HSV Senator Signature 2007 Review

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Subtle. It's not a word often associated with HSV, but visually, the Senator Signature is comparatively restrained. The front and rear styling suggest Pitt Street, rather than pit straight. Up front, there's a simple mesh grille with a chrome surround. At the rear, a small lip spoiler finishes off the car.

Interior trim colours reflect the Senator's premium positioning in the HSV line-up. While black remains the default option, you can select what HSV calls Light Urban -- beige, to you and me. But, unlike the Calais V, HSV retains dark coloured carpets and lower door and trim panels. The contrasting colours look swish, and add to its upmarket feel.

The Senator also has a rear roof-mounted DVD screen, front park assist (other models have rear only), rain-sensing wipers, door-entry lamps and front memory seats, on top of all the equipment the others get. By year's end, sat-nav will be offered as an option across the  HSV line-up.

While the interior leans towards elegant colours, I'm sure HSV will fit out a Senator with red-on-black if that's what the customer's accompanying cheque demands.

Which leads us to the inevitable question: cheque book in hand, would you have one of these ahead of a Mercedes AMG E63, BMW M5 or Audi S6?

HSV may struggle to win the brand snobs, but a short drive should help convince those who like their cars to pack a 300kW-plus punch with some clever technology.

The Senator market should be easier to convince that the new Magnetic Ride Control system is a must-have.

Brakes, which are brilliant across the new line-up, are better on the MRC cars because the system doesn't allow a lot of front-end dip during fierce braking.

The impressive Corvette-sourced GM 6L80E six-speed auto is the default gearbox on the Senator Signature and benefits from HSV's own calibration, which it says improves shift times in both adaptive auto and manual modes. Lots of top-end-of-town drivers don't like changing gears so an auto-only Senator makes plenty of sense. That said, HSV is also likely to sell more Clubsport R8 and GTS sedans in auto than six-speed manual.

Shifting smoothly and swiftly, it's a giant leap ahead of the clunky and crude old four-speed.

Many traditional buyers think not about Euro alternatives, but more about choices within the Holden-HSV extended family. Asked why he would go for a Senator over a Calais V, a long-time HSV fan thought for a moment and then replied: "Because I can." For this buyer, the $76,990 Senator is his shot at automotive one-upmanship.

Images: Cristian Brunelli