Australian HSV now offers LS3 engine

The LS3 V8 / HSV (Holden Special Vehicles)

6.2L finds its way downunder

By Grant Edwardson
March 26, 2008 1:44 PM
Filed Under: Holden, Specialty Marques

Australia has had a long tradition of producing uprated high performance version of large family saloons. The task of upgrading these vehicles generally fell in house with the manufacturers (Ford and Holden) having a special division which handled the work. As the popularity of these performance vehicles increased both Ford and Holden decided to create off-spin companies to cater specifically for the performance enthusiast. Holden created HSV (Holden Special Vehicles) in 1988 and this company has grown to produce vehicles which can compete with the world’s best.

Known as the Holden Commodore in Australia and New Zealand, the HSV versions are sold as Vauxhalls in the UK and Pontiacs in the USA.

New for 2008 is the replacement for the outgoing 6.0L LS2 Chevrolet engine, the LS3. The LS3 raises the capacity the V8 to 6.2L , the extra 200cc produces 10 more kilowatts over the outgoing LS2 to give a huge 317kW (425hp) at 6000rpm. Torque remains at a considerable 550Nm.

This new engine could not come at a better time for Holden as its arch rival, Ford, is in the process of introducing its new FG Falcon range which is a direct competitor to the Commodore. The Falcon will also get a new range of high performance versions of the bread and butter Falcon model courtesy of its performance division FPV (Ford Performance Vehicles). FPV performance fans are expecting a revised 4.0L turbo six and a 5.4L V8 by June this year.

The LS3 V8 engine will be introduced from April this year and will be found under the bonnet of the whole range of HSV vehicles. 2008 should be a bumper year for the Australian car enthusiast.

Source: HSV (Holden Special Vehicles)

Press Release (Click to expand)

New LS3 engine to power HSV from April
Holden Special Vehicles today announced a running change to its award winning E-Series and WM Grange vehicles, with the new GM LS3 engine to be fitted across the range for cars on-sale from April.
The upgrade will see the ClubSport R8, GTS, Senator Signature, Maloo R8 and WM Grange s power output rise to 317kW.
Managing Director Scott Grant said the new engine was a welcome upgrade to the range of vehicles from Australia s luxury and performance car maker. We know our customers want the latest and greatest technology in their cars, Scott Grant said. The General Motors LS3 engine continues the HSV tradition of scouring the world for technological advancements to enhance the driving experience.
It is built by General Motors Powertrain in North America and is available in the current Chevrolet Corvette. It will also be the engine used in the new Pontiac GXP, to be built by Holden in Elizabeth from the end of 2008 and exported to the United States.
The HSV LS3 engine has a capacity of 6.2 litres, producing 317kW of power at 6000rpm and 550NM of torque at 4600 rpm, as fitted to the HSV range.
Despite the power output increase, the new engine will deliver a slight improvement in fuel economy for Maloo R8 and WM Grange, while the short wheel base models return figures of 14.5 litres per 100km, as opposed to 14.4ltr/100km for E-Series LS2, in automatic mode.
Production of the new LS3 range begins this month and is available in dealerships from April. Vauxhall s VXR8 and the CSV R8, sold in the United Kingdom and Middle East respectively, will also receive the LS3 engine in 2008. New Zealand launches the LS3 engine with a limited edition Murph pack themed ClubSport R8 and Maloo R8.
HSV have released a new colour palette to coincide with the engine upgrade and for the first time WM Grange and Senator Signature will be available in Red Hot . Automatic transmission coolers are standard across the upgraded range.
HSV will also introduce a new 20 inch wheel option across its fleet, including Grange, Senator Signature and ClubSport R8.
The wheel is a $2500 option for those customers and a no-cost option for GTS and Maloo R8 performance pack purchasers.
The running changes have also resulted in a new pricing schedule with average price increases of between 1.3% and 2.8%.

HSV LS3 pricing schedule
Model Price (AUD)
Maloo R8 $61,550
Maloo R8 (auto) $63,750
Maloo R8 PP $3,990
ClubSport R8 $64,550
ClubSport R8 (auto) $66,750
GTS $76,990
GTS (auto) $79,190
Senator Signature $79,190
Grange $84,690
New 20 inch wheel option $2,500

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Comments

atleast500hp

March 26, 2008 1:51 PM

You're telling me that with the extra 200cc's they could only squeeze out 10kw? And keep the torque the same. I know they're massively different cars and price tags, but how is it that AMG can easily churn out 380kW/630Nm for the same size engine and yet HSV gets 317Kw and everyone jumps for joy? I think I'll go back to sleep......Zzzzzzz

Joe_Limon

March 26, 2008 5:09 PM

Well, as a matter of fact. The amg version has forced induction. This is a base motor w/o forced induction. A Little known fact among german super enthusiasts is that non turbo/super charged motors tend to last longer. Weird huh? Who would want that sort of thing out of a non super performance car?

NICKKOP

March 26, 2008 6:16 PM

actually limon AMG's 6.2 is currently natuarlly aspirated

NICKKOP

March 26, 2008 6:17 PM

but this motor goes in to US$30,000 cars not $60,000 - $110,000 cars unlike AMG motors

Joe_Limon

March 26, 2008 6:34 PM

good to know, up till now the only words in my mind that stuck with amg were biturbo and v12.

radmeister

March 26, 2008 7:20 PM

Bwahahaha in 30,000$ cars you cannot even get a G6 fully loaded for 30,000$ the G8 fully loaded will be close to 50,000$ throw in those beautiful canadian taxes and the freight charge and you are nearing 60,000$. Not exactly a bargain car, i piss on this GM and rather buy a 1 year old C63AMG for that price.

radmeister

March 26, 2008 7:25 PM

Actually it might be even more, the G6 GXP is 40,440$ before taxes fully loaded. G8 GXP will not be a cheap car it is entering BMW,Audi,Mercedes price range.

Joe_Limon

March 26, 2008 7:39 PM

lol right... your gonna buy a year old fully loaded 63 amg for $40,000. What a waste of money. At least buy an audi or something that looks nice.

NISMO

March 27, 2008 3:49 AM

In the states you can get a decently equipped G8 in the low to mid $30K range...and I don't see what everyones beef is with this engine...yeah its old pushrod technology, yeah they don't really change it, but it makes 400+hp, has gobs of torque, and will get 27 mpg. on the highway...whats wrong with that? I used to think it was just us, here in the states that couldn't leave something that works the hell alone, but apparently we are not alone...

BENZian

March 26, 2008 5:06 PM

...because the higher output is reserved for cars such as The Corvette and Cadillac V series cars....

_M7_

March 26, 2008 7:06 PM

what a cra*p the same sh*t until 50 years, does it have SOHC at least? BMW got 680hp 13 years ago whit 6Lt engine

radmeister

March 26, 2008 7:13 PM

Falcon 4.0L Inline 6 Turbo is 10x better.

dodgeyaussie

March 28, 2008 12:09 AM

What planet are you living on?

Check all the option boxes on the G8, and your looking at a sticker of $32985.

radmeister

March 28, 2008 12:54 AM

I live in canada and our prices are entirely different from US or australian prices. like i said G6 GXP fully loaded is 40,440$ after tax 45,697$

Joe_Limon

March 28, 2008 6:20 AM

yeah, it's kind of funny actually. Our commercials keep telling us our cars are cheaper because our dollar is currently stronger then the us dollar... yet the cars are still have managed to become more expensive then last year.

DethLok

March 29, 2008 9:25 AM

Radmeister, the Falcon 4.0L inline 6 turbo might be 10x better, but it's gone by 2010 and replaced by a US V6, and it's not (currently) exported from Australia at all, so if you want one, you're out of luck.

It seems GM at least realise that other countries might have good ideas and abilities to design decent cars (using US engines in GMs case) but Ford US certainly hasn't heard the penny drop, if they are selling the new Mustang with a (cough) live axle when a Ford Falcon taxi in Australia has IRS and 6 speeds... (and runs on LPG).

And like NISMO says, if a single cam and 2 valves per cylinder give decent HP and torque, why add costs and complexity (and service costs...) by adding 3 more cams and doubling the valve (and spring etc etc) count? The DOHC 32 valve 350 Corvette of some years back has less power and torque than the pushrod LS1 350 motor fitted to, well, everything GM makes? If you only need 1 cam and 16 valves in your V8, why add more? All you do is add cost.

Though I'll grant I lust for an Audi RS6 Avant with the twin turbo V10 and 426kW... But a Commodore V8 with a blower gets the same power for about 25% of the cost... And goes just as fast...

Oh, the Australia branch of NISMO got 1000hp out of that 4.0L inline 6 turbo motor of Ford Oz... though the motor ended up costing $60,000 Ozbucks after all the mods.

holden_man

September 16, 2009 5:16 AM

radmeister Falcon 4.0L Inline 6 Turbo is crap i made the mistake of buying one and only had it 6 months before i got rid of it and brought a HSV and the ls3 is heaps better

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