HSV Senator
Australian luxury performance car
The HSV Senator is a performance-luxury sedan produced by Holden Special Vehicles from 1992 to 2017. It was based on the Holden Berlina and Holden Calais.
01Background
When introduced in 1992 the Senator was the most luxurious model in the HSV range, replacing the HSV SV91. The fourth iteration of the 'SV' series of models which started in 1988. The first iteration of the series, the HSV SV88, was also the first vehicle to be badged under the Holden Special Vehicles marque. In 2008 a 20th anniversary model celebrating the SV88 was released, the Senator SV08.
02History
The VP Series Senator and Senator 500i were released in 1992, based on the Holden Berlina. It added independent rear suspension and an anti-lock braking system, new wheels, interior, and a body kit. In 1993, the VR Series Senator 185i and 215i were released. It added the option for a spoiler. In 1995, the VS Series Senator 185i and 215i were released. It came with 10-spoke wheels and two suspension options; Sport and Touring.
The VT Series Senator Signature was released in 1997, with the Senator 195i and Senator 220i. The VTII Series Senator was released in 1999, replacing the previous model's Holden V8 engines with the LS1 V8. A performance pack option added new suspension, brakes, seats, 18-inch alloy wheels from the WH Grange, optional satellite navigation, sunroof, and sound system. The Senator Signature wagon was released in 1997, selling 27 total units.
The VX Series Senator Signature 255i was released in 2000 with the Senator 300i releasing in 2001. The SV300 was released in 2001. The SV300 was only produced with the six-speed T-56 manual gearbox, 134 units were produced.. The Y Series Senator and Senator Signature were released in 2002. The Signature came with 19-inch wheels, the Premium Brake System, a calibrated suspension called 'Luxury 3', cross-drilled and ventilated brake discs, and four-piston calipers. The Z Series Senator was released in 2004.
The E Series Senator Signature was released in 2006. It included Magnetic Ride Control, with calibration was set to 'luxury' by default with a 'Performance' able to be enabled by a button, and 19-inch wheels. The E Series 2 was released in 2009 and added daytime running lights. The E Series 3 was released in 2010, adding a petrol/LPG bi-fuel option with liquid propane injection (LPI), a blind spot monitor, and optional bi-modal exhaust. Alongside other HSV models, the Senator began export to Singapore in 2010.
HSV unveiled the limited run Senator SV08 at the 2008 Australian International Motor Show for the 20th anniversary of the HSV SV88. It used six-speed Tremec TR-6060 for the manual transmission. It came standard with 20-inch 'Pentagon' wheels. 50 units were produced, 20 manual and 30 automatic.
The Gen-F Senator Signature was released in 2013. The Gen-F2 Senator Signature was released in 2016. The Senator was discontinued in 2017.
03Reception
The Senator competed with BMW 5 Series and other European luxury cars. It also competed against Ford Performance Vehicles' Force, and its replacement model the GT-E.
04Powertrain
| Model | Engine | Power | Torque | Transmission |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| VP Senator (1992-1993) | 5.0-litre Holden V8 engine | 180 kW (241 hp) | 400 N⋅m (295 lb⋅ft) | four-speed automatic six-speed manual |
| VP Senator 5000i (1992-1993) | 5.0-litre HEC 5000i V8 engine | 200 kW (268 hp) | 411 N⋅m (303 lb⋅ft) | four-speed automatic |
| VR Senator 185i (1993-1995) | 5.0-litre Holden V8 engine | 185 kW (248 hp) | 400 N⋅m (295 lb⋅ft) | four-speed automatic six-speed manual |
| VR Senator 215i (1993-1995) | 5.0-litre Holden V8 engine | 215 kW (288 hp) | 475 N⋅m (350 lb⋅ft) | four-speed automatic six-speed manual |
| VS Senator 185i (1995-1997) | 5.0-litre Holden V8 engine | 185 kW (248 hp) | 400 N⋅m (295 lb⋅ft) | automatic five-speed manual |
| VS Senator 185i (1995-1997) | 5.0-litre Holden V8 engine | 215 kW (288 hp) | 475 N⋅m (350 lb⋅ft) | six-speed manual |
| VT Senator 195i (1997-1999) | 5.0-litre Holden V8 engine | 195 kW (261 hp) | 430 N⋅m (317 lb⋅ft) | four-speed automatic six-speed manual |
| VT Senator 220i (1997-1999) | 5.7-litre HSV Stroker V8 | 220 kW (295 hp) | 475 N⋅m (350 lb⋅ft) | four-speed automatic six-speed manual |
| VTII Senator and Senator Signature (1999-2000) | 5.7-litre LS1 V8 | 250 kW (335 hp) | 473 N⋅m (349 lb⋅ft) | automatic six-speed manual |
| VX Senator 255i (2000-2002) | 5.7-litre LS1 V8 | 255 kW (342 hp) | 475 N⋅m (350 lb⋅ft) | automatic |
| VX Senator 300i and SV300 (2000-2002) | 5.7-litre LS1 V8 | 300 kW (402 hp) | 510 N⋅m (376 lb⋅ft) | six-speed manual |
| VY Senator (2002-2003) | 5.7-litre LS1 V8 | 260 kW (349 hp) | 475 N⋅m (350 lb⋅ft) | |
| VYII Senator (2003-2005) | 5.7-litre LS1 V8 | 285 kW (382 hp) | 510 N⋅m (376 lb⋅ft) | |
| VZ Senator (2005-2007) | 6.0-litre LS2 V8 | 297 kW (398 hp) | 530 N⋅m (391 lb⋅ft) | |
| VE Senator (2007-2008) | 6.0-litre LS2 V8 | 307 kW (412 hp) | 550 N⋅m (406 lb⋅ft) | six-speed automatic six-speed manual |
| VE Senator (2008-2010) | 6.2-litre LS3 V8 | 317 kW (425 hp) | 550 N⋅m (406 lb⋅ft) | |
| VE Senator (2010-2013) | 6.2-litre LS3 V8 | 325 kW (436 hp) | 550 N⋅m (406 lb⋅ft) | six-speed automatic six-speed manual |
| VF Senator (2013-2016) | 6.2-litre LS3 V8 | 400 kW (536 hp) | 570 N⋅m (420 lb⋅ft) | six-speed automatic manual |
| VFII Senator (2016-2017) | 6.2-litre LS3 V8 | 400 kW (536 hp) | 671 N⋅m (495 lb⋅ft) | six-speed automatic six-speed manual |
| VFII Senator '30 years' (2017) | 6.2-litre LS3 V8 | 410 kW (550 hp) | 691 N⋅m (510 lb⋅ft) | six-speed automatic |
Sources and credits
This article is adapted from the Wikipedia article “HSV Senator”, written by its contributors and licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Fathomly has changed the layout, removed citation markers, navigation and maintenance notices, and adjusted punctuation. This adapted version is shared under the same license. For references, see the original article.
Images, from Wikimedia Commons:
- 2010 HSV Senator (E Series 2 MY10) Signature sedan (2015-07-24) 01.jpg by OSX, Public domain
- 2008 HSV Senator (E Series MY09) Signature SV08 sedan 02.jpg by OSX, Public domain
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