Holden W427 Concept, 2008

Holden Special Vehicles (HSV) W427 Concept, 2008

Holden Special Vehicles unveiled at the 2008 Melbourne Motor Show, the last instalment of the company s 20th anniversary celebrations.

A new six piston front braking system will provide a 50% increase in pad area, while the Holden W427 also receives a revised ESP calibration, six air bags, improved handling and new Magnetic Ride Control settings.

The Holden W427 receives a bimodal active exhaust system to improve noise quality and back pressure management.

Styling and design highlights include an all new front fascia, a three piece carbon fibre rear spoiler, 20 inch machined faced alloy wheel, unique exhaust tips and red leather interior.

Specifications

* Exterior
o All new Front Fascia exclusive to W427
o All new three piece rear spoiler in carbon fibre
o All new 20 inch wheel

* Interior
o HSV performance seats in full red hot trim with W427 logo, steering wheel, gear shifter and console lid in full red hot leather

* Powertrain
o 7.0 Litre, LS7 Engine with HSV specific calibration
+ 370kW @ 6500 rpm
+ 640Nm @ 5000 rpm
o Over radiator style cold air induction system with high flow air filter
o Dry sump lubrication system with 2 stage pump
o Hand fabricated aluminium oil reservoir, with internal baffles for high G loading
o Front mount, 13 row engine oil cooler
o Ceramic coated, high flow four into one extractors
o High flow catalytic converters and exhaust system (3 into 2 ¾ )
o Active bi-modal rear mufflers for exhaust back pressure management to improve noise quality
o High strength limited slip differential
o New high strength six speed manual gear box (TR6060)
o GMPT LS7 Clutch with new actuator and pedal assembly for high clamp loads

* Suspension
o New springs, 30% stiffer than GTS
o Revised ride height 20mm lower than GTS
o New stiffer rear suspension bushing
o All new MRC calibration

* Brakes
o New 6 piston front braking system (50% increase in pad area)
o Strap drive, 2 piece floating front rotors (380 x 35mm compared to 365 x 32mm one piece on GTS)
o High friction pad material

Holden HSV W427 Concept, 2008

Holden HSV W427 Concept, 2008

 

Holden Special Vehicles unveiled a seven litre program at the 2008 Melbourne Motor Show, the last instalment of the company s 20th anniversary celebrations.

The car to be known in its final development stages as the W427 is finished in the same Panorama Silver paint scheme as the original Group A SS VL Commodore, released at the Melbourne Motor Show of 1988, exactly 20 years ago.
HSV Managing Director, Scott Grant, said the W427 was a tribute to how far the company has come in just twenty years.

A new six piston front braking system will provide a 50% increase in pad area, while the Holden W427 also receives a revised ESP calibration, six air bags, improved handling and new Magnetic Ride Control settings.

The Holden W427 receives a bimodal active exhaust system to improve noise quality and back pressure management.
Styling and design highlights include an all new front fascia, a three piece carbon fibre rear spoiler, 20 inch machined faced alloy wheel, unique exhaust tips and red leather interior.
The Holden W427 will go into production in the middle of the year and will be available for sale in dealerships in the third quarter of 2008.

Specifications
    * Exterior
          o All new Front Fascia exclusive to W427
          o All new three piece rear spoiler in carbon fibre
          o All new 20 inch wheel
    * Interior
          o HSV performance seats in full red hot trim with W427 logo, steering wheel, gear shifter and console lid in full red hot leather
    * Powertrain
          o 7.0 Litre, LS7 Engine with HSV specific calibration
                + 370kW @ 6500 rpm
                + 640Nm @ 5000 rpm
          o Over radiator style cold air induction system with high flow air filter
          o Dry sump lubrication system with 2 stage pump
          o Hand fabricated aluminium oil reservoir, with internal baffles for high G loading
          o Front mount, 13 row engine oil cooler
          o Ceramic coated, high flow four into one extractors
          o High flow catalytic converters and exhaust system (3 into 2 ¾ )
          o Active bi-modal rear mufflers for exhaust back pressure management to improve noise quality
          o High strength limited slip differential
          o New high strength six speed manual gear box (TR6060)
          o GMPT LS7 Clutch with new actuator and pedal assembly for high clamp loads
    * Suspension
          o New springs, 30% stiffer than GTS
          o Revised ride height 20mm lower than GTS
          o New stiffer rear suspension bushing
          o All new MRC calibration
    * Brakes
          o New 6 piston front braking system (50% increase in pad area)
          o Strap drive, 2 piece floating front rotors (380 x 35mm compared to 365 x 32mm one piece on GTS)
          o High friction pad material

GM May Introduce Opel in Australia as VW-Rival and Stand Alone Brand

With Saab's recent sale to Spyker and the global financial crisis effectively killing plans to import the Cadillac CTS into Australia, GM Holden is contemplating adding Opel as a premium brand in order to go head-to-head with Volkswagen.

In more recent times and without forgetting cars like the Vauxhall Viva-based Torana and the Opel Rekord / Senator / Omega rooted Commodores, the introduction of the Opel-sourced Corsa supermini in 1994 marked a return to prominence for Opels down under. The Corsa was followed soon after by the Astra small car and Vectra mid-size sedan / hatch. The Astra was particularly successful for Holden, though it all came to a head with GM's purchase of Daewoo in 2001.

The marriage between GM and Daewoo saw the slow phasing out of Holden badged Opels, the last holdover being the Astra which was replaced by the Chevrolet Cruze in Q3 2009. Now, Opel wants back in.

Nick Reilly, Chairman of Adam Opel GmbH, has identified Australia as one of the key markets needed for returning the brand to profitability by 2012.

"For markets such as China, Australia and South Africa, Opel can be a premium brand," Reilly was quoted as saying, adding, "We have to be able to compete with Volkswagen."

Mike Devereux, Holden Chairman and Managing Director, has confirmed that Opel is under consideration for Australia:

"There's obvious synergy between Opel and Holden," Devereux told news site Go Auto. "There could be a niche for that kind of brand here in Australia. I don't know how we would position it, but we're looking at it."

Insiders say that the strong Aussie dollar and recovering economy make a good business case for Opel, and cars could arrive in showrooms as early as mid-2012.

Whether or not Opel can pull this off will have to be seen. Will style be enough to win buyers away from the established brands like Volkswagen? We welcome your thoughts in the comments section below.

By Tristan Hankins

Source: Go Auto

Gallery: Opel's European Range