HSV revisits Clubsport history

HSV says the GXP programme is a limited production run of 400 sedans - not an insignificant number given HSV sold only 2870 cars last year.

Holden Special Vehicles has wound back the clock with its limited-edition entry-level E2 priced like a VX ClubSport of a decade ago.

The cut-price GXP is HSV's response to the global financial crisis, and comes in at $76,990 for the ClubSport GXP sedan and $68,590 for the Maloo GXP ute.

Holden Special Vehicles have confirmed the debut of two new models in the HSV line-up for 2010 based on the Pontiac G8 GXP programme.

New Zealand will get 52 examples of the GXP, made up of 43 sedans and nine utes. Both variants are expected to land here within the next few weeks.

"We have received a good response already to the GXP models," says HSV's New Zealand manager Andrew Lamb. "Customer orders are rolling in."

Across the ditch, HSV managing director Phil Harding says the GXP sedan and ute represent an outstanding opportunity for HSV to complement its existing lineup with a limited-edition entry-level vehicle.

"We receive lots of enquiries about introducing a model to sit as an entry level to our brand and the GXP programme provides us this opportunity," he said. "In order for a car to wear the HSV badge it needs to satisfy three criteria - performance, handling and design. Clearly these cars tick all three boxes."

GM Holden and HSV shared engineering resources in the development and validation programmes for the Pontiac G8 program, which coincided with the development two years ago of the LS3 engine for the HSV range.

HSV's entry-level programme is a direct result of Holden's now deceased US export drive and the sedan is essentially the same as the high-performance Pontiac GXP that sold in limited numbers before General Motors killed off the brand last year.

Rather than waste all that costly engineering work, HSV decided to take much of the Pontiac package, add some of its own features and use it as a new entry-level model.

In recognition of this, it kept the GXP name. HSV decided to also offer a GXP ute, which was never made for Pontiac.

HSV says the GXP programme is a limited production run of 400 sedans and 350 utes, which is not an insignificant number given HSV sold only 2870 cars last year.

The company would not rule out producing similar models in the future, although they might not run the GXP name. The GXP runs the same mechanical package as other HSV models, barring the GTS.

That means an LS3 6.2-litre small-block V8 generating 317kW at 6000rpm and 550Nm at 4600rpm.

The GXP variants come standard with a six-speed manual. A a six-speed automatic is optional.

HSV has not provided an official 0-100km/h sprint time, but there is nothing to suggest the GXP sedan would take any longer than the ClubSport R8, which does that run in 4.9 seconds.

The GXP models look identical to the ClubSport and Maloo versions from the front end. There is the same vented bonnet, bumper and air dam as well as the guard vents. HSV has also included the front bumper-mounted LED daytime running lights.

The GXP also comes with metal-look wing mirrors and chrome door handles. From the side, the GXP can be identified by its 19-inch alloy you may recognise from the previous E1 range.

Both the sedan and ute look more like a Commodore than an HSV from the rear. While other HSV models runs unique HSV LED tail lights, the GXP sedan and ute both make do with the standard Commodore tail lights.

The GXP does have a unique lower rear fascia with diffuser, two aluminium exhaust tips and a subtle rear bootlid spoiler.

GXP utes run a soft tonneau cover with HSV logo, instead of the lockable hard tonneau of the Maloo.

The interior is identical to the ClubSport R8 and Maloo. That means the Calais centre console with colour information screen, extra gauges at the top of the centre stack and HSV instrument cluster.

Wrap-around cloth seats come straight from the ClubSport R8 and Maloo. HSV has moved to prevent GXP customers from upgrading the seats to leather by not offering that option.

The GXP sedan uses the same suspension that Holden engineers set up for the Pontiac GXP, which has unique springs and dampers.

Given that no Pontiac GXP ute was developed, HSV had to come up with its own solution for its ute.

It left the Commodore SS front springs and dampers alone, but wanted to rework the rear end, which it felt sat too high. The solution was to fit the rear suspension architecture from the Maloo ute, but retain the SS dampers.

HSV fitted both the sedan and ute with the premium Brembo brakes with four-piston front callipers latching on to 355mm ventilated discs. On the rear, single-piston callipers grab 324mm discs at the rear.

HSV has limited the options to a sunroof, satellite navigation, roof-mounted DVD for the sedan, a spare wheel (instead of the pump repair kit) and rear parking sensors.

Meanwhile, go-fast house Walkinshaw Performance has released an "E2 Supercar" kit for HSV owners, headlined by a black-finished WP190 supercharger that extracts 480kW of power and 802Nm of torque from GM's 6.2-litre Chevrolet LS3 V8.

It is priced at A$49,920 ($64,105) across the ditch and comes with a full no-cost drivetrain warranty for vehicles still under HSV's new-car warranty.

The E2 package also comprises WP's new carbon-fibre fender vents, bonnet scoop, mirrors and hood header, a WP three-inch bi-modal exhaust system, WP lowered suspension kit, unique new WP 20-inch alloy wheels, unique WP engine covers, mats and head restraints and a WP carbon-fibre low-series spoiler.

"To be able to extract up to 480kW from the 6.2 litre Chevrolet LS3 V8 engine will make the Walkinshaw E2 Supercar a true collector's item," said WP's sales manager Tony Harris.