@wheelsaustralia 49
Life after Commodore at Clayton? It looks like this
HSV SportsCat+
FIRST
AUSSIE
DRIVE
147kWand440Nmwithamanual
or 500Nm with the optional
auto ($2200). There’s nothing
wrongwiththeburly2.8-litre
four-cylinder turbo-diesel in this
application, but it’s a big departure
for HSV, especially left untouched.
That’s not to say HSV has
satonitshandshere.Both
versions, SportsCat ($60,790)
and SportsCat+ ($66,790), have
extensive suspension, braking and
styling upgrades making them
better on- and off-road.
The SportsCat+ tested here
is expected to be the popular
choice. It’s the more heavily
stylised of the pair, including a
non-functional bonnet bulge and
optional rear sail-plane ($1300)
inspired by ski boats. A lower bash
plate, LED lamps and tow hooks
addutilityandroadpresence.
Ride height has grown 25mm
with a front suspension lift (to
evenoutrake),andataller285/60
Cooper tyre developed with HSV
adds another 10mm for totalground clearance of 251mm.
Arch extensions house 18x10-
inch forged alloys and keep
the 30mm wider track within
check. Strut bracing inside the
arches adds rigidity, and a larger
(33mm) front anti-roll bar and
theadditionofarearanti-rollbar
(22mm) in the SportsCat+ deliver
better cornering support.
On road the uprated
suspension brings clear handling
improvements, with better body
control than expected from
thisclassofvehiclewithouta
pronounced impact on the rough
and ready ride comfort that’s par
for the course in this category.
Buyers flush with cash can
option even tougher SupaShock
suspension ($3600) with external
oil reservoirs similar to that in the
HSV GTSR W1.
Up front, four-piston AP Racing
brakes clamp 362mm rotors, and
a larger master cylinder reduces
pedaltravelforgreaterfeel.The
stoppers work well consideringthe 2274kg heft they’re arresting.
Butthisisobviouslynotasports
car, and still needs armfuls of
steering to wind lock-to-lock. The
rubber at each corner hangs on
reasonably well at normal road
speeds, but squeals early in faster
cornering. Driven like the dual-cab
that it is, it’s a more competent
packagethanaregularColorado.
Inside,sportsseatstrimmedin
leatherandsuedefeatureaunique
base with larger bolsters. It’s
otherwise standard Colorado Z71
fare including Apple and Android
connectivity,8.0-inchscreen,
reversing camera, lane-departure
warning and remote start.
Few could have known 30
yearsagothatHSVwasbuilding
a house on sand by focusing on
a single large sedan. SportsCat
maysoundlikeastabinthe
dark in Commodore’s immediate
wake, but the execution is good
enough that it could prove a solid
foundation for HSV’s reinvention.
RYAN LEWISPLUS &
MINUSImproved capability; road presence; clever de-coupling rear anti-roll bar
THEY say America is the
land of second acts.
It might be the only
place on earth where a
heavily accented Austrian
bodybuilder can make a
Hollywood fortune then reinvent
himself as a politician to govern
the state that made him famous.
Arnie’s metamorphosis could
provide inspiration for the folks at
HSV. Transformation is precisely
what the local outfit is going
through post-Commodore, but a
wary Australian public means its
second coming as a dual-cab ute
vendor presents a few hazards.
The full moniker of its entrant
is Holden Colorado SportsCat by
HSV. The awkward suffix suggests
there’s a little discomfort at
Clayton about going all-in with
HSV branding even though
SportsCat is currently the only
product in its dealerships.
Keeping an arm’s-length may be
down to the fact it makes no more
power than a standard Colorado:Model
Engine
Max power
Max torque
Transmission
Weight
0-100km/h
Economy
Price
On saleHolden Colorado SportsCat+ by HSV
2 776cc 4cyl, 16v, dohc, turbo-diesel
147kW @ 3600rpm
500Nm @ 2000rpm
6-speed automatic
2274kg
10.5sec (estimated)
9.1L/100km
$68,990
NowSame outputs as donor Colorado; silly name; hefty price premium
Built to scale
Increased approach and
departure angles lift
SportsCat’s off-road cred,
as does a rear anti-roll
bar that electronically
decouples when low-range
is selected for full rear-axle
articulation. HSV points out
that while enthusiasts can
bolt parts to a Colorado for
a seemingly similar result
to SportsCat, they can’t
tune the ESC to support
their mods, something HSV
has done for all three drive
modes (2WD High, 4WD
High and 4WD Low).