HSV unveils GTS and SV specials

Holden Special Vehicles rolled out two anniversary editions at the Australian International Motor Show (AIMS) in Sydney today. And hinted at more eco-friendly HSVs to come...

Taking pride of place beside the tuning house's $155,500 7.0-litre W427 (more here), was a 40th anniversary GTS and a 20th celebration of the SV88. The 40th anniversary version of the GTS sported "black heritage stripes" and commemorative '40 years of GTS' logos on the seats, calipers, door sill plates and rear boot.

Built to celebrate the first HK Monaro GTS in 1968, just 100 of the special editions will be built. A tyre pressure monitoring system is also standard on the 317kW V8-powered four-door.

Just two colours will be offered in the 40th GTS -- Sting Red and Heron White. The limited edition GTS is priced from $80,170.

The new Senator Signature showcased at AIMS will be even more limited, with production pegged at just 20 manual and 30 automatic examples.

Reprising the 1988 SV88, the SV08 introduces the new Tremec 6060 six-speed manual to the HSV range. As predicted here at the Carsales Network, the new gearbox, which is featured across Ford's latest Falcon range, will be fitted across HSV's range from later this month.

Priced from $82,700, the 20th anniversary SV08 gets revised paint treatment, logoed sill plates and extra chrome trim. HSV's 20-inch Pentagon wheel is standard on the model.

Re-installed HSV managing director, Phil Harding, used the AIMS dais to hint that the go-fast arm is looking at more fuel-efficient powertrains for its models. But it was just a hint...

"We're tantalising you -- we're not here to tell you the full story -- that'll be another day," Harding told the Carsales Network.

HSV's diesel dabbling has already been detailed at the Carsales Network. Harding has, however, confirmed that the company is also experimenting with "a range of other technologies". These are believed to include liquid injection LPG as well as its own iterations of Holden's AFM cylinder deactivation and flex fuel initiatives.

"Other than a hybrid, we're working on all the sorts of technologies you're hearing about here today... LPG, etc -- Clayton [HSV's headquarters] has a performance car running with the technology and it only goes [to the next stage] if we can get the performance out of the car, but it's good news so far," Harding told the Carsales Network.

Harding cautioned that lack of sales was not prompting the research -- rather, he reiterated the carmaker had a record month in September.

"We're a niche company and we do niche cars. In our 20 year history we've dipped our toes in different places and we see if there's interest. That's what we're doing today.

"We're not under pressure from our customer base, but every customer has an environmental attitude towards life and that's growing. We need to be in there with our own answer to it.

"Is it a reason we're not selling cars though -- absolutely not," Harding said.

To comment on this article click here