HSV imports Camaro, Silverado...tweeks Colorado.

[b0son]

30%?? Maybe if they'd gone for the ZL1/1LE, buyers would happily pay a premium because there's nothing in that space.

[Dr Smith]

I would also hazard a guess more non-Ford fans know what a Mustang is vs a Camaro and that the Mustang's potential buyers pool (leaving price aside) would be greater in Australia. Not scientific however my wife and daughter know what a Mustang is....Camaro...no idea....

[FairmontGS]

Nearly $90k for a car that performs the same as the Mustang and some 2nd year apprentice has used a jigsaw on to swap the steering over?

Camaro - the answer to a question that was never asked

[something wrong]

Originally Posted by Chopped

)

Amazing that Ford hasnt been tempted to raise the price of the Mustang, the demand is there so why not take advantage of it.

Maybe they are playing the long game, more Mustangs = more Service and part sales (Mech and Panel) which has more profit than new car sales.

[MAGPIE]

Why no 10 speed in the 2SS, yet the GT has it. It was a Ford/GM thing wasn't it.

[XRtowcar]

If your a GM fan, what else can you look forward to in Aus. Some would never be seen in a Ford, like I would never own a Holden.

[Nikked]

Has the HSV brand lost some importance now that they have lost HRT?

I've always seen the tie between HSV and HRT an important link for brand image, now Red Bull are HRT, does it send a mixed message?

[Bossxr8]

Originally Posted by MAGPIE

Why no 10 speed in the 2SS, yet the GT has it. It was a Ford/GM thing wasn't it.

Isn't the model they are selling the old model that has been superseded in the US?

And the ZL1 already has the 10 speed.


HOLDEN Special Vehicles (HSV) has confirmed that the locally converted Chevrolet Camaro 2SS sportscar will be priced from $85,990 before on-road costs when it enters select Holden showrooms later this month as something of a spiritual successor to the company’s V8 Commodore-based models.

So it's 86k plus on-roads. So nearly 100k drive away. Wow

[Big_Daz]

Originally Posted by Nikked

Has the HSV brand lost some importance now that they have lost HRT?

I've always seen the tie between HSV and HRT an important link for brand image, now Red Bull are HRT, does it send a mixed message?

They have certainly lost some credibility as a Performance Car Company with the Demise of the Aussie Commodore but they have made no secret of the fact that they have had to change direction so they didn't close down, hence the Silverado, Camaro and tarted up Colorado... They are also expanding into other area's (Caravans are one apparently).

As for the pricing, its probably (definitely) too expensive, especially when we can get its main competitor (and line ball performance, etc) for $20k less in the Mustang, and that's a pretty bloody big difference... That's what happens when one is made RHD in the factory and imported by the Manufacturers AU offshoot (mustang) and the other is Imported by someone not owned by the manufacturer and not made RHD in the factory. HSV probably don't get Transfer pricing like Ford would with the Mustang, plus the extra costs of Engineering and Converting each car has to be worn by someone, and that someone will be the Consumer's.... Until such a time as Chev pull their finger out and build them RHD as well as LHD the pricing will keep causing an issue...

Sure, they will still sell some to the 1 eyed Holden/HSV fans and those who have the coin and will only buy GM products but I think there will be more than a few people who, when the time comes to upgrade their Clubby/GTS/SS, will head over to the Blue Oval and grab a mustang...

[roKWiz]

[QUOTE=FairmontGS;6047998
Ford on the other hand, has only ever operated under the Ford brand. No loss of badge value.[/QUOTE]

Er, Mercury in Canada.

[jpd80]

Originally Posted by Bossxr8

Isn't the model they are selling the old model that has been superseded in the US?

And the ZL1 already has the 10 speed.

Nope, 2019 vehicles are still 8-speed auto as GM decided that
the 10-speed auto wasn't necessary below ZL1

HOLDEN Special Vehicles (HSV) has confirmed that the locally converted Chevrolet Camaro 2SS sportscar will be priced from $85,990 before on-road costs when it enters select Holden showrooms later this month as something of a spiritual successor to the company’s V8 Commodore-based models.

So it's 86k plus on-roads. So nearly 100k drive away. Wow

Yep, if the on road costs include registration, GST and LCT then that would be a near $9K LCT sting....
Post production RHD conversion is the gift that keeps on giving...

[FG50T]

Originally Posted by Dr Smith

I would also hazard a guess more non-Ford fans know what a Mustang is vs a Camaro and that the Mustang's potential buyers pool (leaving price aside) would be greater in Australia. Not scientific however my wife and daughter know what a Mustang is....Camaro...no idea....

Part reason why I like the Camaro more. An enthusiast knows what it is and the rest need not apply. I think it will take off slow but GM loyalty will reign through. Plenty of people have laid out 80k+ for the F series HSV's. I wouldn't think they'd hesitate for a slower but hotter car (imo) and finally get to own a modern American muscle car

[Fordman1]

Originally Posted by FG50T

Part reason why I like the Camaro more. An enthusiast knows what it is and the rest need not apply. I think it will take off slow but GM loyalty will reign through. Plenty of people have laid out 80k+ for the F series HSV's. I wouldn't think they'd hesitate for a slower but hotter car (imo) and finally get to own a modern American muscle car

F series HSVs ?

Please explain....

[Dr Terry]

Originally Posted by Fordman1

F series HSVs ?

Please expain....

HSV call their version of the VF Commodore the F series. The VE was the E series & so on.

Dr Terry

[lari1eye]

[QUOTE=jpd80;Don't forget crash testing x 2 cars for front and pole test.
The cost of the two cars written off plust test costs ..... $1 million dollars...Muahahahha[/QUOTE]

Hi, Just can't wait for the Camaro's safety rating to come out.
Both 2018 Mustang and 2018 Camaro have a NHTSA 5 star rating in the USA.
But 2018 Mustang has a 3 star ANCAP rating here in OZ.......
It was great reading on this forum last time......Cheers

[Brazen]

I reckon the Mustang looks way better with its fastback styling. The Camaro looks more like a three box two door sedan.

Don’t think the Camaro is bad value considering you get a sunroof and a 6.2 litre engine but I’d probably still take the Mustang even if they were the same price.

[Bossxr8]

Originally Posted by lari1eye

Hi, Just can't wait for the Camaro's safety rating to come out.
Both 2018 Mustang and 2018 Camaro have a NHTSA 5 star rating in the USA.
But 2018 Mustang has a 3 star ANCAP rating here in OZ.......
It was great reading on this forum last time......Cheers

What's the bet that ANCAP won't even test it, due to the small sales numbers.

[XWGT]

I saw a lot of Camaros in the US last year.
The convertibles with the Brembos looked really sharp.
No way they are worth $90k but hey, competition is always good

[jpd80]

The job of the HSV Camaro is not to beat the RHD Mustang's sales, it's to convince HSV buyers to purchase one.
The luke warm forward orders kinda suggests that HSV has quite a sizeable job in front of them...

[davenl5l]

Heard a rumor that a journalist took a sportcrap out for a review and thought it was hsv's version of a raptor and sexualy damaged it off road

[Fordman1]

Originally Posted by davenl5l

Heard a rumor that a journalist took a sportcrap out for a review and thought it was hsv's version of a raptor and sexualy damaged it off road

Sexualy ?

Goodness those journalists are a big concern.

[DFB FGXR6]

Originally Posted by jpd80

The job of the HSV Camaro is not to beat the RHD Mustang's sales, it's to convince HSV buyers to purchase one.
The luke warm forward orders kinda suggests that HSV has quite a sizeable job in front of them...

Being an obsolete model won't be helping either. HSV are relying on the sort of customer who want something interesting and new and yet they are serving up yesterdays hero. No wonder they have only sold about 150 on pre-order.

[FairmontGS]

Originally Posted by roKWiz

Er, Mercury in Canada.

It's an Australian discussion, not international.

[jpd80]

Originally Posted by davenl5l

Heard a rumor that a journalist took a sportcrap out for a review and thought it was hsv's version of a raptor and sexualy damaged it off road

That would be most unfortunate, especially with lots of blabber mouths... err, journalists there.

[roKWiz]

Originally Posted by FairmontGS

It's an Australian discussion, not international.

goodo

[FairmontGS]

Originally Posted by roKWiz

goodo

Sorry, what I meant was that the Ford brand in Oz hasn't suffered the same loss of value as Holden because Holden will be reduced to GM, but Ford is still Ford.

[Dr Smith]

Originally Posted by FG50T

Part reason why I like the Camaro more. An enthusiast knows what it is and the rest need not apply. I think it will take off slow but GM loyalty will reign through. Plenty of people have laid out 80k+ for the F series HSV's. I wouldn't think they'd hesitate for a slower but hotter car (imo) and finally get to own a modern American muscle car

Yeah but an F-series HSV 4-door sedan is never going to happen ever again and even myself, a Ford fan would have considered one if in the market. Camaro isn't ending however factory RHD build is still up in the air while Ford US HQ knows that they have a good market now for RHD build. I just wish GM would drop the over-done looks but that is a personal opinion only.

[DJR-351]

https://www.bigrigs.com.au/news/new-...eview/3535917/

by Craig Duff

28th Sep 2018 8:16 AM

BUILD it and they will come. That's the rationale behind HSV's laborious and expensive conversion of Chevrolet's Camaro to right-hand drive.

Just 550 of the muscle cars will be converted and more than 70 per cent have been pre-sold - despite an $86,000 sticker price that makes the bow-tie badged V8 about $20,000 dearer than a top-spec Ford Mustang.

HSV managing director Tim Jackson makes no apologies for the cost. He can't match Ford's economies of scale.

The Mustang sells at better than 7000 a year in Australia and is factory built in right-hand drive. HSV must fabricate more than 350 new parts to ensure the conversion meets GM standards for a genuine factory product.

"This car looks and feels like a factory right-hand drive product because that's what it is," he says.

"We've invested millions in R&D, engineering and tooling to ensure this car is just as safe and drives just like a left-hook Camaro. We even crashed four pilot cars to ensure we complied with Australian Design Rules."

The steering wheel swap is so in-depth it includes removing not just the engine but stripping the headlamps and re-engineering the internals for driving on the left side of the road.

Even the driver's footwall is enlarged to meet factory specification.

Unlike most conversions, the boot and bonnet releases are on the driver's side and you're hard pressed to see - or hear - that the car has been stripped down and rebuilt. The only thing HSV couldn't achieve with the first batch was to recalibrate the head-up display for the repositioned cockpit and Jackson says that's a "work in progress".

It also can't offer the latest model Camaro, which was launched in the United States earlier this year with revised styling, upgraded infotainment and safety features and a 10-speed automatic with launch control.

"We're a niche player in this segment but if you look at the V8 performance sports car market the Camaro still represents great value, especially at the specification we've brought it in with," Jackson says of the leather-trimmed, Bose audio-equipped car.

HSV is considering whether to test deeper performance waters with the Camaro ZL1, effectively a supercharged 485kW/868Nm version of the Camaro SS. The ZL1 would push well past the six-figure mark.

Demand for this batch of naturally aspirated 6.2-litre V8 Camaros will determine how many of the new model HSV will order.

The V8 rumble will convince existing HSV customers still sitting on the fence to buy a Camaro. The bi-modal exhaust goes from sonorously sexy at low revs to drag-strip delirious as the 6.2-litre engine builds to its peak revs at 6000rpm.

It should be an irresistible lure for HSV buyers who want performance and are prepared to forgo Commodore levels of space.

Any acceleration beyond 3000rpm is accompanied by instant surge from the engine, though the eight-speed auto can take a heartbeat to kick down in response to the right foot pressure. In HSV's defence, this version has been specifically about the drive conversion rather than trying to tweak the engine and transmission.

For the record the Camaro hits 100km/h from rest in 4.0 seconds, about 0.3 sec under the Mustang GT's claimed time, and uses less fuel according to the claimed combined thirst of 11.5L/100km to the Ford's 13.1L.

Where the Camaro shines is on sweeping corners. The two-door coupe turns in decisively but is then designed to be driven on the back end and powered through the turn. The limited-slip diff and forgivably firm suspension - this is a sports car - then ensure the Chevy hooks in and hunkers.

The steering is direct and has decent heft and feedback across the rev range. At less enthusiastic speeds the Camaro deactivates four cylinders to try to save fuel under light throttle.

It is entirely entertaining, even if the narrow rear view compromises everyday practicality and there's no active safety beyond blind-spot and rear cross-traffic alerts.

On paper, the Camaro can justify its premium over the Mustang from a straight-line perspective but we'll need a comparison review to see how the pair handle the same winding bitumen at the same time.

VERDICT

3.5 stars

The Camaro is a stand-out car, even at this price. Much like the Mustang, pent-up demand will ensure the first batch shifts. Is it objectively better value than the Ford? No. Will that stop it selling to the GM faithful? No again.



CHEVROLET CAMARO 2SS

PRICE: $85,990 plus on-road costs

WARRANTY/SERVICING: 3 years/100,000km; no capped price servicing

ENGINE: 6.2-litre V8, 339kW/617Nm

SAFETY: Not tested, 7 airbags, blind-spot and rear cross-traffic alert

THIRST: 11.5L/100km

SPARE: None

Boot:257L

[fgpsi]

man those colorado's are hunks of junk. ranger is so much better

[MITCHAY]

I spotted a blue Camaro today not far from my house in Gordon. They look really good in the flesh IMO.