HSV axes SportsCat and Camaro 2SS

Tuesday, 10 March 2020

HSV has announced it will no longer build the Colorado SportsCat, nor will it convert the Camaro 2SS to right-hand drive.

The culling comes as the Holden brand prepares to exit the Australian and New Zealand markets, meaning HSV's total line-up consists of the supercharged Camaro ZL1 and the Silverado 1500 and 2500. The C8 Corvette may join late this year or early 2021, under the GMSV banner.

The death of the SportsCat doesn't come as much of a surprise, given there soon won't be a Colorado to base it on but the exit of the 2SS is interesting.

The Camaro 2SS is out, mainly due to the cost of emissions development and validation as well as exchange rate pressures.

Speaking to CarsGuide at the Chevrolet Silverado 1500 media launch in Melbourne, HSV boss Tim Jackson said the Camaro 2SS programme was wrapped up at the close of 2019 because of two issues: the cost of emissions development and validation, and exchange rate pressures.

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The Colorado SportsCat is no more, which is hardly a surprise since there soon won't be a Colorado to base it on.

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However, HSV (soon-to-be GMSV) may revive the badge in the future with a revamped US-spec Colorado or even the larger Silverado (pictured).

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Interestingly, the Camaro is a fairly good seller, considering its low-volume production. Jackson said around 50 Camaros leave the lot per month over the ditch. He added that the 2SS might return to the market in 2021 if HSV's rebrand into GM Specialty Vehicles (GMSV) goes smoothly.

'We're doing ZL1 in MY20, and (Camaro) forms part of the discussions with GM around MY21… that informs every part of our range now.

'Our range, in our view, continues. What form that takes and where we bring in new model years and all of those sorts of things, that conversation is wrapped up in a lot of our discussions with GM.'

Circling back to the SportsCat, Jackson confirmed that HSV will continue to build the hi-po ute for as long as there is stock. HSV is in talks with GM to figure out when exactly the Colorado will cease production, following the Thai factory's sale to Great Wall. We should know more on this front in the next month or so.

However, this doesn't necessarily mean the SportsCat will die entirely. There is a possibility HSV/GMSV will create a new model based on the North American Colorado or even the larger Silverado.

Whatever the case, a new SportsCat will require a left-to-right conversion, meaning the sticker price will jump some.

'In that Specialty Vehicles space, people need to be willing to pay a premium for it, and it needs to offer something unique and aspirational,' Jackson said.