HSV
GTS 2015
In
contrast to its naturally-aspirated brethren, the MY2015 upgrades to HSV's
top-gun GTS were relatively minor, with nothing extra in the way of power and
torque. Of course, anyone who's driven an LSA-powered GTS will tell you that's
the last thing it needed anyway.
Compared
to the recently-reviewed ClubSport R8 which gained power and torque hikes for
2015, the alterations to the GTS are more subtle. The standard 20-inch 'Blade'
forged alloys gain a dark stainless finish and there's an optional 'Hyperflow'
performance rear spoiler to join a low-line spoiler, SV Performance 20-inch
forged alloys finished in satin graphite, 'Red Hot' leather seat trim and
electric tilt and slide sunroof on the options list.
The
underbody hardware starts with the gargantuan 6.2-litre supercharged 'LSA'
petrol V8 engine. The spec sheet reads 430 kW at 6150 rpm, and some 740 Nm from
3850 rpm. In short, where the ClubSport R8's nat-atmo, 340 kW engine needs revs
to give its best, the GTS crumples tarmac from idle onwards.
Carry-over
six-speed manual or the AS$ 2500 cost-optional paddle-shift six-speed auto
remain the two transmission options. Transferring all that grunt to the rear
275/35-series Continental SportContact 5P rubber (they measure 235/35 up-front)
is a 9.9-inch differential driving the rear wheels, while slowing it all down
again is six-piston AP front brakes with two-piece, cross-drilled rotors to
front and rear. Generation three 'magnetic ride control' adaptable suspension
and torque vectoring further enhance the GTS's credentials as the most complete
Australian muscle car of all time.
HSV
has always done road presence well, and the MY15 GTS is no exception. It looks
large and menacing in the best muscle car tradition, the aggressive grilles,
bold yellow brake calipers and sheer stance shouting performance. 'Large' also
extends to the cabin space, with plenty of room for five, and the wide
bootspace offering copious luggage storage.
Despite
the interior's swathes of leather and Alcantara and contrast stitching on the
leather-clad steering wheel, the GTS cabin doesn't stand out from its AS$ 20,000-odd
cheaper ClubSport brother, and sadly the shift paddles for the automatic
transmission feel plastic to the touch, as if a hasty afterthought.
Despite
this, there is a high level of standard equipment with the eight-way
electrically-adjustable and heated front seats the major drawcard. There's also
a nine-speaker BOSE stereo, dual-zone climate control, sat-nav, reversing
camera, forward collision alert, lane departure warning, auto park assist, side
blind zone alert and keyless entry/go; basically everything its six-figure
rivals also have.
Source
: motoring.com.au
