MIMS: Grange gets vintage pricing and E-Series off to the Ol'Dart

HSV is out for more Euro blood... That's the message loud and clear from the Holden hot-shoe brigade at MIMS today.

It was delivered via a two-pronged spear -- super sharp pricing for the new Grange long-wheelbase HSV model, and the confirmation of a three-year export agreement with Vauxhall in the United Kingdom.

Unveiled at the Sydney Motor Show, the Grange is based on Holden's Caprice but gets a dose of HSV go-fast parts including the company's bespoke 307kW V8, and a recalibrated version of the GTS's Magnetic Ride Control dampers.

Arguably the most luxurious and comprehensively equipped HSV car ever, six figure pricing was bandied about for the model. However HSV announced today it would debut at $82,990 when it goes on sale in late April. This is a hefty premium over Holden's own circa $70K Caprice flagship but substantially less than the outgoing HSV model.

And if the pricing looks familiar then remember you read it here first -- back in November 2006 we said : "The $89,950 pricetag for the previous Grange is now looking too high under the new E-series 'regime'. Plan on getting a little change from $85K when it goes on sale in the first quarter of 2007... Even with on road costs this will keep the new car well under the outgoing model." For more see here

HSV's first large-scale export program is also after Euro scalps -- this time via the UK. Announced to Vauxhall dealers just a week ago, the VXR8 goes onsale in the UK soon at a price around 34,000 pounds sterling. Or as HSV is saying "less than half the price of a M5."

The ad campaign is said to read: "Don't mourn the Monaro, here comes the VXR8..."

Essentially a Clubsport with an up-spec interior (ie: no MRC), around 900 VXR8s will be sold in the UK over the next three years, HSV sources said.

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