This is the closest you'll get to seeing a Hyundai V8 Supercar. Our exclusive Carsales Network illustration shows what a Hyundai i45 racer might have looked like, but the South Korean brand has joined the list of manufacturers to rule out hitting the track any time soon.
Last week Mercedes-Benz revealed plans for a V8 Supercar-style 'ride day taxi' but has ruled out any official factory involvement. The same is true of every manufacturer (other than Ford and Holden) the Carsales Network has spoken to since the Car of the Future (CoF) concept was floated.
While it is unlikely that any manufacturer would reveal plans to enter the sport two years before hitting the grid, the categorical denials of the manufacturer spokespeople for all intents and purposes rule out most leading candidates.
Hyundai has been at the centre of the speculation linking the brand to V8 Supercars after the CoF rules come into force in 2012. But Hyundai's spokesman Ben Hershman, told the Carsales Network this week that the South Korean company has no interest in going racing.
"Hyundai won't be involved in V8 Supercars," Hershman said.
Not much wriggle room in that statement.
Hershman also revealed that no representative from V8 Supercars Australia (V8SA) had approached Hyundai to discuss entering the sport or provide any feedback for the CoF rules. Indeed, none of the local arms of the major car brands admitted to having been approached by V8SA to discuss joining Ford and Holden.
That said, there are people willing to listen, most notably former safety car suppliers Nissan.
"We've heard nothing from V8 Supercars," said Jeff Fisher, Nissan corporate communications chief. "If they were to come to us and ask for a discussion, we would sit down with them to see if it could fit with our plans."
But while Fisher said they would listen, he made it clear there were some major obstacles that would hinder a Nissan re-entry into Australian motor racing. Chief among them is whether or not the Maxima, Nissan's only large four-door sedan, is the right marketing fit for V8 Supercars.
"We would have to think if we would want something like the Maxima in V8 Supercars," Fisher said. "I'm not sure we'd want to blood the Maxima in racing. I'm not sure motor racing fits with the Maxima image."
It seems that for most manufacturers the notion of going racing with a large four-door sedan simply doesn't fit with the current automotive landscape. Indeed, there are few manufacturers that offer such cars. Instead, it is smaller sedans, various sized SUVs and new concepts like the 'four-door coupe' that are becoming more important.
"It's like trying to move the mountain to Mohammed," is how one well-placed car industry representative put it.
"Instead of creating a category that appeals to more manufacturers they are trying to get other brands to fit with what they've built around Holden and Ford. If they want to get serious, they should look at broadening the scope of vehicles you can compete with."
That's a view backed up by Mark Higgins, National Public Relations Manager for Honda Australia, who says the decision to maintain V8-powered large sedans is at odds with the local industry.
"We've got as much interest in V8 Supercars as we have in the centre of a donut; zero," Higgins said.
"If there was a series more in-tune with the Australian car industry, with smaller engines and more manufacturers, then we'd consider a feasibility study."
For its part V8SA appears to be bracing itself for the situation of having no new manufacturers get in on the action in 2012. Speaking at last weekend's Clipsal 500 in Adelaide, V8SA Chairman Tony Cochrane told the media he would be happy with just Ford and Holden continuing on.
"I have no issue if it (the number of manufacturers) doesn't expand; if it expands by one, great, if it expands by two, great, if it expands by three, then that's fantastic, (but) I am comfortable with the way that it is running," Cochrane said in Adelaide.
"Several manufacturers have shown genuine interest," he added. "They are undertaking their own feasibility studies and looking at costs; they are talking to us about our future plans."
Cochrane's Clipsal statement seems to be at odds with the official line of the major brands -- at least the ones with which we've spoken. His previous statement that he believes there could be as many as four new manufacturers involved in 2011 also seems like wishful thinking.
There is of course the possibility of independent teams introducing a new manufacturer on a privateer basis. However, it would be a very costly undertaking and would still have to rely on the manufacturers' support on some level.
For the record Hyundai, Kia, Mercedes-Benz, BMW, Nissan, Audi, Chrysler, Dodge, Skoda, Volkswagen, Honda, Mazda, Porsche and Toyota have all denied plans to go V8 Supercar racing in any official capacity.
Perhaps, however, an unlikely source will generate hope for V8 Supercars' tilt at new brands -- Italy. If V8SA is looking for inspiration perhaps it should look at the Superstars Series. The Italian-based tin-top formula appears to be a championship on the rise.
It uses V8-powered, four-door sedans from a wider variety of manufacturers with a focus on cost containment and entertaining racing; just what V8SA is after! So far the field has includes examples of the Chrysler 300C, BMW M3, BMW 5 Series, Mercedes-Benz AMG C63, Audi RS4 and even exotics like the Maserati Quattroporte, Jaguar S-Type and Porsche Panamera. And, believe it or not, a Holden Commodore -- imported from the Middle East and badged as a Chevrolet Lumina.
Check out some of the Superstar Series below.
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