Holden Special Vehicles has confirmed it has dumped diesel plans and will go into production with a range of LPG-powered vehicles from early next year. But the company has admitted it has an uphill battle on its hands reversing LPG's "taxi image" and convincing dealers that it is a viable alternative to power its performance cars.
"We are going ahead with an LPG option which we will call LPI and we should see cars available in quarter one next year," said HSV managing director Phil Harding at the launch of the E2 range this week.
"We've got vehicles undergoing cold weather testing as we speak and we've got engines on test beds."
HSV is looking to make LPG optional on most of its range -- including the high performance flagship GTS and Maloo ute. Only the R8 Tourer will miss out, because the gas tank takes up too much cargo space.
"The tank will be fully trimmed, it [the boot] will be fully carpeted, so when you open the boot you won't see the tank," he said.
HSV considered putting an LPG tank in the spare wheel well of its cars, but the tank would be smaller in capacity and therefore provide less driving range.
"The VE boot is pretty big any way," Harding said. "In a sedan with an LPG tank you can fit two golf bags instead of three."
HSV says there is no performance reduction with its LPG-powered cars and that the system switches seamlessly from petrol to LPG.
"When you floor the throttle it automatically goes back to petrol," he said. "Those who've driven it say you can't tell when it switches from LPG to petrol and vice versa. It's seamless."
Harding wouldn't reveal how much the LPG versions of its cars would cost but said: "on typical mileage and at the current cost of LPG the system pays for itself in about 12 months."
The HSV boss also revealed that HSV dealers are yet to be convinced they can sell LPG-powered versions of Australia's favourite performance sedans.
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