HSV Records 67% Sales Increase Over First Quarter

HSV HAS today announced a 67 percent increase in sales for the first quarter of 2010, compared with the same period last year.

According to HSV's Darren Bowler, the growth can largely be attributed to the new E-Series II GTS and Maloo models, the latter seeing its best year ever for sales.

"While GTS has been a real stand-out for us, the introduction of Maloo GXP into the range has us expecting a record year for the Maloo nameplate, exceeding 2009 by over 40 percent," Bowler said today.

The performance brand's General Manager of Marketing, Tim Jackson, said the company is struggling to meet demand for the GTS.

"At the launch of E2 the strategy was to lift GTS back to its hero status, and the exciting thing is we have seen demand outstrip supply. The differentiation we have given GTS has really struck a chord with our customer base," Jackson said.

The Clubsport R8 continues to be the brand's biggest seller, making up 35 percent of total sales and recording a 70 percent increase in the first quarter over the same period in 2009.

Meanwhile, the Australian performance sedan segment could see something of a shake-up later this year, with local rival FPV set to replace its current 5.4 litre Boss V8 with a the new 'Coyote' 5.0 litre V8.

In its naturally-aspirated form, Ford's 'Coyote' 5.0 litre engine produces 307kW and 529Nm of torque, bettering the 290kW/520Nm of Ford's current XR8.

For high-output applications, such as in the 315kW FPV GT range, Ford is believed to be working on a unique supercharged version of the engine, the first forced-induction variant of the 'Coyote' range.