Muscle News

The first of HSV’s right-hand drive Chev Camaro ZL1s are rolling into dealer showrooms right now – after a complex process that even required HSV to conduct crash testing.

The rst Camaro ZL1s rolls into HSV dealerships, while there’s word of a new Bolwell Nagari.

Here’s something to ponder. HSV had to crash three Chevrolet Camaro ZL1s to gain certi cation for Australian sale. Imagine that; three of these beaut 480kW supercharged V8 beast being run into a wall! “It was super-painful,” says HSV boss Tim Jackson.

It’s all that sort of stuff going on behind the scenes that racks up the dollars and makes HSV’s right-hand drive ‘remanufacturing’ Camaro project such a difficult business case to get across the line, even with the original MY18 2SS gaining a strong response in Australia.

But ticked off it has been, and around now ZL1s are rolling in to HSV dealerships valued at a cool $159,990 plus on-road costs for the six-speed manual. The new 10-speed auto adds $2200.

The 2SS is also updated for 2019, priced from

$86,990 for the new manual option.

When HSV launched this program last year, the prospect of an MY19 let alone a ZL1 was still uncertain. But Jackson says the question marks were overcome relatively rapidly and smoothly.

“It all came together a little quicker than what we thought,” Jackson admitted. “It is in our interest to keep a continuing program, so we have been working really hard to get it done.”

There were plenty of issues; the crash testing, unique Aussie emissions calibrations, sourcing right-hand supply of headlights and tail-lights and so on.

“You don’t do it without a great deal of support from GM, being able to get in front of the suppliers and get access, negotiate, get all those new parts pulled together and into a new certi cation for the next round.

“It was de nitely a good co-ordinated effort to pull it all together,” said Jackson.

The good news is much of the heavy-lifting on big ticket items like the seats, the dashboard and HVAC system remain as they were for MY18. Same for the manufacturing process, that still includes complex modi cations to the laminated front rewall and wiring harness.

Instead it’s all about a freshened look and more performance. Which sounds very HSV.

“We know part of that process is evolving the product and doing new things and keeping people interested. And that’s been our life for 30 years, that’s part of the equation for us; keep evolving, keep developing and keep looking for new ways to make it better.”

Jackson says about 550 MY18 2SS Camaros ended up being built. The MY19 2SS is expected to account for 600-700 sales, while the forecast is for 300 ZL1s.