New HSV Grange points to E3 upgrades

The flagship of the HSV fleet, the Grange, has been given a mid-life makeover with a return to bold styling -- and more technology than any other Australian-made car before it.

The Grange is the first locally-made vehicle to come with an advanced blindspot warning system as well as an onboard data logging system similar to that used in V8 Supercars.

The blindspot warning system was developed by Bosch and is similar to those used by luxury car makers such as Audi, BMW and Volvo. Sensors in the rear bumper detect when a vehicle is alongside in the driver's blindspot, while a sensor at the front of the car detects when the vehicle has passed -- or if the car is driving alongside a guard rail or lane divider.

Discreet lamps either side of the dashboard glow when a car is in the driver's blindspot, but flash rapidly if the driver signals to change lanes.

The system was developed by Bosch for HSV. The Carsales Network understands the technology is not planned for the Holden Caprice update due next month.

HSV has also used the Grange to debut its new Enhanced Driver Interface, or EDI. The system is similar to -- but more advanced than -- the data gathering system used on Nissan's GT-R.

HSV has programmed every racetrack in Australia into the EDI system -- and left some space for you to trace your own track, or one that hasn't been built yet.

The system measures everything from G-force in every direction, brake pressure, stability control -- and then records the lap times and traces your lines and performance lap after lap, just like they do in V8 Supercars. The data can then be downloaded to a USB stick via a port in the glovebox -- and then transferred to a computer for more detailed analysis.

It's unlikely that Grange customers will make full use of this feature but there is a fuel economy display that graphs how much fuel you're using every 2.5km -- a la hybrids like the Toyota Prius.

The information is displayed via the touch screen introduced in Holden's VEII update. The same display is used for the HSV's new navigation system, and rear camera display.

The Grange also gets more power, with an upgrade to 325kW, the same as the GTS sports sedan. Maximum torque (550Nm) is unchanged.

The new features on the HSV Grange are a pointer of what's to come on the new HSV E3 line-up due out in the coming weeks.

The Carsales Network understands that the blindspot warning system, rear camera and EDI will be available on other models but it is not yet clear on which vehicles the extra features will be standard or optional.

Meanwhile, HSV has used the Grange's WM3 upgrade to freshen the appearance of its limousine model with new more aggressive bumpers front and rear.

The front bar gains the HSV daytime running lights that debuted with the E2 range this time last year, while the new rear bar (previously, the WM Grange had a carryover rear bar with a plastic clip around the tailpipes) makes room for the 'shockwave' trapezoidal exhaust tips. A bi-modal exhaust is now also standard on the Grange for the first time.

The $87,900 price of the Grange is likely to remain unchanged but it will be available with the option on an integrated LPG system for an extra $5990.