HSV Clubsport REVIEW | 2016 Clubsport R8 LSA – Here’s One For The Horsepower Junkies
THE GEN F2 CLUBSPORT R8 LSA IS PROOF THAT HSV EMPLOYS MORE 'EVIL SCIENTISTS' THAN ANY OTHER CAR COMPANY ON EARTH.
At least, after spending a week in the supercharged Clubsport R8 LSA, that’s the only logical explanation I can come up with.
That engine is the same as you’ll find in the insane GTS - but in R8 tune it produces a more pedestrian 400kW... er, "pedestrian" isn’t the right word, it’s still freaking insane. Oh, and that’s not a bad thing by the way.
Vehicle Style: High performance large sedan
Price: $80,990 (plus on-roads)
Engine/trans: 400kW/671Nm 6.2 supercharged petrol 8cyl | 6sp manual
Fuel Economy claimed: 15.3 l/100km | tested: 20.8 l/100km
OVERVIEW
While we wouldn’t normally describe anything with an $81k pricetag as a bargain, this 400kW Clubsport R8 LSA is.
That same 81 grand could net you a similarly sized Mercedes-Benz E200, with a 135kW 2.0-litre turbo under the bonnet.
Chrysler almost gets there with the 300 SRT Core, it’s $59,000, but falls short by 50kW.
At the other end of the scale, an Audi RS 3 starts at just short of $79k and offers all-wheel-drive as well as 270kW, but is surely not on the same shopping list.