2011 HSV Grange Launched (WM3)

By Alborz Fallah | September 06th, 2010

Holden Special Vehicles, better known as HSV, is set to launch the model year 2011 HSV Grange at the end of this month. With more power, improved technology, a revised exterior plus the option for LPG. HSV has been hard at work to bring about the latest iteration in the companies luxury performance flagship.

The new HSV Grange nows packs the same 325 kW 6.2-litre LS3 V8 engine that delivers 550 Nm of torque (at 4600rpm) found in the new HSV GTS. Improvements come from a new hi-flow intermediate exhaust with bi-modal rear mufflers. Although power has improved (from 317 kW) torque figure remains the same.

“The Grange buyer traditionally wants the most luxurious, and technologically advanced Australian-made performance car there is,” said HSV Managing Director Phil Harding.

“Grange has always fitted that description well, but the new styling, increased power and extra technology makes WM3 a compelling proposition for a luxury car buyer that is passionate about driving.”

From the outside the Grange gain Daytime Running Lamps (the last of the HSVs to gain this) and “shockwave-inspired” exhaust tips, plus a redesigned front and rear bumper.

Moving inside the Grange gains Satellite navigation, rear reversing camera as well as HSV’s Enhanced Driver Interface (EDI). EDI will incorporate the car’s computer systems and deliver all sorts of performance orientated data to the driver. Once activated, the driver can find information covering G force, power & torque, accelerator and brake position, and stability control. Now you can see how many Gs you pulled going around the race track!

Perhaps HSV is going the way of the Nissan GT-R?

Additionally the Grange gains Side Blind Zone Alert, which is essentially an Australian version of Volvo’s BLISS system. It will warn the driver if a car is passing through or sitting in its blind spot.

The more interesting ‘option’ on the Grange is the relatively expensive $5,990 option for the Liquid Propane Injection (LPI) system which HSV says reduces emissions and running costs.

Pricing is still to be determined for the WM3 variants but HSV says it will be close to the WM2 prices (currently $87,990).

Stay tuned as CarAdvice will bring you a road test and review of the HSV WM3 Grange in the coming weeks.

G

I know I’ll be crushed by all the other comments here, but that’s an ungly front bumper. The LEDs look like Supercheap Auto add-ons! And what’s with the “segments” in the black bit?!

Not my kind of car, but the FPVs look a lot better.

Joe

FPV haven’t got a competitor to this vehicle.

Justin

FPV have the F6E as their luxury model

Mad Max

As Joe says, FPV don’t have a competitor to this car. The F6E is a shortwheel base where as the Grange is built on the Caprice long wheel base.

CK

It’s still pretty ugly… with a big stupid grin from the town idiot.

Tony Gillard

Correct. FPV don’t have anything as cheap and tacky looking in their line up. At least HSV could’ve updated the interior. Its exactly the same as any other Commondore.

Dave L

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, but I’d tend to agree. The nose on this Grange looks far too ‘busy’. Think the standard Caprice looks better.
Pizza the Hutt

I agree. Typically HSVs are not styled or designed, but decorated. The front end tends to look like a Christmas tree left in the care of a five year old with a sack of shiny baubles and lights.
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100000019885375 Taki Yamauchi

I’m with you, G!!!

LSD

Ugly inside and ugly outside….still the same crappy plastic interior and that front end syling, if you call it that, is absolutely horrendous!! geez……they paid someone to come up with that? surely not….

Another overpriced tarted-up taxi…….
Goodfa

That interior for a $90,000 car is bland to say the least.

It does not look much better than the Omega VEII.

whatcar

“the Grange gains Satellite navigation, rear reversing camera”

90K and the boring interior only just now gets these items?

Grammar Nazi

I’m really looking forward to the day when we look back and say:

“Hey, remember that fad where cars had those LED running-light things?”

“Yeah, how dumb was that?”

Mad Max

Unfortunately DRL’s look set to become compulsory.

Camski

Maybe so but they don’t have to be these LED strips. They can be similar to our “parking” lights (the setting below “low beam).

Sure they don’t scream “look at me” but they do the same job at adding some aspect of safety by making the car just that much more obvious during the day to other (especially oncoming) drivers.

jj

that day was yesterday

Michael

They sure know how to make a handsome car look ugly as sin – though the extra gadgetry is something all australian cars could do more with!
F1MotoGP

Another new car…bigger engine, bigger body. This is the new trend in the last 30 years. Somebody can tell me in the next 30 years we will drive a 5 meter long Golf and 7 meter long Ford. Why needs to be bigger!! No wonder fuel economy is up. We need another fuel crises to fix this one.

Glen

Ummm, this car and engine are exactly the same size as the previous model.

Oh, and look to the government’s safety regulations and ADRs as to why cars are constantly getting heavier and bigger…

F1MotoGP

if I am correct it was only face lift?! If not I am wrong but my point cars getting bigger.

Dave S

Cars slowly growing in size. European cars seem to provide the best examples of this (eg big new 3 series, also 20 years ago the 7 series was less than 5M long.

You will also note this model Statesman/ Grange is shorter than the last series (VT-VZ based models)

delux

Its the same size as the last one =S

Jabba the Hutt

What’s with the darth vadar chin piece? HSV have mastered the ability to stuff up what is a good looking car to start with. They have lost their way in recent years. They are clearly out of ideas.
phase3

is that an interior pic of the E3 or the E2? or haven’t they given the LWB models the updated interior yet? you can see the vents and centre display aren’t positioned higher up, as in the VE2…
delux

For 90 large I would be hoping that the EDI system in the Grange has a Grange CGI rather than a GTS CGI as shown in the articles images. I also dont understand why this system is in the Grange. Will owners try to race this thing to see how many G’s they can pull through turn 1? Dont think so!
poor poor people

funny thing is that you all comment about the car but the the is the car is not for you its for people with money….

Bent 8 Brigade

The first reader comment on this article to make sense
Pizza the Hutt

No, you are incorrect. The car is not for people with money, it is for those without any appreciation of aesthetics.
Eric

Don’t need coin to know the front bar is FUGLY.

The fact that’s $90,000 and probably up there as one of the most expensive Holden’s around it should be better.

Not to mention it will be worth less than $30000.00 in 5 years time.

I bet it would a very nice car to drive.

Eric
bangel

No its for people with money and no taste
The Realist

People with money will buy an S Class, not a HSV Omega.
Tony Gillard

St st stutter-rap

omale

what’s so funny?
VT363rwkw

Thats looks superb, tweeked it to look agressive but classy, all good additions indside, brilliant and original ideas.
The interface is cutting edge technology,ahead of the euros.

I just dont understand how you get such a car under 100k, brilliant value

Banicks

Agreed. It will grow on me, my favourite is still the E2. But these new internals rate it higher for me.

Wont be long before the Euro fanboys here rate your and my comment down though unfortunately.
Shane

the interface is not cutting edge, the japs and euros have been doing it for a while. HSV are just playing catchup again.

Glen

First and only Aussie brand doing it…

Jazrod

$90k?! Are you serious?! For $90k you could almost buy a used Audi RS4 or an M3! (they’re about $5k-$15k more expensive).
This is hideous, overpriced and absolute CRAP!

TomJ

You could also buy a used Ferrari! Or a used Volvo bus that seats 50!

BMW upkeep and depreciation is absolutely heinous. Using your new v used argument you could pick up a used VE SS for ~25k, add a flowy intake and exhaust, cam and bam, you’re as fast as a VE2 HSV.
VT363rwkw

Almost buying a car still requires you to travel by bus, bit like almost winning a million dollars or almost catching a fish.

Thats alright though, you almost had a point
The Realist

That’s stretching it – but you could get a 1 year old 335i… or a four year old 7 series, which still blows away this supersized KFC saloon in every area.

TomJ

The VE2 really are far nicer in person, but it depends largely on the colour choice.

There is a black VE2 clubbie that lives down the road from me, i really enjoy looking at it.

This really is just an alternative opinion, but a F6 310 looks extremely plain next to the bullfighter clubbie.

Im not necessarily suggesting it is the styling direction HSV should have went in, but outrageous and tough it is.

Im yet to see a new GTS though, those trispokes look badass in pictures.
Observer

The new HSV’s look like Xmas trees…..they also look like Pimps in Harlem. Way over the top and too try hard. Series 1 was a much nicer looking car.
Direct Injection

Wont be long until we see these at Melbourne airport as Taxis……there are alot of Statesman Taxis out there !! This will fit in perfectly…….it is so overdone and ugly!
Dont see many private Statesmans all seem to be a Taxi, they can charge extra for the HSV taxi…lol

GrapeGrape

i bet you own a datsun 120 Y

Dave S

Fan of the Grange. I Love the subtle changes. Look forward to reading about the work with LPG by HSV.
LPG and HSV, sounds like a win / win.

I think the LED’s are like the Monaro bonnet vents.
When they first appeared, we all thought ‘what have those yanks done to our Monaro?’ Now the Monaro does not look right unless it has the Pontiac bonnet fitted.

I think In a couple of years the VE2 will hold their value better than the VE1 becasue of the LED’s.
Moe

Meh………Boring styling it doesnt give me the grin of the F6 and new 5 Litre V8 would when the foots put down
topdog

The front end just dose not gel with the rest of the car.Its plain to see its just been added as a after thougt.hsv s are just getting ugly and agly.What idiot would pay even 60k for this i dont know
aLEX

The problem I have with these cars, including Ford, is that for $70-90K the fit and finish, build quality, materials all feel exactly the same as the base model cheapo version.

I’ve never sat in either FPV or HSV and felt that the car was special, there is almost no difference from a brand new HSV/FPV to a taxi. They all rattle the same!

It surprises me every time because they look so expensive and flash from the outside, but once your down the road, its obvious that it’s all just tacked on plastic and accessories. Sure the engines are special but thats no enough. Not to me anyway. I wish it could be different but it won’t be
Shak

I actually will reserve judgement on the styling for when i see one at the dealership, but i cant help but point out, that so far we havent seen any pics of the WM Series II interior from Holden, and judging by the fact that the interior of the Grange hasnt changed at all, i think we will see much the same for Holden’s Caprice twins. Why didnt they upgrade the interior.
Nick

Ugly and it has the old interior…
Direct Injection

Shak.remember that GM is bankrupt so the reason they have made a very minor change….need I say hardly noticeable at all, is the lack of development money for all of GM. This was stated by a leading economist when GM was filing for bankruptcy, he said this would be a big problem for GM. Lack of money is also why they havent got rid of those ridiculous front guards which are a big reason why the VE is not very economical even with all the gadgetry it has, the 3 litre DI uses more fuel than a non DI 4 litre FG.

Shak

Im talking about a range of cars that just received a confirmed interior upgrade, so either these pics are of the old interior, or they haven’t changed the WM interiors. And i really wouldn’t call GM cash strapped anymore considering their IPO hopes are looking really good, and all this fresh product is flowing over their global empire.

nickdl

Wasn’t this supposed to have a self-parking system?

New technology is great, that blind spot system is in American Fords but hardly anywhere in Aus. HSV seem to be quite good at pioneering new technology in Australian cars. Shame they can’t do better with the styling.

Perfect car for a cashed-up bogan. The front end is hideous and the DRLs look like they’re from Autobarn. I quite like the WM Holdens, but HSV have really ruined a good-looking car.
G Funk

pathetic. i’ll keep my M3 thanks.

Joel

finally someone who isnt a holden/ford bogan fanboy il keep my m3 also thanks.

jj

at least now a typical hsv driver will be able to tell WHAT oversteer and understeer are.

DRL’s are TACKY. BUT, hsvs are TACKY! plastic coated family cars with big engines. cant wait till the new ford is out with ITS quad pipes, holden will respond with 6 or 8 exhausts! and a 10L engine!
Joel

great now i have too clean my brand new laptop cause i just threw up all over it!
The Realist

Does Holden throw in McDonalds family meal vouchers if you buy this car?
F1MotoGP

I find this car little bit on the high price side. For nearly $90,000 you could buy 2003 Porsche $85T, 2005 Audi A8 $85T, 2006 BMW 750i $88T, 2005 Mercedes E55 $92T or 2008 Lexus 450h $87T.
PROJET – L

All the fish and chip shops around the Clayton area have formed a vigilante group and they’re heading to HSV to get their all their Fluro’s back.
Byron

Back end looks heaps cool & though the front end looks a little busy, it’ll grown on me & everyone else apart from Holden haters & those who don’t like E2′s design. Look foward to seeing one in the metal.
Jackson Morris

I think this is a mad as car and would love to test frive it??
Sam Grant Dave Kennedy

I would rather one of these cars than a FPV any day because its gangsta and better performance
Emma

Test drove yesterday, love it, plenty of room for kids with dvd screens, heaps of grunt, will blow you f,wits in your fords onto the footpath, have style and the money, sold… If you really want to comment go have a drive and eat your words.