HSV open to EV future

HOLDEN Special Vehicles (HSV) has said it is open to bringing an electric vehicle into its portfolio, following rumours that the next-generation Chevrolet Camaro may be a full-electric offering.

Website CarBuzz first posted the rumours earlier this month that said the new Camaro could go electric following some personnel moves within the company.

The rumour started when GM engineer Al Oppenheiser moved from his role leading the Camaro division to heading up the company’s electric vehicle development.

Rumours were compounded by further whispers that the Camaro would be axed after 2023 as part of Chevrolet’s future plans.

Speaking to GoAuto at the launch of the Series II Colorado SportsCat, HSV general manager of product planning and program management Gareth Brown said the company would be open to introducing an EV into its ranks.

“I don’t think we’d be averse to it, I can’t see why we wouldn’t. It’s the future in some ways, so we’ll keenly wait and see what GM does there and announces going forward, and evaluate it as it comes along,” he said.

“Certainly at this point in time we wouldn’t be saying no to anything in the future. We certainly would evaluate it and see if it fits what our brand is and where it’s going.”

HSV history has been hallmarked by loud, powerful V8 engines, making an EV a significant departure from its previous identity.

However, Mr Brown said the company is in a transitional period with models such as the Colorado SportsCat and Silverado, and the future would open up new possibilities for the brand.

“I think part of our new business – that’s part of what we were and if we can still provide that like in a Camaro then we can, but also looking forward we’ve got to assess what else is out there.

“So EVs, tuning of EVs, who knows where that frontier is going to go? So, I think we’re seeing the start of that happening probably soon – (soon) as in the world.”

Rumours of an electric Camaro have also been spurred by the eCopo Camaro concept, which throws a full-electric powertrain in the Camaro for eye-watering performance results.

The eCopo produced 522kW/814Nm form its battery-electric powertrain, enabling a quarter-mile sprint time of 9.837 seconds.

It also eclipsed the power output of the 6.2-litre supercharged V8 under the bonnet of the current Camaro ZL1, which produces 477kW, however the petrol behemoth has the eCopo covered for torque with 881Nm of pulling power.

Any full-electric Camaro would not arrive until the end of the current model’s life cycle, pointing to a debut in 2023 or later.