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Holden Special VehiclesHolden Special Vehicles (also known as HSV) is the performance vehicle operation of Australian motor vehicle manufacturer Holden. HSV commenced its operations in 1988 as a joint venture between Holden and TWR - an operation owned by Scottish racing car driver and entrepreneur Tom Walkinshaw. It was started to replace the Holden Dealer Team's special vehicles operation run by Peter Brock, after Holden severed its ties during the "polariser" controversy. The first car produced by HSV was the SV88 - little more than a body kitted Holden Commodore VL powered by a standard carburettered version of Holden's 5-Litre V8. However HSV's next car, the SS Group A (also based on the Commodore VL and not to be confused with Brock's VL SS Group A) was a revelation. It had a distinctive body kit with a large rear wing (earning it the nickname of "The Batmobile") and was powered by a modified version of the Holden 5-Litre V8, which had dual-body Electronic Fuel Injection and was rated at 180kw in road car form. It was built as a Touring car homolgation, and managed to win the 1990 Bathurst 1000 race at the hands of Allan Grice and Win Percy for HSV's racing arm the Holden Racing Team. Over the years HSV have built an array of modified vehicles, most of which have been based on the Commodore and powered by either Holden or Chevrolet sourced V8s. Notable HSV models include the SS Group A (both the VL and VN Commodore versions), the SV 5000, Clubsport, Senator, GTS, GTS-R, XU6 and the Grange. The HSV GTS 300 is however the most powerful production vehicle in Australa, producing 300kw from its 5.7-Litre Chevrolet V8, and can produce 0-100km/h times under 6 seconds, and sub-14 second standing 0-400 meters. HSV also run the Holden Racing Team operations (also known as HRT), although this operation is now owned by the team's number 1 driver and former Australian Touring Car Champion, Mark Skaife. During 2002, HSVs future was put under question when TWR went into receivership. Holden finally bought out both HSV and HRT. The latter provoked controversy as factory-owned teams were outlawed in the V8 Supercar series, hence it was eventually taken over by Mark Skaife. HSV still continue to modify, develop and sell Holden product both within Australa, and also overseas, most notably New Zealand and the United Kingdom. External links * Holden Special Vehicles (HSV)
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