HSV's new GTS due in September
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26th May, 2013
HSV will introduce the fastest, most powerful performance production car
ever built in Australia in September.
The company has announced details of its new GTS model which will be powered by a 6.2 litre LSA supercharged V8 that
delivers 430 kilowatts of power and 740 Newton-metres of torque.
The LSA engine features a raft of unique componentry:
• Eaton 4 lobe rotors, 9psi boost, 1.9 litres of air per revolution
• Stand-alone water to air charge-air cooling system
• Stand-alone transmission and differential cooling system
• Water to oil engine oil cooling system
• Bi-Modal air intake system
• Hi-flow exhaust system with cross-pipe intermediate and Bi-Modal mufflers
• Hi-flow exhaust manifold and catalytic converters
• Unique rear suspension module with 9.9“ differential, upgraded drive and prop shafts
• TR6060 (MG9 spec) 6-speed manual transmission with oil cooler and twin plate clutch
• Optional 6L90E 6-speed heavy duty automatic transmission with oil cooler
“The imminent production of the LSA powered GTS is the culmination of nearly four years of development and testing
by our design and engineering divisions. We’re excited that our work has almost come to fruition”, said HSV’s
Managing Director, Phil Harding.
Complementing the new engine are some significant technologies and upgrades that make GTS the complete package.
GTS’ braking capacity has been dramatically increased with AP radical forged 6-piston brake callipers with two-piece
rotors front and rear now fitted as standard equipment. Combined with increased brake rotor diameters, the callipers,
forged from 6061 T6 aluminium, offer a vastly improved strength-to-weight ratio and deliver noticeable improvements in
brake modulation and feel. Rear brake pad size has also been increased by 12%.
“Australia’s most powerful production engine demands a premium braking package, and this was a key programme
priority right from the outset. With our new forged callipers, larger rotors and increased pad size, we’re confident the
GTS brake package is the equal of anything in the world”, said HSV Chief Engineer, Joel Stoddart.
In a first for an Australian made vehicle, the new GTS will also be fitted with brake Torque Vectoring. Currently only
fitted to a few exclusive global marques, HSV’s brake Torque Vectoring helps reduce understeer by generating a
“rotational moment” in the rear axle when the vehicle is under power. The vehicle’s Electronic Stability Control (ESC)
system detects the understeer event, applies braking to the inside rear wheel and transfers torque to the outside rear
wheel.
The vehicle also receives third generation Magnetic Ride Control (MRC) featuring three independent settings – Touring,
Sport and Track. Hardware and software improvements combine to deliver greater body control, sharper handling and
significant improvements in ride quality over the now discontinued E3 model.
To assist the driver in manipulating the various electronic vehicle performance systems at his disposal, HSV has
introduced a Driver Preference Dial.
Located conveniently behind the gear shifter, the Driver Preference Dial adjusts the vehicle’s ESC, Traction Control,
Launch Control (manual transmission), Torque Vectoring, Electric Power Steering (another new addition to the GEN-F
range), MRC and Bi-Modal Exhaust, according to four distinct pre-set modes – Touring, Sport, Performance and Track. In
doing so, the vehicle’s handling characteristics instantly change.
“With so many electronic systems at the driver’s disposal, we wanted to reduce complexity and assist the driver by
taking the guess-work out of manipulating the various settings at his disposal”, said Stoddart. “The Driver
Preference Dial does just that: the vehicle’s performance characteristics can be adjusted with a simple clockwise turn of
the dial”, he said.
In addition to an all-new engine and vehicle dynamics improvements, the vehicle also receives a complete exterior and
interior make-over and a raft of new technologies.
The new front-end design features bold graphics and shallow ramp angles that emphasise width and stance. Central to
the new look is a “twin-nostril” grille and an all-new fascia, unique to the GTS, that helps deliver both an aggressive
look and the air intake surface area required to cool the powertrain.
“The LSA programme posed a number of design and packaging challenges none the least involving engine, transmission
and differential cooling”, said Stoddart. “For starters, we required almost 130,000 square millimetres of open
frontal surface area to deliver the level of cooling the package requires which is roughly 75% more than that offered
with the E3 GTS. I think our designers have done a wonderful job in fulfilling the needs of the engineering team but also
in delivering a front end that issignature HSV”, said Stoddart.
Contributing to the bold front-end design are new Daytime Running Lamps that can now function when the headlamps are
in operation.
The vehicle also features new light-weight 20” “Blade” forged alloy wheels finished in Satin Graphite which are
wrapped in Continental 255/35 R20 (front) and 275/35 R20 (rear) tyres. The wider front tyres deliver improved grip while
the higher tyre walls contribute to a noticeable improvement in ride comfort.
“After an extensive development and testing programme, we have chosen Continental tyres as standard fitment on GTS
and, in fact, across our entire GEN-F range”, said Stoddart. “The new tyres, custom tuned for HSV, deliver
exceptional performance inwet and dry conditions. And, our testing around Winton Raceway in Victoria, piloted by HRT
driver, Garth Tander, has seen the Continental tyres deliver significant improvements in lap-times”, he said.
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The rear of the new HSV GTS receives just as significant a make-over as the front end. Prominent are the new,
distinctive LED tail lamps while the “diffuser” rear fascia houses quad exhaust outlets finished in shadow-chrome. GTS
also features a unique body-coloured “super-flow” performance rear spoiler with black accents.
An all-new interior signals a new era for HSV.
An upgraded instrument panel with suede-style inserts, a new instrument cluster, gauges, centre console, appliques’
and door trims combine to deliver a more premium look and feel.
All-new HSV Performance seats are wrapped in Onyx leather trim and feature 8-way electric adjustment and seat heaters
for both the driver and front passenger. The new GTS also features the most significant array of technologies ever
offered in an HSV.
In addition to Side Blind Zone Alert with Reverse Traffic Alert, Automatic Park Assist, Front and Rear Park Assist,
Satellite Navigation with Reversing Camera and Passive Entry/Push Button Start – features now standard across the entire
HSV range - GTS also picks up a number of additional driver convenience and safety technologies.
GTS features a Head Up Display – technology originally introduced on fighter jets – that displays a raft of driver
information on the windscreen such as vehicle speed, G-forces and engine temperature.
Forward Collision Alert is another technology fitted standard on GTS. A camera, located above the rear view mirror,
scans the road ahead up to 14 times per second. When a crash is predicted, the driver is alerted with an audible tone and
a visible alert in the Head Up Display. Anticipating hard braking, the system applies sufficient brake pressure to close
the space between the brake pads and rotors, thus delivering a quicker brake response time.
Using the same camera technology, GTS also features Lane Departure Warning.
Designed to help combat driver fatigue and/or distraction, a warning indicator and audible sound will alert the driver
to any unintentional lane departures.
“We firmly believe that the standard technology and performance of GTS make it the greatest performance production
car ever built in Australia and a real testament to the skill and dedication of our team at Clayton”, concluded
Harding.
The new HSV GTS will begin in late August 2013 with vehicles due to arrive in local HSV showrooms early September.
E&OE.
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