2007 HSV E series ClubSport R8 Road Test
29 Jun, 2007
11 Comments 
THE LOOK
- Intro
- A bit of history
- How it goes
- How it handles
- Behind the wheel
- Interior comfort
- Safety Features
- Cost of ownership
I’m betting that HSV’s E-series cars will appeal to the widest demographic in the company’s history. I’m no fortune-teller; record sales are proving me correct.
While still an aggressive and masculine shape – the various design accents around the car, take it more upmarket than ever before.
The rear tail light assembly is superb, with its interlocking and authentic LED rings setting the car off. This is particularly true at night, when the signature glow is unmistakeable. LED lights have proven to induce quicker breaking times by up to 0.6 of a second, due to increased visibility. The fact they look cool, is a bonus.
The side vents with integrated turn signal are equally impressive although, I can’t help think that aluminium mesh would have looked better than the black honeycombed plastic.
The nineteen-inch alloys with the race car style tyre set up of super-wide 275’s at the rear and 245’s up front, add volumes to the car’s high performance stance. The car looks quick at idle.
The steep rake on both the windscreen and rear window provide a jet fighter cockpit look, and the rear wing is reasonably well integrated into the rear end styling. It’s also well placed and doesn’t hinder the driver’s rear vision, as does those on the Mitsubishi EVO and Subaru WRX STi.
The front-end styling is unmistakeably HSV and less impressive than the rear end and side treatments. The integrated projector fog lamps and driving lights are a nice touch but again, there’s a little too much black plastic for me, when you take into account the front skirt spoiler.
Last but not least, are the quad exhaust pipes. They’re not chrome tipped, but a more impressive aluminium finish. Think prestige German tuner look and you’ll be spot on.
- Intro
- A bit of history
- How it goes
- How it handles
- Behind the wheel
- Interior comfort
- Safety Features
- Cost of ownership
Location: Home / Holden, Behind the Wheel, Sports Cars, Top Australian Cars / ...
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(12 votes, average: 4.17 out of 5)
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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.
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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.
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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!
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June 29th, 2007 at 9:43 am
thanks for your positive comments Daniel!
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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.
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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.
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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!
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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.
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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
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April 2nd, 2008 at 9:58 am
Simba Loves Skylines is an assclown, fords suck chocolate salty ballz as do skylines
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October 13th, 2008 at 10:23 am
gday
i.d like to see some evo lancers
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