Hot Holdens In The Post-2017 Era: Get Ready For The HSV Insignia

Derek Kreindler
by Derek Kreindler

Come 2017, Holden will cease producing cars in Australia, ending a decades long lineage of big, rear-drive, V8 powered sedans. But their high-performance HSV division is expected to survive the transition, albeit in a very different form.

The re-hiring of HSV Chief Engineer John Stoddart is seen as a positive move by the Australian Motor Press, who took his departure to be a sign of a bleak future for Holden’s performance shop. But as Carsguide rightly points out, there is no V8 slated for the post-Commodore world, and Holden’s next sedans are said to be front-drive models with four and six cylinder engines.

What could be in the cards? Apparently, an Opel Insignia mule with a twin-turbo V6 has been spotted, which would mean something like an Aussie Rules version of the Insginia OPC. I’m still holding out hope for something on the Alpha platform…even if it does come with two fewer cylinders than I’m hoping for.

Derek Kreindler
Derek Kreindler

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  • Big Al from Oz Big Al from Oz on Jun 03, 2014

    I still think GMH could of have been retained, but not in it's current form. GMH and HSV could have produced prestige performance vehicles for the global market to compete with the Euro marques. Holden has designed some great handling cars in the recent past. But, economic realities are just that. Why produce a car if the taxpayer needs to subsidise the industry? It's wasting money that could better used.

  • Ajla Ajla on Jun 03, 2014

    So Australia can have a V6 Insignia, but we still can't? Take the LT1, knock off two cylinders off, add forced induction, call it the 3800 Series IV, embroider the Buick-6 logo on the seats and under the hood, sell it in NA and AUS, and make a few people on TTAC happy.

  • Jethrow Jethrow on Jun 04, 2014

    I have owned a few Commodores and HSV's, all bought because of the V6 or V8, and all rear wheel drive. Before them I owned Kingswoods and Sandmans, again 6's or 8's, and rear wheel drive. But now it seems I will never buy another (new) Holden post 2017. And a double never for a faux commodore with FWD. My heart is saddened.

  • OzSRV OzSRV on Jun 04, 2014

    Come 2017, Australians will be holding onto their older home built cars longer than they would have before. I'll be keeping mine for life. At least the Insignia isn't chinese made, not yet anyway.

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