Posts Tagged ‘HSV’
HSV GTS Review
There are several road going family size four-door executive jets around these days; the E 63 AMG and BMW’s M5 come to mind. They both go like the clappers, but are also hugely expensive and the new M5 has not yet been released. That’s where the homegrown advantage comes into play. At well under half the price of its closest German rival, HSV’s 6.2-litre GTS makes all the right noises and perfect economic rationale.
Driving out of HSV’s press car facility, you need to watch the deep front apron as you gently angle the car over a fairly decent lip on the driveway. Once you’re through that obstacle, it only takes you a couple of gentle shifts to recalibrate your left foot with the clutch take up point before you remember that there’s a sum total of 325kW and a thunderous 550Nm of torque waiting to be unleashed. The temptation to drop down a cog and put the boot in for a quick squirt, just to see how she goes, is more than I can resist.
Again, I forgot to specify auto or manual when I booked the car for review, but was quietly hoping for the automatic, given the start/stop nature of city driving these days, particularly in Sydney.
That said momentary disappointment morphs into a big grin as I drop down a gear and give the GTS a right royal boot full, but just for a few seconds, you understand. The 6.2-litre V8 at full roar is one of the world’s great engine notes. Sounding more like a V8 supercar climbing up Mt Panorama at full tilt on race day, it’s pure aural bliss for any car enthusiast worth his salt. It doesn’t matter how hot the weather is either, you’ll want to lower the driver’s window and listen to this over and over again.