Bitter looks sweet

Germans put a twist on the good old Aussie luxury muscle car.

Specialist car builder and former racer Erich Bitter has been using General Motors cars for some time and from this month is making a performance Bitter Vero model from a Statesman donor.

Holden exports variants of the VE and WM sedan ranges around the world, mainly as Chevrolets and Pontiacs.

However, GM Holden media relations national manager John Lindsay said Bitter bought the cars directly from them.

"I believe he was a friend of (former Holden boss and now GM Europe's product planning head) Peter Hannenberger which is how the relationship was established," he said.

"We just sell him the cars and he then customises them and resells. We don't get involved in the tech or design side."

At the 2003 Geneva Motor Show, Bitter displayed a Holden Monaro/Pontiac GTO based coupe, called the CD II.

However, the prototype, which was rumoured to have a V12 engine, never went into production.

Bitter this year took the wraps off his Statesman-based Bitter Vero in his former hometown of Schwelm. The company also unveiled a new philosophy, 'Bitter Horsepower.'

Under the sculpted hood sits GM's six-litre V8 engine, which produces 270kW of power.

The all-aluminium power plant is mated to a four-speed automatic and from May 2008 a six speed automatic will be an option.

The biggest visible modification is the new nose with a large, low-mounted grille and massive Bitter logo.

Bitter has also modified the suspension, brakes and interior.

The Vero can only be ordered directly from Bitter in Germany where it will cost almost as much as a Maserati Quattroporte.