HSV remains hush on GTS-R

HSV is reportedly working on a final limited edition to see Commodore local manufacturing out with a bang – and it could wear GTS-R badging.

According to MOTOR stablemate Wheels magazine, HSV has secured a limited number of supercharged LS9 V8 engines that power the Corvette ZR1.

The engine is more expensive to produce than the supercharged LSA V8 in the current Gen-F GTS, but it is also more powerful – with 476kW and 819Nm trumping the 430kW/740Nm of the $94,490 GTS.

There are some easy dots to be joined, such as faster acceleration times than the 4.55-second 0-100km/h we’ve achieved in a GTS; and a price tag beyond $100K but likely less than the $150K W427 limited edition from 2008 that didn’t bother buyers.

Apparently only 100 units of the LS9 have been offered to HSV at a discounted price, meaning a very limited run of what will become the most expensive current model Commodore.

Rumours abound that HSV will revive the GTS-R tag to commemorate 20 years since the ‘XU3 Yellah’ VS-generation HSV flagship lobbed. As with the engine choice itself, HSV product and marketing manager Damon Paull is keeping tight-lipped about the speculation of a GTS-R return, neither ruling the possibility in or out.

Back in 1996 the GTS-R cost $86,000 for the high-power Blueprint version, making 226kW/507Nm from an Aussie-made and heavily tuned 5.7-litre V8 that permitted a 6.1sec 0-100km/h.

HSV will no doubt be spurred by the fact the original GTS-R proved quite an investment for owners, with build number two selling in 2008 for $200,000. For this final limited edition, the boys at Clayton will be expecting to recoup the engine investment with a high price tag that buyers will be willing to bank on as their own future investment.

The possibility of a sound return is high when this LS9-powered HSV will likely be the fastest locally made Commodore of all time.

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