V8s Drive Holden Sales

Sydney Morning Herald

Saturday January 12, 2008

Joshua Dowling

HOLDEN sold a record number of V8s last year, with one in five Commodores and Statesmans sold powered by a V8 engine.

According to figures released by the car maker, it sold 11,556 V8-powered sedans last year, eclipsing its previous record of 10,982 set in 2003. These figures include Holden Special Vehicles sales, which means the relatively small performance car division was responsible for almost half the record result.

HSV figures show the fast-car arm built a record 4610 cars in 2007, 14 per cent more than in 2006. Its rival Ford Performance Vehicles sold 2127 cars last year. Two-thirds were V8s, the balance were turbocharged sixes.

The HSV managing director, Scott Grant, says the demand remains for high-performance cars despite rising petrol prices. "There are always going to be people who are passionate enough about their cars and performance to want our kind of products," Mr Grant said.

He also said V8 engines had become more fuel efficient in recent years.

"The fuel consumption of V8s is somewhat of a myth. Driven sedately, a modern V8 can get similar fuel consumption to a V6 and the power is there when you need it."

He said the popularity of HSV cars (and other prestige brands) could be attributed to affluence and the strength of the economy. "People have the finances to buy nice cars and other toys," he said. "People are asset rich, have equity in their homes and there is strong competition for finance."

It wasn't all good news for the Holden Commodore, though. It maintained its title as the biggest-selling car in Australia for the 12th year in row but the gap between its nearest rival - the Toyota Corolla - narrowed and sales increased by just 1.4 per cent in a market that grew by 9.1 per cent.

Earlier this week, Holden also announced a recall of 86,000 V6 Commodore and Statesman models to rectify potentially faulty fuel hoses which could spark a fire. It's the third recall since the current model went on sale 18 months ago.

© 2008 Sydney Morning Herald

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