Holden Special Vehicles outdid themselves with the Gen-F GTS, which could be interpreted as a four-door Chevy Camaro ZL1 if one desires, as it’s the most powerful vehicle Australia has ever produced by far. However, the chances of HSV doing something like that ever again appear to be slim-to-none, based on the words of HSV managing director Phil Harding.
“You’re going through the same hurdles (to add small amounts of power and torque) — certification, homologation, development, testing – and it’s just becoming hugely expensive,” said Harding in a GoAuto report. He also warns that what was just done with the GTS is essentially at “the legal limit” of the Australian Design Rules — the country’s standards for vehicle safety, emissions and anti-theft. Considering every LSA-powered vehicle for sale in America gets slammed with the gas guzzler tax, we’re guessing the HSV GTS encroaches on the emissions limit.
“I don’t need to keep outdoing myself each year, and since the E-Series upgrade was launched the progress of power increases has been slower than it has in the previous 20 years,” Harding stated.
Enjoy the Gen-F GTS while you can, Australia.
Comments
Don’t like that last line, lets hope he is not in the know about commodores future platform and was giving a hint to it’s future between the toaster and the dishwasher
The hint is that the F is old and even the refresh is limited. Holden made it clear they already have a new RWD on a Global platform that is well into development.
Now they have not said anything but I expect the new car is on the Alpha and will carry us to us a LT bases engine in much lighter package. Performance will be improved the new fashioned way of weight reduction and we will see improvments in handling and braking that more engine can not deliver.
Also I suspect the new car will also be built here since it is global and that will make it able to be built along with the new Camaro, CTS and ATS. This means lower volumes will be profitable and we may see more variations like a V6 and even a Ute as no exchange rate issue and shipping will be in the way.
While GM may not be talking much there is a lot going on that many just do not consider.
RWD may only end up getting better and not lost here.
Note Holden is now really Chevy. They will share 90% of their products and it will benefit them both. Holden needs help with the Asian invasion in Australia and Chevy has been a help with that.