HSV Grange: The Pinnacle of Australian Sports Luxury Motoring
Channel Staff - 23/May/2007 | 
2007 HSV Grange
Who Buys The Grange?Holden
Special Vehicles (HSV) fifth brand-new model has been launched and it's
a bit like the Holden Caprice, only with far more vehemence, more
luxury, and the clever magnetic ride control (MRC) doodad.But who buys the long-wheel based Grange? We
chatted to HSV's spokesman about this and he confirmed that
the major buyer of the Grange is the 40-55+ year old male
demographic, and are usually people who prefer to support an Australian
brand head of a foreign company. Buyers are typically affluent
'self-made' business owners, and are often the MD or CEO of a company,
or a professional, who want power and performance, but also enough room
for the family and other important passengers. The
phrase 'asset rich but time poor' also comes into the typical Grange
buyer's description, and when asked if the new model would be
exported (the Statesman and Caprice are hugely popular in the Middle
East, for example), HSV's spokesman said there were "no confirmed deals". -
Feann Torr, Editor |
The Grange is the largest car in the HSV
range, and gets standard twin DVD screens
Powered by a 6.0-litre V8 engine that belts out
307kW, the HSV Grange has effortless power
With flared wheel arches and 19-inch wheels,
plus a strong ground effects kit, the Grange
is every bit an Aussie performance-luxury car
Soft Nappa leather covers almost every inch
of the Grange, of which two tones are available
|
Melbourne, Australia —
On the back of record sales within Australian and New Zealand, HSV has
just launched the big kahuna, which is expected to drive sales of the
iconic Australian sports car brand even higher. The
all-new Grange is longer and wider, and has more luxury features than
any other HSV - or Holden for that matter - and with a 307kW V8 hidden
beneath the engine hood, it's part of an exulted and rare group of high
performance luxury vehicles. The WM Grange, a
"luxury performance limousine" according to HSV, was launched yesterday
and is on sale now in Australia priced at $82,990, which is an 8%
price reduction on the out-going model. Powered
by a 6.0-litre pushrod V8 that develops more than 400 horsepower at the
crankshaft, the Grange is expected to charge from zero to 100km/h in
around 5.5 seconds. HSV says the new WM Grange model represents a
"substantial investment" by the company, and it's clear that the
vehicle is designed to appeal to both performance enthusiasts and
drivers looking for an Australian-made luxury limousine. The
managing director of HSV, Scott Grant, is thrilled to see the new
Grange added to the HSV range, which is now awaiting only the Maloo ute
models, which will be released shortly after the new VE Holden Ute
arrives later in the year. Mr Grant said the
arrival of the new Grange would give his company 'fresh sales
impetus', and that 2007 is looking like becoming a record year:
"This car will truly build on the outstanding sales success HSV has
enjoyed over the last eight months, since launching the E-series. April
was the company's eighth record month of sales consecutively, with 475
retail deliveries." HSV released a statement saying that
during the first four months of 2007 retail deliveries hit 1685, which
is an impressive feat for a niche sports car maker, and is almost
double the 2006 figures and easily surpasses figures for 2005. "There
is already a strong order bank for the new model and the HSV Grange is
often cited as representing the singularly most popular repeat purchase
vehicle in the HSV line up, so we're confident it will be well
received in the marketplace," Scott Grant said. "In
many ways the car is a long wheel based equivalent of the E-series
Senator Signature, which has been a runaway sales success. This will be
reflected in the marketing campaign we have released to co-incide with
Grange launch," added Mr Grant. As mentioned earlier, the HSV Grange is powered by a 6.0-litre V8 motor. Here are the engine's vital statistics:  Power: 307kW @ 6000rpm
Torque: 550Nm @ 4400rpm
This
high power 8-cylinder engine is mated to a GM 6-speed automatic gearbox
with tiptronic override control for manual-inspired stick shifts, and
power is diverted to the rear wheels in a traditional sports car layout. Other
performance features of the new model include the large braking system,
comprised of 365mm and 350mm ventilated and slotted discs brakes front
and rear respectively, both of which are acted upon by 4-piston HSV
calipers. The brake system is also augmented by ESP, ABS, EBD, and TCS,
to ensure the car's tyres always have optimum contact with the road. Being
an über-luxury sports car the Grange has two distinct suspension
modes - one for comfortable cruising, and another for performance
driving. Based on the MRC, or magnetic ride control, at the touch of a
button the cars shock absorbers (or damping pistons) can change their
reaction time and provide a more positive cornering attitude with less
body roll. When switched off, the Grange is essentially a luxury
limousine with a comfy ride that won't upset passengers. John Clark, HSV's chief engineer, oversaw the program that upgraded the car
into this final stage: "We focused on enhancing this car, to
improve driveability. Individually calibrated
Magnetic Ride Control, an LS2 V8 307kW engine, a premium HSV four
piston brake package and tailored Electronic Stability Control system,
make WM Grange one of our best cars to wear the Lion and Helmet badge."
From
the outside, the new Grange is distinguished by its HSV design that
will ensure it won't be mistaken for the Holden Caprice, upon which the
car based. The HSV design includes a new front apron with a bold
chrome-rimmed air dam and a redesigned grille section with HSV
badging. Side skirts and a new rear apron finish
off the bodywork which contrasts nicely with the 19-inch multispoke
alloy wheels, while a discreet boot lid spoiler adds a touch of
sports-cool to the rear without the need for a huge wing,
and machined quad exhaust pipes communicate the car's
powerful nature. HSV's chief designer Julian Quincey worked on
creating the new Grange, using subtlety rather than dominance to
enhance the cars appearance. "With Grange, we wanted to offer a car
that would be defined as an Australian 'performance and luxury
flagship', without any suggestion of overstating its massive
capability" he said. "The car has all the sporting grace of the
critically acclaimed Senator Signature with even greater presence.
Unique exterior touches include front fascia, grille, discreet rear
spoiler and rear lower appliqué, while the interior boasts our
exclusive steering wheel and instrumentation. The interior is available
in both black and light urban, with an ambiance to match the very best
of the Europeans," boasted Mr Quincey. Some
of the other interior features of the range-topping HSV include a dual
screen rear DVD player, tri-zone electronic climate control, parking
assist, 10-way electrically adjustable drivers seat with 3 memory settings, a Bose premium audio system, and quality Nappa
leather upholstery on all seats on doors. The HSV WM
Grange is priced from $82,990 and HSV assures us that it is available
from dealers right now. The only option is satellite navigation (with
telematics) and the car will be on sale in New Zealand from June
2007. Related Articles:
- HSV Grange (Road Test)
- HSV Senator vs.
FPV Force6 (Road
Test)
- HSV Clubsport R8 (Road Test)
- HSV E-Series (2006)
- HSV Coupe4 (2005)
- HSV SV6000 (2005)
- HSV GTSR (2004) |
