Managing Director Phil Harding says HSV has made a major investment in the new product.
“The new E2 range is yet another opportunity to demonstrate the engineering and design excellence of HSV,” he said.
The highlight of the E Series 2 range is the return of the GTS with 325kW of power, hi-flow intermediate exhaust system with bi-modal mufflers, recalibrated Magnetic Ride Control with stiffer springs and 8.5 inch front wheels as standard.
Harding said HSV’s new GTS continued the 40-year tradition of the nameplate being at the pinnacle of Australian performance motoring.
“To be able to deliver a sophisticated, striking modern day interpretation of the GTS performance saloon – at an accessible price – is a tribute to our entire team,” he said
Other highlights include the addition of daytime running lamps throughout the range, fuel economy savings of up to 4.5%, a dramatic new frontal shockwave graphic, and driver enhancements such as ‘Competition Mode, Electronic Stability Control, Launch Control (manual only) and Extended Cruise Control.
A range of new options under the banner of ‘SV Enhanced’ including six piston front brake calipers for GTS, a new ‘Performance Suspension’ for Clubsport R8, bi-modal exhaust on ClubSport R8 sedan & Clubsport R8, Tourer, Maloo R8, Senator Signature and Grange.
Chief Engineer Joel Stoddart said one of the goals of the E2 development program was to improve fuel economy.
“We have achieved up to 4.5% improvement in fuel economy, with an auto ClubSport R8 now returning 13.9 litres per 100km,” he said.
Chief of Design and Styling, Julian Quincey, said work on sketching E2 began in early 2007, not long after the original E Series began delivering record sales for HSV.
“Our customers were telling HSV they loved the differentiation the new model delivered, giving us the starting point for designing the next generation,” Quincey said.
“We needed a new identity that would both excite the passionate HSV buyer and equally one that could be picked out by the non car enthusiast. This meant that our overall front and rear graphics had to be substantially changed from the original E series and ideally also look lower, wider and more sporty,” he said.
