Holden Special Vehicles (HSV) has revealed the new HSV Commodore E Series 3 and HSV Maloo R8 20th Anniversary Special Edition, which are packed with more gadgets and aggressive styling than ever before.
Styling for the E3 range carries over largely unchanged from the extensive overhaul given to the E-Series 2 line-up last year, although there is a new spoiler for the sedan models, and larger exhaust tips. The HSV Maloo R8 Anniversary Edition, which celebrates 20-years of the Aussie icon, sports ‘Vector E-vents’ and bonnet scoops and 20-inch black alloy wheels.
Inside, both the HSV E Series 3 and Maloo R8 are fitted with a new ‘Oracle’ dash, with a centre stack that combines the new standard Commodore dash layout with an upgraded version of its own instrument cluster positioned above the centre air-vents and touch-screen. A new model-specific stainless-steel ID plate has pride-of-place in the piano black centre stack, and new twin-stitch seat trims are featured. The steering wheel also gets a subtle update, with a gloss piano black finish applied to the steering-mounted control frames.
In terms of technology, both vehicles features the company’s new Enhanced Driver Interface (EDI), which relays vehicle performance data directly to the car’s touch screen display. Side Blind Zone Alert (SBZA), which will be offered as an option, and a reverse camera with rear park assist are also included. Other on-board computer functions include data logging options, stopwatch and controls for the bi-modal exhaust. But perhaps most appealing to HSV enthusiasts is the race screen, which utilises GPS technology to log and display your efforts on the race track, including lap times, fastest laps, and lap gain and loss. As an added bonus, many of Australia’s race tracks are featured in the system, combining GPS with programmed data to give drivers a more accurate record of their track exploits. Apart from these special features, the HSV Maloo R8 20th Anniversary will also be equipped with the launch control, competition mode ESC, and daytime running lights (DRL’s).
The HSV E3 range’s engine line-up remains largely unchanged, the ClubSport drawing power from the 317 kW LS3 V8 and the GTS powered by the 325 kW version of the same engine. The HSV E Series 3 and Maloo R8 Anniversary Special Edition also come with Liquid Propane Injection (LPI), the first system of its kind on an Australian production car and is available as an option on all models, except for the Clubsport R8 Tourer. “LPI technology injects the LPG as a liquid rather than a vapour. This allows for cooler combustion and better metering, which allow us to maintain engine performance while reducing CO2 emissions,” says HSV engineering boss Joel Stoddart. HSV says its LPI system offers improvements in running costs and emissions outputs of up to 15 percent, while retaining the LS3 engine’s power and torque figures.
The new HSV models go on sale in Australia at the end of September. Only 100 units of the Maloo R8 20th Anniversary ute will be available.
