|
By
EWAN KENNEDY
15 September 2008
Hot on the wheels of the new VE Commodore Sportswagons comes the
hottest version of them all. The HSV Touring is a high-speed load
hauler with even more emphasis on the ‘Sport’ in Sportwagon
than in the standard Holden variants.
For
many years Australians were the world’s greatest adherents of
station wagons, these purposeful vehicles being just what we
needed for our busy, nomadic lifestyles. Car-based wagons began to
lose favour, many being replaced by SUVs over the last 10 years or
so, but now appear to be on the comeback trail. That’s partly
because rapidly increasing fuel prices have made buyers reconsider
their need for a big SUV, but also because the latest generation
station wagons are sportier in their style.
Enter
the VE Commodore wagon as a classic example, closely followed by
the HSV ClubSport R8 Tourer. HSV has dabbled with wagons in the
past, the Commodore Adventra-based 4WD Avalanche being the most
recent model, but for obvious reasons the high-performance company
has tended to concentrate on sedans. The sleek lines of the new VE
Commodore Sportwagon have changed all that.
HSV
ClubSport R8 Tourer is powered by the same engine as the ClubSport
R8 sedan; a Chev-based LS3 V8 engine producing 317 kW and 550
Newton metres of torque. The latter comes in at a relatively high
4600 rpm, though the torque curve is a nice fat one so there's
plenty of grunt spread below that number. This engine, which we
have already driven in the HSV sedan, is a real gem, pulling
strongly from relatively low rpm, yet being willing to rev out to
numbers seldom available on a big-cube V8.
To
cope with the big power output and give even more driving pleasure
the engineers at HSV have firmed up the suspension of the
ClubSport R8 Tourer, fitted sports oriented tyres and installed a
high-performance brake package. The result is a station wagon like
no other ever seen or felt on Australian roads before.
At
this stage we haven’t been able to drive the new HSV ClubSport
R8 Tourer, but will do so as soon as possible in the form of a
full road test.
The
HSV ClubSport R8 Tourer wagon is priced very moderately at just
$1000 more than the equivalent sedan. Making it $65,990 with a
six-speed manual gearbox and $68,320 with automatic transmission.
Those who are serious about the visual appeal of their HSV wagon
should specify the 20-inch wheel and tyre package at $2500. The
only other major option on this already well-equipped HSV is
leather seats for $2490.
© Copyright
Marque Publishing Company
|
