HSV W427
Encyclopedia
The HSV W427 is the limited edition flagship of the current E Series range by automobile manufacturer Holden Special Vehicles
, released in celebration of the company's 20th anniversary.
The W427 is based on the GTS
, but replaces the 6.2L LS3 V8 with the 7.0L LS7 V8 (also used in the Chevrolet Corvette Z06). Power outputs are 510 PS at 7000 rpm and 640 newton metre at 5000 rpm, and 0–100 km/h (0-62 mph) is achieved in 4.7 seconds, making the W427 the most powerful and fastest production car ever built in Australia. It features recalibrated Magnetic Ride Control (MRC, or "MagneRide")
and stiffer suspension settings than the GTS, as well as a toughened 6-speed manual gearbox, a new exhaust system, larger 6-piston brakes, and strengthened limited-slip differential.
The W427's name is the result of a combination of factors. W is to honour the founder of HSV, Tom Walkinshaw
. The 427 is simply the engine capacity in cubic inches, but it is also a nod to the HRT 427C, which won the 2002
and 2003 Bathurst 24 Hour
motor races in competition with Porsche
, Lamborghini
, BMW
, Ferrari
and Mosler
amongst others.
Consumer interest for production of the W427 actually began with the 2002 HRT 427 Holden Monaro Coupe. The Holden Racing Team
427 used the 427 cubic inch (0.0070028 m³) C5R Chevrolet racing engine, based on the GM LS7 V8, modified by HRT and Holden Special Vehicles
to suit the Monaro
. The 2002 HRT 427 featured a full carbon fiber body, a heavy-duty 900 N·m clutch mated to a custom T56 six-speed manual gearbox hand built by Tremec for HSV, two Sparco Pro 2000 seats, a half roll cage, fully adjustable dampers on double 'A' arm aluminum front suspension, AP racing six-piston racing brakes, and ram air induction, a Motec instrument panel, and weight reduction bringing the car's weight down to just 1575 kg (3472 lb). It produced 417.6 kW @ 6000 rpm, a top speed of 299.3 km/h (186 mph) and could sprint to 100 km/h (62 mph) in 3.7 seconds. After it became apparent to Holden that the high-spec HRT 427 couldn’t be built in such limited quantities for the asking price, the project was eventually canceled with deposits returned to eager buyers. As a result, only two concept HRT 427's, and four racing car versions, exist, each of which cost about $500,000 to build. One of the concepts is not for sale and is slated to remain with the Holden concept vehicle collection. In April 2008, the other concept HRT 427 was sold to the Cairns car collector Shawn Ryan for the record-breaking price of $920,000, making it the most expensive Australian car ever sold. In June 2010, however, the car was re-sold at auction in Sydney to an anonymous Queensland buyer at the far lower price of $350,000. The four racing cars have likewise made their way into collections, their racing careers shortened by regulation changes. This concept vehicle remains the fastest and most powerful non-production car ever built by a manufacturer in Australia.
The original concept model was produced in the same colour as the very first HSV model, the VL Commodore SS Group A SV.
The W427 went on sale in August 2008 and retails for A$
155,500 (EUR
€90920). Production was originally intended as a limited run of 427 cars. However, only 137 were built (this number does not include HSV's show car i.e. 138 are built), to be sold only in Australia and New Zealand (only 3 exported to NZ).
Reportedly, Holden Special Vehicles
offered the pre-order of build No 427 to the Cairns Monaro
collector Shawn Ryan, who purchased the 2002 HRT 427 for $920,000 in 2008. The last W427 to be built was made to order in July 2009. This very last W427, White Build was No 137 sold in Western Australia Fremantle and personally signed by Tom Walkinshaw.
Facts
Build colours
Production colours; Black (44), White (35), Silver (23), Red (29), Evoke (6)
Refinished colours (in the silver quantities); Lamborghini
Green (1), Panorama Sliver (2).
This model will go down in history as the last car and the only car Tom Walkinshaw 'personally put' his name to. An icon that had history before it was born.
Holden Special Vehicles
Holden Special Vehicles is the officially designated performance vehicle partner of Australian automobile manufacturer Holden. Established in 1987 and based in Clayton, Victoria, the company modifies Holden models such as the Commodore, Caprice and Ute and markets them under the HSV brandname.-...
, released in celebration of the company's 20th anniversary.
The W427 is based on the GTS
HSV GTS
The HSV GTS is an Australian high performance luxury sedan, produced by HSV. The fundamental underpinnings are based on the mainstream Holden Commodore models of the same years. The car is powered by GM's 6.2 litre LS3 V8 engine, with a maximum power output of 442 PS...
, but replaces the 6.2L LS3 V8 with the 7.0L LS7 V8 (also used in the Chevrolet Corvette Z06). Power outputs are 510 PS at 7000 rpm and 640 newton metre at 5000 rpm, and 0–100 km/h (0-62 mph) is achieved in 4.7 seconds, making the W427 the most powerful and fastest production car ever built in Australia. It features recalibrated Magnetic Ride Control (MRC, or "MagneRide")
MagneRide
MagneRide is an automotive suspension system owned by Beijing World Industries Group that utilizes magnetically controlled dampers, or shock absorbers, for a highly adaptive ride. As opposed to traditional suspension systems, MagneRide has no mechanical valves or small moving parts that can wear out...
and stiffer suspension settings than the GTS, as well as a toughened 6-speed manual gearbox, a new exhaust system, larger 6-piston brakes, and strengthened limited-slip differential.
Tom Walkinshaw
Tom Walkinshaw was a Scottish racing car driver and the founder of the racing team Tom Walkinshaw Racing...
. The 427 is simply the engine capacity in cubic inches, but it is also a nod to the HRT 427C, which won the 2002
2002 Bathurst 24 Hour
The 2002 Bathurst 24 Hour was an endurance motor race staged at the Mount Panorama Circuit just outside Bathurst in New South Wales, Australia. The race, which was the first 24 hour event to be held at Mount Panorama, started at 4:00pm on 16 November and finished at 4:00pm on 17 November.The race...
and 2003 Bathurst 24 Hour
2003 Bathurst 24 Hour
The 2003 Bathurst 24 Hour was the second 24 hour race run at Bathurst. The race started at 2:00pm on 22 November 2003 at the Mount Panorama Circuit just outside Bathurst and finished at 2:00pm on 23 November....
motor races in competition with Porsche
Porsche
Porsche Automobil Holding SE, usually shortened to Porsche SE a Societas Europaea or European Public Company, is a German based holding company with investments in the automotive industry....
, Lamborghini
Lamborghini
Automobili Lamborghini S.p.A., commonly referred to as Lamborghini , is an Italian car manufacturer. The company was founded by manufacturing magnate Ferruccio Lamborghini in 1963, with the objective of producing a refined grand touring car to compete with established offerings from marques like...
, BMW
BMW
Bayerische Motoren Werke AG is a German automobile, motorcycle and engine manufacturing company founded in 1916. It also owns and produces the Mini marque, and is the parent company of Rolls-Royce Motor Cars. BMW produces motorcycles under BMW Motorrad and Husqvarna brands...
, Ferrari
Ferrari
Ferrari S.p.A. is an Italian sports car manufacturer based in Maranello, Italy. Founded by Enzo Ferrari in 1929, as Scuderia Ferrari, the company sponsored drivers and manufactured race cars before moving into production of street-legal vehicles as Ferrari S.p.A. in 1947...
and Mosler
Mosler
Mosler Automotive is an American supercar manufacturer based in Florida. It was founded in 1985 by Warren Mosler as Consulier Industries, and manufactured the now-defunct Consulier GTP, which was later rebranded and updated as the Mosler Intruder/Raptor when the company spun off its automotive...
amongst others.
Consumer interest for production of the W427 actually began with the 2002 HRT 427 Holden Monaro Coupe. The Holden Racing Team
Holden Racing Team
The Holden Racing Team is a Melbourne based motor racing team. HRT is the most successful V8 Supercar racing team in the history of the category, having won the drivers championship six times, and the series signature race the Bathurst 1000 seven times...
427 used the 427 cubic inch (0.0070028 m³) C5R Chevrolet racing engine, based on the GM LS7 V8, modified by HRT and Holden Special Vehicles
Holden Special Vehicles
Holden Special Vehicles is the officially designated performance vehicle partner of Australian automobile manufacturer Holden. Established in 1987 and based in Clayton, Victoria, the company modifies Holden models such as the Commodore, Caprice and Ute and markets them under the HSV brandname.-...
to suit the Monaro
Holden Monaro
The Holden Monaro is an automobile that was produced by GM Holden Ltd, an Australian subsidiary of General Motors, between 1968 and 1977 and between 2001 and 2005...
. The 2002 HRT 427 featured a full carbon fiber body, a heavy-duty 900 N·m clutch mated to a custom T56 six-speed manual gearbox hand built by Tremec for HSV, two Sparco Pro 2000 seats, a half roll cage, fully adjustable dampers on double 'A' arm aluminum front suspension, AP racing six-piston racing brakes, and ram air induction, a Motec instrument panel, and weight reduction bringing the car's weight down to just 1575 kg (3472 lb). It produced 417.6 kW @ 6000 rpm, a top speed of 299.3 km/h (186 mph) and could sprint to 100 km/h (62 mph) in 3.7 seconds. After it became apparent to Holden that the high-spec HRT 427 couldn’t be built in such limited quantities for the asking price, the project was eventually canceled with deposits returned to eager buyers. As a result, only two concept HRT 427's, and four racing car versions, exist, each of which cost about $500,000 to build. One of the concepts is not for sale and is slated to remain with the Holden concept vehicle collection. In April 2008, the other concept HRT 427 was sold to the Cairns car collector Shawn Ryan for the record-breaking price of $920,000, making it the most expensive Australian car ever sold. In June 2010, however, the car was re-sold at auction in Sydney to an anonymous Queensland buyer at the far lower price of $350,000. The four racing cars have likewise made their way into collections, their racing careers shortened by regulation changes. This concept vehicle remains the fastest and most powerful non-production car ever built by a manufacturer in Australia.
The original concept model was produced in the same colour as the very first HSV model, the VL Commodore SS Group A SV.
The W427 went on sale in August 2008 and retails for A$
Australian dollar
The Australian dollar is the currency of the Commonwealth of Australia, including Christmas Island, Cocos Islands, and Norfolk Island, as well as the independent Pacific Island states of Kiribati, Nauru and Tuvalu...
155,500 (EUR
Euro
The euro is the official currency of the eurozone: 17 of the 27 member states of the European Union. It is also the currency used by the Institutions of the European Union. The eurozone consists of Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg,...
€90920). Production was originally intended as a limited run of 427 cars. However, only 137 were built (this number does not include HSV's show car i.e. 138 are built), to be sold only in Australia and New Zealand (only 3 exported to NZ).
Reportedly, Holden Special Vehicles
Holden Special Vehicles
Holden Special Vehicles is the officially designated performance vehicle partner of Australian automobile manufacturer Holden. Established in 1987 and based in Clayton, Victoria, the company modifies Holden models such as the Commodore, Caprice and Ute and markets them under the HSV brandname.-...
offered the pre-order of build No 427 to the Cairns Monaro
Holden Monaro
The Holden Monaro is an automobile that was produced by GM Holden Ltd, an Australian subsidiary of General Motors, between 1968 and 1977 and between 2001 and 2005...
collector Shawn Ryan, who purchased the 2002 HRT 427 for $920,000 in 2008. The last W427 to be built was made to order in July 2009. This very last W427, White Build was No 137 sold in Western Australia Fremantle and personally signed by Tom Walkinshaw.
Facts
Build colours
Production colours; Black (44), White (35), Silver (23), Red (29), Evoke (6)
Refinished colours (in the silver quantities); Lamborghini
Lamborghini
Automobili Lamborghini S.p.A., commonly referred to as Lamborghini , is an Italian car manufacturer. The company was founded by manufacturing magnate Ferruccio Lamborghini in 1963, with the objective of producing a refined grand touring car to compete with established offerings from marques like...
Green (1), Panorama Sliver (2).
This model will go down in history as the last car and the only car Tom Walkinshaw 'personally put' his name to. An icon that had history before it was born.