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No one was quite sure what would happen to Holden Special Vehicles (HSV) after the end of the RWD Commodore. Rumors abounded from a modified Colorado to the importation of the Camaro. We finally have some concrete answers. Today in Australia, Holden and HSV made a joint announcement of a new agreement between the two companies. HSV will now use their engineering talents that created some mad Holdens into expanding Holden's range to new levels, along with importing various GM products. “This marks a whole new era for HSV and Holden and I hope our customers are as excited as we are. HSV is moving beyond simply ‘hotting up’ existing models, and customers will see two product streams from HSV over the next few years. This is ‘Game-On’ in a very big way,” said Tim Jackson, HSV's managing director in a statement. Colorado SportsCat by HSV The first product of this new era for HSV is the Colorado SportsCat. Taking a Z71 Colorado, HSV adds a strut brace, enlarged anti-roll bar, taller and stiffer springs, new dampers, and forged alloy 18-inch wheels wrapped in off-road rubber. The exterior is more aggressive with a front skid plate, new grille design, alloy sports bar, and tonneau cover. Stepping things up is the SportsCat+ that includes an AP Racing brake package, an electro-hydraulic anti-roll bar that can disconnect to improve wheel articulation, and a more aggressive exterior. You may have noticed that we haven't mentioned anything about the powertrain. That's because HSV didn't make any changes to the 2.8L Duramax turbodiesel. It will still produce the same 147kW and 500Nm (around 197 horsepower and 369 pound-feet of torque). “The cost/complexity for a relatively minor power increase didn’t make sense. We did a fair bit of consumer research. For our traditional customers, it was power, power, power, but for dual-cabs it was about the overall package," said Jackson to CarAdvice when asked about why there was no power upgrade. “If this were a Commodore product, I would be concerned about not offering extra power. We thought dynamics was an area we could improve. And I think we’ll have the benchmark in on-road driving [in the light-commercial segment].” The SportsCar goes on sale in February. Chevrolet Camaro and Silverado HD to be Imported and Converted to RHD There have been a number of rumors about the Camaro coming to Australia for the past year so. GM kept their mouth shut whenever asked about it. But the Camaro will be arriving in Australia come next July. HSV will convert the Camaro to right hand drive. The Australian Camaro will be the 2SS featuring the 6.2L V8 and eight-speed automatic. HSV is hoping offer a six-speed manual version sometime later. Standard equipment includes adaptive dampers, Brembo brakes, 20-inch alloy wheels, keyless entry, heated and ventilated seats with power adjustments, and a Bose audio system. That isn't the only Chevrolet model to coming to Australia. HSV also announced they'll be doing the conversion for the Silverado 2500 and 3500HD. Five variants will be on offer from the 2500HD W/T to the 3500HD LTZ. The only engine on offer will be the 6.6L Duramax turbodiesel V8. The Silverado HD arrives in the second quarter of 2018, while the Camaro goes on sale in July. Both the Camaro and Silverado HD will be wearing bowtie emblem, not an HSV one. Source: Holden, CarAdvice Press Release is on Page 2 GM HOLDEN & HSV STRIKE NEW PARTNERSHIP: CAMARO, COLORADO SPORTSCAT AND SILVERADO SET TO STORM AUSTRALIA In a joint announcement, GM Holden and HSV today released details of the new agreement struck between the two iconic Australian companies. The new partnership marks a pivotal moment in HSV’s 30-year history in Australia and begins an exciting chapter in bringing a whole new breed of vehicles to customers. The focus of the new agreement is to utilise HSV’s famed design, engineering, manufacturing and marketing skills across a broader range of product, giving customers access to some of the very best vehicles from across the GM empire. Tim Jackson, HSV Managing Director, said it was fantastic to see the new partnership cemented between the two brands. “This marks a whole new era for HSV and Holden and I hope our customers are as excited as we are. HSV is moving beyond simply ‘hotting up’ existing models, and customers will see two product streams from HSV over the next few years. This is ‘Game-On’ in a very big way.” Holden’s Chairman and Managing Director, Mark Bernhard, said the new agreement was a pivotal step for both companies. “For a number of years, we’ve been talking about bringing customers the best vehicles from around the GM world, and today we’re proud to announce the next step in that strategy. Our partnership with HSV, utilising their world-class engineering and design capabilities, means we’re able to work together to bring the iconic Chevrolet Camaro muscle-car and the best-selling Chevrolet Silverado pick-up, to customers in Australia and New Zealand, not to mention the imminent launch of the exciting Colorado SportsCat. Today is a great day for Holden and HSV, but even more importantly, for our customers”. The first product stream will be what customers have traditionally expected from HSV, being centred around vehicle enhancement and extending vehicle capability beyond the existing Holden offering. “It is important that we continue to play a key role in enhancing Holden’s image in the market place, and potential customers can expect to see us going to work on enhanced products which are a natural extension of the Holden range – the SportsCat is a great example of this approach”, said Jackson. “Some of our traditional customers will expect more power, and if the opportunities present themselves, we will look to develop powertrain enhancements where it makes sense. However, we see an opportunity to appeal to customers by investing in enhanced vehicle specification and capability that really delivers a great driving experience and a competitive advantage in various segments. SportsCat is a great example of how we can deliver improved on-road and off-road driving dynamics, and combine a great new look with improved vehicle capability and versatility. The segment is about much more than drag-strip times,” said Jackson. The second stream of product to be offered by HSV will be the introduction of world-class vehicles from across the GM global range that would not have otherwise been available through Australia and New Zealand. The new agreement has specifically been framed to allow the parties to pursue those programs that make the most sense with consideration for brand development, market-based opportunities, customer preferences, and, of course, commercial viability. The company was, however, quick to emphasise that their overall goal remains unchanged: to create exciting products for niche customers looking for unique vehicles. BRANDING HSV also revealed its intention to introduce a freshened logo concurrent with the introduction of its 2018 range. The new visual identity offers a more contemporary interpretation of the ‘Lion & Helmet’ that has adorned HSV vehicles, and represented the company, since its inception in 1987. “The current logo has served us well over many years, but as the business transitions to encompass a far broader array of product offerings, this new logo represents a new and expanded brand promise,” said Jackson. “The Australian market is shifting and, like Holden, we’re shifting with it. This subtle logo change helps signify a new era of vehicle availability from HSV”, he said. “But make no mistake, while it’s a new logo, our customers can expect the same uncompromising attitude to introducing exciting vehicles that Australian’s love to drive”. In terms of vehicle branding, Jackson also confirmed that the two Chevrolet vehicle lines will be marketed as just that: Chevrolets. “Our engineering involvement starts and stops with the conversion of the vehicles from left to right-hand drive. These are iconic Chevys to the core and we’ll let the famed bow-tie speak for itself”, he said. In respect of Holden vehicles that have been enhanced for new segments like the 4x4 space, those products will be designated ‘by HSV’ and wear the ‘Lion & Helmet’ in selected environments like on the front grille. “If we then take some vehicles further up the food chain, and both Holden and HSV believe the best branding approach for the vehicle is to receive the full HSV designation, then we will make that call at the time”, said Jackson. COLORADO SPORTSCAT Playing to HSV’s niche design and engineering capabilities, the Colorado SportsCat features a raft of styling and chassis enhancements that will position it as the most advanced sports 4x4 on the market. To be available in two variants – SportsCat and SportsCat+ – the styling enhancements begin with radically modified exteriors featuring all-new fascias and grilles that, with the addition of LED fog lamps and functional tow hooks, combine to deliver two distinctive and sporty front-end appearances. The SportsCat+ features a rugged “bonnet bulge” while at the side of the vehicle, prominent wheel arch fender flares, smooth-form on SportsCat and casselated on SportsCat+, frame bold 18” x 10” forged alloys wrapped in sports all-terrain Cooper tyres. A stylish hard tonneau, with load-rail provision and quick-release mechanism, combined with a unique sports-bar on SportsCat and sail plane on SportsCat+, enhance the vehicles’ sporty profile, while at the rear, a prominent “Colorado” tailgate applique’ makes a bold statement. The styling enhancements don’t end with the exteriors of the vehicles. The interior also comes in for a substantial make-over to deliver premium levels of comfort and style. SV Sports seats, the front heated, featuring uniquely designed seat foams for optimum support, are wrapped in Jasmine leather and Windsor suede, with this trim combination also adorning the instrument panel. Twin-needle red stitching provides an added highlight, also featuring on the leather-wrapped steering wheel, door trims and centre console cover. Branded floor mats complete the interior style and comfort make-over. From a chassis perspective, the modifications are marked and deliver the SportsCat’s unique driving dynamics. Both SportsCat models feature HSV Sports Suspension with the front spring rate stiffened to 110 Newtons/mm. Its MTV dampers have been tuned around the revised spring rate, with both modifications contributing to a more performance-based handling characteristic. In addition to the increased spring rate, front ride height has been lifted by 25mm. This modification further improves the approach angle of the vehicle, increases ground clearance to the body and reduces the vehicle’s overall rake, delivering a more natural on-road stance. The chassis enhancements continue with the adoption of a Rear De-Coupling Anti-Roll Bar on the SportsCat+. Developed specifically for the vehicle by HSV’s chassis engineers, the de-coupling rear sway bar improves the higher speed road driving performance of the vehicle by controlling rear roll, and thereby improving overall vehicle balance and turn-in transient response. The de-coupling feature ensures the vehicle’s suspension settings can be optimised for off-road performance. SupaShock suspension, as introduced to the Australian market on HSV’s iconic GTSR W1, will also be available as a factory-fitted option on the SportsCat+, taking the vehicle’s suspension capabilities to another level yet again. SportsCat+ also adopts a unique braking package, further enhancing its sporting credentials. Front 4-piston forged AP Racing brake callipers are complemented by 362mm x 32mm diameter rotors and a large (25.4mm) diameter brake master cylinder, to deliver improved pedal feel through a reduction in pedal travel and softness. The functionality of the vehicle’s Traction Control System has also been adjusted to allow for less aggressive interventions, particularly on corner exit. These adjustments also help deliver a more performance-based vehicle response. SportsCat’s stylish 18” forged alloys are wrapped in Cooper (Zeon LTZ Pro) Sports All-Terrain tyres. These Cooper tyres are a hybrid between a sports-truck tyre and an all-terrain tyre and, in addition to their rugged off-road properties, were specially selected by HSV’s chassis engineers for their outstanding on-road performance characteristics, most notably on tarmac and dirt roads. The overall size of the tyres (285/60 R18), and their rolling radius, also delivers a further 20mm increase in vehicle ride height for a total (front) ride height increase of 45mm. In commenting on the engineering enhancements, HSV’s Engineering Director, Joel Stoddart, said “We set ourselves some pretty aggressive targets heading into the SportsCat program. We wanted to set the bench-mark for on-road performance without compromising the vehicle’s off-road capabilities. In fact, we’ve managed to improve the vehicle’s off-road performance, so I’m confident the team has delivered on both counts”. In addition to the styling and engineering enhancements developed by HSV on the new SportsCat range, the vehicle also carries over a raft of core vehicle features that help complete the premium offering. From a performance perspective, both SportsCat models are powered by a 2.8 litre double overhead cam Duramax Turbo Diesel engine that offers 147kW of power and up to 500Nm of torque when specified with the optional 6-speed automatic transmission with Active Select. A 6-speed manual transmission is standard fare. Braked towing capacity of 3,500kg and a maximum payload of approximately 1 tonne deliver impressive workhorse capabilities. The stylish HSV modifications to the interior also complement a breadth of already impressive driver and cabin comforts and technologies including an 8” colour touch screen, embedded Satellite Navigation, a premium 7-speaker audio, a rear-view camera and seven airbags. Said HSV’s Managing Director, Tim Jackson, “Most 4x4’s Pick-Ups are inherently capable off-road – essentially, it’s a category expectation, and we’ll certainly be amongst the best-in-class in this regard, especially with our added ride height and Cooper tyre package. But what we also wanted to do with the SportsCat program was dial up the vehicle’s on-road characteristics, given that’s where most people tend to spend the bulk of their time driving their vehicle. With our unique suspension packages and AP Racing brakes combined with the interior and exterior comfort and styling enhancements we’ve made, we’re confident we’ve developed Australia’s most stylish and advanced sports 4x4”. The SportsCat range is due to start production at HSV’s new facility in Clayton, Victoria, late January, with Recommended Retail Pricing to be confirmed closer to model availability. CHEVROLET SILVERADO For over 100 years, Chevrolet has forged an enviable reputation for building strong and dependable “full-size” pick-up trucks, and HSV has committed to bringing their pinnacle model – the Silverado – to Australia and New Zealand. Power, payload and towing capability are what Silverado is famous for and all these attributes will be reflected in the five-model 4x4 Crew Cab line-up that HSV will offer: 2500HD WT 2500HD LTZ 2500HD LTZ “Midnight” Edition 2500HD LTZ “Custom Sport” Edition 3500HD LTZ All five vehicles share the same impressive heavy-duty equipment including: Duramax 6.6L Turbo Diesel V8 engine ~332kW of power ~1,234 Nm of torque Allison 1000 6-speed automatic transmission Towing capacity of ~3.5 – ~6.1 tonne (model dependent) Payload capacity of ~1,140kg – ~1,848kg (model dependent) 4-wheel anti-lock disc brakes Automatic locking rear differential Said HSV’s Managing Director, Tim Jackson, “The availability of the Chevrolet Silverado range opens up some wonderful new opportunities for our business in a market segment whose potential is relatively un-tapped, and we believe has high growth potential”. “Whether it be the farming or mining sectors, those who need to pull a large caravan or horse float or simply those who want awesome towing and load carrying capability, Silverado is the pinnacle of the GM range”, he said. Conversion of the Silverado range will commence at HSV’s new production facility in April 2018. The 3500HD LTZ model will be available late in Q2, 2018. Recommended Retail Pricing is still to be confirmed. CHEVROLET CAMARO The Chevrolet Camaro defines performance and this legendary nameplate, in the form of the Camaro 2SS Coupe, will also be imported and converted to right-hand-drive by HSV, and available in 2018. The driving force behind the Camaro 2SS is Chevrolet’s 6.2L Generation V LT1 Direct Injection V8 engine mated to an 8-speed, paddle-shift automatic transmission and generating up to 340kW of power and 615Nm of torque. The vehicle’s Performance suspension provides a dynamic connection to the road with stopping power delivered by 4-piston Brembo front & rear performance brakes with fixed callipers. High Intensity Discharge (HID) headlamps and LED Daytime Running Lamps deliver signature front-end appeal while stylish 20”, 5-split-spoke alloys (8.5” front & 9.5” rear) are wrapped in 245/40ZR20 (front) and 275/35ZR20 (rear) Goodyear Eagle tyres. A rear stanchion spoiler and dual-outlet exhaust with bright tips add aggression at the tail. The interior of the Camaro 2SS delivers the perfect marriage of form and function. It starts with power-adjustable heated and ventilated leather-trimmed front sports bucket seats for optimum comfort and support, complemented by a leather-wrapped, flat-bottom sports-profile steering wheel for ultimate grip. Dual zone automatic climate control, a 9-speaker Bose premium audio and 24 colour interior spectrum lighting enhance interior ambience while the Head-up Display, Drive Mode Selector and Enhanced Driver Information Centre blend exhilaration with innovation. Conversion of the Camaro 2SS is due to commence at HSV in July 2018 with Recommended Retail Pricing still to be confirmed. View full article

General Motors will begin importing the Colorado and Silverado pickups into China next year, but you'll only be able to buy them in select markets. Automotive News explains that many Chinese cities have bans on pickups for the fear of aggravating air pollution and causing more traffic issues. But earlier this year, the Chinese Government lifted the ban in four provinces - Henan, Hebei, Liaoning, and Yunnan - in an effort to jumpstart sales of domestic pickups. GM sees an opportunity with this and wants to explore it. But there is a major downside to this. Since GM will be importing the trucks, they'll be hit with 25 percent tariff by the Chinese Government. Source: Automotive News (Subscription Required), Chevrolet Press Release is on Page 2 Chevrolet to Offer Iconic Silverado, Colorado Trucks for Chinese Consumers Brand’s best-selling nameplate and its midsize sibling to go on sale in 2017 GUANGZHOU – Chevrolet announced this evening at an event in Guangzhou that it will make available two classic American trucks – the Silverado and Colorado – in China through parallel import in 2017. The Silverado is the best-selling Chevrolet truck in the world. Since its launch in 1987, three generations have been introduced, with cumulative sales of more than 17 million units. Powered by an EcoTec3 6.2L V-8 engine mated to an eight-speed automatic transmission, the Silverado delivers peak torque of 624 Nm. It is also equipped with a wide range of smart technologies such as Active Noise Cancellation (ANC), Hill Descent Control (HDC) and Hill Start Assist (HSA), as well as power seats and a Bose® audio system. With its wheelbase of 3,645 mm and length of 5,843 mm, it can handle the toughest jobs expected of a pickup. The Colorado was the industry’s hottest-selling product in the U.S. market. It was named the 2015 and 2016 Motor Trend Truck of the Year. The midsize pickup offers a combination of refinement, maneuverability and efficiency. Powered by a 3.6L EcoTec V-6 engine, it delivers peak torque of 365 Nm and has a towing capability of 3.1 tons. Chevrolet has long been famous for offering the most durable trucks on the market, which embody the charm of freedom while providing an off-road capability. View full article

A vehicle that many Buick dealers and a number of us here at Cheers & Gears have been wanting for a while could finally be arriving next year. Automotive News and the Wall Street Journal report that the Buick Envision will be coming to the U.S. Sources tell AN that General Motors is likely to green light the Envision for export to the U.S. as early as late spring. The Wall Street Journal says the company is targeting annual sales of 30 to 40,000 Envisions per year. Now the Envision would be the first vehicle sold by the Detroit 3 that is imported from China. It will not be the first Chinese-built vehicle sold in the U.S., that honor goes to Volvo with the S60 Inscription. Back in August, the UAW was not pleased with the possibility of GM exporting the Envision from China, saying it was 'alarming'. But the Journal says GM and the UAW "appear to have come to an understanding” after talking about it during contract negotiations. Source: Automotive News (Subscription Required), Wall Street Journal View full article

Earlier this week, we reported that General Motors faced a difficult decision with the upcoming Envision crossover: Do they import it from China or build it somewhere else just for the North American marketplace? This comes at an interesting time since Reuters is reporting that Buick's future lineup will be comprised of vehicles imported to North America. Speaking with two sources, the news service reports that only two models in Buick's future lineup, the next LaCrosse and Enclave will be built in the U.S. The rest will be imported from other countries. At the moment, the Encore subcompact crossover is the only Buick model that is imported to the U.S. This will soon be joined by the Cascada convertible early next year. Sources say the next-generation Verano will be imported from China starting next year. Next will be the Regal which will either be imported from China or Europe in 2017. A Buick spokesman declined to comment when asked about this. Source: Reuters View full article

If there is one vehicle that Buick dealers would like, it would be a model to slip between the subcompact Encore and full-size Enclave crossovers. Buick does have such a model, the compact Envision crossover which has been on sale in China since last year. In fact, some Buick dealers were polled about this very vehicle back in 2013. Two years on, many are scratching their heads as to why the Envision isn't here. "It would fit perfectly in the Buick lineup at a time when crossover sales are growing fast. I'm sure a lot of Buick dealers wish they had it today," said Jack Nerad, executive market analyst at Kelley Blue Book. Now many believe that the Envision will be coming to the U.S. sometime next year. According to Automotive News, it's likely that the Envision will be imported from China. This will likely be GM's first Chinese vehicle to be imported to the U.S. But there are some complications to this. First, General Motors is in the middle of negotiating a new contract with the UAW. Union leaders would likely balk at the decision of importing a vehicle from China. Buick is also trying to satisfy the growing demand for crossovers in China. In the first half of 2015, Buick has sold 57,413 Envisions. This puts sales of the Envision on track to over 100,000 units at the end of year. This could mean a limit of how many Envisions can be exported from the Shandong province plant in China. Source: Automotive News (Subscription Required) View full article

Car and Driver is reporting that the next-generation Audi RS4 will retire the naturally-aspirated 4.2L V8 engine and use a turbocharged V6 engine. This is due to the upcoming emission regulations coming soon to Europe which are very stringent. Now the decision to go with a turbocharged V6 engine strikes us as odd since Audi currently has supercharged V6 that is being used in a number of their models. However Car and Driver says Quattro GmbH, the folks behind RS, is looking towards turbo power for future models. Car and Driver also reports that a decision on whether or not the next-generation RS4 will come to the U.S. hasn't been made. Source: Car and Driver William Maley is a staff writer for Cheers & Gears. He can be reached at [email protected] or you can follow him on twitter at @realmudmonster. View full article