Holden and HSV cars

[David Votoupal]

Hello,

this is my first time on the forum and I'm very happy to join in.

Anyhow, as a big fan of BMWs and of hotshot cars in general, here in Australia we're lucky to get one of the best performance sleepers around. The Holden Commodore (which has Opel-inspired style, by the way) is our best-selling car and you can get a Chevrolet 5.7 V8 option with around 300bhp and 6-speed manual in standard form. For an affordable price, this provides brilliant performance capable of keeping up with BMWs, Jaguars and Mercs.
HSV (Holden Special Vehicles) is Holden's performance division much like BMW's M division, and it provides the hottest Holdens, which are fantastic cars and have received rave reviews. HSV cars have a 340bhp version of the Chevy V8, providing superb performance and now there is the GTS which has over 400bhp.

Have you heard about Holden/HSV cars? If so, have you any thoughts? Comments will be appreciated.

Cheers,
David

[Eric]

Is the Holden similar to the CSV Strada Extreme SiR?

I found an interesting page comparing the M5, E55,and the CSV at:
http://www.netspace.net.au/~pandalai...Comparison.htm

[John Robinson]

Hi,

HSV is to Holden what ///M is to BMW. CSV is to Holden what someone like Hartge is to BMW.

The CSV is based on the older Holden V8 powerplant. This engine has recently been dropped, and replaced by the Chevy LS1 motor. In stock form, it produces 220kW in the Commodore. HSVs mild version produces 250kW, and their hot version is 300kW.

I can't wait to see a comparison between the M5 and a HSV Senator 6 speed with 300kW (if they ever build one)

Regards

John

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Visit the ///M5 Springboard, at http://www.netspace.net.au/~jrobbo/M5

[Alex]

Hi, the Holden Commodore is the Opel Omega right.
And the Holden Statesman is the Chevy Caprice.
Please feel free to correct me.
Thanks.

[John Robinson]

Hi Alex,

The Commodore is based on the Omega, but they are quite different underneath. The Statesman is in effect a stretched Commodore, and bares no relation to the Chevy Caprice.

Regards

John


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Visit the ///M5 Springboard, at http://www.netspace.net.au/~jrobbo/M5

[Alex]

The first part is very true because we sell the Omega here and I found some pics of the Commodore and they look alike, but the Statesman does look similar to the Caprice here as well, the Ausralian made Caprice.

[Kirium]

hi folks. nice to see some fellow ausies on the board. i have been to Mildura, VIC and went to see the Corsa Specialised Vehicles factory after christmas 97. i spent the day yacking was aussie journo, Jonathan Hawley and CSV boss Peter Dichiera, while witnessing the birth of the first VT CSV (as featured in MOTOR Feb '98, "The Corsa Cource.") The car was awesome. the people were fantastic (i scored a free cap and a wad of stuff like posters and stickers) and witnessing the fine-tuning of the Strada 5000 Si. it was a fantastic experience. the next CSV, the 330 killer-watt Veloce will without doubt blow the GTS away, but at a higher price premium. i have seen the way Dichera lovingly tenders to the engine, polishing the cylinders, perfectly balancing every new component, even shaving away metal from the cylinders to ensure they are all identicle in volume so every cylinder does the same amount of work. where HSV has a production line, CSV has a small warehouse where the cars are hand built to his exact specs. amazing experience, highly reccommended.

Dylan

[JEM]

Regarding the Chevy Caprice comment below:

There was some discussion at one point about LHD versions of the Aussie Holdens being sold in some markets (mostly Middle East) as Chevrolets. Not sure if this holds true or not.

Walked around the Opel headquarters at Russelsheim last week (literally around - not inside, but through the parking lots) and encountered an Opel Sintra/Chevy Venture type minivan branded as a "Chevrolet Trans Sport". Also a couple Cadillac Cateras (US versions of the Omega)...and an E34 M5 Touring.

[fluff34]

G'day
I happened to take a tour of the Holden Factory at Elizabeth, outside of Adelaide the other week. Indeed, Holden Statesmen are rebadged as Chevrolet Caprice and sold in the Middle East, Mainly Saudi Arabia. Also, they are also sold in Brazil, as Chevrolets.