The Holden VL Commodore SS Group A SV was the first car produced by HSV, It released in 1988. It produced 180 kW (241 hp) and 380 N⋅m (280 lb⋅ft). All produced in 'Panorama Silver'. The VL Group A SS was also the first model to feature a fuel-injected version of the Holden V8. It was built as a homologation, and sold as a Holden.
The SV88 was based on the Holden Calais (VL). It used a carburetored Holden V8 producing 136 kW (182 hp) and 355 N⋅m (262 lb⋅ft). It was the first car under the HSV marque. The SV F20 was powered by the turbocharged 3.0-litre Nissan RB30 producing 150 kW (201 hp) and 296 N⋅m (218 ft⋅lb) of torque. Only 2 units were produced, instead of the 20 planned.
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SV88
SV F20
VN/VG/VQ
The VN series released in 1988. The VN Commodore SS Group A SV produced 215 kW (288 hp), 302 of the originally planend 500 units were produced. The SV3800 was powered by a 3.8-litre V6 producing 132 kW (177 hp). In 1990 the Maloo was introduced, based on the Holden Utility (VG). In 1900 the Clubsport was introduced.
The VN series also spawned HSV V6-engined regional models, which are less known and widely based on Holden Commodore models with HSV add-ons.
The range of vehicles for this series included (in alphabetical order):
Challenger (special V6 built for Canberra dealers)
ClubSport
DMG90 (special V6 build for Queensland dealers)
GTS V6 (New Zealand export)
LS (VN sedan and wagon – wagon only available in New Zealand)
LS (VG V6 utility)
Maloo
Statesman 5000i
Statesman 5000i
Statesman SV90
Statesman SV93
SV LE
SV89
SV3800
SV5000
SV T-30
8-Plus
Holden Commodore SS Group A SV (badged as a Holden for racing homologation)
VP
The VP Series was released in 1992. The Senator and GTS were introduced. The ClubSport and Senator produced 180 kW (241 hp). The GTS, ClubSport 500i, and Senator 5000i produced 200 kW (268 hp).
ClubSport
Clubsport 5000i
Sport Wagon.
GTS
Maloo
Senator
Senator 5000i
SV91
Nitron
Formula
HSV+6
VR/VS
The VR series was released in 1993. Most of the range was powered by a 5.0-litre V8 producing 185 kW (248 hp), with the GTS and Senator 215i having a 5.7-litre stroked V8 producing 215 kW (288 hp).
The VS series was released in 1995. The Manta was introduced. In 1996 the Grange released, as part of the VS Series II range.
HSV's VR and VS range included:
ClubSport (wagon available only in the VR Series)
GTS
Maloo
Senator
Statesman
HSV's VS range added:
Manta
Grange (from the VS Series III of 1996)
VT
The VT range was released in 1997. The Clubsport and Manta were powered 5.0-litre Holden V8 producing 195 kW (261 hp). The GTS was powered by a 5.7-litre V8 producing 220 kW (295 hp). The Senator Signature was powered by a 5.0-litre V8 at 195 kW (261 hp) for the 195i and 220 kW (295 hp) for the 220i. The XU8, which was the last model to carry last-ever Australian-made V8 engine (Holden V8 engine).
The VT Series II released in 1999, most of the range was powered by a 5.7-litre LS1 producing 250 kW (335 hp). The GTS was powered by a LS1 producing 300 kW (402 hp). The Manta was dropped. The XU6 was introduced in 1998, with a supercharged 3.8-litre V6 producing 180 kW (241 hp). The Clubsport R8 was introduced.
The Grange released in 1999, based on the WH Caprice, the 180i was powered by a supercharged L67 3.8 litre V6 producing 180 kW (241 hp) or the 250 with a LS1 V8 producing 250 kW (335 hp). The 180i was dropped in 2000, the Grange's LS1 V8 increased in power in 2000, to 255 kW (342 hp). The WH II Grange released in September 2001.
HSV's VT range included:
Manta
ClubSport
GTS
Senator Signature
Senator Signature wagon
Grange
Maloo (VS series based utility)
SV99
The VT Series II range added:
XU6
Clubsport R8
VX/VU
The HSV VX Series released in 2000. The output of the LS1 was increased to 255 kW (342 hp). The VU Ute saw the release of a new Maloo model, the R8 was added to the Maloo range. The Senator 300 was powered by an LS1 producing 300 kW (402 hp). In late 2001 the Coupé models released, based on the Holden Monaro.
The range included:
XU6
ClubSport
Clubsport R8
Senator Signature
Senator 300
Grange
GTS
Maloo
The VX II range added:
XU6
SV300
Coupé GTO
Coupé GTS
Maloo R8
XU6-Maloo
Y Series
The Y series released in 2002. Most of the range was powered by a 5.7-litre LS1 producing 260 kW (349 hp), with the GTS and Coupé GTS being powered by an LS1 producing 300 kW (402 hp). The XU6 was dropped.
The Y II Series released in 2003. It increased the power of 5.7-litre LS1 to 285 kW (382 hp). The all-wheel drive Coupé4, Avalanche, and Avalanche XUV were released in 2004.
The range included:
ClubSport
Clubsport R8
GTS
Senator
Senator Signature
Grange
Coupé GTO
Coupé GTS
Maloo
Maloo R8
Avalanche
The Y II range added:
Coupé4
Avalanche
Avalanche XUV
Z Series
The Z Series was released in October 2004. It introduced the LS2 V8, producing 297 kW (398 hp). The Avalanche, Avalanche XUV and Coupé4 retained the LS1 producing 270 kW (362 hp). There were no GTS and Coupé GTS models. The SV600 was released in 2005.
The range included:
ClubSport
Clubsport R8
SV6000
Grange
Senator
Coupé GTO
Coupé4
Maloo
Maloo R8
Avalanche
Avalanche XUV
E Series
The E Series range was released in August 2006, excluding the Grange which released in October 2006. The Grange It added new LED taillights, side vents and had a LS2 producing 307 kW (412 hp). The GTS, Senator Signature, and Grange had Magnetic Ride Control. In April 2008 HSV switched from the LS2 to the 6.2-litre LS3 engine producing 317 kW (425 hp).
The W427 was released in 2008, it also was shown at the 2008 Melbourne Motor Show. It was powered by a 7.0-litre LS7 producing 375 kW (503 hp). In September 2008 the ClubSport R8 Tourer was released, a wagon based on the Sportswagon.
The E Series 2 was released in September 2009. The range received many cosmetic changes with new front and rear bumpers, twin-nostriled bonnet, and daytime running lights standard across the E2 range. The LS3 in the GTS had its power increased to 325 kW (436 hp). In September 2010, HSV released the E Series 3. It added a bi-fuel option using petrol and LPG using LPI in on all models in the range except the ClubSport R8 Tourer.
The range included:
Clubsport R8
Clubsport R8 Tourer
GTS
W427
Senator Signature
Grange
Maloo R8
Gen-F
The Gen-F series, which is based on the VF Commodore series went on sale in August 2013. The Grange ended production in 2016. The Commodore-based range ended in 2017.
The range included:
ClubSport
Clubsport R8
Clubsport R8 Tourer
Grange
GTS
GTSR
Maloo
Maloo R8
Senator Signature
Other models
HSV made non-Commodore based models since 1988.
Astra SV1800
The HSV Astra SV1800 was released in 1988, and was based on the LD-series Holden Astra. It shared the same 1.8-litre GM Family II engine as the standard Astra, producing 79 kW (106 hp) and 151 N⋅m (111 lb⋅ft). It added extractors, sports exhaust, and a body kit. 65 units were produced, both in sedan and hatchback form.
VXR Turbo
The HSV VXR Turbo is a rebadged Vauxhall Astra, produced from 2006 to 2009.
It has a 2.0-litre turbocharged 4-cylinder engine producing 176 kW (236 hp) and 320 N⋅m (236 lb⋅ft), coupled to a 6-speed manual transmission.
HSV Jackaroo
The HSV Jackaroo was introduced in 1993. It was based on the Holden Jackaroo, itself derived from the second-generation Isuzu Trooper. It was powered by the same 3.2-litre V6 coupled with a four-speed automatic as the Holden Jackaroo, producing 130 kW (174 hp) and 260 N⋅m (192 lb⋅ft). It added air conditioning, new alloy wheels and a limited-slip differential. 79 units were produced.
Holden Jackaroo SE
The Holden Jackaroo SE was a HSV-modified Jackaroo sold as a Holden.
SportsCat
The HSV SportsCat was produced from 2018 to 2020, based on the Holden Colorado. It was available in V and SV trims.
Colorado V8
Plans for a high power version of the Holden Colorado using the LT1 engine and a 10-speed transmission was cancelled in 2020 with the closure of HSV and Holden. Two prototypes were built with powertrains taken from crash-tested Chevrolet Camaros, one based on a HSV SportsCat, and the other based on a North American Chevrolet Colorado to be aimed at that market. It was the final project worked on by HSV, and would have received a new name, ThunderCat being one of the considered options.
Production milestones
In 2014, HSV reported the following production milestones:
June 1991: 5,000th HSV built was a SV T-30
April 1997: 20,000th HSV built was a Senator
August 2003: 40,000th HSV built was a ClubSport
July 2006: 50,000th HSV built was a ClubSport
February 2013: 75,000th HSV built was a ClubSport
September 2014: 80,000th HSV built was a ClubSport R8 in Phantom Black paint
December 2017: 90,000th HSV built
Chevrolet Special Vehicles (CSV)
HSV first reached into the Middle Eastern market with a one-race series featuring stripped down ClubSport R (Z Series) sedans in Dubai and Bahrain, the Chevrolet Supercars Middle East Championship.
CR8, based on the E-Series ClubSport
