FIRST, some perspective: The first vehicle developed by Holden Special Vehicles (HSV) after it was created in 1987, the Holden SS Group A, boasted a ripping 180kW of power from its 5.0-litre V8.

Almost three decades on, the latest HSV product, the limited-edition 6.2-litre GTSR W1, is said to produce 474kW. What the..!?

To suggest that homegrown Australian cars have come a long way in three decades is a major understatement, and we are not just talking about power and performance.

Many of the technologies, materials and engineering techniques embraced by HSV today were not even a pipe dream back then. Torque vectoring? What’s that?

However, for good or for bad, the era of the big, bad Australian V8 car is coming to an end this year, to be replaced at HSV by General Motors imports to get the local go-fast treatment.

But rather than allow Holden to go out with a whimper like so many other Australian manufacturers before them, HSV has gone above and beyond the call of duty to produce one last big banger for the ages, the GTSR W1.

Unfortunately, HSV could only lay its hands on sufficient LS9 engines for a run of 300 cars, which is going to be a bit awkward, as every rusted-on HSV fan is going to want one...



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