| Manufacturer | Holden Special Vehicles |
|---|---|
| Also called | CSV CR8 Vauxhall VXR8 |
| Production | 1990–present |
| Assembly | Clayton, Victoria, Australia |
| Class | Full-size car |
| Body style | 4-door sedan 5-door Tourer wagon |
| Layout | FR layout |
| Platform | GM V platform (RWD) (1990 to 2006) GM Zeta platform (From 2006) |
| Engine | 5.0 L V8 5.7 L V8 6.0 L Generation 4 Alloy V8 6.2 L LS3 V8 |
| Transmission | 6-speed Tremec T-56 manual |
| Wheelbase | 2,915 mm (114.8 in) |
| Related | Holden Commodore |
The HSV Clubsport is a full-size car which has been produced by Holden Special Vehicles in Australia since 1990. All models have been based on contemporary Holden Commodore models. The Clubsport has also been sold in the United Kingdom as the Vauxhall VXR8 since July 2007, and in the Middle East as the CSV CR8 by Chevrolet Special Vehicles since 2008.
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The VN Series HSV Clubsport was released in June 1990 [1] and was based on the Holden VN Commodore. It was offered as a 4 door sedan with a 180 kW (245 PS; 241 hp) 5.0 L Holden V8 engine.
Launched in 1997, the HSV VT Clubsport was much larger and heavier than its predecessors. Critics noted that its engine, a 5.0 L V8 (producing 195 kW (265 PS; 261 hp)), was also available as an option on the Holden Commodore SS, making the Clubsport less exclusive and desirable. The VT Clubsport did feature many luxury features, including like a CD player, leather-wrap steering wheel, powered front seats and foglights.[2]
The Clubsport VT Series II was released in 1999 to replace the standard Clubsport. It featured a new 5.7 L V8 LS1 Gen III engine, sourced from Chevrolet, producing 250 kW (340 PS; 335 hp). Production ceased in 2000.[3]
The VX Clubsport was launched in early 2000 and featured the same V8 engine as the Clubsport VT Series II, but with an increased power output, up by 5 kW (7 PS; 7 hp) to 255 kW (347 PS; 342 hp). During the development of the VX Clubsport HSV responded to many customers' complaints regarding how Clubsports were difficult to distinguish from standard Holden Commodores. The improvements due to this included a more flamboyant, unique bodykit and exclusive HSV interior features.[4]
The VX Series II was released in 2001 and discontinued along with the standard VX in 2002.[5]
Released in 2004 the Z-Series Clubsport was a minor update over the Y-Series and was mostly cosmetic. The Z-Series Clubsport is powered by the LS2 engine a 6.0 L, 16-valve pushrod V8 producing 297 kW (404 PS; 398 hp) at 6000 rpm and 530 N·m (390 lb·ft) at and 4400 rpm. There was the choice of either a Six-speed manual or four-speed auto. Fuel consumption was 15.3 L/100 km. The Z-Series started at $61,850 plus on-road costs for the manual.[6]
The current model E Series Clubsport R8 takes its fundamental body structure from the mainstream Holden VE Commodore. It is also the standard model in the HSV line-up.
The Original E-Series Clubsport was released in September 2006. The Clubsport had LED taillights and vertical front fender grilles only found on HSV E-Series models. Cloth trim was standard on Clubsport models with leather being an option.[7]
In September 2008, the Clubsport R8 Tourer was released. The Tourer is a wagon version of the R8, based on the Holden VE Commodore Sportwagon.[8]
The two Clubsport models were powered by the 307 kW (417 PS; 412 hp) LS2 6.0 L V8 and Tremec T56 six-speed manual gearbox, capable of doing 0–100 km/h in 4.96 seconds with the manual gearbox and 5.04 seconds when fitted with the auto transmission and having a top speed of 175 mph (282 km/h). From April 2008, all HSV models use 6.2 L LS3 V8s, instead of the previous LS2. The LS3 powers the HSVs at 317 kW (431 PS; 425 hp) and 550 N·m (410 lb·ft).
The HSV E Series 2 range was released 2010 and was the most major update since the release of E Series HSVs. Prices on the E2 Clubsport models started at $65,990 for the Clubsport R8 and $66,990 for the Clubsport R8 Tourer. The range received many cosmetic changes with new front and rear bumpers, twin-nostriled bonnet (from the Pontiac G8) and a new range of wheel designs. The Series 2 has a very distinctive look set of daytime running lights standard across the E2 range.[9]
The new engines is the range are the 325 kW (442 PS; 436 hp) 6.2 L LS3 V8 used exclusively by the HSV GTS, with the rest of the E2 range being powered by an LS3 in 317 kW (431 PS; 425 hp) trim. The new engines have also improved fuel economy by 4.2% on the LS3 V8. New is the intelligent launch controls, competition mode ESC and extended cruise control systems which are all standard for E2 models excluding intelligent launch control which is only available with a manual transmission.
HSV E Series 3 or E3 will commence sales in 2011.[10]
Model changes for the E series 3 are minimal. There is now an option for LPI system (for an extra $5990) allowing the vehicle to run on LPG and unleaded petrol; the LPI system is not available on the ClubSport R8 Tourer. Cosmetic changes include a new spoiler and revised exhaust tips.
HSV E Series 3 models are the first to include the new HSV Enhanced Driver Interface; it has the same interface as the Holden IQ (found in VE Series II Commodores) but with added function. The system allows users to access the car's computer and monitor fuel consumption, stability, g-force and vehicle dynamics. Other functions include data logging options, digital gauge displays, stopwatch, driver and racing options, along with controls for the Grange's Bi-Modal exhaust and Side Blind-Zone Alert. The HSV Enhanced Driver Interface and satellite navigation is standard across the E series 3 range.[11]
350 VXR8s per year were scheduled for official importation into the UK, at a price of £35,105. The LS3 V8 is particularly popular among tuners in the USA, so performance parts are widely available. The most dramatic warranted upgrade is the £7,000 supercharger kit, which ups power to 395 kW (537 PS; 530 hp). Imports to the US were previously sold as Pontiac G8, with V6, L76 V8, or an LS3 V8 engine in the GXP trim. The supercharged edition Bathurst VXR8 was reviewed on Top Gear, and its power-lap time was 1 min 26.3 seconds, a similar time to the current BMW M5.
In July 2010, Autocar reported that, "VXR8 was quietly dropped from the pricelists several months ago" after stocks ran out. However, a face-lifted version based on the new HSV E3 GTS was released to the UK market in April 2011 at a price of around £49,500, almost £15,000 more than the previous VXR8, but significantly cheaper than most of its rivals, like the Mercedes E63 AMG and BMW M5. Vauxhall is currently offering the 2011 Clubsport to UK customers as a special order model.
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