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HSV Gen-F to supercharge slowing sales

Holden Special Vehicles expects Australians to get behind its new HSV Gen-F sports car range, forecasting a return to strong sales numbers after a slow end to the previous generation.


HSV today confirmed pricing and specification details of its VF Commodore-based Gen-F family, revealing more sophisticated interior and exterior styling, a host of new technology features and a brutal new 430kW supercharged V8 for the flagship GTS.

HSV marketing and communications managing director Tim Jackson said the brand had high expectations for the new range.

“We’re really excited about the potential for this car,” Jackson said.

“Our sales number is very product-lifecycle driven, so new car, brand-new look, brand-new technologies, we’ll see the sales spike.

“We’re currently at the end of a fairly long product lifecycle, so sales, for instance last year, weren’t strong, but they were where we expected them to be.

“We see a lot of pent-up demand and excitement. We’re hearing it from our dealer network, we’re seeing it in forums, we’re seeing it in our social media networks as well, real excitement and speculation about what’s coming, so we have a very positive expectation of our sales results this year.”

With the exception of the HSV GTS, which has been elevated to BMW M5/Mercedes-Benz E63 AMG territory thanks to its power boost, Jackson said Gen-F would continue to target HSV’s three key buyer demographics: current owners, previous owners, and “orbiters” – essentially window-shoppers, fans of the brand who have looked but never purchased.

“We think the package we have behind us in terms of its styling, performance, the new interior, is a balance that is going to hit all of those groups really strongly,” he said.

Jackson said Holden’s move to slash prices across its new VF Commodore range had no relevance to Gen-F, insisting that the new line-up offered strong value for customers priced as it was.

“The most important thing in our book is transaction pricing. Look at where the Holden vehicles have been transacting at and you’ll see a consistent number. Where we’ve had an RRP we’ve consistently transacted at that number.

“We’ve always been exceptional value, that’s what we have to deliver.

Previously, the HSV ClubSport R8, Maloo R8 and GTS have accounted for about 75-80 per cent of HSV sales, and Jackson said that trend was likely to continue with Gen-F after an anticipated initial spurt from some of the less popular models.

“In a very basic sense, if you say we may sell 1000 ClubSport R8s, we might sell about 800 GTSs and we might sell about 900 Maloos.

“It wakes and wanes with the product lifecycle. We have a forecast of how we think things will sell, but we’ve got the capabilities to adjust that on the run.

“What we do get during this initial launch phase [is] an uplift in some of those others, Senators, Tourers, Granges. Those guys who have been waiting there quietly for something very, very niche, they’ll jump in, so we’ll tend to see an uplift in those cars as well.”

Jackson also believes there will be a strong take-up of the SV package, which is available as an option on ClubSport R8, Maloo R8 and Tourer R8. The package ups the naturally aspirated 6.2-litre LS3 V8’s output to 340kW and 570Nm through the introduction of a bi-modal air intake, and also brings unique SV badges; forged Satin Graphite alloy wheels; and black plastic side vents, mirror caps and rear spoiler.

“We think it will be pretty popular, without wanting to put a specific number on it,” he said.

“Especially early in the product lifecycle, guys come in and want to get the best that they can get.”

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