Subtlety is not a word that’s usually seen in the same sentence as HSV. But, thanks mainly to its new LS3 engine, HSV wants to change all that.
The GM Corvette-sourced 6.2-litre V8 is already lurking under the bonnet of showroom cars across the country. Yet all there is to show for it is a ‘317’ badge on the rear bumper and new, optional alloys. On the road, there’s also a more compelling delivery of power and sound.
Despite the minimal exterior changes, internal changes are major. HSV’s chief engineer Joel Stoddart explained it well, saying “the top end of the engine has had a bit of a birthday.”
The 0.2-litre gain in capacity to 6162cc has increased the bore 1.6mm to 103.25mm. Stroke is 92mm, and intake lift is up 0.75 to 14.0mm. New high-flow cylinder heads and intake manifold, strengthened pistons, revised cam timing, more efficient valves and injectors, and a front-mount transmission cooler forces the new power under consistent control, and produces a 10kW increase in power to 317kW at 6000rpm, and the same 550Nm at 4600rpm.
While 10kW is a decent boost for a less powerful car, the difference in a 300kW car is somewhat marginal.
The engine note is different: less thrummy, particularly in the automatic models, with a flatter pitch and reduced resonance at lower speeds. But open it up, and the old growl permeates the cabin, harmonising with the ever-increasing urge.
Torque is more accessible across the rev range, too, and both manual and automatic HSVs benefit with easier launches and smoother shifts. Downshifts are much improved in the automatic; it holds gears more decisively and is less drowsy than it used to be when prodded. The manual is easier to launch and lurches less from rolling, low speed starts.
But ideally, the differences between LS2 and LS3 should be found through a back-to-back test.
HSV says fuel economy is improved marginally -- 0.1-0.2L/100km on the Maloo Ute and Grange long wheelbase models. But Clubsport, GTS and Senator creep up by 0.1L/100km. As does the price … which inflates marginally by between 1.3 percent (GTS) to 2.8 percent (Maloo).
The new Pentagon alloys, standard on GTS and the Maloo performance pack, are available across the rest of the range for $2500.
New colours Karma (gunmetal grey) and Voodoo (blue) brighten up the palette. Even though the Senator Signature and Grange are also available in the bright Sting Red, they’ve lost some visual appeal because the brake callipers are now a more subtle silver.
New Zealand gets a ‘Murph Pack’ limited edition model: 41 dolled-up sedans and 10 utes with a bespoke colour scheme, performance pack extras and a track session in the car with V8 Supercar driver Greg Murphy. No word yet on a Skaife or Tander version for Oz...
HSV remains tight-lipped about future plans for its LS3, but hints that over the next 12 months much will be happening with its V8 drivetrain and the body that houses it (click
here for more).
The Corvette C6 which runs this engine in the US gets 4kW and 25Nm more than HSV’s cars. So HSV has some urge up its sleeves. Perhaps it will unleash that urge when a Series II-type facelift arrives late this year, perhaps to coincide with the Holden VE refresh. But don’t expect an LS3-powered Commodore SS for several years yet.
Besides, the LS3 offers more than enough kW to again top FPV’s new FG V8, which ironically is launched to the media this afternoon. Stay tuned.
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