More power for Australia's fastest car

[Express]

More power for Australia's fastest car


Holden's performance arm HSV is readying upgrades to its sledgehammer GTS sedan.

June 25 2015 - 3:28PM
Sam Hall



Big bang: HSV is set to raise the power stakes on its flagship GTS. Photo: Supplied


Australia's fastest, most powerful homegrown car is likely to go out with an even bigger bang when production ends in 2017.

Fairfax Media has learned that Holden's performance arm, HSV (Holden Special Vehicles), is developing power upgrades for its flagship GTS sedan to coincide with the closure of Holden's Australian manufacturing operations. A company source has hinted the Melbourne-based tuner will raise outputs of the current 430kW/740Nm supercharged V8 in a move that would ensure it remains the most powerful production vehicle ever built in the country.

The upgrade would likely lower the GTS' 0-100km/h time to below four seconds; down from a current best time of 4.1 seconds during Drive testing.

"We are still looking to see what can be done with the GTS," the source said.

"You get a bunch of revhead engineers together in one room and that's what happens. You can be assured that they're working on something."

The GTS has been a huge hit for HSV in Australia, with more than 2000 vehicles sold since the Gen-F variant launched in 2013. While HSV has vowed to continue building performance models after Holden's manufacturing closure, the GTS looms as the last of the company's traditional V8 products, along with the rest of the Gen-F range.

The source said there have been no major reliability issues reported with current 6.2-litre LSA engine's outputs, and was adamant more power could be extracted without affecting long-term durability.

HSV's last-hurrah GTS is likely to coincide with a new 6.2-litre naturally-aspirated V8 finding its way into the final update of Holden's SS Commodore. Up from the current 270kW to more than 300kW.

As reported by Drive in May, the Series II VF Commodore is set to be released this later this year with an uprated engine along with modest styling and cosmetic revisions. It is also understood that ute and wagon variants will also be lightly updated at the rear – bringing the first major change to those models since the VE Commodore was launched in 2006.

Changes to the SS Commodore will likely provoke HSV to leverage power outputs on its entry-level 6.2-litre naturally-aspirated V8 models in a bid to hold a clear performance buffer over its Holden donor cars. That means more powerful versions of the Clubsport, Maloo, Senator and Grange, ensuring that Holden's final lineage of homegrown V8s will be the fastest in history.

http://www.drive.com.au/motor-news/m...25-ghx89e.html

[2011G6E]

Well worth it in a car whose expense and exclusivity ensures it will never be shown a racetrack or a drag strip, driven in a country with a speed camera behind every bush and on every overpass, and speed limits which get slower every year...

[duaned]

Your statement also mostly applies the FGX XR8. Haven't seen you complain about that!

[Storme93]

Originally Posted by duaned

Your statement also mostly applies the FGX XR8. Haven't seen you complain about that!

His statement does not apply to the XR8 at all, the XR8 is almost half the price of an optioned GTS, which means they are in the price bracket where owners are much more likely to be willing to run them down the strip or take them on the track

[1TUFFUTE]

Originally Posted by duaned

Your statement also mostly applies the FGX XR8. Haven't seen you complain about that!

This product has been developed to 'regain' the mantel of Australia's most powerful car. Which they seem to keep forgetting is NOT the current HSV, but the Ford Gt 351!
And the heading comically uses the words "fastest" instead of "most powerful". A funny little back flip on wording after Holden and the journos got slapped in the face by the Gt351 in earlier dyno tests.
And I'll eat my pants if they get a GTS in the 3s to 100 using their normal testing methods with just a power gain. (and by normal I mean on the same dirty unprepared street they've used for years)

And If this was a Ford themed article...I garuntee the focus would be on the Chinese imported garbage that these cars are about to be.....

[new2ford]

Originally Posted by 2011G6E

Well worth it in a car whose expense and exclusivity ensures it will never be shown a racetrack or a drag strip, driven in a country with a speed camera behind every bush and on every overpass, and speed limits which get slower every year...

With all those restrictions, what's needed in this country is cars that can achieve the highest average speed in order to at least partly compensate for the cap on maximum speeds. Acceleration and ability to go around bends safely at highest possible speeds would be high on the list.

No doubt the GTS will do that but there are a number of cars on the market that will do it less expensively!

So for the politically incorrect among us, what is its maximum speed then?

[Whitey-AMG]

Good on them.
If only the blue oval boys continued to be as passionate and focused.
If I had the cash , this would be in my driveway pronto.

[JIm260]

It would be nice if Ford did the same thing to the final GT, just to remind Holden about the GTHO......

Cheers
Jim

[Franco Cozzo]

Holden/HSV is probably less tight with money to allow their engineers to do things like this, they can probably float an idea and there isn't too much squirming in chairs coming from management and less "we will certainly take it into consideration" (AKA - No chance).

I imagine the Ford engineers ask to do something and management yells out NO! Bad engineers! *whacks hand* NO!

Unless its for the USA market than go ahead.

[responsef6]

Originally Posted by Bluey-GT

Good on them.
If only the blue oval boys continued to be as passionate and focused.
If I had the cash , this would be in my driveway pronto.

The blue oval boys are actually more passionate , creating gtf and final sprint versions against Ford US and upper management that doesn't support promoting the final falcon or fast falcons... The passion is definitely there to keep pushing the envelope whilst marketing dept tries to avoid even recognising the falcon is still around

[Whitey-AMG]

Originally Posted by responsef6

The blue oval boys are actually more passionate , creating gtf and final sprint versions against Ford US and upper management that doesn't support promoting the final falcon or fast falcons... The passion is definitely there to keep pushing the envelope whilst marketing dept tries to avoid even recognising the falcon is still around

As much as I love the GTF and have defended it to the naysayers , it really wanes in comparison to the GTS as a focused performance product In terms of hardware used , from diff , to brakes , to wheels , to driveline cooling etc etc.. And even the electronic gizmos in the cabin that give the GTS are much more wholistic approach to its intent. Obviously much deeper pockets at HSV , but you have to hand it to them , they really do look after their buyers.
I reckon a 500Kw factory GTS would be hard to go by. It's a good thing.

[Elks]

"We are still looking to see what can be done with the GTS," the source said.

So GM are looking at it and Drive run a head line like there is an actual announcement. Maybe they will shoehorn in a Miami motor and give it some real go.

[bangm001]

Comon guys, this is awsome news. These will be a killer drive but $$$

[Ippy289XP]

Holden will build it claiming said power and then a NON GM dyno will provide the real power figure.

[BENT_8]

Originally Posted by Elks

So GM are looking at it and Drive run a head line like there is an actual announcement.

Would that be anything like the 2 pages dedicated to a car advice article about Sprints which hasnt been confirmed...

[sprintman1]

I'd take an M3 or M5 over that any day for the same price.

[Whitey-AMG]

Originally Posted by sprintman1

I'd take an M3 or M5 over that any day for the same price.

M3 is @ 150-160k
M5 is @ 220k +

Not really in same price range by any stretch. ( as a new car purchase )

[responsef6]

Originally Posted by Bluey-GT

M3 is @ 150-160k
M5 is @ 220k +

Not really in same price range by any stretch. ( as a new car purchase )

Great cabins, great drives but BMW has lost the plot with synthesing the engine note... something our lowly fords don't need with our supercharged v8s and f6/xr6t turbo boost jet exhaust note. Then there is the cash involved

[responsef6]

Smart money is on last of the breed Aussie performance blue or red... Relative bargains that will make you smile for little $ and will appreciate every year (a bit) for the next 2 decades. But a bit each year compounded will see these last hurrahs worth bulk coin by then

[sprintman1]

Originally Posted by Bluey-GT

M3 is @ 150-160k
M5 is @ 220k +

Not really in same price range by any stretch. ( as a new car purchase )

I said same price so obviously used. V10 M5 do the job nicely

[responsef6]

I decided to go a v10 m5 about 3 years ago... Took it for a test drive and was underwhelmed (comparing to my fg f6). In the dealership I looked back at my f6 and thought, f6 looks better ( my subjective view and not a fan of 5 series boot) and goes faster in normal road driving/rolling acceleration than m5. Decided then and there to keep the f6 for a few more years at least

[Whitey-AMG]

Originally Posted by sprintman1

I said same price so obviously used. V10 M5 do the job nicely

Then you'd be looking at an 09 model. 6 years old.
Good luck with any issues. Big $$$$$ to fix.
Performance wise it wouldn't be quicker than a revamped GTS anyways.

[futura]

Guessing 500Kw badge would be there aim of the final GTS. Knowing HSV past track record, this figure will be over rated.

[Whitey-AMG]

Originally Posted by futura

Guessing 500Kw badge would be there aim of the final GTS. Knowing HSV past track record, this figure will be over rated.

On the dyno yes, but on the road and track tests, GTS has proven time and time again in many comparos that it's a weapon. I guess all the money spent on chassis development paid off for them. Blinkers off for a moment , it's definitely a great package.

[futura]

Originally Posted by Bluey-GT

On the dyno yes, but on the road and track tests, GTS has proven time and time again in many comparos that it's a weapon. I guess all the money spent on chassis development paid off for them. Blinkers off for a moment , it's definitely a great package.

Sticker tyres make a big difference on the track. And with
more intercoolers that you can poke a stick at, you would not expect anything less.

HSV have the money to burn, not too mention a more cable chassis to work with.

[sprintman1]

Originally Posted by Bluey-GT

Then you'd be looking at an 09 model. 6 years old.
Good luck with any issues. Big $$$$$ to fix.
Performance wise it wouldn't be quicker than a revamped GTS anyways.

Yeah M3 would be the go a lot more chuckable and cheaper to maintain.

[Whitey-AMG]

Originally Posted by futura

With more intercoolers that you can poke a stick at, you would not expect anything less.

HSV have the money to burn, not too mention a more cable chassis to work with.

Well yes.
That's my point. They had a vision and they executed and are now rumoured to improve on that again.
Bias aside...Kudos to HSV.

[Dr Terry]

Originally Posted by sprintman1

Yeah M3 would be the go a lot more chuckable and cheaper to maintain.

Yes, definitely more "chuckable", but how many 2nd hand BMWs have you owned.

An M3 is not a cheap car to maintain.

Dr Terry

[Dr Terry]

Originally Posted by Ippy289XP

Holden will build it claiming said power and then a NON GM dyno will provide the real power figure.

It's not Holden or GM we are talking about.

Unlike the virtually 'in-house' FPV set-up, HSV is an independent company in a separate part of town, with their own dyno.

ATM, Holden are very cash strapped, but HSV are not.

Dr Terry.

[GTP534]

Hopefully Ford will do the XR6 "Sprint" and XR8 "Sprint" and I'm sure the comparos will be interesting.