- Powerful 5.7-litre LS1 V8 petrol engine
- Impressive dynamics
- Spacious interior and supportive front seats
- Steering lacks feel
- Tremec T56 manual transmission has sloppy action
- Four-speed automatic transmission provides clunky downshifts
- Poor build quality for early LS1 engines
HSV VT.II SV99 (1999)
Overview
Released in June 1999, the HSV VT Series II (VT.II) SV99 was a rear-wheel drive, performance sedan. Manufactured in Elizabeth, South Australia, and finished by HSV in Clayton, Victoria, the SV99 was powered by the 5.7-litre LS1 V8 petrol engine and available with either a six-speed Tremec T56 manual or four-speed 4L60-E automatic transmission. Production of the SV99 was limited to 99 vehicles and the SV99 was solely available with the ‘Hackett Gold’ paint finish.
LS1 V8 engine
The all-aluminium 5.7-litre LS1 pushrod V8 engine had a 99 mm bore, 92 mm stroke, flat-topped pistons, two valves per cylinder, a compression ratio of 10.0:1 and a 6000 rpm redline. For the HSV range, there was also a 57 mm stainless steel big bore extractor exhaust system which fed into 1.8-litre low back-pressure catalytic converters and low-restriction HSV mufflers. Although calibrated to run on 95 RON premium unleaded petrol (PULP), the LS1 engine could also run on 91 RON unleaded petrol with a small loss in power.
Dimensions and suspension
The VT SV99 was 4919 mm long, 1842 mm wide, 1450 mm tall and had a 2788 mm long wheelbase. Furthermore, the SV99 had MacPherson strut front suspension and independent rear suspension with semi-trailing arms.
| Engine | Trans. | Peak power | Peak torque | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SV99 | 5.7-litre LS1 petrol V8 | 6sp man., 4sp auto |
250 kW at 5600 rpm | 473 Nm at 4000 rpm |
Safety equipment
Standard safety equipment for the HSV SV99 included dual front airbags, front side airbags and ABS; models with automatic transmissions were also fitted with traction control.
Brakes
The SV99 had 343 mm by 32 mm front and 315 mm by 18 mm rear cross-drilled and ventilated brake discs with four-piston calipers (front and rear).
Features: HSV SV99
Standard features for the HSV SV99 included 18-inch gold-painted alloy wheels with 235/40 ZR18 Bridgestone tyres, a six speaker sound system with a ten-disc CD changer, climate control air conditioning, leather upholstery, contoured front sports seats with a four-way power adjustable driver’s seat, cruise control, front fog lights, leather-wrapped steering wheel and gear shift knob, remote central locking, power windows and mirrors, a height and reach adjustable steering wheel, trip computer and an immobiliser.
As standard, the SV99 was also fitted with a limited slip differential.
Related links
- Holden Special Vehicles: HSV VT SV99
- Wikipedia.org: Holden VT Commodore – HSV
- Wikipedia.org: HSV – VT
