HSV Chief engineer Joel Stoddart Quits

[Toddler78]

Would have been good to see him stick around to see the launch and (hopefully) success of this new car

http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/busine...-1226653032313

THE man who created the most powerful car in Australia - the $100,000 supercharged Holden Special Vehicles GTS - has shocked the car industry by resigning and taking up a job with a caravan maker.

Joel Stoddart, HSV's chief engineer and one of Australia's most respected automotive boffins, has left the performance-car maker just days before the first of his latest creations made it down the production line.

The sudden departure of the 15-year HSV veteran, one of the longest serving senior executives at the company, has stunned industry observers who viewed it as a warning sign. But HSV says Stoddart's departure is not an indication that it is scaling back its engineering operations.

Holden boss Mike Devereux said earlier this year the VF Commodore would come to the end of the line in 2016. It is likely Holden will replace it with a globally-developed front-drive four-cylinder sedan, believed to offer little potential to HSV's performance car division.

HSV sales and marketing director Tim Jackson told News Limited: "HSV is categorically not scaling back its engineering operations. Joel has been a fantastic asset to HSV and we're sad to see him leave. But as a great a leader, he left a great team behind him."

HSV immediately filled the role, appointing Graeme Dusting, who has worked for HSV for more than a decade, to the role of chief engineer.

Stoddart has been appointed as the head of research and development at Melbourne-based Jayco, the biggest caravan maker in Australia, producing about 10,000 new caravans and motorhomes a year.

"It was sad to leave HSV after all these years and we parted on good terms, but it was time for a change," Stoddart told News Limited.

"I have a lot of fond memories. The highlights for me were obviously the latest HSV GTS, the limited edition W427 and the all-wheel-drive Coupe 4 project."

Stoddart joined HSV as a project engineer in 1998 and was appointed chief engineer five and a half years ago.

He was instrumental in - and the main driving force behind - getting the supercharged V8 into the latest GTS. HSV admitted that, at several stages during development, the project was nearly dropped.

[macca_779]

Might have something to do with this being the last commodore as we know it

[mrtockley]

Front wheel drive HSV?

[korrupt]

I used to live next door to Joel. Nice bloke. Was driving around a Coupe 4 for awhile. Always something interesting in the driveway.

[vy2ttr]

Sweet, Should be some wild looking Jaycos coming out. May have to update mine, lol.

[the big fist]

Front wheel drive HSV?

Astra VXR ?

[mrtockley]

Astra VXR ?

Wasn't that a run away success.

[IJ.]

New Job at Ford?

[Pickles]

It's never good to lose top people like that. He was at the Gen F "Launch" for the HSVOC....he gave a top presentation, & was most approachable.
I note he was involved in the engineering of Coupe 4, W427, & now the GTS.....3 TOP cars.
A big loss for HSV unfortunately......but they will move on.
Cheers, Pickles.

[Toddler78]

It's never good to lose top people like that. He was at the Gen F "Launch" for the HSVOC....he gave a top presentation, & was most approachable.
I note he was involved in the engineering of Coupe 4, W427, & now the GTS.....3 TOP cars.
A big loss for HSV unfortunately......but they will move on.
Cheers, Pickles.

well said

[VX-300]

Sweet, Should be some wild looking Jaycos coming out.

Maybe Joel can make some that go more than 75kph up the Hwy at Easter.

[vy2ttr]

I found a solution for that, 530 rwkws in tow car.

Not much passes my van up hills, lol..

[Marco]

It raises a good question though - where does HSV go from here? Unless Holden starts importing Camaros for them to tinker from 2016/17 onwards then it seems most of HSV's reason for existance is about to evaporate. I know I've been saying this for years but where is HSV's Cruze? Where is the effort to tap a new market?

[Pickles]

It raises a good question though - where does HSV go from here? Unless Holden starts importing Camaros for them to tinker from 2016/17 onwards then it seems most of HSV's reason for existance is about to evaporate. I know I've been saying this for years but where is HSV's Cruze? Where is the effort to tap a new market?

IMHO, as I've said before, there is no HSV future for Cruze.
The engine, driveline, & brakes are simply incapable of being upgraded to compete with the like of the Renault Megane hatches, Scirrocos, Golf R, Audi etc etc.....so I say, It ain't gonna happen......BUT, I reckon Commodore will go beyond 2016.
Cheers, Pickles.

[Jag530G]

IMHO, as I've said before, there is no HSV future for Cruze.
The engine, driveline, & brakes are simply incapable of being upgraded to compete with the like of the Renault Megane hatches, Scirrocos, Golf R, Audi etc etc.....so I say, It ain't gonna happen......BUT, I reckon Commodore will go beyond 2016.
Cheers, Pickles.

Since the Cruze is based on the same Delta II platform as to Opel Astra it can be upgraded to an equivalent of the OPC Astra, but what's the point? People who want a hot GM hatch will simply buy the OPC. 2017 and it looks all over for HSV. Mind you the new GTS is a great way to end.

Cheers, Matthew