Holden’s performance skunkworks at HSV has unveiled the new Senator SV. It’s a special edition based on the Senator Signature with extra lashings of sportiness thrown in.
The 2015 HSV Senator SV utilises the same platform as the regular Senator, but HSV has thrown in some exciting new features for the luxurious sedan to boost exclusivity.
The 340kW/570Nm 6.2-litre V8 from the regular Senator is back, which is mated to your choice of a six-speed manual or automatic transmission, the latter of which now comes with paddle shifters.
Stopping power is kept in check thanks to a set of AP Racing forged four-piston brakes, as featured on the regular Senator Signature, along with features like Magnetic Ride Control and a Driver Preference dial.
On the outside there is a new set of quad pipes with shadow chrome tips, and all-new 20-inch ‘Rapier’ forged alloy wheels in a dark stainless steel finish. HSV has given a black finish to the door surrounds, rear spoiler, mirror caps, front grille and side vents to add further contrast. HSV managing director Tim Jackson recently said,
“As Senator Signature is already an exceptionally well equipped vehicle, we challenged our design team to come up with a differentiated styling package, one that accentuates the vehicle’s ‘wolf in sheep’s clothing’ positioning and further enhances its street presence.”
The Senator SV is a very special edition with only two headed over to New Zealand and 50 examples to be produced for Australia. It’s priced from $83,990, before on-road costs.
Senator Sticker Pack
The Senator, especially this one here, in my view is the classiest, cleanest styled and smoothest creation to ever come from HSV. There aren’t too many HSV’s in which you can show up at a formal event and fit in with the lower spec mercs, BMW’s and Audis. I’m not talking Euro things over $150K+ but of the humble Euro offerings the Senator can hold its head high in the styling stakes. Cleanest front end in the business, much better than R8 or even GTS. I’m currently tossing up my next buy and I’m hankering for a GTS for the obvious power reason plus the fact it is the last and best Aussie supercar. However, I keep being drawn to the Senator due to the (comparably) oh so classy looks.
For me it boils down to one question I have never seen a response to by Those Who Know – that question is: Why on God’s green earth don’t HSV offer the GTS drive-train in the senator. I’d pay more than GTS for that ideal package. If anyone has any genuine clue I would love to know if there’s a real chance between now and Nov’17 for such a wonderful beast to be born. Seriously, I’d have my money on the showroom counter tomorrow for such a thing. I just haven’t been able to part with the money for GTS due to the ‘lego-look’ design of the front end. Looks like plenty of air flow to the motor on that Senator – if not then shouldn’t be too hard to change the plastic a bit.