HSV begins slow-burn GEN-F reveal

Holden Special Vehicles’ facelifted VF Commodore-based model range, now confirmed to be dubbed ‘GEN-F’, will be revealed in a little over two weeks before it goes on sale in mid-June.

Kicking off what will be a drip-feed reveal campaign for its upgraded performance car line-up, HSV today confirmed the GEN-F name and the fact it will be formally revealed on May 15 – about a month before the first vehicles hit dealers.

HSV said it was forced to break with recent tradition for the nomenclature of its newest model family, a logo for which is all that has been officially revealed so far, because ‘F1’ was out of the question for obvious reasons and ‘F Series’ is the name of Ford’s top-selling model in the US.

Previous VE Commodore-based HSV model ranges bore the names E Series, E Series 2 and E Series 3.

“It was obvious, from the beginning, that we were going to have to adjust our approach, because F Series or F1 wasn’t going to work,” said HSV Director of Sales and Marketing, Tim Jackson.

“We had three basic objectives. Firstly, we needed to ensure we referenced our vehicle’s relationship with Holden’s VF.

“Secondly, we have a new-generation vehicle so we wanted to use language that people would find easily relatable. And finally, we wanted it to be simple.

“GEN-F almost picked itself.”

HSV is yet to reveal any official details of its latest homegrown sedan, wagon and ute line-up, but has indicated that “some of the rumours surrounding GEN-F were on the mark”.

“There has been plenty of speculation so you can expect that some of it is accurate. I am just not going to reveal what’s accurate today,” said Jackson.

“We will reveal all on May 15, which will be approximately a month before customers will be able to see the vehicles in the showroom.”

The HSV GEN-F range is again expected to comprise the entry-level ClubSport sedan, ClubSport R8 sedan and Tourer wagon, Calais-based Senator Signature, long-wheelbase Grange, top-shelf GTS sedan and Maloo and Maloo R8 utes.

Because it’s based on Holden’s heavily upgraded Commodore range, which has already been revealed ahead of its June 1 release, we know most models will be an average of about 50kg lighter thanks to aluminium panels including a bonnet that is expected to lose the E Series’ distinctive vents.

Like its Holden counterparts, the upgraded HSVs are therefore expected to be slightly more efficient, with the current GM 6.2-litre pushrod alloy V8 unlikely to change from their existing 325kW/550Nm tune.

However, HSV is almost certain to fit a supercharged V8 to its replacement for the discontinued GTS flagship, which would finally offer more performance than cheaper models.

With outputs that should eclipse both the limited-edition 375kW HSV W427 and its arch-rival, FPV’s supercharged 5.0-litre GT R-SPEC (335kW/757Nm), the latest GTS could dethrone the latter as Australia’s fastest homegrown sports sedan.

While the VF carries over its roof, doors and glasshouse from the VE, GEN-F models will again be differentiated by a more aggressive front bumper with revised foglights and LED running lights, beefy side skirts and a chunky rear bumper with a large lower diffuser, bigger quad exhaust outlets, more flamboyant rear wing and specific circular-themed tail-lights.

Once again, there will be HSV sports front seats with embossed leather trim, bigger brakes, sports-tuned suspension and alloy wheels with the same 20-inch diameter as those on the VF SS-V but in unique designs.

Other upgrades will include an all-new, more upmarket interior from the VF, which will also donate its keyless push-button starting function, electric power steering with self-parking function and higher-tech infotainment system.

Of course, the last comprehensive overhaul before HSV’s Commodore donor vehicle is replaced by a front-wheel drive model based on a global platform around 2017 will also bring a range of new GM technologies from the VF.

They include forward collision warning, blind spot monitoring, lane departure warning and a head-up display.

However, GEN-F could also cherry-pick from additional technologies seen in the export version of Holden’s VF sedan, the Chevrolet SS, including ceramic brake discs and steering wheel gearshift paddles, which will not be available in the VF Commodore.

As we’ve reported, Holden is set to cut VF Commodore prices by up to $5000, but it remains to be seen whether HSV follows suit.

The outgoing E-Series range currently opens with the ClubSport at $58,990 (ute) and $66,990 (sedan) drive-away, and closes with the Grange at $88,990 plus on-road costs.

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