HSV interested in more GM product

HOLDEN Special Vehicles (HSV) has said it is open to expanding its three-model line-up and is constantly looking for new product opportunities, with the Chevrolet Silverado 1500 and all-new Corvette supercar possible entrants for the local brand.

Speaking to GoAuto at the launch of the Series II Colorado SportsCat, HSV general manager of product planning and program development Gareth Brown said the sales success of the Ram 1500, launched in mid-2018, meant HSV was assessing whether it could import and convert the Silverado 1500 for Australia.

“Yeah, of course we’re evaluating that We can’t comment on anything, but of course we’re looking at it. We’ve seen what Ram is doing in the market, so of course we’re having a look and assessing opportunities,” he said.

HSV currently imports and converts to right-hand drive the big brothers of the 1500, the 2500 and 3500 full-size pick-ups featuring a gargantuan 6.6-litre turbo-diesel V8 outputting 332kW and an earth-moving 1234Nm of torque.

However, given the Silverado range kicks off from $114,990 plus on-roads for the 2500HD WT and tops out at $147,990 for the 3500HD, volume for the monster pick-up is small, with HSV only gunning for around 500-600 sales in 2019.

Meanwhile, the Ram 1500 has already accounted for a total of 987 sales through the first half of the year, while the Ram 2500/3500 have registered just 130.

Mr Brown said that if HSV brought the 1500 Down Under, which is currently only produced in right-hand drive, it would find space on its already busy production line to fit the 1500, which already converts the Ram range as well as the Chevrolet 2500/3500 and Camaro sportscar.

In total, the new 1500 range, first revealed at the Detroit motor show in January 2018, features six powertrain options, including a couple that could appeal to the Australian market, such as a 3.0-litre inline six-cylinder turbo-diesel and a pair of naturally aspirated petrol V8s in 5.3- and 6.2-litre guise.

HSV has previously rebuffed questions regarding bringing the 1500 to Australia, however the continued success of the ageing Ram 1500 could be the catalyst to change its mind.

An enhanced version of the just-announced Chevrolet Corvette mid-engined supercar could also be on the cards for HSV, with GM Holden confirming that the all-new version will be produced in right-hand drive and sold through its dealerships.

The 2020 Corvette Stingray employs a 6.2-litre aspirated LT2 V8 producing 369kW/637Nm, up from the 339kW/617Nm LT1 version underpinning the entry-level Camaro 2SS.

HSV has a long and storied history of enhancing petrol V8 engines from its ClubSport, Maloo and Senator days, upgrading the V8 powerplant under the cover of the Commodore and Caprice sedans.

Mr Brown said HSV would love to produce its own version of the Corvette, however it was not currently on the company’s radar.

“I can’t comment in that space; it’s only just coming out into the market in general. I think for General Motors, it’s one of their biggest hush-hush projects out there, so would we love to do it? Certainly it would be interesting, but at the moment it’s not on our radar,” he said.

“We’d more than welcome it into a Holden showroom or an HSV showroom next to our product, but if it does happen to be in right-hand drive, then it would be perfect sitting next to a Camaro.

“I think if it does come our way into the country, it would certainly help our brand, or our portfolio.”