ABDC 2017: HSV GTSR W1 Review

1st

At the very last opportunity, a locally designed, engineered, developed and manufactured vehicle is Australia’s Best Driver’s Car.

All hail the HSV GTSR W1.

Some will surely criticise this as a hometown decision based on emotion rather than the evidence. Others will vituperatively question how a limited edition $170,000 – the term used will be over-priced - version of a family sedan could possibly compete with a truly great driver’s car like the Porsche Cayman S.

But come with us along the soaked, serpentine roads of western Tasmania, venture onto Baskerville Raceway and then dash north through the Apple Isle’s central highlands, on gloriously enjoyable and, by then, thankfully dry roads, and you’ll come to understand why the W1 is number one.

Yes, the supercharged 6.2-litre LS9 V8 engine (the only bent eight to make it into the 2017 ABDC field) is the headline act, propelling the W1 forward rapturously and raucously. But crucially, large AP Racing brakes, talented Supashock dampers and sticky Pirelli PZero Trofeo R tyres combine to deliver a chassis package which not only copes with 474kW/ 815Nm and a substantial 1895kg unladen mass, but moreover, works with those numbers, moulds and bends them to its will.

“World class car,” enthused Tassie legend, racing driver and ABDC judge Greg Crick. “This car is so good it belies its weight and power,” he added. ”Feels like a smaller, lighter car. Every time I drove this car I was more impressed, chassis superb in all conditions.”

There are many points about the W1 which ensure it is as good as it gets, but probably none more so than the levels of engineering detail and application, which sadly will never feature in the headlines. This is no parts-bin special offering big numbers but no cohesion.

A few examples: While the hand-built, all alloy LS9 V8 was the obvious go-to engine, it required certification for Euro V spec and hitting those mandated emissions and power numbers required unique headers. A new input shaft for the Tremec TR-6060 six-speed manual transmission had to be designed to cope with the torque output and so a unique close ratio gearset could fit in the housing. A new serpentine belt arrangement was required because LS9 comes with an un-needed hydraulic power steering pump. The dry sump lubrication system had to be packaged. A larger radiator and intercooler package dropped supercharger inlet temperatures by up to 60 degrees. A carbon-fibre over-radiator airbox was sourced from BMC in Italy. A new brake master cylinder was introduced to improve pedal feel. And the front track was widened so the 9.0inch (228.6mm) wide wheels sat under wider fenders.

And of course, underneath it all, is the local Zeta platform architecture Holden started working on way back in the late 1990s and which debuted in 2006 under the VE Commodore. Zeta’s final iteration demonstrates how good the initial execution was and why it will be sadly missed.

It was a fascinating process to watch the ABDC judges new to the W1 step into it with some degree of caution and then, an hour or two later, emerge reluctantly and extol its virtues. Across a huge difference in years of experience, and from a competent level of driving skill to elite racing driver, the feedback was incredibly similar: Yes, the engine was a star, but the overall balance – not the sheer shove - was winning the judges over.

Nadine Armstrong: “Something this big and powerful has no right handling with such agility.”

Marton Pettendy: “Acres of fun. Who said a big muscle car can’t be a driver’s car – and one of the best.”

Luke Youlden: “Exceptional car. It gets its performance by excellent balance, grip and predictability.”

Feann Torr: “One of the most communicative cars here.”

Mike Sinclair: “Body control is amazing for a big and heavy car.”

Tim Britten: “Hugely hairy-chested yet feels much more wieldy with great brakes and tactile steering.”

Are you getting the picture? Instead of a roaring, barely contained monster, the ABDC judges were discovering a refined and sorted car which melded together beautifully and communicated wholeheartedly and loudly. Even the Tremec manual gearbox was being praised for its slick shift. A Tremec. In an Aussie muscle-car. Unbelievable.

Our W1, a pre-production pilot-build vehicle, was brilliant on dry roads and stunning on the race track - where it was clearly fastest. In fact, Luke’s 58.061sec best was faster than he has recorded in any other car in the three years of ABDC testing at Baskerville.

However, there was one number the W1 couldn’t get anywhere near and that was its claimed 4.2 sec 0-100km/h time. The slick surface of the Tas Dragway at Powranna defeated HSV’s finest.

In wet conditions, the W1’s combination of prodigious power, rear-wheel drive and semi-slick R-spec tyres also limited its pace.

But, as Luke also found, once there was heat in the tyres, and a bit less standing water, the W1 regained its innate balance and user-friendliness. It would hook up and drive forward with force, and when that force overwhelmed, the loss of grip was telegraphed.

One of the highlights of my week came soon after that; Luke was in the W1 and I was following in the Focus RS which provided a first row grandstand seat to watch both driver and car show off their talents. The road was tight and soaked and yet the HSV’s entry, mid-corner and exit speeds were stunningly quick and Luke had the awesome V8 sedan superbly controlled.

A few days later, on another winding, wet, wonderful road, I was in the Nissan GT-R following Greg Crick in the W1. Again, the HSV arrowed to the apexes, rode the bumps and corrugations mid-corner and then, on glimpsing the exit, rocketed forward, exhausts bellowing. I was driving an all-wheel drive super-coupe, but I knew Greg was enjoying himself more.

>> 1st - HSV GTSR W1
>> 2nd - Porsche Cayman S
>> 3rd - Ford Focus RS
>> 4th - BMW M140i
>> 5th - BMW M3 Competition
>> 6th - Audi S5 Coupe
>> 7th - Mercedes-AMG C 43
>> Track test - The fastest ever
>> A sideways glance at ABDC
>> 8th - Volkswagen Golf GTI 40 Years
>> Stats never lie – ABDC by the numbers
>> Not ranked - Alfa Romeo Guilia QV
>> All the ABDC FAQs
>> 10th - Abarth 124 Spider
>> Quarter-mile bragging rights
>> Meet the judges
>> 11th - Nissan GT-R

>> In search of Australia's Best Driver's Car 2017

“Subjectively this car wins it,” summed up Matt Brogan of the W1. “ABDC is about how a car makes you feel and on that score it gets an 11.”

But Brogan was also willing to be objective, noting there were ways the HSV fell short. Like others, he criticised the poor pedal positioning which made heel-and-toe downshifts virtually impossible. And for him, the W1 still did not drive quite as impressively as the Cayman S.

Dislikes noted by others included excessive tram tracking of the big front tyres, and weighting of the steering at both cruising speeds and on the limit around Baskerville Raceway. Also, the drivers’ seat wasn’t the most supportive of the cars on test.

But apart from pedal placement, no other consistent negative themes garnered any level of momentum among the judges.

Fuel economy – or the horrendous lack of it – also got a mention. But this is ABDC folks, so such things are of secondary importance.

What is primary is how this car drives and how it makes you feel when driving it. So, congratulations to HSV for building this car; to Managing Director Tim Jackson for having the moxie to green-light it, as well as to Joel Stoddart and his engineering crew for having the skill and determination to bring the concept to a wonderful reality.

This car will come to be known as many things; the last HSV and most likely the greatest HSV; the last Aussie muscle-car and maybe even the greatest Aussie muscle-car.

To that you can add another title. HSV GTSR W1 is the deserving 2017 ABDC champion.

2017 HSV GTSR W1 pricing and specifications:
Price: $169,990 (plus on-road costs)
Engine: 6.2-litre supercharged petrol V8
Outputs: 474kW/815Nm
Transmission: Six-speed manual
Fuel: 16.5L/100km (ADR combined0
CO2: 382g/km (Estimated)
Safety Rating: TBC

2017 HSV GTSR W1 performance figures (as tested):
0-100km/h: 5.972
0-400m: 12.450 @ 194.227
Lap time: 0:58.061

>> In search of Australia's Best Driver's Car 2017