Chevrolet SS

Remember the Pontiac G8? Yes, it's that FR sports sedan we all indulged for and even though it was an import from Australia, judging by the fact that it's an Americanized Holden VE Commodore, the G8 is still the best V8 sports saloon you can afford. Sadly, this car went to its premature death and Pontiac was killed by General Motors since 2010 over the course of the credit crunch. It's kinda ashamed that Pontiac was officially dead three years ago and the G8 served as the last hurrah for the brand.

Now though, in order to fill the gap where the G8 left off, the folks from Chevrolet called up their Aussie mates from Holden and have their Holden VF Commodore be sold in North America as...a Chevy!

2014 Chevrolet SS

Like the previous Pontiac G8, the dead one, the Chevrolet SS was imported from Australia and even though it was essentially a Holden VF Commodore smothered with burgers and beef jerky, there's a bit of a difference between those two and mainly, their involvement in motorsports. Whereas the VF Commodore enjoyed its newly found reputation in Mt. Panorama, Bathurst, the Chevy SS enjoys itself in the field of NASCAR.

Sheesh, I hate NASCAR. Even Top Gear knows that "NASCAR Sucks", especially at the back of James May's old banger while the boys visited the Southern nation where they got attacked by rednecks. Anyone enjoyed the life of being a Gran Turismo fan has a potential of being a NASCAR fan and hey, since most of the 2013 NASCAR Chevy Power cars are going to be at GT6, this is just baloney. Dale Earnhardt Jr., Jeff Gordon, Jimmie Johnson, Juan Montoya, and Tony Stewart, those NASCAR racers got hooked over the raw power of the Chevy SS in stock car form but the most interesting for me is the #88 driven by Dale Earnhardt Jr. because...well, that's worth intimidating. I once had a game of Car Town streets and like you and I, we took advantage of Dale Earnhardt Jr.'s #88 National Guard CHEVROLET SS' special ability that scares rivals to slowing down. Don't be fooled, this is definitely made to intimidate foes.

If by intimidation, what about the normal SS? It may not be quite as toasty as the V8 Supercar tackling down Bathurst or as intimidating as a NASCAR, well most famously Dale Jr.'s, but in every angle, the new Chevrolet SS does have a little reminder that it has nods to the late Pontiac G8 while staying true to its roots to Chevy's past FR sports saloons. Famously, this is Chevrolet's first FR sports saloon for almost two decades since the fourth-generation Chevrolet Caprice & the seventh-generation Impala SS. Almost two decades? Just how long before Chevrolet managed to make a tail-happy sports saloon?

With prices start at around $43,475, think about it, the SS could be a poor man's BMW M5 but because this is not a suitable rival to the M5, the Chevrolet SS only laughs at the face of...a normal BMW 5-Series, a normal Audi A6, a normal Mercedes-Benz E-Class, an Infiniti M, or a Lexus GS. Well that's a theory even though the SS's pricing is worth competitive.

2014 Chevrolet SS

So, what do you get with such a budget that competes against the best of Europe and Japan? Well, for starters, the SS is only available with the 6.2L V8 engine, which is as identical to the one used in the latest Corvette Stingray. This one is different because the SS's V8 engine churns out 415HP of power and it's only mated to a 6-speed flappy paddle gearbox. I'm sorry what? Only available in a flappy-paddle gearbox? That's quite disappointing for harcore enthusiasts because while the VF Commodore is available with both auto and manual gearboxes, the SS is only available with a slush-matic which is a swift as throwing stuff left-handed. With the SS though, it's flappy-paddle or nothing, and this rather annoying gearbox can spoil your fun...or is it?

2014 Chevrolet SS

Apart from the stupid gearbox offered for this redneck version of Australia's favorite sports saloon, the SS is still a dynamically-challenged car. It's still as savage as Twisted Sister's You Can't Stop Rock and Roll and as enjoyable as using the laws of science to stop those glam rockers signing that kind of song. I'm thinking...dropping caravans, getting dragged by a van, a chainsaw, a flamethrower, a fire extinguisher, a double-barreled shotgun, TNT, hammer throw, nunchucks, baseball bats, an air mortar, gravity, and a baseball being thrown at it. Those kind of things. Brainiac things.

When you give it a run on a track day, the SS sure is a menace at the track and because it's been racetrack proven thanks to its sport-tuned suspension, combined with Electronic Power Steering, the SS is surely an executive saloon mixed with racetrack DNA, much like shocking Brainiacs through the electric fence. Still as interesting as this though. Also, the SS has a better weight distribution, so it feels more planted every time when you turn it into a corner, smooth as a cocktail mixed with anchovies, gravy, and raw milk. Should I spit or swallow? I'm guessing it's a spit. Now that's what I called the professional edge.

2014 Chevrolet SS interior

2014 Chevrolet SS interior

On normal roads, it's still as civilized as the Vicar of Dibley. It even has a luxurious interior, enough for five people to fit in. It also comes with iPod connectivity, Chevrolet MyLink, HUD, and tons of interior features that will keep them accommodated for hours but not at all. Surprisingly though, it even comes with a clever parking system that allows the car to park itself. You can think about making your last minute dressups or searching for lost objects while the car parks by itself. Thank heavens for technology.

So, what can I say about the SS? Well, even though it was a VF Commodore but born to take on NASCAR rather than enjoying itself on tracks like what its Holden VF Commodore do on V8 Supercars, it's still the executive car worth spending for and since I would gladly want to have one rather than those executive saloons from Europe and Japan, it's still the most enjoyable Chevy ever made, despite using the stupid 6-speed automatic. It's still the V8 saloon on a budget that picks up where the Pontiac G8 left off. You can thank the Aussies for some clever sophistication on this car. No wonder it's still worth the shot for those who are brave enough to have its TCS OFF and enjoy sacrificing its sports tires all in the name of science.

Available colors: Phantom Black Metallic, Red Hot 2, Silver Ice Metallic, Heron White, and Mystic Green.

Photo: General Motors

Welcome Back: 2009 Holden HSV w427

We're simply imagining that we're in
Holden's top secret proving grounds....

We really do miss Top Gear Australia. Can't believe they've got cancelled because...um...let's just say after their humiliating loss against Clarkson, Hammond, and May in THE ASHES challenge. Yep, Top Gear Australia was cancelled after their loss at THE ASHES challenge episode. Anyway, there are some past memories only TGA fans remembered. We're also remembering this when Steve Pizzati, who was Top Gear Australia presenter back then, visited Holden's top secret testing facility somewhere in Australia where he test drove the limited-edition flagship of the HSV range which is called the w427.

HSV's w427 is a special-edition model based on the E Series lineup made by Holden Special Vehicles. It was launched in 2008 in celebration of the company's 20th anniversary. It was based on the HSV GTS but it has the 7.0L LS7 V8 engine lifted from the Chevrolet Corvette Z06. This produces 375kW of power and 640Nm of torque.

The naming is somewhat a combination of factors; W refers to Tom Walkinshaw and thr 427 refers to the engine capacity in cubic inches but it was a tribute to the HRT 427C, which won the 2002 and 2003 Bathurst 24 Hour.

Even when production of the w427 was ended and even when Top Gear Australia was axed for good, they're still one of the most fondest memories only a Top Gear Australia fan would love.

Vauxhall Maloo VXR

2012 Vauxhall Maloo VXR

Students of Top Gear will remember this as the HSV Maloo R8 but this one's a little bit different from the one Top Gear fans saw because this one now is sold in Britain as a Vauxhall.

The Maloo naming is Aborigine for thunder but HSV's former managing director, John Crennan, said they coined the naming from a book of Aborigine places. Strictly speaking because it was made in the country that hadn't signed up to the Kyoto treaty, this isn't a pickup truck, it's a ute. It was the world's fastest ute ever made, with a top speed of 168mph. It lapped an impressive 1:27.1 round the Top Gear Test Track, on par with the Aston Martin DB9.

What's a ute? With thanks to Richard Hammond from Top Gear, it started out in the 1930's when a farmer's wife wrote to Ford Australia complaining that there was no car that can take her to the church on Sunday and the pigs to the market on the Monday. The answer was the ute and the Aussies have worshiped those ever since.

For the first time, the HSV Maloo R8 has arrived in the United Kingdom as a Vauxhall Maloo VXR and it's essentially based on the E Series 3 version of the Maloo R8. You now have a two-seater ute that features a unique shockwave grille on the front, daytime running lamps, quad exhaust outlets, remote locking hard tonneau with alarm protection, cargo bay liner and lamp, rear park assist, E3 sports alloys, and the Enhanced Driver Interface that was last seen on the latest version of Top Gear's favorite muscle cars, the Vauxhall VXR8 GTS.

Under the hood lies a 6.2 litre LS3 Generation 4 Alloy V8, the engine that once powered the Chevrolet Corvette. It produces 425bhp of power and 405lb-ft of torque. It would go 0 to 60 in under 5 seconds and top speed limited to 155mph. Combined fuel economy is 21mpg and CO2 emissions is 320g/km. It is mated with a 6-speed manual transmission.

You might think that this is just a piece of farm machine with a big engine on it, drag racing is all it can do. Not so because the Maloo loves corners thanks to its incredible traction, sportscar poise, a limited slip differential, and tuned suspension. However, the Maloo can be carried away and adding weight on the back doesn't work that well either.

My Comment:
This is the first time the Maloo has finally landed on the United Kingdom where it was sold now as a Vauxhall. Since it's encounter at Top Gear, we were very sure that the Maloo is the kind of Aussie muscle that definitely give us a laugh and it's here in the UK and it's available at selected Vauxhall dealerships rather than specialist importers. We like the Performance, Ride, Handling, and the safety features (perhaps this was governed by an electronic nanny). What I really don't like was the fuel economy but it doesn't matter. The Maloo is one heck of a party crasher and this Aussie muscle really made the rain transformed. Imagine that..."I am lightning, the rain transformed"

2011 HSV E Series 3 GTS says, "Call me Vauxhall VXR8 GTS"

Some say, we saw this car on Top Gear's original video called "Top Gear at the Movies" where it overtook the Ford Mustang Boss 302. Some say, we last seen this one on the internet when The Stig blown up the caravan in celebration of BBC Top Gear's 10 million Facebook likes. All we know is...wait, what? Why are we doing this?

Outta my way, Germans!

Oh, now I see the point. The February ALMS Pack, now on sale, for Forza Motorsport 4, featured the latest version of the Commodore-based GTS saloon car from Holden Special Vehicles (HSV). Like other European 4-door sports cars like the BMW M5 and the Mercedes-Benz E63 AMG, the HSV GTS is the kind of saloon that you would probably go bonkers. That car was made from the country that hadn't signed up to the Kyoto Protocol. Take note that the latest version of the HSV GTS is sold in United Kingdom as the Vauxhall VXR8 GTS and it was featured at the Top Gear original video titled "Top Gear at the Movies" where Richard Hammond imagines what if Bullitt had to be remade. Surely, the Boss 302 Mustang is a lot faster but when the VXR8 GTS overtook the Boss 302 after a spinout, the VXR8 GTS stayed ahead to the very end.

"If Bullitt had to be remade, Steve McQueen will be driving a Vauxhall" - Richard Hammond, Top Gear

A peek inside the HSV GTS

You should know that this car is sold in Britain
as a Vauxhall VXR8 GTS

Another fast fact that the 2011 HE HSV E3 GTS won last year's Fleet World MPG Marathon where it scored a fuel consumption of 11.4km/L (32.14 MPG UK), a 53% improvement to the factory-rated fuel consumption of 7.4km/L (21.0 MPG UK). Bear that in mind that in real life, a driver's habit is the key to a better fuel economy rather than focusing on the factory-derived fuel economy, especially the EPA rating or the JC08 mode test cycle. But that's not we're talking about. When I tried this car on Forza Motorsport 4, I am very impressed about the sound of the 6.2L V8 derived from the Corvette. That 4-door executive saloon car has the noise of the American muscle car! Oh, thanks General Motors.

It's a spindle grille! That's what matters...

This car drove me mental because the HSV GTS is completely insane on the corners and you'll have much chances of getting yourself thrown out unless you fit this car with the right performance parts in terms of handling. I once bought a suspension part and I made it stiffer. Also, I bought some anti-roll bars and some Sport Weight Reduction. My HSV GTS lapped the Top Gear Test Track in 1:25.9. I was on par with the BMW Z4 M's lap time from the show but no matter. This car is a great value because while the BMW M5 F10 costs 90,000 CR while the Mercedes-Benz E63 AMG costs 100,000 CR, the HSV GTS cost about 65,000 CR! Outta my way, Germans!

If you were the 10 millionth Facebook fan of BBC's Top Gear, this car is for you because The Stig drove it while blowing up the caravan with some explosions.

R U KIDDING ME? VXR8 GTS wins MPG Marathon! Owws? Hindi Nga?!

2011 Vauxhall VXR8 GTS

You might think that hybrids and diesels always win the Fleet World MPG Marathon, but chances are that you are wrong. On the Fleet World MPG Marathon, the Vauxhall VXR8 GTS emerged as the champion on this kind of fuel consumption battle.

R U KIDDING ME? Owws? Hindi Nga?!

The Vauxhall VXR8 GTS, British version of the HSV GTS, emerged victorious on the two-day, 350 mile fuel consumption battle but how? This Vauxhall VXR8 GTS was driven by Top Gear online editor, Chris Mooney, along with Vauxhall archivist and eco-driving expert, Andrew Duerden.

The VXR8 GTS's fuel consumption is 7.4km/L (21.0 MPG UK) but Mooney managed to improve it even further by 53%, resulting to 11.4km/L (32.14 MPG UK)!

Looks like there is a lesson learned that fuel economy is not relied on the car itself but for the driver himself that makes the difference, whichever comes first...

Scoop: http://carscoop.blogspot.com/2011/10/vauxhall-vxr8-sport-saloon-wins-mpg.html

Vauxhall VXR8 GTS

2011 Vauxhall VXR8 GTS

After its hiatus a few years ago, the super saloon that was designed and engineered in Australia, the Vauxhall VXR8, is back and the latest VXR8 minor change came with a new name called VXR8 GTS. The Vauxhall VXR8 is the Great Britain version of Holden's HSV E-Series based on the Commodore sports sedan. Australia's HSV E-Series 3 Clubsport is sold as Great Britain's Vauxhall VXR8 GTS. The main disappointment is the pricing because of the currency rates. The pre-facelifted VXR8 used to be priced by about 35,105 British Pounds Sterling but because of the British Pound Sterling's weak currency rates against the Australian dollar, the new Vauxhall VXR8 GTS priced to an expensive 49,550 British Pounds Sterling but the optional automatic transmission adds 1,700 Pounds to the pricing. Despite the ultra expensive pricing, it's still much more affordable than the Mercedes-Benz E63 AMG, BMW M5, Cadillac CTS-V sedan, or even the Jaguar XFR.

In terms of design, the new Vauxhall VXR8 GTS looks abruptly impressive because of its new face that scares the competition away. This minor change sounds convincing and the interior is considered to be "premium amenity" in the eyes of a London getaway driver. The VXR8 GTS features Enhanced Driver Interface that allows the driver to check the VXR8 GTS's status such as lap times, performance stats, friction check, suspension check, body acceleration, tires, and so on. The EDI can also be added with the optional Side Blind Zone Alert for added safety on unexpected blind spots.

2011 Vauxhall VXR8 GTS interior

The VXR8 GTS is powered with the 6.2 LS3 V8 engine sourced from the Chevrolet Corvette C6 that releases a power output of 431PS/6000rpm, torque output of 550Nm/4600rpm and it comes with either a 6-speed manual gearbox or a 6-speed automatic transmission. The Vauxhall VXR8 GTS 6MT grade can accumulate 0-100kph in 4.9 seconds and fuel economy of 7.4km/L in a combined figure while the VXR8 GTS 6AT grade can achieve 0-100kph in 5 seconds and fuel economy of 7.3km/L in combined figure. The new VXR8 GTS comes with the all new Magnetic Ride Control suspension system that digitally controls the suspension system within various situations like for instance; the mountain passes or circuit corners. With various settings the VXR8 GTS is born to slice through different corners like you have never seen in a sports sedan. The fun feature on the VXR8 GTS 6MT grade is the launch control feature. If turned on, the VXR8 GTS starts from standstill to its full potential. This is great when you want to take the lead at the first lap.

The new Vauxhall VXR8 GTS is available in ten exterior colors ranging from Heron White, Sting Red, Hazard Yellow, Nitrate Silver, Phantom Black, Alto Grey, Voodoo, Karma, Sizzle, and Poison Ivy.

My comment:
Despite its heavy pricing because of the weak Pound Sterling against the OZ dollar, the minor change VXR8 seems to be getting a full respect to the VXR fans across the Great Britain. With the new name, VXR8 GTS, this high-performance super saloon picks it up where its pre-MC model left off after its two year hiatus to the Vauxhall lineup. Seems like the new Vauxhall VXR8 GTS wants to relieve the glory of being Britain's V8 super sedan which has the striking familiarity of the Lotus Carlton, a Vauxhall Carlton modified by Lotus. Come to think of it, this minor change is one heck of a masterpiece only a true Brit can ever salivated for it.

Photo: General Motors UK Limited