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By ALISTAIR KENNEDY
1 March 2010
Holden
Special Vehicles (HSV) has released two new limited edition models
with all the looks and performance we’ve come to expect from the
Holden enhancer but at bargain prices.
Concerned that its buyer demographics are drifting ever older, the
new ClubSport GXP sedan and Maloo GXP ute will sell for about
$10,000 less than the current entry-level ClubSport and so target
new, and younger, buyers to the brand. HSV then hopes to retain
these newcomers and eventually step them up to higher specced
models.
The GXP name comes from Holden’s former GM affiliate Pontiac,
with both that company as well as plans for the cars to be built
in Australia by Holden and exported to the USA, falling victim to
the Global Financial Crisis.
Only 750 GXP vehicles will be built, 400 of them sedans and 350
utes. Of these 43 sedans and nine utes have been earmarked for New
Zealand, while a number were purchased by Australian business
buyers prior to 31 December 2009 to take advantage of the federal
government’s 50 per cent investment allowance. HSV anticipates
all GXP models being sold by midway through this year. Each
vehicle will carry a numbered build plate.
The frontal styling clearly identifies the GXP models as being HSV
with the E
Series 2 front fascia, bonnet scoops and fender vents being used
as well as an eye-catching string of LED daytime running lights
below each headlamp. The rear is less distinctive using Holden
taillights and bumpers but with quad exhaust outlets.
The interior is the one used in the ClubSport R8 and comes with
sports cloth seats.
The HSV GXP is powered by Chevrolet’s 6.2-litre LS3 engine that
generates 317 kW (hence the ‘317’ badge on the rear) of power
and 555 Nm of torque. The LS3 engine has been a popular addition
to the HSV range and the latest version has received a lot of
praise for its fast throttle response and general driveability.
HSV’s
press release didn’t list fuel consumption but from our previous
testing of the ClubSport R8 with the same engine we know that,
although it can cruise at around 10 to 11 litres per hundred
kilometres, once you start to push it to its potential on the open
road, or simply drive in commuting traffic, that figure can jump
as high as an environmentally-unfriendly 20 L/100 km. While one
can argue that fuel consumption isn’t an issue for drivers of
muscle cars such as these the big German marques can pull
consumption down to 12 to 15 litres with much more modern V8
engines that provide similar performance.
Brembo brakes of a design specially developed for these new models
should have no trouble in keeping all that power under control.
The suspension in the GXP sedan is softer than that of the
ClubSport R8 having been carried over from that designed for the
Pontiac GXP and so more to American tastes. The GXP Maloo, being
specific to Australia, has a different setup to that of the sedan.
Both sedan and ute come with the choice of a short-shift six-speed
manual or six-speed automatic transmission with active select.
We
were able to test all four GXP variants on a 250 kilometre drive
to the north of Melbourne and loved the characteristic burble of
the V8 engine as well as the accompanying power and thrust. The
suspension, while marginally softer than that of the R8, still
provided plenty of feel for the road below. The handling and
driving feel of the Maloo is all but indistinguishable from that
of the ClubSport.
The Maloo GXP manual sells for $55,990 and the ClubSport GXP
manual sedan for $61,990. Note that these are driveaway prices.
Automatic transmission adds $2000 to the price of either model.
© Copyright
Marque Publishing Company
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