Holden Special Vehicles (HSV) has revealed its Gen-F model lineup, based on the VF Commodore but packing plenty more power under the hood.

The lineup consists of the Clubsport sedan, Maloo pickup, Clubsport R8, Maloo R8, Senator Signature, and the ZL1-powered GTS. The Clubsport and Maloo models are powered by General Motor’s 6.2-liter, LS3 V8 engine with 425 hp and 406 lb-ft of torque. Standard on those models is four-piston brake calipers, launch control for manual-equipped vehicles, bucket seats, and an eight-inch infotainment system.

SEE ALSO: Holden HSV GTS is a ZL1-Powered Chevy SS

The R8 variants feature the same motor tuned to 436 hp and also have upgraded tech such as a heads-up display, forward collision and blind-spot warning systems, and LED taillights. There is also an SV Enhanced package that adds a new air intake to boost power to 456 hp and 420 lb-ft of torque.

The HSV Senator Signature is the luxurious model of the lineup and is equipped with the 456 hp version of the LS3. A more subdued bodykit accents the exterior while projector headlights and a subtle trunk spoiler adds to the aesthetics. Luxury upgrades inside include power front leather seats, heated front seats, nine-speaker Bose audio, and dual-zone climate control.

Lastly, the HSV GTS is powered by the Camaro ZL1′s 6.2-liter V8 supercharged engine with 577 hp and 546 lb-ft of torque. An aggressive body kit sets it apart from the rest of the lineup along with six-piston front brake calipers, a quad-tip exhaust setup, leather-wrapped steering wheel, leather sport seats, metal pedals, and nine-speaker Bose stereo.

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GALLERY: HSV Gen-F

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Take a look at Australia’s most powerful car: a 575-hp Holden HSV GTS powered by the same supercharged V8 from the Chevrolet Camaro ZL1.

The HSV GTS is based on the Holden Commodore with more aggressive styling and different badging. What appears above is a rendering from Steve Short and Carsguide.au, but it’s the powerplant that will have everyone in America wishing this was the Chevrolet SS (another Commodore variant) we’re getting.

The 6.2-liter, supercharged V8 packs 575 hp and 550 lb-ft of torque in the HSV GTS and could be the most powerful car Australia will ever produced as automakers continue to downgrade towards four-cylinder engines to maximize fuel efficiency. Electronic “torque vectoring” will be used in the HSV GTS to bring plenty of control to the hands of the driver while a new stability control system will have five settings that will adjust steering and suspension at the push of a button.

The HSV GTS will go on sale in Australia in the middle of this year with a starting price of around $100,000 Australian dollars (approximately $103,000 US). Standard on the powerful sedan will be 20-inch wheels and six-piston brakes.

Too bad it won’t be heading to America, but perhaps this will give SS owners some ideas for engine swaps.

[Source: Carsguide]

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Holden, General Motors’ Australian subsidiary, unveiled another version of its new Commodore sedan that previews the upcoming Chevrolet SS performance sedan more than ever.

The SS V is a sportier version of the Commodore than the VF seen last weekend. The Chevrolet-badged version isn’t far away either; GM will debut the car on Saturday, February 16 during the Daytona 500.

In the Aussie car’s case, the Commodore SS V gets a more aerodynamic body and a series of other modifications. Those include a smaller grille, a large lower mouth, a lower front bumper and side skirts. The car also gets black 20-inch wheels shod in performance rubber.

SEE ALSO: 2014 Chevrolet SS Sedan Previewed with Holden VF Commodore – Video

Buyers can expect sport seats trimmed in leather and Alcantara along with a flat-bottomed steering wheel and Alcantara accents on the doors.

Chevrolet’s SS will only be built in a limited production run, and it isn’t clear how the trim and styling will differ from the Australian car. Despite that, it should get the same 6.2-liter LT1 V8 shared with the 2014 Corvette Stingray. Output for that engine is still unofficial, but GM estimates at least 450 hp and 450 lb-ft of torque.

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Holden has revealed its all-new VF Commodore, giving Americans a preview of the Chevrolet SS Sports Sedan that will be imported from Australia.

Being heralded as the “most technologically-advanced car ever created in Australia” by Holden, the VF Commodore was revealed alongside the Calais V-Series luxury model, which will be the flagship for the new VF range. The Calais V has plenty of technological-firsts for Australia, including Auto Park Assist, Head-up Display and Reverse Traffic Alert.

SEE ALSO: Chevrolet SS a “Four Door Corvette” Says GM President

Unfortunately, the release of the Holden VF Commodore focused more on the vehicle’s technological enhancements and makes no mention of powertrain options and what Americans can expect once the Chevrolet SS becomes official – though expect some serious V8 power.

At the very least, these images give us a good idea of what the new Chevrolet SS will look like, and so far, so good.

Watch a video of the live reveal below.

GALLERY: Holden VF Commodore

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Chevrolet will show its SS wearing racing trim in Las Vegas on November 29.

When it reaches the market, this will be Chevrolet’s latest attempt to sell a Holden-based rear-wheel drive V8 car in the U.S. November’s event in Las Vegas will be the first time the car will be shown without any camouflage, although it won’t be the production version.

As Chevrolet’s entrant in the 2013 NASCAR season, the car will be different than the road car. Despite that, it will probably give a good idea of what to expect from the street-legal SS which is expected to launch February 21, 2013.

Bigger isn’t always better, although domestic automakers are pretending not to hear you when it comes to compact pickups. Why?

On December 2011, Ford produced its last Ranger for the US, a truck that had a 28 year heritage as being an affordable, fuel-efficient and market friendly vehicle. True, the Ranger was looking quite prehistoric by the time it was let go, and sales numbers for compact pickups were dwindling from what they used to be, but is that enough of a reason to kill off the vehicle, and send your buyers to another automaker?

When the Ranger was stopped in December 2011, it had already sold 70,000 models that year. Compact pickups are still a significant segment, with Rangers still being sold off Ford lots today.

Toyota and Nissan now stand un-opposed; with Toyota selling more than 12,000 Tacoma’s this past month alone. That shows that there are still buyers in the compact pickup market, and that a proper small pickup is still more important to truck-buyers than something like the Honda Ridgeline (which couldn’t sell more than 1,000 last month.)

‘ONE FORD’ FAILS RANGER

Ford does have a new Ranger though. In international markets the Ford Ranger continues to thrive. In fact, in 180 markets, the Ranger has the small size and efficiency that made it so recognizable and the off-roading chops to compete with the likes of the Toyota Tacoma. The interior and exterior design of that new vehicle are also a generation apart from the old truck, and features Ford’s latest safety and user friendly comforts.

If Ford’s ‘One Ford’ marketing strategy of selling models globally is to be believed, there should be no reason not to see a Ranger make its way to North America. Under the One Ford philosophy, an international Ford is as good as a domestic one, and vice-versa. It’s that idea that led to the impressive Focus ST, and the stunning design of the new Fusion. By using the research and experience of being a global brand, Ford has made some pretty inspired vehicles. Under that philosophy there’s no apparent reason why that Ranger wouldn’t exist here.

However, Ford says that the F-150 half-ton pickup covers the entire range of truck buyer’s needs, even those who considered the Ranger. They insist that it’s as cheap as a Ranger, and as fuel efficient. The last Ford Ranger came in at around $18,160 and earned 22/27 mpg city/highway and 24 mpg combined. The new Ford F-150, however, costs many thousands more at $23,500 and at its best gets 17/23 mpg city/high and 19 mpg combined. There’s a pretty significant difference in price and fuel efficiency. The international Ranger earns about 28.3 mpg combined on the UK efficiency cycle, and is even available with a diesel engine that gets 32.8 mpg. The only way the new Ranger doesn’t stack up favourably is when it comes to price, which when converted directly from the UK pricetag, would come to around the price of a base F-150.

GM BRINGS INTERNATIONAL FLAVOR TO US

Ford’s strategy in regards to its small pickup isn’t shared by its competitors. Rival American automaker General Motors has an international version of the Colorado pickup, designed with some input from the Thai and Brazilian market.

“It was very much a multicultural team with people from a number of different GM regions relocating for the project including GM Europe, SAAB, GM North America, and GM Holden,” says Kirsty Lindsay, a Design Manager of the Holden Colorado.

GM has stated that the international Holden Colorado and Chevrolet Colorado, will be the base of the North American model. This method of releasing the vehicle in international markets first was used in the global release of the Cruze, Spark and Sonic. It all sounds similar to Fords ‘One-Ford’ strategy, but in regards to the compact pickup, GM is actually following through.

“Obviously, we think there is a good market for a midsize truck here in the U.S,” said Tom Wilkinson, from Chevrolet’s Communications team. “There are customers who don’t need the full capability of a full-size truck, and are attracted to a truck that is a little smaller and has better fuel economy.”

Wilkinson added that he “can’t speak for our competitors, but we like our strategy.”

The team at Holden seems to agree that compact pickups work and are an important product to have.

“The light commercial vehicle market is booming at an amazing rate and we expect this to continue well into the foreseeable future,” says John Elsworth, executive director of sales and marketing at Holden. “What counts with these two buyer groups is toughness, reliability and great looks.” That certainly applies across the world in the US, meaning that the Colorado should be the same attractive option to Americans as it is everywhere else.

WHATS SO BIG ABOUT COMPACT PICKUPS?

Compact pickups are sometimes looked down upon by the rest of truck buyers. If someone wants a truck, why not get a ‘real’ one, like the F-150, Silverado or Ram? They have all the capability a truck owner would want thanks to a bigger bed. They have bigger, more powerful engines that allow for greater towing and payload, and are overall more spacious.

Then why are compact pickups so popular? Toyota has sold more of its Tacoma compact pickup in 2012, rather than its Tundra half-ton which competes with the big-dogs named F-150, Ram and Silverado. Nissan too, enjoys more sales for its Frontier compact pickup over its Titan, likely for the same main reasons as the Tacoma.

“The Tacoma is very successful for a number of reasons,” says Sam Butto, from Toyota’s truck division. “Toyota has a long and rich compact pickup truck heritage that dates back nearly 50 years and has a reputation for its quality, utility and durability that has earned a large amount of owner loyalty.” Butto’s right, a Toyota often sits atop Consumer Reports reliability report cards every year, and rated much higher than the American automakers.

“For many years now the Tacoma has been the number one seller in the U.S. in the compact pickup segment and currently holds a market share of over 40 percent,” says Butto “Reasons for this, in addition to its reputation for quality and durability, is because for the past several years the size of compact pickups, including Tacoma, have grown, thus increasing their capability.”

Butto then outlines the main reasons why compact pickups are popular in the first place.

“The Tacoma is less expensive than full-size trucks yet delivers the power and utility to satisfy the needs of many truck owners. Additionally, Tacoma delivers better fuel economy than most full-size trucks.”

CHICKEN TAX SCARING RANGERS AWAY

So why exactly is Ford not bringing a small pickup here, while GM is? Also, why do Toyota and Nissan continue to sell small pickups here, even though the market is so small?

GM is planning on making the new Colorado here in the states, while Ford would have to import them, meaning it would cost quite a bit. Toyota and Nissan both make their US-spec pickups in the states too, which helps reduce the costs. The Chicken Tax is another significant reason it would be expensive to bring the International Ranger over to the US.

The Chicken Tax is a 25% tariff that was put in place in 1963 on imported light trucks, as a response to France and West Germany taxing American chickens and other products. Today, the chicken tax lives on to protect U.S. domestic automakers from foreign truck production. When it was first introduced it cut-down competition in the US, making more American-made vehicles available to buyers. Now, with the auto-industry being a global trade, it’s hurting domestic automakers too.

The Chicken Tax is already causing headaches for Ford on its Transit Connect cargo van. Made in Turkey, the Ford Transit Connect is shipped to the US as a passenger vehicle to avoid the chicken tax. The car then gets unassembled, leaving its seats and windows to be recycled, as the new cargo spec version of the van is sold to American customers. The Ranger, however, doesn’t have any way to disguise itself as a passenger vehicle, so all pickups are taxed at the port.

CATCHING UP TO BIG BROTHER

What if Ford could make the Ranger in the US? The cost to Ford of developing a plant to cater to the Ranger’s platform could be pretty significant in these tight times for automakers. Speaking of the new Ranger’s platform, it’s quite a bit bigger than the old Ranger. Comparisons have been made between the four-door Ranger to the four-door F-150 with a regular 5.5-foot box, and they conclude that the Ranger is still smaller in every way. However, the margin is tight, with the two vehicles being quite close in terms of length (231.9 for the F-150 to 210.6 inches for the Ranger) wheelbase (144.5 inches/126.8 inches), width (67 inches/61 inches), and height (76.2 inches/71.7 inches.) So, while the Ranger is still smaller than the F-150, it’s not nearly as big of a difference as it used to be. That means that buyers might want to opt for the F-150, which is just 10% larger than the Ranger. So even if Ford made the Ranger here, and priced it below the F-150, it might very well eat into sales of the bigger pickup. Any move that hurts the F-150 hurts Ford, so the international Ranger definitely won’t ever see our shores.

So, will the current market segment leader turn around and stop making the Tacoma, like Ford did with the Ranger? It doesn’t look like it. A new model of the Tacoma is expected to come out in 2014 and feature new engine technology and an updated style. Nissan will also be debuting a new version of the Frontier in the next year or so. That means the compact pickup battle will be on in 2014, but without Ford taking on Chevy, Nissan and Toyota, it just won’t be the same.

We might have some fancy cars over here in the USA, but there are quite a few vehicles overseas that we can’t help but think are desperately missing from our shores. More than a few are niche market models perfect for auto-enthusiasts, while others are more stylish or practical than what’s currently available in the US. And some are both.

First up we have the Honda Civic. Sure, it might just be a Civic, but Honda’s European Civic is quite different from what’s in showrooms here. Take a quick look, and its hard to notice the Honda badge on the front. The euro-Civic’s stylish looks are far and away better than the bland car available in US. America also misses out on this specific body-style, which is a shame since hatchbacks offer a practical advantage over sedans and coupes.

Making the Civic even more appealing is its engines which range from a tiny 1.4-liter engine, to a 2.2-liter diesel. If its one thing Americans should be grateful for is that the more powerful, and sportier Civic Si is not yet available in Europe. Chances are, however, they’ll probably get an even cooler Mugen-tuned hatch or Type R model that we’ll never see here either.

The latest rumblings from Down Under are suggesting that GM subsidiary Holden will soon announce its plan to export the V8 Commodore to the American market as the Chevrolet SS Performance sedan.

If and when that announcement comes, as it’s expected to, it will confirm speculation that the mysterious “SS” badge recently filed with the U.S. Patent Office and then leaked through the OnStar app is, in fact, the next generation Commodore. Another big hint in what’s really more of a sure thing, Holden has been testing left hand-drive versions of the Commodore, presumably in preparation for other-side-of-the-road markets like America.

It also seems the upcoming nameplate might be tied NASCAR. News.com.au speculated in the same article that GM’s decision to scrap the Impala from the sport will leave a slot open to be filled by by the SS Performance.

As we’ve reported before, the upcoming car will almost certainly be a revived Pontiac G8, which was the previous attempt at selling a Holden to U.S. consumers. Financial difficulty brought a swift end to both the car and brand, as GM couldn’t justify maintaining it while floundering.

[Source: News.com.au]

A Holden-sourced hotrod for the U.S. has all but been confirmed by GM after an OnStar slipup and the resulting media storm, but official details are still just out of reach. Even without that information, there’s a reasonable argument to be made that the rear-drive Chevrolet SS will be less than prolific. 

Aussie dollars are thriving in the world market right now — a huge change from just a few years ago where it was a nothing-currency valued well-under the U.S. dollar. Why should you care, you may ask? It’s really very simple.

Australia’s strong exports are sending its dollar through the roof, which means anything exported from the country will also be more expensive. A certain Chevrolet SS that perked so many ears in recent weeks falls smack dab in the middle of that category. Simply put, under the current economic climate, you probably cant afford to buy one.

Even the folks who can might choose not to. The truth is, unless you have some sort of misplaced loyalty to either GM or Holden, there will probably be a competing car with better per-dollar value.

With details still totally in the dark, folks like us start dreaming and that’s exactly what automakers count on. Media members create a buzz and that helps sales, but don’t forget that the Chevrolet SS will likely be a reiteration of the previous U.S. Holden Commodore (the Pontiac G8). While it had impressive specifications and a big V8, lackluster sales and an almost automatic-exclusive drivetrain spelled the G8′s doom.

At its peak, the Aussie dollar sat in February at 1.08 to the Greenback. It’s true that the disparity between our currencies is shrinking, but the fact remains that Australia’s success is due largely to Chinese demand for its goods, something that is likely to continue for the immediate future.

Given that, it seems reasonable to assert that a Caprice, G8 successor, Chevrolet SS, or whatever the company labels it will be priced as a niche car. People with money to burn and a keen sense of individuality may find merit in something like that, but it isn’t a recipe for mass appeal.

Similarly, it’s doubtful that the cars will be easy to market in fleets, that is unless GM is willing to stretch the already razor-thin margins associated with that sort of deal.

The end result? Don’t hold your breath for a hot Holden in North America at a reasonable price — you’ll turn blue and keel over first.

GALLERY: 2014 Chevy SS

We found out recently that the 2014 Chevrolet SS Performance Sedan is likely coming in 2014. We also speculated that this car is likely a re-release of the old Pontiac G8, which is based on the Holden Commodore (seen above)

If that speculation is correct, it leaves one question hanging: why would GM delay releasing a car that is already developed and ready to go? It turns out that releasing such a car after it’s already been sold isn’t as quite as simple as prying one badge off and gluing another on.

Because of franchising laws in certain states, the Chevrolet SS can’t come to market because it’s essentially a repurposed Pontiac G8. Those laws don’t apply across the country and can differ from state to state, but seem to be significant enough to prevent en immediate re-release.

It seems that the new SS will need to be significantly different looking than the old Pontiac if GM hopes to sell it. Additionally, if the SS is based on the Holden Commodore, then it will likely feature the new Commodore’s VF Platform.

According to GMInsidenews, there are also two likely engine options: one being a 6.0 liter V8, and the other a 6.2 liter V8. Official information from GM is still out of reach, but given the 2014 date OnStar seems to have set, intentionally or otherwise, we’re expecting to see more surface soon.

[Source: GMInsideNews.com]

Not long ago, we reported that General Motors was possibly looking to move Commodore production out of Australia, which would have resulted in the loss of some 12,000 jobs at Holden and affected numerous other positions in directly.

In order to provide GM with an incentive, Australian Prime Minister, Julia Gillard, recently announced that the country’s government will grant the auto giant a government subsidy of $275 million Australian dollars ($288 million) to engineer and manufacture cars in the country for at least another decade.

A strong Australian dollar driven by high demand for minerals and energy, particularly in China, is rendering Australian manufactured goods increasingly uncompetitive in export markets. For GM this presents an issue because the full-size Holden VE Commodore and it’s  long wheelbase variant, the WM  Caprice, are in relatively high demand in certain export markets, notably the Middle East (where they’re sold as the Chevy Lumina and Caprice) and in North America, where the WM is sold as the 9C1 Caprice Police Pursuit Vehicle.

With the strong dollar eating into profit margins and GM already engaged in a global consolidation and cutting exercise, it must be sorely tempting to seriously consider relocating production of these vehicles elsewhere if not dropping them entirely.

Although the Australian Government subsidy will go a substantial way to easing fears regarding Holden’s future, at least in the short term, Gillard is making it quite clear this isn’t a handout. “It is a strategic investment that will boost our economy, foster innovation, build new business opportunities and promote adoption of new fuel-saving and safety technologies,” she said during a press conference to reporters in the Australian capital, Canberra.

The money, which will come from federal coffers as well as the Victoria and South Australia state governments, is designed to ensure that GM will continue to commit to vehicle production at its Melbourne and Adelaide plants for the foreseeable future. As part of the deal, GM announced that it will be investing more than $1 billion at both these facilities between now and 2022.

With a refreshed Commodore due out soon, that has already been announced to run entirely on a GM platform, it raises the question: will more Holden products make it to the U.S. in the coming years? GM already tried, albeit with little success, to port the Commodore as the Pontiac G8, but a refreshed model might do the trick.

[Source: Detroit News]

When it comes to hero cars, Batman and his bat mobiles or James Bond and his Aston Martins don’t have anything on Mad Max and the devilish rides he and the lawless motor tribes drive.

Thanks to leaked images from the set of the latest Mad Max: Fury Road, we get a sneak peek to see what sort of machines will be featured in the film.

A reported 130 cars and motorcycles will be used to perform almost 200 stunts. The leaked picture shows an oversized truck trailer bed carrying a double-bodied ’59 Cadillac coupe, each featuring two supercharged V8s connected by a planetary gear. Known as the “Gigahorse”, the pair of monster Cadillacs with monster engines are mounted on top of a monster-truck chassis. Finally, to top it all off, the Gigahorse also sports a four-bladed cow catcher.

In the past, the 80′s classics were filmed in the Australian outback over stretches of desert roads. However, Director George Miller believed that the area is “too green” and doesn’t offer the same dystopian landscape as it did years ago. Instead, shots of road wars will be set in the deserts of Namibia.

Tom Hardy replaces Mel Gibson for the role as the new “Mad” Max Rockatansky. The heroine role has been appointed to Charleze Theron, as Furosia. According to Miller, Fury Road will be filmed back-to-back with the sequel, Furiosa. In total, Miller confirmed that three scripts have already been written for Mad Max’s return. Get ready for a trilogy if the first film is well received.

[Source: Autoblog]