HSV strikes a Middle East deal

A new three year, multimillion-dollar export program will deliver a left-hand-drive Chevrolet-badged version of the 307kW/550Nm, six-litre HSV ClubSport R8; to be known as the Chevrolet Special Vehicles CR8.

The company has shipped 150 cars to the region and expects at least that many to be delivered in each of the following two years.

They will sell for about $49,000; about $12,000 cheaper than in Australia.

The Middle East has been Holden's biggest export market, having sold more than 200,000 vehicles in the region since 1998.

The VE Commodore and WM Statesman/Caprice ranges are sold in the region as Chevrolet Lumina and as Caprice.

GM Holden executive director sales and marketing Alan Batey said the expanding product range in the region illustrated the growing maturity of the Middle East market.

“Holden has been able to partner its expertise in tailoring vehicles for the Middle East with the high-performance expertise of HSV to deliver a vehicle that will make a great driving experience,” he said.

Holden's export sales for last year totalled 46,074, with more than 31,000 going to the Middle East; a record export year to the region for the company.

New HSV managing director Scott Grant said the announcement added another HSV export market to the Vauxhall program in Britain.

“HSV is already a well-known brand among car enthusiasts in the Middle East, many of whom are fans of the Aussie high-performance cars and our racing activities,” he said.

“The initial response from dealers has been exceptional,” he said.

The launch of the new export program is timed to coincide with the Desert 400 V8 Supercar round in Bahrain.