US & Euro Auto Shows Can Wait, Efijy's Going To Brisbane

[FISH]

http://www.thesundaymail.news.com.au...5E2765,00.html

STUART SCOTT
26feb06


THE world will have to wait its turn, because Australia's most head-turning car is bound for Brisbane.

Internationally renowned car shows in Europe and the United States asked to be sent Holden's wildest concept car, a one-of-a-kind street machine called the Efijy, inspired by the FJ of the 1950s.

But Queensland won. The handbuilt show car – worth $200,000 to $1.5 million, depending on how the sums are done – will be the centrepiece of Holden's stand when the Brisbane Motor Show opens on Friday.

Efijy creator Richard Ferlazzo said the purple and chrome two-door streamliner was intended to be way-out. "It's like something from a cartoon come to life," he said. "It's a feel-good car, the sort of thing that makes people smile.

"Everyone overseas has heard about it. They're saying, 'Look what the Aussies have done.'

"They're keen to see the car, they've asked for it, but we want to show it to Australians first."

The Efijy's Brisbane visit, and a display in Melbourne earlier this month, forced Holden to turn down an invitation for it to appear at the Geneva motor show, one of the world's most influential, which begins on Tuesday.

But Mr Ferlazzo said it probably would go to next year's Geneva show, and also was likely to be exhibited in Germany and America.

The Efijy has made only a few public appearances – since being unveiled at the Sydney Motor Show late last year, it has starred at the annual Summernats hot-car festival in Canberra, and the Melbourne Motor Show.


It has proved a huge crowd-puller, stealing the limelight from million-dollar European machines.

The Efijy, which can be driven, has a supercharged V8 engine and Chevrolet Corvette chassis.

Its components are estimated to have cost about $200,000, but the equivalent of $1 million in labour – a lot of it done by enthusiasts after-hours – went into it. Its theoretical showroom value is put at about $1.5 million.

The Efijy is not for sale. It will join Holden's collection of previous show cars which date back to the 1960s.

About 50 new models are to make their Queensland debut at the show, including the return of Fiat, whose Punto hatchback will go on sale mid-year priced from about $20,000.

Preview cars will range from the $13,990 Proton Savvy mini...

Continued: http://www.thesundaymail.news.com.au...5E2765,00.html

[the prix]

I love that color! Very hot.

[01cavalier]

Love that car.

[jbernie]

Shame they didn't get it over here for in the US for some of the shows, the US media coverage was pretty much nil and with so many people seeing it there could have been a ground sweell of support to actually build the thing, espexially for the US market where you have a lot more potential customers and a higher price tag wouldn't be a concern (see the latest Barret Jackson prices).

[FourOnTheFloor]

simply beautiful Aussie car, love that color.

[plane]

What is it with the Aussies? They sure know how to build great cars.

[BBDOS CV8]

At the Melbourne Motor Show the Efijy was on a rotating stand in the front of the Holden/HSV display. Opposite in the middle were the Maybach, Ferrari with the Scagliari and 430, Lamborghini with six cars including a track special carbon-fibre Diablo, Rolls Royce with stretch Phantom and several other exotic brands like the new Jag XK220.

The Efijay had the biggest crowd around it the whole time we were there. Sometimes the doors and bonnet were open, sometimes closed. Pics don't do it justice, and it is purely impractical. But the work in the milled alloy wheels and grille, supercharged V8 and the hand made light ornaments and parchment interior is breathaking. It is just wider, lower and fatter than a car has a right to be.

All the Ford enthusiasts in Oz are really jacked-off and reckon it's a conspiracy. Whenever Ford has a new car to release Holden wheels out a concept to steal the media attention. Pretty successful, too!

[redimpss5]

Very cool "new" car.

[gopedxr7]

diesel has this image of being this loud black smoked engine. thanks to GM in the 1980s. its too bad they ruined a good thing. but its gaining popularity with new technologies making it better.

Alan

[JoeT]

This is a link to the original Holden Efijy concept thread, with plenty of pictures & details.

Holden's FJ Efijy Concept Steals The Motor Show

[Aych Es Vee]

I dare to say that its one of the most beautiful cars ever created.

[ethayes]

Your point is well made.

A car always looks 10 times better in person than it usully appears on a computer screen.

Also a car looks 10 times better when it is on the road. At least when it's beauty is this dramatic.

I know the Holden Efijy is hot. If it comes to the states it would be the Beatles all over again, Australian style.



I had a chance to see fine pictures of the Efijy in a magazine and it is absoultely a world head turner and exotic beater.

I wish, I just wish, I hope I just hope GM does not squander this cars success.

This is the kind of bold design GM needs to bring back Buick.



God bless Holden and the team that brought this wonder into life.

Long live the Efijy, long live Holden, long live Buick and long live GM.

Thank you Holden.

[jbernie]

Originally Posted by BBDOS CV8

All the Ford enthusiasts in Oz are really jacked-off and reckon it's a conspiracy. Whenever Ford has a new car to release Holden wheels out a concept to steal the media attention. Pretty successful, too!

As it should be every single time

[69Firebird400]

Originally Posted by gopedxr7

diesel has this image of being this loud black smoked engine. thanks to GM in the 1980s. its too bad they ruined a good thing. but its gaining popularity with new technologies making it better.

Alan

Did you mean to post this somewhere else? It has nothing to do with the Efijy.


The article was right, the thing does look cartoonish, particularly with the headlights. Awesome car, though. I hope I get to see it in person someday. It's so "out there," yet in a beautiful way.

[johnny smallblock]

Didn't Buick have a concept that wasn't too far off this one? The blackhawk? I don't remember.