New Holden Aftermarket Performance Arm

[mikmak]

http://carsguide.news.com.au/story/0...-21822,00.html

02 June 2006
Paul Gover
A one-stop hot Holden shop with up to 370kW on tap has just opened. But it is not just another backyard tuning centre, as the man behind the business is Holden's fast-car supremo Tom Walkinshaw. He has set up Walkinshaw Performance under the same umbrella as Holden Special Vehicles,

Holden By Design and the red lion's two factory-backed V8 Supercar teams, HRT and HSV Dealer Team.
The objective is a fast-car factory, which is tapped to the road and racing work by the rest of the Walkinshaw empire, but takes things further for people who want everything from a little extra cornering or braking grip to an all-out custom car.
Walkinshaw Performance chief executive Chris Payne, says: "We have the credentials to say we know Commodore better than anyone else out there.
"Tom's name on this new business is also significant. His achievements in motorsport and long association with Holden with road cars and racing give us a strong pedigree and point of difference in this aftermarket field.
"This is a massive industry and we want to do it properly. We are probably last into the market, but we have 18 years experience with Holden and within six to 12 months we plan to have a range of totally new products."
The new business has been established in Melbourne's Clayton Business Park, where the rest of the Walkinshaw empire is located. It has a six-member staff and a workshop capable of handling up to six cars. Importantly, Payne says he has also built three demonstrator cars -- including the 370kW supercharged hero -- so people can see, touch and drive before they buy.

"We test and develop the products we sell, and test them in different combinations and packages. And it's not just Commodore, we have also done an Astra," he says.

"People can come and see and drive our cars to test the outcome. We think that's unique in the aftermarket world."
Walkinshaw Performance has plans to expand to other states before the end of the year, just as it is already operating in Britain -- with both Vauxhall and Mitsubishi -- and will soon move into the Middle East.
It also belongs to the Australian Aftermarket Association. Payne stresses the split between Walkinshaw Performance and the group's other Holden businesses, highlights the new operation's extra freedom.
"We are not a lot different to others in the aftermarket. We're not promising any greater warranty, but promising more expertise," he says. "That's because of what we know about the road car and the racing side of operations. We established it outside our HSV or HBD arrangements, it is part of our racing enterprise." The racing link will be cemented when the Commodores of Mark Skaife, Todd Kelly, Garth Tander and Rick Kelly carry the new Walkinshaw Performance logo - in the same silver as the very first HSV Commodore later this season.

The Daily Telegraph

[mikmak]

Wheres the OTT Body Kit like the old VL Walky?


Okay so this is a Calais with a Walkinshaw kit but still...

[JoeT]

Gotta love the Batmobile. All I wanted as an 8 year-old was a VL Walkinshaw Group A SS.

It's great to see the ol' Scot leading the Holden performance world again. Now all we need is Brock back with HDT and....

[Martino_z]

All they need to do is bring out a new version of the brock optimus prime wait... "brock director" and theyll be set. Awesome news though, something to put the hurtin onto BMW.

[JoeT]

Every car need a 'Polarizer'! It's a great shame Brock went mad, but he's O.K now, I think.

[mbukukanyau]

Te he he he he, The Aussies are awake...!

[crooner214]

Originally Posted by mikmak

Wheres the OTT Body Kit like the old VL Walky?


Okay so this is a Calais with a Walkinshaw kit but still...

It kinda looks like a dressed up "Oldsmobile Cavalier"

[jbernie]

Wonder if this is an indication that HSV and I guess FPV still aren't willing to go above 300kw?

Kinda silly given how many 300+kw cars are now available and all. Guess we just need to wait and see what comes with the VE HSV's.

[mikmak]

Originally Posted by JoeT

Every car need a 'Polarizer'! It's a great shame Brock went mad, but he's O.K now, I think.

Actually Electronic Corrosion Protection is an industry unto itself. The polariser was almost clever. You just had to drive in teh rain all the time. So it would have been fine in Melbourne

[mikmak]

Originally Posted by jbernie

Wonder if this is an indication that HSV and I guess FPV still aren't willing to go above 300kw?

Kinda silly given how many 300+kw cars are now available and all. Guess we just need to wait and see what comes with the VE HSV's.

You can still get HSVs over the 300kW mark. It just that its not on the list (i think). Or you can just talk to these guys:


http://www.csvaustralia.com/mondo.htm

[Martino_z]

If i was gonna talk to anyone about going over the 300kw mark itd be c.a.p.a. up at Berri (SA). 900kw is just fine for me.

[mikmak]

Uh yeah. Talk about forgetting the obvious. Thanks Martino. There's also PWR which has done a cracker R8 featured in Wheels or motor, cant remember which one. HSV states 297kW so its not that far away. Technically only 1%.

[Slick_Holden]

Originally Posted by crooner214

It kinda looks like a dressed up "Oldsmobile Cavalier"

Whats that look like?

[Martino_z]

I think he means a chev cavalier. The old ones
Heres a link
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedi...t_Cavalier.jpg
If thats what he means than i know what hes talking about. Reason it looks that way is because it is a J-body car same as the old JB holden camira. Check out the link below and compare the sides of them (doors, windows, roofline) they are pretty much the same thing.
http://www.ridejudge.com/rides/00023466.jpg
It kinda gives me a great idea for a photoshop contest. Use the body kit parts off the VL Walky and stick them onto any car. Have to get on to rex about that.

BTW no worries mikmak Id never even heard of csv anyway.

[mikmak]

CSV even did a Supercharged Statesman at around 470kW. They have been a copmetitor with HSV in the early days but since leaving melbourne I havent really heard whats up. Intially they had heaps of power but were criticised for harsh suspension. Still, if you are going to go that fast, it should be on a track anyway....well most of the time.