Comments on: HSV ponders diesel and LPG

By: Marinus B.

Marinus B. — Fri, 02 Jan 2009 07:41:39 +0000

I was wondering why it took so long to look for an alternative. When petrol hit $1.50 + I had my VTII S converted to duel fuel. After my $2000 cash back it cost me $400 out of my pocket. I can assure people that supply in the country is not a problem and you have still got petrol anyway. On a trip going North from Sydney I switched to gas at the start of the M3 and used cruise control in fifth gear most of the trip only coming out for construction zones and some towns. At exactly 550 km on the trip meter I switched back to petrol to get an accurate fuel consumption. It took 58.27 litres of gas. If you want to take the trouble to compare, on a trip before the conversion I travelled 714 km and it took 64 litres of petrol. In city driving the difference is similar percentage wise. but both figures are about 30% more fuel. My car has a 3.8 V6 with a 5 speed manual tranny.

By: Andrew M

Andrew M — Fri, 19 Dec 2008 22:15:23 +0000

wheelnut,
what balance sheet does it appear on?? HSV’s or Holdens??

the R8 equivalents in the middle east dont get the HSV treatment though do they??

By: Simon

Simon — Fri, 19 Dec 2008 12:31:00 +0000

Big_End_Bearing Says:
“Diesel is not the way to go for Australian car manufacturers in my opinion. Australia has an abundance of natural gas….”

Manufacturers produce petrol, diesel and LPG variants depending on where they want to compete and have market demand. Diesel is most definately the way to go if you regularly travel long distances (higher energy density per L). LPG is only good if you live in a city or large town and don’t need to do big distances (supply or lack-thereof). Hence petrol seems to be the happy medium.

As for HSV, the ONLY way I’d EVER consider one would be on the basis of a performance diesel.(Still waiting to see the price of a BMW 330D!) Imagine HSV could put in a tough V8 TDI. Massive torque and good mileage.
Sure its unlikely they’ll be as quick as the petrol in any HSV incarnation, but if we’ve learn’t anything from Audi – they can be insanely fast AND relatively frugal.

By: Wheelnut

Wheelnut — Fri, 19 Dec 2008 12:08:01 +0000

Yeah but ina way it makes sense if HSV do a feasability study before Holden commit to importing a car like the Opel. because if HSV believe that an HSV enhanced version would be a popular addition to their range; it makes it easier for Holden to put forward a case to import yhem to GM.. as sales numbers would be greater and codt per unit would be lower.

Holden and HSV are working closer together. I mean the fact that a lot of the work for HSV is done on the production line at Elizabeth – the plasma cutter to cut out the holes for and fitting of the distinctive “Tic-Tac” LED taillights for example

By: Wheelnut

Wheelnut — Fri, 19 Dec 2008 12:00:25 +0000

Andrew M: The Vauxhall VX-R8 is a rebadged Clubsport R8 [In England].

By: Andrew M

Andrew M — Fri, 19 Dec 2008 07:54:03 +0000

since when did HSV export cars??

I thought only holden did????

I think they should be walking with the alternative fuels under the Holden badge first, before running with it under HSV.

the idea is to have an established product under the holden name, and then HSV does their version with it.

it seems to me like HSV and Holden want to be their own comapnies running in each of their own directions

By: Technofreak

Technofreak — Fri, 19 Dec 2008 04:51:05 +0000

Bogans will rebel at this blasphemous talk…pfft!!

By: Wheelnut

Wheelnut — Fri, 19 Dec 2008 02:21:53 +0000

It would become a bit of a mouthful then if you had a:

HSV-VF-LPG-TDI-V8-GTS-ACM-MRC-IRS-ABS-SRS-ESP-TC-CC-DSG-

By: paul

paul — Fri, 19 Dec 2008 01:54:12 +0000

With australian attitudes, LPG and Diesel wont mix with performance cars. I think they will sell so few it want be worth doing.
Until people are educated on the advances/advantages of LPG
they will sell only small amounts.

By: Frenchie

Frenchie — Fri, 19 Dec 2008 00:02:32 +0000

The federal government are introducing a tax on LPG. I think it starts in 2011 at 2.5c/litre. Still it will be relatively cheaper than petrol/diesel and more importantly the carbon emmission from LPG is very low.

I’m interested if HSV are going to use the LPGLI system as I have read that it delivers a higher octane, more power and consumming the same amount of fuel as petrol.

By: Horse

Horse — Thu, 18 Dec 2008 22:26:28 +0000

The problem if, If a large percentage of Aussie cars start running on LPG, the govenrment will just tax the crap out of it makeing it just as expencive as petrol.

By: WVB

WVB — Thu, 18 Dec 2008 22:16:03 +0000

All this commentary is so boring.
HSV + ((?)FPV) + ((Diesel )(?2)) = V8 supercars = possible prosperity
or
HSV + ((?)FPV) + ((LPG )(?2)) + (complication4) = V8 supercars + a turban = confusion with direction.
or
HSV + ((?)FPV) + ((E85)(?6)) = V8 supercars = political red tape

Just do it or ponder your navel instead.

By: Big_End_Bearing

Big_End_Bearing — Thu, 18 Dec 2008 21:30:33 +0000

Diesel is not the way to go for Australian car manufacturers in my opinion. Australia has an abundance of natural gas, and makes the most sense to introduce LPG more widely across the vehicle range. In terms of diesels, their performance is getting closer and in some models bettering the petrol variant in day to day performance. However, the cost will always be the elephant in the room and given LPG costs so much less than both diesel and petrol, it makes sense to adopt either LPG or CNG into more and more Australian produced cars.

By: Cupid Stunt

Cupid Stunt — Thu, 18 Dec 2008 16:26:19 +0000

Agreed Alex – Theres many whowould slag the performance of diesels on the ground of having driven a 1883 toyota hilux diesel. There is far general day to day driveability with a modern diesel.
Go look at BMW’s UK website where you can see nearly all of the diesels outperform there equivilent sized petrol counterparts. Indeed Seat (you know, the spanish motors) were competatively running a diesel against petrol cars reaching regular podium posistions.
Check out the comparos with petrol v’s diesel on fifth gear and TG and you’ll see the diesel has it, and that was comparing a Skoda wobbly Fabia with a Mini Cooper that handles impeccably well.

By: Alex

Alex — Thu, 18 Dec 2008 15:55:42 +0000

Quote “It seems to go against the grain of what a performance car company is about but Holden Special Vehicles is almost certain to be selling cars using LPG and even diesel fuel in the near future.” And what’s wrong with that? At the end of the day, diesel is just another sort of fuel. If it had been used more in the beginning, we wouldn’t be using petrol so much so what’s the difference? Diesel is not superior in every way, but neither is petrol and if BMW have proven anything, it’s that if you wack enough turbo/super chargers on a diesel you will get wonderful performance and a great engine. And the whole point of a Commodore/Falcon is that it has plenty of power to cross Australia, no? Well, as everybody knows, diesel gives much, much more power over a same sized petrol equivalent.
And of course, most importantly, people will be able to own a HSV car without looking like a massive wanker if they pick a diesel. I don’t see the downside. Especially as they will keep making petrol HSVs for a long time yet. I now have a little more respect for the brand (not the car) and before, I had none.

By: Patrick

Patrick — Thu, 18 Dec 2008 14:29:51 +0000

I guess every company these days has to pull their revenue from sources quite forcefully if they want to survive.

To be honest, I`m getting sick and tired of everyone banting on about the “ecconomic crisis” but I guess that`s unavoidable.