HSV TO BRING THE U.S. BIG GUNS HERE

Holden and HSV today has announced details of a new deal that on the surface looks great. The American sourced Chevrolet Camaro and enormous Chevrolet Silverado ute will go on sale in Australia and New Zealand via HSV accredited dealerships. They won’t be branded as Holden’s or HSV’s but will be simply converted to right-hand-drive and of course comply with Australian design rules.

This kind of conversion has been available forever and a day, but at least there will be some sense of certainty when it comes to the quality of the Aussie finished product. Prices are yet to be announced, however the Camaro for example which is a direct competitor for Ford’s Mustang will cost a bucket more.

The five-model Chevrolet range will look like this.

• 2500HD WT
• 2500HD LTZ
• 2500HD LTZ “Midnight” Edition
• 2500HD LTZ “Custom Sport” Edition
• 3500HD LTZ

The vital stats include.

• Duramax 6.6L Turbo Diesel V8 engine
• 332kW* of power
• 1,234 Nm* of torque
• Allison 1000 6-speed automatic transmission
• Towing capacity of 3.5 – 6.1 tonne* (model dependent)
• Payload capacity of 1,140kg – 1,848kg* (model dependent)
• 4-wheel anti-lock disc brakes
• Automatic locking rear differential

HSV has also got their hands on the Holden Colorado. Don’t expect a boost in power, not at this stage anyway. The Colorado “SportsCat” gets a new body kit and fairly substantial chassis enhancements. The dual-cab will arrive in two variants, SportsCat and SportsCat+.

They feature HSV sports suspension and front ride height has been raised by 25mm. Added modifications include the adoption of a rear de-coupling anti-roll bar on the SportsCat+. This basically improves higher speed road driving body control and is also useful for off-road performance.

SupaShock suspension, as introduced to the Australian market on HSV’s epic GTSR W1, will also be a factory-fitted option exclusively on the SportsCat+. Fair to say this will be one of the best handling dual-cabs ever.

It will also stop almost on a dime with the SportsCat+ scoring better brakes with font 4-piston forged AP Racing brake callipers complemented by 362mm x 32mm diameter rotors and a large (25.4mm) diameter brake master cylinder.

All models will come online thoughout 2018 with final pricing yet to be confirmed. But the elephant in the room remains. What about the new German-sourced Commodore, well it appears HSV are at a loss when it comes to what was once their exclusive stomping ground…