HSV Turns up the heat (updated with official details)

[XR8putts]

Can't believe they kept the small light below the DRL LEDs.. isn't the point of them to.. oh nevermind.

ESP, arn't both those wheel designs on the current range?

[Wally]

Rear bar looks like a bottle opener.

[Whitey-AMG]

Originally Posted by puts99

Can't believe they kept the small light below the DRL LEDs.. isn't the point of them to.. oh nevermind.

ESP, arn't both those wheel designs on the current range?

On the wagon yes , but are they carry overs from the VY / VZ ??......

[GT69]

Originally Posted by 4Vman

Mitsubishi Lancer VRX anyone????

The kids love Mitsubishis's.

Wally
Rear bar looks like a bottle opener.

True big buff Aussie men love beer.

I think HSV is onto something here!

[snappy]

It will seel like hotcakes though.
An got a felling the gts is going to be sexy as in black and loweres like always .

[Bent8]

The bodykit is hideous, belongs on a HSV or something.....oh wait, it is!

[SM1DY]

Has 'ridiculously disgusting' been used yet?

[snappy]

Missus loves it , I want to hate because its the competition and to go with the general crowd on here . But its not to bad at all , It will look mean as a ute and i believe it will sell and be more popular the fpv's.

[Swordsman88]

you know, usually HSV don't too bad a job styling their cars. The overtly masculine, almost testosterone leaching look can be a bit much but it works for their target market.

This on the other hand, is beyond bad. It comits pretty much every mistake you can make in automotive styling. I dont claim to be an expert, but just off the top of my head:

1. way way way too busy!!! So much going on, that rear bumper on the sedan alone is ridiculous
2. NOT INTEGRATED - you have the head/tail lights from a squared off, almost audi style late 90s design (BA headlights..) and you go and put a totally nutso, 'sleak' attempt nose job. Its like when saab tried to swedish nose job that subaru. Its like a 'kinetic' styled Ford nose job...on a holden?? This is why it looks like a body kit from repco...
3. Over the top...even for HSV. As others have said, if you had any more holes in the front/top/sides it would surely qualify as a 'sieve', not a car.
4. Derivative rip offs...the 'audi' driving lights, the trapezoidal style lower grille...at least FPV did something a bit different with the 'racoon' eyes, love them or hate them.

As always, i will wait till i see one in the flesh before passing final judgement. But based on this....its a big big NO NO

[Falc'man]

It doesn't look all that bad in my opinion. I mean, if you squint, and then squint a little harder, and then some more until your eyes are completely closed then yeah, it doesn't look bad at all.

Talking of the proverbial paper bag, VE car bra sales (and for that matter, "granny's undies"? for the rear end) will sky rocket.

JPFS1, you've hit the bulls-eye, it's a very big free kick.

In saying all that, it'll still sell well; HSV's customer base never did have taste.

[theboxmike]

I know i'm only 18...and come from a different generation but to me they look pretty good....Excluding the stupid back of the wagon.

Still would rather a FPV GTE in the looks department though:P

[Falc'man]

Originally Posted by Swordsman88

2. NOT INTEGRATED - you have the head/tail lights from a squared off, almost audi style late 90s design (BA headlights..) and you go and put a totally nutso, 'sleak' attempt nose job. Its like when saab tried to swedish nose job that subaru. Its like a 'kinetic' styled Ford nose job...on a holden?? This is why it looks like a body kit from repco...

Spot on. The fog light surround - where it looks like the FG XR's fog light surround, but of course they had to make theirs bigger - is there to hide the very wide flares. In essence, this has carried through the to the back of the vehicle. The idea is good but poorly executed. It's a failure.
As you say, it's very busy. What have they done with that back end? They trying to scare motorists?

[Swordsman88]

Originally Posted by Falc'man

In saying all that, it'll still sell well; HSV's customer base never did have taste.

Maybe so Falc'man....BUT, for me the highlight is, well the lack of highlight RE the mechanical changes. That rumoured 'power jump' to, wait for it, 320kw. That's right, 3 bloomin kw!!! As if you could trust Holden/HSV to ever get an engine to reliably produce anwhere near their claimed HP anyway!!!!

Given this 'massive' improvement, i think FPV is looking ok for now. Hell, i know of a certain engine, named after an animal that haunts the desert, that can smash this thing. Remind me again what it pumps out with a blower???

[Falc'man]

Originally Posted by Swordsman88

Maybe so Falc'man....BUT, for me the highlight is, well the lack of highlight RE the mechanical changes. That rumoured 'power jump' to, wait for it, 320kw. That's right, 3 bloomin kw!!! As if you could trust Holden/HSV to ever get an engine to reliably produce anwhere near their claimed HP anyway!!!!

Given this 'massive' improvement, i think FPV is looking ok for now. Hell, i know of a certain engine, named after an animal that haunts the desert, that can smash this thing. Remind me again what it pumps out with a blower???

I just don't know, HSV and a Holden have a thing for being beaten (refer to t8 buy out) ; they will hit back, and they do have the arsenal. >>LS9. God help us if they decide to use it. Ford need to have the Bobcat in waiting.

[Swordsman88]

Originally Posted by Falc'man

I just don't know, HSV and a Holden have a thing for being beaten (refer to t8 buy out) ; they will hit back, and they do have the arsenal. >>LS9. God help us if they decide to use it. Ford need to have the Bobcat in waiting.

True, but i don't think LS9 will be seen any time soon. They can get more out of what they have now for less moolah. Problem is they couldn't be bothered. Everything FPV does cries out 'we have no money', everything HSV does says 'i just want to make more money'. The art of marketing, brand perception and doing as little as humanly possible. Sure in the future maybe FPV will force HSV into the big guns, but then again, as you say, its not like coyote hasn't got a future ahead of it either....

[CAT600]

When I first looked at the rear end I liked it (exhaust outlets and wing)

The longer I looked I started to hate it

Shouldnt cars grow on you?........That cant be good

Daniel

[Eu-GenixX]

i'm going against the grain... and i think i like it....

but something just doesn't look right...and i think it was mentioned earlier... the front bar is all round and sleek... but the head lights are square... it just doesn't fit... it reminds me of seeing late model HSV kits put onto old model commodores

looking at it actually makes me want to like it.... i look at it... and the excitement builds... and then it's just a feeling of blah... and nothing...

[DougM]

[b]fugly!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[HSE2]

This kit was described to me as having a lot of lines, with a power increase to 321 possibly due to the exhaust that has been developed for export market.


My first reaction was:

HSV have again reacted to what their customer base expects. Day time running lights for that "look at me" impact, Bimodal exhaust because V8 buyers want their cars to sound like a V8 and a yet again a lower road presence which is a subject left alone with the FPV V8 range.

My initial reaction to these pictures is that this is a VY take on the E series just like it was on the VT.

I like the rear, like the idea of bringing the exhaust back inside the body work to give attention to that feature. It’s a strong statement.

The execution doesn't look right. The rear skirt vents with the increased body lines looks awkward but it’s likely to be a colour sensitive kit.

The front well the bonnet doesn't work for me. The new V12 vantage has an interesting vent treatment that would have worked better than this attempt.

I have never been a fan of the front treatment of the e series. The driving light plastic insert never really worked with the massive fall off of the front guards from rear three quarter. Again colour will probably be critical to show off design features like the day time light. The Silver just doesn't come off as well as the red on the wagon.

They are obviously going to keep a two tone statement in the front but it does seem to have lost something in those pictures. Some on the new lines actually reminds me of the FG XR with an eyebrow above the driving light.

Will be looking forward to seeing in the flesh.

Also nice to see something this week not going to plan for Holden. This leak hurts and that’s a good thing.

[Whitey-AMG]

Originally Posted by HSE2

Will be looking forward to seeing in the flesh.

Totally agree.........I think if they deleted the bonnet scoops , it would look more cohesive. There are enough vents everywhere else.

Despite the one eyed comments on here already, I think it will outrival the FPV effort on the FG once its on the road. It will sell in droves.

[Windsor220]

Not a good response over at LS1.com. 95% hate it.

Will have to wait to see if these are actually the cars.

[Nikked]

Did AMG loose some bumpers?

[Road_Warrior]

Looks retarded IMO

A backward step, and as said the front end especially looks too 'busy'

I hope those clowns haven't done anything to bastardise the Grange in a similar fashion, that's one of my favourite luxo-barges next to the G6ET

[vztrt]

http://www.caradvice.com.au/37827/ex...2-range-spied/

[Bossxr8]

I hope its released like that, because it is the most ridiculous piece of garbage i've ever seen.

That is just an absolute disgrace. And to steal some of Fords design cues. Holden seem to be making a habit of stealing things from Ford ie. 888.

Its like they have taken about 10 different design cues and thrown them in a blender. They must have had 10 different design teams design one part each and then they joined them all together.

I reckon i've seen aftermarket rip off body kits on VS Commo's that look more integrated than that.

[vztrt]

Originally Posted by Bossxr8

Its like they have taken about 10 different design cues and thrown them in a blender. They must have had 10 different design teams design one part each and then they joined them all together.

So its like the VE then.

[CSV_LS1]

I don't really like it. But this sort of response to an ugly design has happened many times and each time people will grow to like it .
I tend to eat my words a while after seeing an ugly car on the road for a while. Didnt like the vy hsv's at first either.

[R-Design]

These photo's should really help HSV with their E Series One runout.

The phrase 'change for change's sake' comes to mind.

[Thankfull]

Originally Posted by Fairlane

They are probably correct. HSV usually turn the wick up every 18months or so. Great if you want a new HSV, lousy if you want resale. Still is better than FPV sitting on their hands- Boss 290, anyone.

Ford is never left sitting on its hands when it comes to performance....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZiaO-...eature=related

enjoy...relise what a Joke HSV really is...

[Falcon Coupe]

An aftermarket kitted Mustang has nothing to do with FPV vs HSV.