2007 HSV E series ClubSport R8 Road Test
29 Jun, 2007
11 Comments 
HOW IT GOES
- Intro
- A bit of history
- How it handles
- Behind the wheel
- Interior comfort
- The Look
- Safety Features
- Cost of ownership
With rocket ship numbers such as 307kW and 550Nm, it’s fast. Very fast. If 0-100km/h in 5.04 seconds doesn’t do it for you, then go ahead and tick the standard six-speed manual box, which will have you arriving in 4.96 seconds. Either way – these times are bordering on supercar quick
The R8 runs the same engine as the 2007 Chevrolet Corvette but HSV manages to extract another 9kW from the all-aluminium 6.0 LS2 “small block” V8.
It’s a good thing being in bed with global giants such as GM, when you can access Chevrolet’s Corvette parts bin. That’s especially true, if HSV were to dig a little deeper and come up with the 7.0 Litre 505-hp (that’s 376kW in our language) unit, which powers the ferociously fast, Corvette Z06. Who says, size doesn’t matter!
For any car enthusiast worth their weight, booting up the R8 for the first time will put a big wide smile on their face (I nearly said HIS face, but one dealer has sold 3 HSV GTS cars to well heeled women!). At idle, the engine shakes the whole car ever so lightly, just to let you know that 307kW (412bhp in the old school) is way more than adequate.
Pedal to the metal acceleration delivers 100% satisfaction guaranteed. I don’t do drugs but the R8 under full hammer, has just got to be better. The acceleration is not rough in any kind of way; in fact, there’s not a lot of commotion at all. It just does what its supposed to – goes hard!
What there is though, is a V8 Supercar soundtrack at around 6000rpm, courtesy of the specially designed quad-pipe exhaust system.
In-gear go, provides even more astonishment, with ratios being swapped at around 5000rpm in full auto mode or 6000rpm in “S” for Sport mode. There’s also a tip-tronic function, but I’d pay money to loose that, in favour of a set of paddle shifters. It’s an option on the 2007 Corvette Coupe – so I’m mystified as to why the R8 misses out. Maybe next time.
Transmission performance on the Clubsport is impressive given the power outputs of this monster. It’s a GM developed box, which is also found on Cadillac’s hotrod, the STS-V. Smooth and precise shifts are the norm with this unit, and ratios are reasonably well calibrated.
That said, the German designed and built, ZF 6-speed auto gearbox provides stiff competition for the GM product and is perhaps slightly more effective in transferring the engine’s goods to the rear axle.
- Intro
- A bit of history
- How it handles
- Behind the wheel
- Interior comfort
- The Look
- Safety Features
- Cost of ownership
Location: Home / Holden, Behind the Wheel, Sports Cars, Top Australian Cars / ...
Rate Post: 
(12 votes, average: 4.17 out of 5)
Loading ...
-
Print it:
June 29th, 2007 at 8:40 am
G’day,
That low mounted red light in the rear diffuser of the UK version of the car is not a stop light but a rear fog light. I understand all new cars sold in the UK must have rear fog lights.
(Report)
June 29th, 2007 at 9:31 am
Lucky we don’t have that foglight here then. There are already too many tools here that drive around with their rear foglights on (think Hyundai drivers)
Just found your site the other week. I’ev now added your RSS feed to my home page. Awesome website. This site is exactly what the Aussie online car community has been lacking. Autospeed has gone downhill, and FullBoost is mostly oriented towards drag racing. The other, more commercial sites are a pain.
(Report)
June 29th, 2007 at 9:39 am
Thanks Matthew - that makes more sense but nonetheless, a race car-like stop light would be a nice touch on the R8!
(Report)
June 29th, 2007 at 9:43 am
thanks for your positive comments Daniel!
(Report)
July 3rd, 2007 at 11:26 am
I actually dislike the look of the HSV from the back.
If you look at it from dead on, there’s too much expanse of metal, and the taillights are very small in comparison.
I think that HSV should have stuck with what they used to do, which is take taillights off a Commodore. They could have taken the taillights off a Calais or something.
(Report)
July 4th, 2007 at 7:09 am
To each his own JW, but sales of the E series cars are way ahead of previous years sales already and export sales are equally spectacular.
Most folks think the rear of the car with the LED tail lights is the best angle of the new car, so you would be part of a very small group of people.
It’s a great drive.
(Report)
December 21st, 2007 at 9:37 am
JW,
You hate the rear look at the back that is a wonderful butt!
HSV spent 3 million dollars alone on the taillights!
(Report)
March 16th, 2008 at 9:23 pm
GET REAL! THATS NOT A SUPERCAR! its a holden! i hate holdens. FORD RULE! The tyhpoon orion has the equivalent power to this v8 although the typhoon is only a V6.
(Report)
March 17th, 2008 at 12:10 pm
ford falcons dont have a v6 “yet” its a straight 6….
and what ever.. its only a holden.. it looks better however
the TWR supercharged version offered in the UK is a mean peice of kit. TWR have made some seriously amazing machines.. XJ220s for example
(Report)
April 2nd, 2008 at 9:58 am
Simba Loves Skylines is an assclown, fords suck chocolate salty ballz as do skylines
(Report)
October 13th, 2008 at 10:23 am
gday
i.d like to see some evo lancers
(Report)