HSV SportsCat priced to compete

HOLDEN Special Vehicles’ (HSV) fettled Colorado pick-up will kick-off from $60,790 before on-roads for the Ford Ranger Wildtrak-rivalling SportsCat in manual guise and top out with the three-pedal SportCat+ from $66,790.

However, opting for a six-speed automatic transmission will add $2200 to the asking price, while other options including SupaShock suspension (SportsCat+ only), prestige paint, tub-liner, roof rack and load master will push a fully loaded HSV pick-up to $76,257.

Sitting at least $5800 upstream of the $54,990 Holden Colorado Z71, the SportsCat adds HSV sports suspension, a 30mm wider wheel track, increased ride height, 18x10-inch wheels, bodykit, restyled front fascia, tubular side steps and red-stitch highlights throughout the interior.

SportsCat+ vehicles also gain larger AP Racing brakes and a rear de-coupling anti-roll bar.

Engine outputs remain unchanged however, with the 2.8-litre turbo-diesel four-cylinder outputting 147kW of power and either 440Nm or 500Nm of torque in manual and automatic guise.

The first HSV-enhanced model after the demise of the Australian-built Commodore, the Holden tuning specialists said the “Colorado SportsCat features a raft of styling and chassis enhancements that are set to position the vehicle as the most advanced sports 4x4 on the market”.

Rivals include the 147kW/470Nm 3.2-litre turbo-diesel Ford Ranger Wildtrak from $59,590 and the 130kW/450Nm 2.8-litre Toyota HiLux SR5 that starts at and $54,440.

However, both versions will soon gain new range-topping variants in the form of the performance-honed Ranger Raptor and a trio of enhanced HiLux derivatives dubbed Rogue, Rugged and Rugged X.

Aiming to capture more buyers in the booming one-tonne pick-up segment that saw the Toyota HiLux and Ford Ranger finish first and second in the 2017 new-vehicle sales race, HSV managing director Tim Jackson said the two-variant SportsCat range will give customers “the flexibility to choose”.

“Given the breadth of styling, comfort and engineering enhancements, we’re confident the SportsCat range represents outstanding value,” he said.

“Our two-tier product strategy provides buyers with the flexibility to choose the model that best suits their work and lifestyle requirements.”

Last year, Holden sold 21,579 Colorados, putting it behind the market-leading Toyota HiLux (47,093), Ford Ranger (42,728) and Mitsubishi Triton (23,605) in the light-commercial pick-up segment.

Of the two SportsCat variants on offer, it is expected most customers will opt for the higher-grade SportsCat+, while Mr Jackson said he expected sales to be “less than” 2000 units a year.

2018 HSV Colorado SportsCat pricing*

Colorado SportsCat	$60,790
Colorado SportsCat (a)	$62,990
Colorado SportsCat+	$66,790
Colorado SportsCat+ (a)	$68,990

*Excludes on-road costs