2008 HSV Clubsport R8 Tourer First Steer
December 18, 2008 by David Twomey
Just what every bloke needs in his stocking, a 317kW family hauler, and Holden Special Vehicles has decided to play Santa by releasing its version of the Holden Sportwagon, the HSV Clubsport R8 Tourer.
- David Twomey
It’s always difficult to make a good thing better, and most people would agree that the Holden Sportwagon is a good looker, but the HSV Clubsport R8 Tourer manages to do what’s required and with its lowered stance and big wheels it looks even better.
There’s a nice hunkered down look to the R8 Tourer that’s been helped by the good looks of the donor vehicle, we can see this car appealing to both genders in many families.
Besides the body shape there’s nothing to pick between the Tourer and the Clubsport R8 sedan as they share mechanics and trim specifications, although the Tourer does benefit from some mid-year upgrades that will be passed on to its sibling, including new white on black gauges that replace the previous red effect instruments.
Standard trim in the R8 Tourer is suede and cloth but HSV expects that many owners will fork out the extra $2490 for the full leather trim that was fitted to the cars we drove at today’s media launch.
Giving an engineering overview of the new vehicle HSV’s product guru Joel Stoddart said the Tourer delivered HSV luxury and performance in a wagon.
The R8 Tourer uses the same 6.2-litre, LS3 engine, producing 317kW of power and 550Nm of torque, as the R8 sedan, which HSV says makes it one of the most powerful wagons produced anywhere in the world.
“We’ve built on our knowledge gained since the launch of the E-Series range in August 2006 particularly in chassis development and tuning coupled with the all new LS3 engine, to produce one of our best ever products,” Mr Stoddart said.
According to Mr Stoddart the Clubsport Tourer R8 is a versatile and extremely responsive package.
HSV has produced a handful of wagon variants over its 20-year history and prior to the all-wheel-drive Avalanche, of which 333 were built between 2003 and 2005, the company built 27 VT Senator Signature Estates in 1997.
Mr Stoddart said that 163 Tourers would be built for Australian and New Zealand only this year and the six-speed manual is priced from $65,990 – a $1000 premium over the R8 sedan. The six-speed automatic is an additional $2500.
HSV styling on the vehicle is really confined to the front, where it gets the standard Clubsport R8 treatment, at the rear the only real change is the adding of high-spec Holden taillights. The Tourer comes standard with a reversing camera.
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Now this is a real HSV, not a product shipped in with a badge swap.
they have taken a typical vehicle from the holden range, and their performance arm has weaved their magic.
bringing ready made vehicles in as per the earlier article is against what the performance arm is about
its a pity it didnt get GTS style tail lights
Yeah it would have made more sense given that it’s a Clubsport and the LED lights are a distinguishing feature between HSVs and the VE Calais from which they are derived
They could even have extended the LED taillights a bit so they flow into the Tailgate – more European
In terms of Looks I prefer the air dam they used on the
W-427 I also prefer the W-427 wheels however they’re probably features that will be unique to the W-427 to maintain exclusivity
I definitely agree about the lights. Kind of spoils it really.
One of the least tasteful cars on the planet, I can’t decide if that’s a good thing or a bad thing. I personally would prefer a, erm, well there isn’t really any competitors at this price. It is quite cheap looking, but consider the people who will buy this car; they’ll probably love the looks. Once again, it’s a taste thing and HSV or FPV will never master it but their market will never care so it’s a bit irrelevant. I think the worst thing about HSV is the people who drive them, tailgating wankers that think their car is cool, well I’m telling you now HSV owners, you live in a bubble with all the other HSV owners.
You have to drive a very big, very powerful car in Australia to stop them tailgating you, or at least so you don’t see them tailgating you. I wonder how long HSV and FPV will last? All depends on the US government I suppose but even then, it’s in the contract for the loan that they have to build more sensible cars I think, is it possible that these brands could be canned eventually?
i do love the ve wagons and this one is no exeption it dose look hot.
I can’t understand why they skimped on the rear seat headrests. Should have made them adjustable and given a middle headrest too. Other than that it’s nice.
Automatic more economical than manual?
Well, I suppose 98% of the buyers would choose the auto anyway, fitting to the target market I guess.
Nothing against the cars themselves, but some of their drivers really are spanners sometimes, especially when they think they’re cool in their overgrown auto taxicabs.
I prefer the wagon styling greatly over the sedan (let alone the ute) but again, shame about the rear. While its handsome, it just looks a little plain to me.
Definatly one of the best looking HSV’s in a long time. I think the only thing that lets them down is the tiny little exhaust tips. They look like McDonalds straws!
Iz, I would imagine the fuel economy difference between the auto and the manual would be due to cylinder deactivation on the auto.
Joe,
there is no cylinder deactivation of the LS3, just better fuel management with the auto
Joe At the moment Holden or HSV don’t have Cylinder Deactivation However Displacement on Demand is expected to be available on the upcoming VF Commodore
Now if they had a diesel in this and sold it overseas in Europe, they’d sell tonnes.
Nice looking car. I wonder how they will sell during these tough economic times…..Might be able to pick one up for a song in 6 months time….65k might become 55k fairly quickly.
Alex There are a lot more cars that have as much taste or even less taste than the HSVs and FPVs – in terms of looks and design etc.. some of which are from more prestigious marques including: TRD’s; Honda Accord; Toyota Camry; Nissan Micra & Tiida; Subaru Impreza; Porsche Cayenne; Citroen C5 & C6; Renault Megane; Volvo XC90; Chrylser Sebring; Dodge Nitro; Dodge Calibre; Hummer; Honda MD-X; Ssangyong; Jeep; Lexus SC430; Maybach; Merc-Benz R-Class; Nissan Maxima; Nisasan Murano; Proton; and of course the Chrysler 300C; and Maserati Quattroporte; Not to mention all Alfa Romeos – except for the Brera V6 Coupe;
But as you say its a matter of taste and as the above list indicates that’s one thing money just can’t buy
You can already get one for 55K.
I was pondering this or the SS-V sportwagon and bought the SS-V instead (couldn’t justify the extra $$$)
SS-V sportwagon was $41800 onroad and that’s as a normal private buyer.
Whats the point of this overpriced car ? What is it really ? Its not a sports sedan, not really a wagon, not an SUV, and is far from cheap or economical. You may a s well buy the sedan if you have enough poor taste to want a Holden or a HSV. I must say it is by far the best looking of the entire VE range. But apart from that its a nothing car. The load space is ridiculously small for a so called wagon and the fuel bill would ( real world economy, not the Holden propaganda figures) kill your bank account if you had it loaded with people and luggage, albeit not much luggage with the small space. And that poor quality and very dated VE interior is looking worse evry time they try to make it look better. Power window buttons on the centre console is woeful and the less said about that so called handbrake the better ! Overpriced vehicle with no real identity or purpose…..
Wheelnut, a lot of those cars are still far more tasteful than this, but yes, many of them I do agree with. You are wrong though about the Alfa Romeos (beautiful and great to drive), the Maserati (one of the coolest cars in the world, and if you disagree, that just shows how cool you must be), The Volvo XC90, it’s certainly not cool, but it isn’t distasteful because it’s very purposeful and isn’t mean to do anything other than transport seven people around in comfort and safety. Citroen C5 and C6? The C5 isn’t cool, but it isn’t distasteful and it is very handsome, and the C6 is cool, I don’t know what you’re on about! And what about the Porsche Cayenne? No, just kidding :)
IZ,
it used to be that the manuals were always more efficient than the Autos, but not anymore.
the extra couple of ratios on the autos would go a long way to help too.
Myke – I’m sorry mate, my guess is it wouldn’t sell well at all even with diesel. The last large Vauxhall the Omega (Aussie your Commodor) sold reasonably well but won the award for Britain most heavily depreciating car. Folk here for the same money about £24K would rather drive a 320 BMW or an A4.
It needs unique tail lights like the sedans.
Otherwise a good looking wagon.
“Yeah it would have made more sense given that it’s a Clubsport and the LED lights are a distinguishing feature between HSVs and the VE Calais from which they are derived”
Isn’t the clubsport and GTS derived from a Berlina? Calais has long wheelbase?
no Allan D the calais is like the fermont of commodores its the statesman and capris that are long wheelbase its the calis that hsv you as a base car.
Great looking wagon, but still does not beat the Mitsubishi Legnum VR4 wagon for bang for buck. A couple of simple mods and the Legnum would beat it, and your’ve still got an extra $40K+ in your pocket.
I see what you all are saying about the tail lights, LED’s would look way better.
Anyway very nice wagon Holden!
Well its compared to prestige cars double or triple the price and dont forget its a wagon, luxury car and sportscar in one and it keeps money and jobs here, what else would you want. Its got chevy reliability, and in90% of cases better than the european cars in that regard, and the hip pocket would be less hit than a Euro car.
Why didnt they colour-code the rear chrome strip, at least it would look different to the other Holdens