HSV Maloo LSA to run at Goodwood Festival of Speed

Australia, be proud. Not only is the HSV Maloo LSA one of the world’s fastest utes, it’s now one of Australia’s finest exports.

Vauxhall in the UK has ordered 100 examples of the LSA-powered Maloo for its showrooms, and the first one will be running up the hill at the Goodwood Festival of Speed this weekend.

Just 100 examples will be delivered to the UK, badged as the Vauxhall Maloo LSA. Vauxhall says 50 of the 100 utes are already spoken for.

Power comes from the same 400kW/671Nm version of the 6.2-litre supercharged LSA V8 as found in current HSV Gen-F2 R8 and Senator models.

The Maloo LSA will introduce minor exterior and interior revisions not previously seen in the UK. Changes include black bonnet vents; a restyled front bumper bar; leather trim; sat-nav; launch control and other formerly optional gear now added as standard.

Vauxhall hopes the Maloo LSA will achieve a hillclimb time of 55 seconds at Goodwood – putting it in the same league as cars like the Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG Black Series and Jaguar F-Type R Coupe.

This isn’t the first time Britain has seen what a supercharged Aussie ‘yoote’ is capable of. Last year, English motoring journo – and host of the all-new Top Gear – Chris Harris, blew the tyres off a Maloo GTS for a Wheels magazine feature. He liked it. Quite a lot.

The full strength Maloo GTS with its 430kW/740Nm LSA engine remains an Australian and New Zealand exclusive.