste of Aussie buyers gives one good reason why people don't care about buying local anymore.

Even if a charged motor only came out in a limited number GTS it gives the brand a real flag ship and puts a car on the road people crave over, vx-vy GTS was that car. A flag ship model that isn't 150k for an engine change allows people to believe holden "special" vehicals and serious about making special cars.

Couldn't agree more..... HSV lost a lot of respect when they downgraded the GTS nameplate to old VX Clubsport R8 level in the VE.

GTS used to represent Australias attempt at mixing it with the Euro Uber saloons like the E55AMG and M5. It was never a patch on them in terms of ride or quality, but it could give them a good touch up in a bar room brawl and that was enough. If you ever get to read the article about the VTII GTS300 / E55AMG / M5 at the Nurburgring you'll understand what I mean. The GTS was so much less refined it wasn't funny..... But in outright performance it handed it to them both.

Not many people could afford VTII/VX/VY GTS's, but there were a lot of people bought other HSV's because there was a HSV that could mix it with the Germans.......

HSV.... Read your own catchcry..... "I JUST WANT ONE!"

[duke5700]

Yeah I believe they need that hero model to inspire kids all over again to want to buy them, so many blokes I know grew up with Walkinshaws and VN Grp A's on their walls as posters. A lot of them grew up to buy new HSV's, some of them even greedy enough to own both.

I still think the VX GTS was a stand above car, it had something above the others and made it special.

I guess thats the downfall of not having to have the 500 upper spec cars spec to meet the rules the breed gets diluted.

[planetdavo]

"GTS" could be purchased with 6 cylinder and low spec V8 engines when the whole badge thing first started pre HSV...
Like I said earlier, the grunter of an engine in the FPV's has hardly troubled the sales charts. Top shelf, ego boosting performance isn't the top of MOST people's priorities.
It's fine for people to make all sorts of claims about HSV's "needs", but if HSV actually produce these sorts of engine dominated cars, and you don't actually go out and buy one after claiming they HAVE to do it, you're really just part of the problem...