JTG Systems
HSV Floats LPG Gas Plan
The team reakon they can hit their V8 performance
targets as an LPG force
Writes Paul Gover ( NT News Cars Guide )
Gas power could help to drive Holden Special Vehicles deeper into the 21st century. It is looking closely at liquefied petroleum gas as a future fuel, after rejecting diesel, and is within 18 months of a genuine production go-ahead.
HSV believes it can hits its V8 performance targets with LPG, giving it a significant point of difference with a fuel that could have big benefits for owners.
"We have cars running and we are investing in that technology, but we are yet to sign it off," HSV managing director Phil Harding said. "At some point we will have to decide whether it will work and whether it will generate sales."
HSV built a diesel test car with a BMW engine when the company was run by Scott Grant, but since his departure last year the focus has shifted to LPG as a potential alternative to premium unleaded. "We wouldn't be doing it unless we could hold the same performance as we do today," Harding said.
"We are pleased with the technology, but we think the market needs educating. Or teasing. The technology is not a taxi technology. It is liquid and direct injection.
He said the timing was crucial, but HSV is poised for a go-ahead and could come to the market with one next year. He is moving to protect HSV's position in Australia after a tough year when the company was hit by rising fuel prices and buyer uncertainty in the economic downturn.
Harding said HSV's results was still the second-best on record, after the high set by the launch of its V-Series range.
"We're still up against 2006," he said. "When we launched the V-Series we went for 12 months with every month a record. That was not normal. We believe the product is far better than the Z-Series but you can not stay on those peaks forever, and our results have been flavoured by current financial issues".