HSV confirms Chevrolet Camaro 2SS premium price
BY JUSTIN HILLIARD | 10th Sep 2018
HOLDEN Special Vehicles (HSV) has confirmed that the locally converted Chevrolet Camaro 2SS sportscar will be priced from $85,990 before on-road costs when it enters select Holden showrooms later this month as something of a spiritual successor to the company’s V8 Commodore-based models.
Compared to the US-market Camaro 2SS that is priced from $US42,995 (around $A60,000), the Australian model is about $26,000 more expensive, with shipping fees, right-hand-drive conversion costs, luxury car tax (LCT) and other local tariffs factored into its premium.
While the converted Camaro 2SS is also $19,731 dearer than its direct rival, Ford’s Mustang GT Fastback, HSV general manager of marketing Damon Paull stressed to GoAuto that it is a “niche offering” pitched against the “high end” of the market.
“Undeniably, we are going to appeal to sportscar enthusiasts and the purists who really know the difference,” he said. “We don’t look to appeal to the bottom end of the market … and the vehicle will be pitched as such.
“Playing to the way we’re positioning this vehicle, we’re simply not for the masses. We have niche availability because we’re a niche manufacturing firm.”
Mr Paull added that significant interest from Australian and New Zealand customers has resulted in HSV pre-selling about a third of its 550-unit model year 2018 allocation through its 55-strong dealer network.
As such, it is expected that the next Camaros offered will be the 2019 model year, complete with a new 10-speed automatic transmission, launch control and line-lock burnout functions, revised exterior styling and increased equipment levels.
While the Mustang GT Fastback appears to be an obvious rival for the Camaro 2SS that will be converted at HSV’s new factory in Clayton South, Victoria, Mr Paull said it was not that simple.
“There might be some customers that’ll look to both products,” he said. “We don’t see them as our only competitor – by any stretch.
“We won’t be offering a four cylinder. We’re an eight-cylinder purist sportscar. So, we look at those a little bit above us in the product spectrum.”
Mr Paull was open to expanding the V8 line-up beyond that of the 2SS in the Camaro’s coming model years, but HSV managing director Tim Jackson has previously said that the 485kW/881Nm ZL1 flagship was unlikely to be sold in Australia.
Instead, the availability of a six-speed manual gearbox for the 2SS is more likely, as is the lower-specification 1SS that could reduce the Camaro’s entry price to below $80,000, or $75,000 if the self-shifter is offered.
“We’re investigating that (manual) potential,” Mr Paull said. “We see automatic as probably the majority of demand going forward, but we understand there are some enthusiasts that would like the manual. If we can bring that to life, it won’t be for a little while.
“Obviously we’re not bringing (Camaro) in for a one-model range then gone forever. We see this model range as part of our long-term product plan.”
According to Mr Jackson, the launch of the converted Camaro 2SS has been a long time coming, with HSV taking pride in the final product.
“This project has been over three years in the making and involved millions of dollars of investment in product development, testing and validation,” he said.
“We set out with the goal of retaining the integrity of the left-hand-drive vehicle through the adoption of extensive engineering, development and manufacturing processes. We are proud to say we believe we have achieved our goal.
“I can’t think of another organisation – that is not one of the large OE manufacturers – that has challenged itself to conduct full volume compliance on a passenger vehicle.
“The interest and push we have had from customers and the GM faithful to bring this vehicle to market has been nothing short of exceptional.”
As previously reported, the Camaro 2SS is motivated by a 6.2-litre LT1 naturally aspirated V8 petrol engine that produces 339kW of power at 6000rpm and 617Nm of torque at 4400rpm.
Drive is exclusively sent to the Camaro 2SS’s rear wheels via a limited-slip differential and an eight-speed torque-convertor automatic transmission with steering wheel-mounted paddle shifters.
Four driving modes – Tour, Sport, Snow/Ice and Track – allow the driver to alter vehicle settings, such as transmission, steering and exhaust while on the move.
An independent multi-link rear suspension with twin-tube shock absorbers also features alongside four-piston Brembo brake callipers and grey, split-spoke 20-inch alloy wheels wrapped in a mixed set of Goodyear Eagle run-flat tyres (245/40 front, 275/35 rear).
HID headlights with LED daytime running lights (DRLs) pair with a bootlid-mounted spoiler and the bi-modal exhaust system’s stainless-steel dual tailpipes to complete the Camaro 2SS’ exterior.
Inside, power-adjustable front sports seats (eight-way driver with memory, six-way passenger) are trimmed in leather and have heating and ventilation functionality, while the flat-bottom steering wheel is also leather-wrapped and heated.
A 7.0-inch MyLink touchscreen infotainment system features Apple CarPlay and Android Auto support and is hooked up to a nine-speaker Bose sound system. It is also complemented by an 8.0-inch digital instrument cluster and a colour head-up display.
Other standard equipment includes dual-zone climate control, a power-operated sunroof, wireless smartphone charging, an auto-dimming rearview mirror, ambient interior lighting, and keyless entry and start.
Advanced driver-assist systems extend to lane departure warning, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, a reversing camera, rear parking sensors, cruise control and tyre pressure monitoring as well as seven airbags, including driver’s knee airbag.
Metallic paintwork – including Bright Yellow, Garnet Red and Hyper Blue – is available for $850, while six no-cost colours are also on offer.
