Where's HSV?

One feature of the Pontiac G8 GXP revealed to the media over the weekend shows a trace of HSV DNA. The wheels fitted to the GXP (more here) in GM's media photos appear to be the same as the 20-inch jobs fitted to the HSV GTS.

And that raises a question allowed to go begging. What has been HSV's involvement in the development of the LS3 application for the G8 GXP?

"The GXP itself, in terms of building it, that's going to be a Holden [product]," said John Lindsay, Holden's Manager - Media Relations.

"We have our global rear-wheel drive team here and they're developing this car globally. These guys [Holden and HSV engineers] talk to each other, but formally, the car is developed by the international team based here in Melbourne.

"They would be developing it with Pontiac, to their requirements," he said, explaining that the design and development of the car was an all-in effort, without demarcation.

"HSV engineers worked closely with their Holden counterparts on the development and testing of the Pontiac GXP program, as part of GM's centre of global rear-wheel drive expertise in Australia," said HSV's Group Communication Manager, Simon Frost.

Frost could not be drawn on whether the LS3 might find its way into the HSV range, but the Corvette-power precedent has been established in the past and HSV's involvement in the GXP application -- no matter how far out on the periphery -- is noteworthy.

But as for the wheels, Frost was not at all sure that the wheels fitted to the car were for anything but show.

"It does look a little like a GTS wheel, but I've spoken to our guys and they don't believe that Bridgestone would be in a position in Australia to supply the quantity that would be required in America, so it must just be for the [New York] show car," he said.

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