GM-Holden, the thriving Australian arm of the General, is really aiming for the top with the HSV (Holden Special Vehicles) W427.  Similar to the other HSV V-8s, some of which are sold as Pontiac GR8s in the USA, the new model is powered by GM’s LS7 engine, instead of the 6.0 liter used in other models.

In fact, the 6.0 liter mills of the HSV models are about to be replaced by the 6.2 liter jobs found in the latest Corvettes, which produce 437 bhp. That is not enough the engineers at HSV, who want to put their cars well ahead of arch-rival Ford, so they are introducing this W427. Power output is 500 bhp, while maximum torque is 347 lb ft (470 Nm), pushing this neat-looking sedan into the supercar class. The engine is coupled to  the TR6060 six-speed manual box. The new car should be capable of hitting 60 mph just 5 seconds from a standing start, and could be very quick indeed- rivalling the BMW M5 among others.

Showing the fact  that the W427 is headed for the tracks is the dry sump lubrication with oil cooler which come as standard, and brakes by AP racing. At the front, the AP six-pot calipers work on massive 15-in (380 mm) diameter grooved discs, and at the rear there is a combination of four-pot calipers and 13.78-in (350 mm) diameter discs.

Externally, the car looks a little different with a big air dam and new grille, and the large rear carbon fiber spoiler. Special 20-inch wheels, which are 8 inches wide at the front, and 9.5 inches wide at the rear combine to make the car look a little different.

And wants to build a coupe again

GM-Holden sprung a surprise at a couple of shows in Australia recently by displaying its C60 concept car, a coupe based on the Commodore VE underbody. The C60 is a smart, and lithe coupe, with a fastback line, and an aggressive front end. The sporty look is enhanced by the side exhaust pipes.

It would look better if they had shortened the wheelbase compared with the sedan, but here is an interesting car that could become a successor to the Monaro and Pontiac TransAm. In theory, that is. However, the Monaro was dropped as there was not enough demand to justify production, so it was replaced by sedans.

Having dropped the coupe once could GM bring it back? By basing the C60 on a standard underbody, the pricing may not be impossible, but it will be difficult to get GM’s top brass to sanction another coupe with doubtful sales potential, given the poor financial state of the parent company. On the other hand, GM-Holden might be able to swing it, based on its recent successes….

Hennessey, which is renowned for its very potent tuned Chrysler/Dodge V-8 and V-10 engines is thinking of moving into the exotic car market with a mid-engined sports racing coupe.

Designed by British auto designer, Steve Everitt, the Venom GT would incorporate Hennessey’s potent Venom 1000 Twin Turbo Viper V10 engine, which develops 1,000 bhp. Not quite as much power as the SSC Ultimate Aero TT, but this will be a lightweight car weighing in at around 2,700 lb (1,225 kg), which would be very light. The engine will be coupled to either a 6-speed manual or sequential transaxle.

Henessey expects the car to have a power-to-weight ratio of 800 bhp per tonne, which is very high, and enough to accelerate the Venom GT to 60 mph in less than 2.5 seconds, and to 180 mph in around 14 seconds. The Venom GT is seen not seen as a competitor for the Bugatti Veyron, but a much more sporty car.

Company founder, John Hennessey says: ‘The Veyron is an ultra fast and ultra luxurious grand touring car which also happens to be quicker and faster than any other road car, except for our Venom 1000 Twin Turbo SRT which beat the Veyron earlier this year from 0-200 mph. The Venom GT will be a much more engaging sports car to drive by challenging the driver with 1000+ HP in a chassis that is nearly 1,500 lbs lighter than the Veyron.’ Of course, the SSC Ultimate Aero TT has since proven to be a faster car than the Veyron.

Hennessey said, ‘The company already has existing Venom 1000 Twin Turbo clients interested in ordering the lighter, mid-engined Venom GT. Right now we are taking a serious look at building two concept cars that could be shown to the public sometime in 2009. If there is enough demand we may consider doing a very limited production run of the Venom GT.’

If the Venom GT goes into production, it would be built at the company’s facility at Lonestar Motorsports Park which is located just west of Houston, Texas.

Unless you are Australian, you have probably never heard of Bolwell sports cars, but since he was a teenager, Campbell Bolwell has been building sports cars in low volume. The Nagari was his first productrion car, and was mid engined. It was produced in about 1969-1972. Nagari is an Aboriginal word.

Now, Bolwell makes large glass fiber mouldings for trucks and other products, but after a lull of many years without any Bolwell sports cars being produced, the Bolwell Nagari is reborn.

Nagari was a name used by Bolwell for a smart sports coupe years ago, but now the Bolwell Nagari is a brand new design. It has a carbon fiber passenger module, with front and rear subframes, as on some of the most exotic cars in the world. It is a compact coupe, and to keep costs down, Bolwell plans to install the engine crosswise behind the driver, in unit with a transaxle. This means that a production engine from one of the big manufacturers can be used.

This is the layout used on the Lotus Elise and Exige, the Noble M400 and KTM X-Bow.

On the prototype, Bolwell has installed a custom-supercharged Toyota V-6 power train. The engine of the production car should develop about 350 bhp, and as the car is very light at just over 2,000 lb (920 kg), it should be a flyer.

There is still some development needed to get the car into production, but just watch this space.

After all those designer’s sketches were sent out some time ago, we were expecting a dramatic-looking new Scirocco from VW. After all, the old Scirocco may not have been fast, but it was a sporty looking job.

My guess is that the Scirocco fell foul of the new VW strategy on underbodies is intended to rationalise production (again). Whatever the reason, the new Scirocco is a disappointment, as it looks like a flabby hatch.

Here we have one more hatchback, which looks a cross between the VW Golf GTI and a Volvo C30. What we were expecting was a low sporty coupe, maybe a bit bigger than an Audi TT, and maybe not so dramatic as the Toyota Celica, but at least something that looked sporty.

As it is, I’m left wondering: ‘What’s the point?’ Why didn’t they just chop two inches off the height of a Golf and call it a Scirocco. Maybe the new car will drive well. It remains to be seen.

Hyundai has announced that its new rear-drive sports coupe, the Genesis, is to go into production soon. The top model has a 306 bhp 3.8 liter V-6 and rear-drive, so at last Hyundai has a really competitive sports car. The adoption of rear-drive gives good weight distribution, resulting in better handling and traction than with front drive, but is more practical than a mid-engine car.

The specification looks good, as the car has double-wishbones at the front, and multi-link rear suspension. Brakes are by Brembo. Hyundai claims a 0-60 mph time of less than six seconds.

There is also a two-liter version, which has a 212 bhp turbo engine. The Genesis will compete head-on with the Nissan G37 coupe, the Audi TT 3.2 liter, and the Mazda RX-8.

Ford has unveiled the new Falcon in Australia. This mid-size sedan, sold only in Australia, has been rebodied with slightly more sporty lines and upgraded performance.

All models get a new double-wishbone set-up, which should combine with the multi-link rear end to give good handling. Ford’s sportiest Australian models are produced by FPV, and the new Falcon FPV gets a proper FPV badge, and more sporty looks with an aggressive front end.

The new models get a double grille, which is like a figure-of-eight, taking in the conventional grille and the air intake below the bumper. These are flanked by grey panels which include the lamps and give the car a completely different look. But is it good? Not sure, need to see it in the metal.

Also the 5.4 liter V-8 in the GT will be more powerful than the old models, and at the same time Ford has improved fuel consumption.

Alfa Romeo is adding a Spider version of its fabulous looking Alfa 8C Competizione. The car is basically the same as the coupe, and has a 450 bhp 4.7 liter V-8. The engine is coupled to a  6-speed sequential paddle shift gearbox.

Inside the car has carbon fiber trim panels.

Maserati has introduced a sportier version of the Maserati GranTurismo, the GranTurismo S, which is the fastest production Maser ever, with  a top speed of 183 mph. Not bad for a four-seater coupe, but a good deal slower than the Bentley Continental GT. Even so this is very quick, and the car has the acceleration to match. It will get to 60 mph in about 4.8 seconds.

Instead of the 4.2 liter 405 bhp engine in the standard model, the GranTurismo S gets the 4.7 liter unit, used until now only by Alfa Romeo in the 8C Competizione. This increases power to 440 bhp at 7,000 rpm and peak torque is increased to 361 lb ft (490 Nm) at 4,750 rpm. The engine is coupled to an upgraded electro-shift sequential gearbox, which now makes complete shifts, from power off to power on of 100 milliseconds, with the actual gear shift itself taking only 40  milliseconds.

Brakes are upgraded, but are not carbon-ceramic. Instead, the iron discs are mounted on aluminum hubs, which gets rid of heat quicker.

Caterham, which has made modestly priced open-wheeled sports cars for 50 years, has moved into the supercar class with an amazing version of the Seven. Called the Caterham Levante, the car looks almost like the other Caterhams, except for the four-into-one exhaust pipes on each side and two small wings at the front, like on a 90s Formula 1 car.

Hidden beneath the hood is the amazing 2.4 liter V-8 developed by RS Performance. This engine started life as pair of motorcycle barrels and heads mounted on a common crankcase in 1992, and has since been developed into an amazing ultra-performance unit chucking up 380 bhp. In that tune, the Caterham RS will have a power-to-weight ratio of 630 bhp per tonne, in excess of Pagani Zondas and Bugatti Veyrons.

500 bhp for the Levante

But for the Caterham RS Levante, the engine is supercharged to produce over 500 bhp, giving a power-to-weight ratio of over 830 bhp per tonne – these figures being calculated with the driver on board, which is realistic with a light car like this. The result is absolutely stunning acceleration, on a par with that of the equally amazing Caparo T1.

The Caterham RS Levante will reach 60 mph in under 3 seconds, like the Bugatti Veyron, but is limited to 150 mph. The price starts at a modest £115,000 (about $230,000) but depends on the specification level. Wow, what a car!

Find all the latest and best sports cars at Fast Sports Cars.

Joining the makers of special versions of their cars is Koenigsegg with the CCX and CCXR Edition models, which are more powerful and have different exterior appearance and interiors form the standard models.

Both engines have the latest supercharged 5.0 liter V-8. Only 14 CCX Editions will be built, and each engine develops 888 bhp while the CCXR develops 1018 bhp on a gasoline-ethanol mix. Only 6 cars will be built to this specification.

These cars are more track biased than the standard models, with stiffer springs and anti-roll bars, reset dampers and lowered suspension. They have large adjustable rear wings, larger front splitters and side strakes for increased down force and unique forged wheel design.

The 888 hp CCX costs 1,330,000 Euro, and the 1018 hp CCXR 1,500,000 Euro for E85 version.

Read about other exotic cars at Fast-Autos.com.