HSV GEN-F GTS: 430kW for $93K

Like the Holden VF Commodore upon which it's based, the cost of entry to HSV's upcoming GEN-F sedan line-up will drop by thousands of dollars across the range -- except for Maloo ute models and the bahnstorming new supercharged GTS range-topper.

Now in production and due to begin arriving in dealerships from mid-June, with the hotly-anticipated GTS flagship to follow in August, the range kicks off with the Maloo unchanged at $58,990 plus on-road costs.

At the other end of the line-up the force-fed GTS, the most powerful car ever produced in Australia, will cost about $10,000 more than the previous GTS at $92,990 plus ORCs ($95,490 auto), although the standard feature list has improved significantly and it now delivers an earth-shaking 430kW -- 105kW more than its predecessor.

The LSA 6.2-litre supercharged V8-powered GTS is more than $10,000 pricier than its most direct rival, FPV's supercharged 5.0-litre GT-E ($82,490), but is expected to outperform Ford's Falcon-based flagship -- and every other Australian production car -- at the drag strip.

Despite offering more performance than them too, the GTS is also less than half the price of its most direct European rivals in the BMW M5 (from $229,500) and Mercedes-Benz E 63 AMG (from $249,900). 

All other HSV models will come with big price reductions, including the entry-level 317kW/550Nm ClubSport sedan, which starts at $60,990 plus ORCs for the six-speed manual model. This represents a saving of $4000 over the list price of its predecessor – and at least $6000 over the run-out price of the E3 ClubSport ($66,990 drive-away).

Thanks in part to the slightly higher luxury car tax threshold of $59,133, HSV says the last time it offered a ClubSport for less than $60,990 was in 2003.

Apart from new front and rear styling and a redesigned interior, base-spec ClubSport and Maloo models get plenty of technology from the VF Commodore models upon which they’re based, such as front and rear parking sensors, a reversing camera, blind spot assist, an electric park brake, an automated parking system and an eight-inch colour touch-screen with upgraded infotainment system including MyLink music streaming smartphone integration.

Also standard are LED daytime running lights, cloth sports seats, 20-inch alloy wheels, remote/push-button starting and four-piston AP brake calipers with big 367mm rotors.

Next in the range are the up-specced R8 models, the 325kW/550Nm Maloo R8 ute ($68,290), the ClubSport R8 sedan ($71,290) and ClubSport R8 Tourer ($72,290), all of which wipe a modest $210 off their predecessor's list prices.

They get everything found on the base models plus upstream the colour head-up display, Enhanced Driver Interface (EDI), Bose stereo, rain-sensing wipers, forward collision alert and lane departure warning seen in upstream VFs. Leather-trimmed seats are also added, along with HSV side skirts, black alloys and bi-modal mufflers.

All R8 models can be fitted with the SV Enhanced pack ($4995), improving V8 performance to 340kW/570Nm. Visual updates include 'satin graphite' forged alloy wheels, 'pitch black' accents and a low-line spoiler on the Clubbie R8 sedan.

A six-speed automatic (instead of manual) transmission is a $2000 option on most models (no cost in the Senator and standard in Grange), but costs $2500 extra on the GTS, which at about $100,000 fully loaded on the road is still unbeatable bang for your buck, says HSV Managing Director Phil Harding.

"The GEN-F GTS will have no peer when it comes to value. Its price, power, performance and specification levels are unrivalled in the market place," he said.

The MY14 GTS gets a blown 430kW/740Nm V8, complete with a beefed up driveline, gearbox and exhaust. Bigger six-piston calipers bite larger 390mm ventilated front discs, a torque vectoring rear differential is designed to improve mid-corner acceleration and a tri-mode Magnetic Ride Control is added.

HSV Senator Signature ($83,990) and Grange ($85,990) models have had their prices cut by $3000 apiece, the luxury models now equipped with the high-output 6.2-litre LS3 V8 offering 340kW/570Nm. Check out the full HSV GEN-F standard features list for more details.

"Continuing to deliver more value each time we launch a new range has been at the heart of HSV’s success, and GEN-F is no different," said Harding.

"The raft of performance and technology enhancements has taken our vehicles to a whole new level, and we are excited that customers will shortly have the opportunity to experience GEN-F for themselves."

Stay tuned for our first road test of the new HSV GEN-F range on Friday, June 7.

HSV GEN-F prices (plus on-road costs):
ClubSport (m) - $60,990
ClubSport R8 (m) - $71,290
ClubSport R8 Tourer (m) - $72,290
Maloo (m) - $58,990
Maloo R8 (m) - $68,290
Senator Signature (m/a) - $83,990
Grange (a) - $85,990
GTS (m) - $92,990

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