HSV Announces Production W427 Details - $150,000 375kW/640Nm 7.0L LS7 Bruiser!

[JoeT]

HSV W427 Orders Sprint Towards $7m

Joshua Gliddon
4 July 2008
www.drive.com.au

Holden Special Vehicles has pre-sold 44 of the 90 W427s that it plans to build this year.

Australian muscle car enthusiasts have already splashed out $6.6m on HSV's forthcoming W427.

Holden Special Vehicles says it has so far sold half of its 90-strong 2008 production run for the ultimate Commodore that launches in August with a 375kW 7.0-litre V8 and a $150,000 price tag.

“We have sold 44 [W427s], and have the paperwork signed and delivered,” says HSV spokesman Simon Frost. “And there are probably another dozen orders out there that haven’t yet come in.”

The company plans to build a total of 427 examples of the new W427, which are being built to order only. The W427 is named after company owner and former race driver Tom Walkinshaw and the engine size in cubic inches.

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Production Of W427 Commences

Ken Gratton
20 June 2008
www.carpoint.com.au

HSV is building no more than 427 units of its 7.0-litre anniversary monster.

How many prospective buyers will feel discouraged from buying HSV's W427 by the high cost of fuel? Not many, according to the low-volume builder.

The company already has 1500 expressions of interest in the highly collectible car and if just ten per cent of those convert to solid purchases, that will account for the car's entire production this year and the first few months of 2009. Of those expressions of interest, the prospective buyers are as disparate as miners from Mount Isa in Queensland to doctors from South Australia and the average age of current HSV buyers lies somewhere between 35 and 45 years of age.

HSV will only build 90 units of the car this year -- with a potential ceiling of 427 units over the course of a 2½-year production run -- for which buyers will be stumping up $150,000 or $156,000, depending on what happens with the luxury car tax (more here).

Whatever happens, HSV will build no more than the 427 cars (the number decided by the engine's displacement in cubic inches) and they may build fewer if the interest dries up.

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Holden Special Vehicles W427 Update

Holden Special Vehicles
6 June 2008
www.hsv.com.au

Holden Special Vehicles today announced the next steps in the seven litre W427 program, including pricing, volume and distribution strategy.

Tom Walkinshaw confirmed the price of the W427 will be $150,000, plus on road costs, under the current Luxury Car Tax regime.

The build volume has also been confirmed. HSV will build up to 427 W427s, with vehicles being built to order at the Clayton production facility.

HSV has finalised the allocation strategy for the initial batch of cars.

Each Australian and New Zealand HSV Dealer (64 in total) will be allocated one W427, as long as they have a firm retail order.

Remaining W427s will be allocated to dealers based on 2007 sales figures.

Lastly, Tom Walkinshaw confirmed the final power output figure for the W427 will be 375kW and 640NM of torque.

The Holden Special Vehicles W427 will go on sale in August.


Key features of the W427

Price
• $150,000

Volume and Distribution
• HSV will build, to order, up to 427 W427s.
• Each Australian and New Zealand dealer (around 64 in total) will be entitled to one HSV W427 in the first production batch, provided they have a firm retail order.
• Further 2008 allocations will be prioritised to dealerships according to 2007 sales figures.

Exterior
• All new Front Fascia exclusive to W427
• All new 3 piece rear spoiler in carbon fibre
• All new 20 inch wheel

Interior
• HSV E series performance seats in full red hot trim with W427 logo
• HSV steering wheel, gear shifter and console lid in full red hot leather trim
• HSV specific trim panels

Powertrain
• 7.0 Litre, LS7 Engine with HSV specific calibration
• 375kW @ 6500 rpm
• 640Nm @ 5000 rpm
• Over radiator style cold air induction system – with high flow air filter.
• Dry sump lubrication system with 2 stage pump.
• Hand fabricated aluminium oil reservoir, with baffles for high G loading.
• Front mount, 13 row engine oil cooler
• Ceramic coated, high flow 4 into 1 extractors
• High flow catalytic converters and exhaust system (3” into 2 ¾”)
• Active bi-modal rear mufflers
• Exhaust back pressure management
• Improved noise quality
• High strength limited slip differential
• New high strength 6 speed manual gear box (TR6060)
• GMPT LS7 Clutch with new actuator and pedal assembly for high clamp loads

Suspension
• New springs, 30% stiffer than GTS
• Revised ride height – 20mm lower than GTS
• New stiffer rear suspension bushing
• All new MRC calibration to suit new springs, ride height and bushing

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

Testing and development
• GMPT requirement for race track testing
• Full ‘Normal Durability’ cycle
• Hundreds of hours of engine dyne testing
• Full static and dynamic rig testing of critical components

HSV W427: The Inside Story - Orders Rushing In For LS7 Hottie!

[ZvetteGuy]

Hmmm... that's a lot of dough for that type of car...

I'll save me the cash and purchase a ZR1 and have money left over to pay for the insurance...

[Pickles]

Well, I'm sure many of us in Aus would LOVE a ZR1, but until they're available in RHD, this will have to do for most of us. New, converted (to RHD), Zo6 Corvettes cost $230k in Aus, so God knows what a ZR1 would be!
Yep, it's a lot of dollars, but the W427 will be one helluva lot of car-nothing like it as ever been built in Aus before, so it's certainly a landmark vehicle-can't wait for my first ride!
Cheers, Pickles.

[eb110americana]

That's...

503 HP
472 lb. ft. torque

...for those that are interested. Not sure what AU$150,000 is in US$ though. Anyone want to chime in?

[Stormin]

Originally Posted by eb110americana

That's...

503 HP
472 lb. ft. torque

...for those that are interested. Not sure what AU$150,000 is in US$ though. Anyone want to chime in?

Close to US$140,000.

[Baz]

Roughly $142000US

We get ripped on everything here. Our dollar being strong means prices go up :| The world is a strange strange place

[FenwickHockey65]

Meh. Nice car, but I'll take a ZR1.

[Aych Es Vee]

ugly

[logansowner]

And we thought we got screwed in Canada....how much is the "luxury car" tax? 80 grand?

[jbernie]

If the proposed Fed Govt luxury car tax increases go into effect the price goes up $6k. (AU$156k)

Given they have 1500 expressions of interest and only 427 are to be built, Ii don't see them having too much to worry about.

[JerryL]

Do you suppose there will be 427 customers for this vehicle in OZ ??
I doubt if you could sell 427 in Cali......in the whole US yes you could. Does any one know how the 427 Edition ZO6's have sold for example. Dealers near here have unsold ones in SOFLA. And this car is far beyond them in price and concept.

I really do like the car...I just hate to see any more negatives in the genre.

[Robert Ryan]

Do you suppose there will be 427 customers for this vehicle in OZ ??
I doubt if you could sell 427 in Cali......in the whole US yes you could. Does any one know how the 427 Edition ZO6's have sold for example. Dealers near here have unsold ones in SOFLA. And this car is far beyond them in price and concept.

It is not the US and yes they will sell 427.

[ford&holden]

Does the quality improve along with performance and the price tag?

[blaksabb]

I've seen some talk about HSV W427 vs. ZR1, but the real analog here is the CTS-V:

More sophisticated Sigma chassis vs. "Sigma Lite" Zeta.

556 HP LSA vs. 505 HP LS7.

Upwards of $70,000 USD vs. $140,000 USD.

Limited Build Quantity (4-5000/yr?) vs. Extreme Exclusivity (427 total units).


If one could buy either with no concern to national borders, RHD vs. LHD, etc., then the choice seems clear. Exclusivity be damned.

[Robert Ryan]

I've seen some talk about HSV W427 vs. ZR1, but the real analog here is the CTS-V:

More sophisticated Sigma chassis vs. "Sigma Lite" Zeta.

556 HP LSA vs. 505 HP LS7.

Upwards of $70,000 USD vs. $140,000 USD.

Actually NO comparison as the 427 will go to RHD England the rest Australia.Also have grave doubts about the supposedly"sophisticated Sigma chassis"