First look: It's wagons-ho for HSV!

HOLDEN Special Vehicles has announced it will produce its own version of Holden's upcoming Sportwagon from September, with sales commencing in October.

Based on next month's new VE Commodore wagon, the so-called HSV Tourer will be similar in performance and specification to HSV's ClubSport R8 sedan.

News of HSV's first wagon since the demise of the Holden Adventra-based Avalanche last year was heralded by HSV managing director Scott Grant at the launch of the LS3 V8-powered HSV range in Perth today.

“Today we announce our firm commitment to launch a product off the wagon platform,” he said. “It will be based on the ClubSport R8... and add more versatility to the HSV brand.” Mr Grant said the HSV Tourer, which will come powered by a 6.2-litre V8 delivering 317kW, has the potential to skim sales from HSV's sedan models, but would instrumental in its drive to set another sales record in 2008.

“(It could attract substitutional sales a) little bit, but hopefully not too much. It’s a very small quantity but it wouldn’t be a big percentage,” he said.

It's believed that, unlike HSV's sedan and Maloo utility models, the Tourer will share the same rear-end styling as Holden's forthcoming Sportwagon, which was to have been launched last month but has been delayed from showrooms while development work continues.

Apart from the high-riding Avalanche, which first appeared in HSV dealerships in VYII guise in December 2003, priced at $73,900, and was a name that also graced a Crewman-based dual-cab model - both powered by a 270kW/475Nm 5.7-litre V8 - HSV has produced only three wagons in more than two decades.

The first was the VN Commodore-based LE wagon of 1990, which was followed by the VS Commodore-based Manta wagon in 1996. The previous-generation VT Commodore wagon also spawned an HSV derivative, in the 1998 Senator Signature 195i and 220i.

The 195i was priced at $69,950 and came powered by a 195kW/430Nm 5.0-litre V8, while the 220i scored a stroked 5.7-litre version of Holden's venerable 308, offering 220kW/475Nm and priced at $83,750 - the same as the 1998 Senature Signature 220i sedan.