>> HI-PO HUMMER
While bossman Tom Walkinshaw is allegedly arguing with Holden's V8 Supercar pin-up boy Mark Skaife over money and the ownership of Team Red, the boys at Walkinshaw Performance are keeping themselves busy getting ready to fettle cars on a world scale. Well, almost...
CarPoint Confidential has it on good authority that the WP operation is close to finalising a serious performance upgrade kit for the soon-to-be-darling of the Aussie Bling set, the H3 Hummer. And no, it's not a monster LS2 V8 transplant, rather a forced-induction makeover of the GM-sourced Vortec 3700 inline five.
The H3's standard fuel-injected DOHC five-cylinder 3.7-litre petrol engine develops peak power of 180kW at 5600rpm and peak torque of 328Nm at 4600rpm. The low-blow turbo kit supposedly being developed by Walkinshaw Performance should see those numbers lifted to around 220kW and 460Nm -- enough to get the wheels spinning.
The question will be whether WP will offer the upgrade as a kit or whether HUMMER will offer it as a semi-factory option.
>> HUMMER INTO V8 RACING
A V8 HUMMER H3 is not out of the question. Indeed a V8 HUMMER H3 might yet debut Down Under in racing trim! Just don't expect it to front up at Bathurst.
Looking at opportunities to debut the brand in Australia, Holden's backroom boys and girls have been looking towards August/September's Australian Safari. The iconic event returns this year after a period in the wilderness (thank you, puns-r-us) to be run from Kunnanurra in WA's far north Kimberley country to the state's capital Perth -- a gruelling 5500kms. What better opportunity to take on the likes of Nissan, Toyota and Mitsubishi?
It's not the desert racing prototype HUMMER of US ace Robbie Gordon that did so well during this year's Dakar Rally that the GM crew is considering, rather a locally produced HUMMER racecar.
It's been suggested that a H3 body would be an easy fit onto the V8-engined Rodeos that raced in the Aussie event when it was last run in 2004.
"Bolts straight on," was the remark from one Holden honcho!
>> THE HUMM-DEO
Which begs the question -- how much HUMMER is in a H3? Not a lot, if you read the serious HUMMER forums in the USA...
On investigation, the H3 is based on the Chevrolet Colorado, a mid-sized pick-up that shares its underpinnings with the GMC Canyon (pictured). Go back another step in the family tree and you'll discover both US-market vehicles are themselves heavily based on the Isuzu i-Series pick-up. The i-Series shares much of its DNA (though not its oldball US-sourced engines) with the Isuzu D-Max. And the D-Max is, you guessed it, the Rodeo.
No wonder it bolts straight on... Wonder if the Aussie HFV6 bolts straight in -- could be another market for the Alloytec?
>> A NEW ADVENTRA
Holden's VZ-based Adventra is dead. You all knew that, right? That doesn't mean the prospects of all-wheel drive VE or WMs are dead along with it, however.
Confirmation came this week via industry sources that Holden is pushing ahead with development of all-wheel drive capabilities for the Zeta platform. It seems that GM in the USA is keen to be able to take on the likes of BMW's iX models and Benz's 4MATICs with future Cadillacs -- models that will likely use Holden-designed underpinnings.
The development means that there could (eventually) be a reprieve for the Adventra -- particularly, if the next generation Commodore sports wagon attracts a following.
Think about a cross between Audi's S6 Avant and the same maker's allroad but with a displacement-on-demand 6.0-litre 300kW V8. Hmmm, where do we sign!
>> CHINA SYNDROME
Two new markets for long-wheelbase Holdens are still to be confirmed -- to be honest we thought the announcements would have been made by now. Perhaps the changes to work force numbers at Elizabeth have come into play.
The first is the export of Australian-made LWB car cars to Korea -- no surprise. The second is the establishment of a domestic long-wheelbase production line in China to build Holdens badged not as Buicks but Cadillacs.
Though nobody will talk on the record regarding this initiative, it is somewhat of an open secret around Fishermans Bend. GM Holden is allegedly providing engineering expertise for the establishment of the line, but all tooling, etc, is being undertaken in China.
CarPoint Confidential first wrote about the cars when rumour of a stretched Caprice surfaced. Though it is now unlikely the Chinese cars will grow in length from the current Holden spec, they will feature airline-style rear seats and a seriously upgraded rear cabin.
>> CHARGING INTO THE FRAY
Is Chrysler Australia about to launch its own 'Skunk Works'? The unveiling of a fettled 300C SRT8 Touring dubbed E490 (see here) on the eve of the Melbourne International Motor Show has apparently prompted some observers to put two and two together.
There are suggestions that observers back at Chrysler head office in Auburn Hills are more than a little interested in the 'black' project that is E490. Not that they're unhappy with the result
Certification work to gain ADR compliance for the modifications is apparently due to start before the end of the month. If this is the case, it's unlikely that the cost would be sufficiently offset by just one limited edition model.
Could it be the Mulgrave Dodgers are planning to offer a range of 'sexed-up' 300C variants that all use the same simple but effective engine mods?
We're told a cold air box and less restrictive exhaust could add as much as 15kW to the 6.1-litre SRT8 Hemi's already prodigious midrange. Along with the distinctive in-your-face styling of the Yank Tank, that would yield a very reasonable alternative to the products from FPV and HSV.
And it'd be a shame to let all that V8 Supercar pace car-generated buyer interest go to waste.
>> SAFETY JETS
It's official... You read it here first! BBC Top Gear presenter Richard Hammond would not have crashed had he been driving a BMW-built jet-powered speed record car. Least that is the contention of one senior BMW Australia staffer.
It seems Hammond's 400km/h-plus crash, from which the plucky pom was lucky to emerge alive, was caused by a front tyre puncture.
"He wouldn't have crashed if the jet-car was fitted with 'safety' tyres," the BMW staffer and runflat tyre campaigner told CarPoint Confidential with barely a smirk on his face.
Indeed...
Following the statement and after much incisive probing, we now have it on the record that all future jet-powered BMW land speed record attempt cars will be fitted with runflat rubber.
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