HSV will live on after Holden

[fgpsi]

Holden Special Vehicles (HSV) says it will continue to produce performance cars in Australia beyond Holden’s manufacturing closure in 2017.

The big mystery moving forward surrounds what cars HSV will actually modify for local customers.

HSV managing director Phil Harding confirmed the performance arm’s intentions to continue producing modified vehicles while speaking with Fairfax Media on Wednesday, just hours after Holden revealed it would be closing manufacturing operations.

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“The business at Clayton has been providing excitement in the auto industry for the last 26 years, I don’t plan to stop,” he said.

“The origin of the car isn’t necessarily the driving factor (for HSV).”

Harding was understandably coy on how HSV would operate in Australia without the locally-produced Commodore; while HSV has in the past sold imported cars (including versions of the Astra), it's modified versions of V8 Commodores that the brand is known for.

HSV currently produces six models which are based on the architecture and underpinnings of the VF Commodore. The modifications undertaken by HSV strictly apply to performance and cosmetic enhancements.

HSV's new top-range model released earlier this year, the HSV GTS, is the fastest, most powerful car produced in Australia.

There is speculation that longer term General Motors could begin importing right-hand drive Chevrolet variants, such as the Camaro or Corvette, to appease local performance enthusiasts once the Commodore is axed. The current cars are not engineered for right-hand-drive, but GM has long talked of potentially changing that.

Given Ford's decision to engineer its Mustang for right-hand-drive - the car goes on sale in Australia in 2015 - it could provide an added incentive for GM.

There are also suggestions that General Motors could develop more right-hand-drive muscle cars for markets such as Australia in future. The Chevrolet SS - a rebadged Holden Commodore - currently being sold in the US and being used as the brand's entrance into Nascar racing is unlikely to be a short-term marketing decision.

Other than Chevrolet variants, the only Holdens that will be available in Australia in terms of the current line-up would be predominantly restricted to small cars and SUVs.

But Harding refused to speculate on the origins of the brand’s future line-up.

“You know that HSV doesn’t talk about the future,” he said.

“What’s the definition of a performance car in four years’ time? I’m not going to tell … I do think there’s a market for performance cars in Australia.”

HSV currently employs more than 200 people at its headquarters in Clayton, Victoria.

Harding was reticent on whether the company’s employment levels would remain steady even after Holden closes its manufacturing plants in Adelaide and Melbourne.

“If you’re asking me to declare people’s employment opportunities for four years time, I wouldn’t have done that whatever the news today,” Harding said.

“We depend on making good quality cars that customers want, and I’m not going to stop doing that.

“HSV is a strong business and it’s got a strong history. It’s currently very strong, we make the best performance car ever made in Australia and it’s not a bad day for us in that sense.

“It’s an exciting time, we’ve got cars to make, we’ve got customer orders and we’re satisfying them.”

http://smh.drive.com.au/motor-news/h...211-2z674.html

[jpd80]

Whistling in the dark, most people identify HSV with modified Holdens and when
that stops, very few people will be interested in anything other than HP RWDs..

[P6LTD351]

No way will a Corvette or Camaro be called a Holden. If it comes here, it will be under the Chev banner.

HSV - It's just over.

[GASWAGON]

No diff to FPV....Finished!

[Trump]

HSV will fold quicker than an Asian laundry once 2017 rolls around. There is nothing in the GM world (short of the hi-po Yank tanks) that would be worth the effort.

[Motorbreath310]

They don't do a bad job for a company of 200 staff.

[Trump]

Originally Posted by Motorbreath310

They don't do a bad job for a company of 200 staff.

They do a very good job considering their small size. But the GM catalogue is bereft of cars that even come close to Special. Maybe the 'vette and the Cadillac CTS-V...

[cheap]

GM have the Chevrolet SS which would be ideal for HSV

[nstg8a]

Who's to say the yanks won't take all the tooling over there, build their own ss, plus export the commodore back to Australia... Hence hsv survives, Holden fans get to keep their icon.

[au2000]

Originally Posted by nstg8a

Who's to say the yanks won't take all the tooling over there, build their own ss, plus export the commodore back to Australia... Hence hsv survives, Holden fans get to keep their icon.

Dollar value would be the deciding factor there I'd assume. What happens when the Aussie dollar drops to the 60 / 70 cent range again ? How much will our imprt cars cost us then ?

Anyway we keep forgetting holden said when the vf was launched that the next commodore would be mid sized & front wheel drive

[1TUFFUTE]

Originally Posted by Motorbreath310

They don't do a bad job for a company of 200 staff.

Not bad for a bolt on company. At least we rebuilt 70% of our fpvs engines and worked on engines built and designed here. Hsv deffinately put a good package together tho.

I'd love to see hsv stay with 'proper' modified cars like we get now.
I'd like to see ford do this even more. Imagine factory tweaked mustangs, fiesta,focuses and so on. Would LOVE to see this.

Can't trust Holden to do it right tho, that you can take to the bank.....

[BHDOGS]

hsv doing up the new mustang?

[flooded one]

Originally Posted by BHDOGS

hsv doing up the new mustang?

no, they will be supplying chevy badges for the Colorado

[Mighty Reds]

Hyundai Special Vehicles.

[blue sleeper]

Originally Posted by Mighty Reds

Hyundai Special Vehicles.

But I wouldn't laugh too hard it might end up being the only cheap V8 sedan coming to these shores.....

[Syndrome]

Originally Posted by Mighty Reds

Hyundai Special Vehicles.

Or Lada Samara like Brock did one time.

[GTP534]

I wonder if they would produce their own car?

[Trump]

Originally Posted by GTP534

I wonder if they would produce their own car?

HSV doesn't have the resources to do a whole car from the ground up.

[SM1DY]

[Danny]

I wonder if they'd look at a business model based around the (admittedly) niche market of OPC Opels, like the Astra and Corsa? Just a thought.

The American GM cars are complete rubbish. Like Ford, it's the euro cars that are the better vehicles from which to look for a new line up.

[buickman]

So the New Corvette & Camaro are rubbish each to their own but I would take one of them over most Euro cars. But in most US states the Pick up or SUV is the top seller and Australia following.

[Wretched]

Originally Posted by buickman

So the New Corvette & Camaro are rubbish each to their own but I would take one of them over most Euro cars. But in most US states the Pick up or SUV is the top seller and Australia following.

I think he was referring to the ENTIRE range and not a performance niche.

[buickman]

Originally Posted by Wretched

I think he was referring to the ENTIRE range and not a performance niche.

What are you on about they are part of the GM range of cars and the Camaro is a good seller in the states and used as standard type Hire cars.

[Wretched]

Originally Posted by buickman

What are you on about they are part of the GM range of cars and the Camaro is a good seller in the states and used as standard type Hire cars.

I understand that they are part of GM, but they are not bread and butter cars.
I was referring to the entire range that concentrated more on the bread and butter family cars. You know the ones that sell in large numbers.
For example Ford have the Focus, the Fiesta and Mondeo. All are better than the equivalent GM product.

[Flat Top]

Camaro camaro camaro!!!!

[Bill M]

Originally Posted by Flat Top

Camaro camaro camaro!!!!

If HSV can make a case with Camaro then good on them!
At least not all is terminal.
Good luck HSV.

[vztrt]

Originally Posted by Bill M

If HSV can make a case with Camaro then good on them!
At least not all is terminal.
Good luck HSV.

Hopefully they can fix the ride on these cars if they do bring it in.....that and the exhaust sound.

[The FOMOCO]

“HSV is a strong business and it’s got a strong history. It’s currently very strong, we make the best performance car ever made in Australia and it’s not a bad day for us in that sense.

COUGH COUGH COUGH COUGH

[patrickian11]

HSV Barina! yeah i dont see it happening... Unless as someone said, they stick some hsv badges on some of the opel opc models.

[stazza]

Someone needs to photoshop a Camaro with all the HSV usual crap - fake vents everywhere, pointless spoilers, walkingforsure lego bonnet bulge, LED drls everywhere.