HSV, or Holden Special Vehicles, has often been about one thing: power. For decades, HSV took standard Commodores and built powerful muscle cars fit for bedroom posters. But, with Holden’s future limited to imports, HSV must change, too. And its new agreement with Holden provides a new business opportunity moving forward.
The HSV Colorado SportsCat is the start of a fresh relationship with Holden. In fact, the off-road pickup is actually branded “Holden Colorado SportsCat by HSV,” in an effort to tie Holden and HSV closer together, no doubt. Another big change: the SportsCat isn’t about power, but rather, off-road refinement. There are no upgrades to its 2.8-liter Duramax turbodiesel four-cylinder engine.
HSV’s market research showed consumers weren’t keen on more power in a Colorado, but they were interested in a better off-road package. So, HSV did just that. The Colorado SportsCat will come in two versions: SportsCat and SportsCat+.
The first features a reinforced strut brace, enlarged anti-roll bar, and stiffer, raised, springs. The base SportsCat also earns MTV dampers, a wider track, and 18-inch tires by Cooper. HSV and Cooper designed the tires to be a better all-round off-road performer in wet, dry, and other elements. Finally, a larger master brake cylinder and a retuned stability control system round out the pickup.
Moving into the SportsCat+, the range-topping off-roader adds many other goodies. Notably, it’s styled differently and features a honeycomb grille, wheel arch surrounds, and a restyled hood with a more prominent bulge. AP Racing brakes are present at all four corners and the rear suspension features an electro-hydraulic anti-roll bar for improved wheel articulation. SupaShock dampers, as found on the GTSR W1, are also optional.
All SportsCats benefit from improved approach and departure angles and ground clearance.
The HSV SportsCat joins the company’s expanded range of vehicles for 2018, which will include the Chevrolet Camaro and Chevrolet Silverado HD. Definitive on-sale dates weren’t provided for the Camaro and Silverado, but the SportsCat goes on sale in February of 2018.
Comments
Sean you may want to dig around on the HSV Wildfire Colorado.
https://www.4x4australia.com.au/news/1712/walkinshaw-colorado-wildfire-in-the-works
Looks much more interesting.
It appears that the mid size truck or Ute wars are about to begin down under.
SportsCat? Thats the best the marketing department could come up with?
Or just get a ZR2.
Not an option in Australia.
Check out the Wildfire in the link. ZR what?
Should be ‘ZR3’ to reflect the use of the LF3 engine block; as in ‘Holden Colorado Wildfire ZR3’…or just the ‘ZR3’ for short. 🙂
ZR+odd number is clearly a ‘performance’ configuration as in Corvette ZR1, Colorado ZR3.
Then ZR+even numbers can be reserved for ‘off-road’ configurations as in the ZR2.
These trucks get harder to sell at $40k and over $50k they would be damn near impossible.
This is why Holden is letting HSV do this. If you do tnis here in the low numbers it would be sold in you let SLP or Lingenfelter do it. Other wise you would never make back the development cost.
The ZR2 is already 42,000- 52,000 how muck more for this one ?
They say Colorado owners were not keen on building a new truck with more power ? As a current owner of a 16 model, GM apparently doesn’t read the comments they’re sent.
gm always put a special edition with nothing different,now this truck look different
This is also much like the SLP, GMMG OR Lingenfelter models we have had here and is not a regular production model.
HSV is run by Walkinshaw who does the modes and run a race team.
Even better comparison is Callaway cars here.
To do low volume mods like this the can do it and make money much easier.