HSV looking ahead after record milestone

THE MEN and Women of HSV have been hard at work, with the performance brand rolling the 85,000th car of its Clayton production line yesterday.

HSV has been pumping out hardcore tuned Holdens since 1987, and is confident it will continue to do so in the future, despite its well of locally produced V8-powered cars drying up.

A supercharged GEN-F2 ClubSport R8 LSA was lucky number 85,000 for HSV, and the 35,000th vehicle produced in the last decade of its 28-year history.

HSV’s Managing Director, Tim Jackson says the milestone is a special one for the brand.

“From humble beginnings at our Notting Hill production facility in 1987, with just three employees, a single desk, two chairs and one telephone, to the production of our 85,000th vehicle, we are constantly reminded of the dedication and passion our employees, dealers and owners continue to show” he said.

“This is a milestone that can be proudly shared by them all.”

However, the impressive achievement raises difficult questions regarding the future of the performance brand in Australia.

With production of local V8 sedans ceasing, there is a cloud of doubt surrounding HSV, and what it will do when the well of locally produced cars dries up.

But fear not beefed-up Holden fans, HSV spokesperson Damon Paull says a “promising future” is still on the horizon despite no clear pathway being mapped out.

“All we have said and we are on record as saying, [is] that we are confident that while a demand exists for high-performance vehicles such as what HSV built and builds, then we see a pretty promising future for HSV,” Paull told Wheels.

Of the 85,000 cars built by HSV, Paul estimates the “vast majority” are powered by a V8 engine. This is likely to slowly change as production continues after Holden ditches the eight pot formula.

Paull remained coy on whether the ClubSport badge could find new life on a different model, but did say that current production numbers are set to continue.

“We have no great desire to change the production rate. It seems to be consistent with consumer and fan demand,” he explained.

“We, as history will tell you, sell on average 3,000 vehicles a year, and that is consistent with our build plan.”