Skip navigation
Sell your car on Carsguide for free

HSV W427: video test drive

  • By Paul Gover
  • Herald Sun
  • Share
  • Email
  • Print
  • Text size
image "This is the car that HSV always wanted to build." Photo Gallery

The Big Dog is off the leash and barking with the threat of a seven-litre bite.

Nothing as flat-out menacing as the W427 from Holden Special Vehicles has ever been seen before in Australian motoring and 90 punters with $155,500 for their new pet have signed for deliveries before the end of July.

You have to get the W427 on a track to understand how good, and how bad, it truly is. It feels as fast as a recently-superseded V8 Supercar in a straight line, with a thunderous exhaust note like a warbird at take-off power.

Just as good as the engine, the W-car has the first serious braking package on any HSV car and there is no sign of fade in repeated hot-lap stops. And the new six-speed manual gearbox is lighter and smoother than the usual truckie-style shift in a high-performance V8.

The E-Series flagship is not as racey as the first 7-litre HSV car, the two-cars-only Monaro 427 which never cleared the bar for full-scale production, but this time around all the work has been done to create a car which is more than just a racer for the road.

The W427 gets the LS7 engine from the Chevrolet Corvette, with 375 kiloWatts - that is 505 horsepower - and 640 Newton-metres. They are shipped from the USA and installed on a special mini production line at HSV in Clayton which makes the 165 individual changes from a 'standard' HSV GTS. Work includes a big-bore active exhaust, a special limited-slip differential, giant brakes and the latest TR6060 gearbox with local tweaks to the clutch.

Every owner will be invited to travel to Clayton to watch their car being built.

But no-one is sure exactly how many W427s will be built, with HSV chief Scott Grant now talking up to 427 - "but no more than 427" - after an initial build program for 200 cars.

What is certain is numbers which will make the car the quickest quarter-mile and 0-100km/h sprinter in serious production, even if a potential top speed in the 290 range has been held back to 250km/h by a self-inflicted speed limiter.

Grant is simple and direct as he sums up the reason for the W427, which takes its name from company boss Tom Walkinshaw - who is having car one shipped to his home in England - and its 427-cubic inch capacity.

"This is the car that HSV always wanted to build," Grant says.

Comments on this story

Displaying 3 of 56 comments

  • all the guys i know with modded xr6 turbo's would blow this thing u would only need to spend 6 grand on an xr to leave this for dead hsv are crap get with it pplz v8s arent king anymore....

    paul jenkins of melb Posted on 26 April 2009 10:01am
  • From a Australian point of view, this car surely is the greatest of them all, with the FPV F6 and XR6 Turbo not far behind. However, on a global scale cars with far less ambition, smaller price tag and much less engine are able to match or outgun this car in most respects. It was a nice effort but I maintain this should of been the new GTS not a whole new model of legendary ambitions.

    Andrew Posted on 10 April 2009 10:45am
  • <a >nick swardson comedy central presents</a> <a >fogo de chow</a> <a >webkinz free codes</a> <a >gruesome car crashes nikki catsouras</a> <a >judge lynn toler biography</a> <a >battle royal by ralph ellison</a> <a >naruto mugen with all chars</a> <a >delta sigma theta hazing</a> <a >pink mossy oak myspace layouts</a> <a >carson s pierre</a> <a >niki porche death pictures</a> <a >ngothanhvan phimsexvietnam lyrics</a> <a >fotos gratis de andrea rincon</a> <a >mood color change rings brown</a> <a >video of nikki catsouras</a> <a >fogodechow houston texas</a> <a >nbc deal or no com</a> <a >taper fade haircut pictures</a> <a >rare mugen char downloads</a> <a >nicole catsouras porsche photo</a>

    Kir of US Posted on 28 December 2008 8:29pm
  • I wish Mark Skaife were able to speak his honest opinion of any issues he finds with it. He actually seems ok as a presenter in reviewing the car so yea would of been nice to hear the truth. Its a shame that racing drivers on the whole cannot speak the truth as that would actually give them a good reason for reviewing a car in particular. I still think that the 7.0L should of went into the GTS instead to put it back at the top over the other mainstream HSV's...something a bit more adventurous would of been better for such a car as this rather than just a engine that comes in a box from yankyland.

    Andrew Posted on 16 September 2008 6:13pm
  • What a ridiculous waste of time. With ever increasing petrol prices they will struggle to sell these. They should have given up and worked on the real weakness in Holden's line-up - small and economical cars. Sounds like a bunch of boys who haven't grown up yet, playing with their toys and getting more out of touch with reality every year.

    Richard of Brisbane Posted on 06 August 2008 3:00pm
  • Nothing to do with the bombeydore 155k rip off, this is just a reminder to the Holden fans. Race wins - Holden 6 - Ford 17. You guys really are getting you ass kicked now aren't you? HAHA

    Peter Posted on 04 August 2008 6:13pm
  • Awesome , i can't believe how fast it just piled on speed in second gear in that Skaife release video without even dumping the clutch.Wow , just pure unadulterated torque ,and the thing sounds just plain evil. I just hope my lotto numbers come up before they sell all the bloody things . I'll take mine in white on black. I just (bloody) wan't one.

    christopher j carbonell of perth Posted on 04 August 2008 4:29pm
  • Loved the W427. I'll never own a car like this, but I'm pleased that such a car is available in Australia. I like the fact that it is a big roomy car, wih a big boot, that could carry a family around our big country not a selfish two seater sports car. I love Holdens (and Mark Skaife) and hope this is not the last of these cars, petrol and environmental problems besides. It may have some of the looks of a Commodore, but the front is distinctive and different and the power also. Just love it.

    Gwen Donaldson of Morwell Vic Posted on 03 August 2008 5:40pm
  • saw the video, read the write up about it, but no automatic. i'm sure that there are people out there who would love to have a vehicle like this but because of their disabilities once again have been left out. what a shame

    glenn rodda of trafalgar vic. Posted on 01 August 2008 9:59am
  • Who cares about GTR35 ? Well, I do ! Because it can accelerate faster and handles better than W427. Maybe I shouldn't compare these cars because I don't think they are in same performance level ... However, I rate W427 higher than GTR35 on grunty engine noise. Oh, and it's more practical ... By the way, if you can afford a $150k - $200k car, would you really care about repairing cost ?? Most likely you wouldn't even blink your eyes on rising fuel price either ...

    Noob of Brisbane Posted on 31 July 2008 11:23pm
  • W427 a supercar? how can you guys even think of this as a supercar? does it even measure up with the Ferrari, Lambos, Aston Martins, and the Zondas etc? Supercar by Australian standards may be. If this is a supercar, then i am superman!

    Sunny of Brisbane Posted on 31 July 2008 5:11pm
  • where do all these na sayers come from? This W427 could be arguably Australia's first supercar. Supercar performance in a large 4 door sedan, with and a huge boot - fast and practical with sutle styling. People complain about fuel. Many performance cars are getting bigger engines, eg: M5 (5.0 v10) AMG (6.3 V8) even the M3 now runs a 4.0 V8. The 7.0 is a great engine and it is great we will get to sample it here in Australia. The amount of driving many of these W427s will do the will probally have less impact on the enviroment than a hybrid. Lastly, the F6 is not in the same class as the w427 or have the same collectablity. Tweeking will make it closer to the performance but there goes your new car warranty. Who keeps mentioning the Nissan GTR - who cares? It is ugly and and I am sure very expensive to repair. Turbos are just another thing to breakdown.

    dave Posted on 31 July 2008 12:28pm
  • To paraphrase 'from Spinal Tap': "Yeah, but this one goes up to seven".

    A. Bovitall Posted on 31 July 2008 10:58am
  • $100G extra and you still get an old dinasour with pushrods. Your about 20 years behind the times Holden. The bigger engine just means it will shake itself apart quicker. Ford is moving entirely in another direction, in 2-3 years the F6 will have a sophisticated 3.7Liter twin turbo V6 that will match the power output of this thing, use half the fuel and best of all, keep running.

    Clarke Hudson Posted on 31 July 2008 5:58am
  • this W427 does look pretty good, but it only a VE Clubsport. if Holden really wanted to make this special, why not put a better kit on it? instead of one that came off a ClubSport. and the interior could have done with a change as well. i agree with what Paul Gover said when he test drove it. where is the plaque distinguishing and showing and saying what it is. all the styling of the interior and exterior says is "I'm $160,000 VE ClubSport, please buy me". and i'd like to know what Skaife really thinks about it as well. Well done, Holden. Well done.

    Anthony Blyth of Merrylands Posted on 30 July 2008 6:11pm
  • Holden are irresponsible idiots

    Peter Posted on 30 July 2008 4:53pm
  • I don't think i'd buy one even if I had the money, I'd have to tell people that it's a W427 and they'd prolly still say to me, yeah right, you just bought the latest commodore and made a look alike, there's nothing visible to prove otherwise. It does boil down to loyalty and I'm sure they'll sell. Ford lovers are just jealous is what it boils down to because they don't have a sister company to assist them but then who would want to be sister company to a blue egg? Ford just put a ring around their problem, exactly that, it's a ford haha.

    Fiona Plane of Noosa Posted on 30 July 2008 11:20am
  • Really overall I find it quite boring and ordinary, considering my husband's mum use to own an LE monaro, "THE ELITE" and last of the monaros ever made which had everything for it's time and a big deal was made to be sure everyone knew it was a limited edition, I'm really disappointed that it just looks like another HSV commodore. I was expecting a fancy interior, the colour of the interior I think is horrible. I love that the motor has come straight over from the states out of a corvette but other than that his evaluation was disappointing. Really disappointed with Holden's effort in attempting a ressurection in some way of the LE. Where's the pin stripes with LE on the outside, I wouldn't pay that much for a car that just looks like any other HSV. Not unless there was something done to the exterior that makes it unique in it's own right which I would have thought it would deserve considering the price tag. How rude!!!!

    Fiona Plane of Noosa Posted on 30 July 2008 11:10am
  • Looks are very subjective. I personally don't feel this. Do you guys like it? I feel the F6 and the range of FPVs. The Commodore itself is pretty good, and HSV in the past has had many kits that work. But this is not good looking to me. A case of HSV designers going for brunt to reflect what's under the hood or a case of "it doesn't matter how it looks, I've got a 7litre V8 donk"?

    Amup of Perth Posted on 30 July 2008 12:29am
  • Is this their answer on GTR35 ? If that's the case ... good luck, HSV ... You guys will need it ...

    Noob of Brisbane Posted on 29 July 2008 11:25pm
  • Why? It's just a Commodore on steroids. These type of cars are going to become dinosaurs very soon....and i'll be prowling the car yards in five years for a 20K bargain to boot!.

    dhalgren of melbourne Posted on 29 July 2008 10:40pm
  • I WISH I COULD AFFORD ONE.

    I J BENNETT Posted on 29 July 2008 9:45pm
  • Holden / HSV V8's; from 5.0 litres to 5.7 litres to 6.0 litres to 6.2 litres to 7.0 litres. All in just over 10 years!!! Crazy!!! It's a much different approach to Ford / FPV who are increasing the efficiency of their engines to gain the extra grunt - increasing economy AND power - whereas Holden / HSV (and it's customers) seem content on simply increasing capacity (and consumption) to obtain their power gains. Yes, the W427 is fast. And yes, it sounds like a decent vehicle - I'm sure I would walk away with a grin from ear to ear after driving one! But is that extra tenth or two over the FPV F6 to 100km worth the extra $80k ??? Or, for the Holden fans, would you pay an extra $80k out of your own pocket for the W427 over a Clubbie R8? For the price, it needed to be much better differentiated from the rest of the Holden / HSV range. The coupe60 concept could have pulled off the $155k asking price. But not a Clubbie R8 with a mildly different (uglier) bodykit and a 7.0 litre motor. If Ford / FPV tried to pull off a 7.0 litre GT for $155k that looked the same as an FG GT only with ugly cosmetic add-ons and was only less than half a second quicker, I'd be annoyed!!! Would be interesting to see the 80-120 time comparison, as well as a circuit time comparison, for this thing compared with the FPV FG F6...

    FalconXR6Turbo of Tassie Posted on 29 July 2008 9:33pm
  • What a car, very nice for a HSV ? HSV should of built the motor in Australia though, we don't need the yanks to do this for us. HSV should build a hot small car, twin turbo it or supercharge with an AWD system to stick it to the jap cars, I know they could it very easy if they wanted too.

    Nathan Palmer Posted on 29 July 2008 8:33pm
  • Skylines , Silvias and all that crap will be in salvage yards in 20 years . Don't knock the smart people who invest in these Supercars . By the way you can add the FPV's and Beama's to the list as well.

    Adrian of WA Posted on 29 July 2008 8:01pm
  • H'mmm,just what we need,another fire breathing V8,that slurps petrol and can do 250kph,when our roads are restricted to 110kph.Don't get me wrong,I'm no goose,I've owned a 88 Walkinshaw,two Brock commodore's and a HSV but that was 20 years ago when we had plenty of oil!,anyone who buy's a car like this at this price must be brain dead,let's get the world sorted out before we start driving cars like this.

    Dave Fryer of Mandurah 6210 Posted on 29 July 2008 7:48pm
  • I can't see the value in this W427. It is pretty lacklustre performance for the price IMO. Admitedly I'm a Ford fan so agree wholeheartedly with the comparison to a F6 but even if Ford/FPV bought out a 7 litre V8 GT (or HO) I would say the same thing. The only thing that it might have going for it is the potentiel to appreciate in value like earlier Monaros and the like have, but you'd have to wait 20 years for that to happen. But if you crunch the numbers there would be better ways to invest $150K to make a better return.

    Ross of Canberra Posted on 29 July 2008 6:59pm
  • Overpriced... Interior looks junkie... What rubbish... Buy an FPV F6... Less than half the price, and if you spend another $10k you will get 500kw...

    Worm of Melbourne Posted on 29 July 2008 6:45pm
  • Just another bogan commonbore, like all the others. I can't wait until the bogans cars get crushed under the hoon laws. You see the commodore idiots hooning around all the time, they are just a pack of clowns, pretending that they are Mark Skaife (who is crap) in their Holden rubbish. This car is just an expensive variation on that theme. I'm gonna laugh at the fools that buy them when they depreciate 50% in a couple of years!

    Peter Posted on 29 July 2008 6:14pm
  • some please send this car over to the uk and give jerrmey clarkson (topgear) a go off this car and see what he and the stig think

    phill Posted on 29 July 2008 6:02pm
  • Apparently the editors of the next Macquarie Illustrated Dictionary are using the W427 as the pictorial entry for "Irrelevant".

    Josh Dowling-Syndrome Posted on 29 July 2008 4:45pm
  • I'm sure the upgrade from LS3 to LS7 isn't costing Holden $80k, so expect to see the price drop in the not too distant future once the initial 90 have been shipped. Holden are really just trying to establish their dominance again, and I think this will be hard to match for some time. The people who have ordered this car don't need to save their pennies - it's more about loyalty to a brand. Who cares if the GTR is a better car - it's a Nissan, and that's why it isn't for everyone. I bet it's nowhere near as exciting to drive as this will be.

    Steve Newlove of Sydney Posted on 28 July 2008 10:38pm
  • Seriously, I think the days of making more power by simply increasing capacity and burning more fuel are over. Look at the rest of the world. Porsche has just introduced direct injection for more power and better economy, Lexus has Hybrids, the Nissan GTR is a 6 cylinder, even the BMW M5 makes the same power but uses far less fuel. C'mon HSV, if you want to be taken seriously, then keep building these great cars but look to Japan and Europe for what is possible, not the yanks. The big power from big displacement is old technology and doesnt cut it today. Assuming these cars will appreciate in value, then that is surely the only reason you would but one. If you want an awesome weapon then a GTR is the same money, or M3 if you want somehting nicer as a daily driver. If you bought this for any other reason than to lock it away as an investment, then I cant see the logic.

    DM of Melbourne Posted on 28 July 2008 3:12pm
  • It's interesting reading the comments about this car. There's the usual rubbish arguments between Ford fans against Holden fans. Just think all of you guys, where in Oz can you drive ot test this car to its potential where you have got a really stupid freeway speed limit of 100 Km/hr, unless you go on to a race track. What a waste of money to spend on a car!!

    Paul of SA Posted on 27 July 2008 11:01pm
  • I have to agree that yes its great they have the balls to make a car like this but really, an american engine in an australian commodore with a few more ponies than a stock HSV has to be questioned? supercharge a6.2ltr or work a F6 or better still buy a godzilla. Or why no buy a FG XR6 turbo and the 100G you save go around the world for a holiday or 20!

    Luke G Posted on 27 July 2008 7:27pm
  • Clealy one of the worst cars of our time!! Talk about reducing greenhouse gases, rising fuel price, alternative fuel powered cars and then they come up with this joke! Holden has always gone in the wrong direction with their cars and I think their engineers, designers and sales people are absolutely rubbish. Which other brands is the W427 competing with? Don't think anyone in Holden ever thought of that. Give me one good reason why I would want to buy this crap and not a BMW M3, or a Nissan GTR or any of Merz's AMG. I think its about time someone in holden realised that you don't need a 7 litre engine to produce 500 bhp. I hope nobody in Europe gets the news of the W427 because once again Aussie cars would be the laughing stock for them. And they would be right.

    Sunny of Brisbane Posted on 27 July 2008 7:12pm
  • Q: What do you call a yard full of FPVs and HSVs? A: A Jurrasic Parking Lot.

    Pierre of Sydney Posted on 26 July 2008 11:07am
  • Steve - how many recalls do commodores have??? I think you'll find they have no more than most other brands including Toyota, BMW Mercedes or others, it's just that Holden tend to publicise theirs more...for the benefit of the consumer. http://www.recalls.gov.au/

    IROC Posted on 25 July 2008 10:01pm
  • Ray - Bayside.........Mines bigger than yours? well thats the point of this W427 isnt it ?........Holden\HSV just keep putting bigger and bigger V8 engines in their cars so they can say exactly that.......my engines bigger than yours, even though it costs people a fortune to buy and a fortune to run. If i spent $160,000 on a car and got blown off by a $60,000 car, F6, I wouldnt be too happy.............there is no other reason to buy this vehicle except if you are wanting to brag about the size of the engine or an exhaust note.....................what a waste of money.

    Rick Harris Posted on 25 July 2008 8:31pm
  • For $160,000 you dont want a car that looks like a regular commodore with a kit. Although it probably performs well, it just doesn't stand out. New Nissan GTR > W427 Performs exceptionally well and although the old skiylines looked good, looks nothing like them. Stands out and performs well. This just looks like another Holden...

    chris of sydney Posted on 25 July 2008 3:42pm
  • And.....Rick Harris you will demonstrate how your Ford is bigger than the HSV on a public road! God help us from such insecure people as you. My toy's better than yours and therefore I'm a bigger man! - get a life! I don't think speed has a great deal to do with the road toll but tools doing dumb things on public roads definately does.

    Ray of Bayside Posted on 24 July 2008 5:15pm
  • w427 for 160 grand or an F6 for 60 grand ...............not hard to make the choice here !!!!! 100 grand to be MAYBE SOMETIMES FASTER than an F6 is ridiculous and totally absurd.......its just a Commodore!!!! Only a Holden bogan would even consider this car............... i will put a chip in my F6 and blow the W427 into the weeds !!!!!!!!! and save 100 grand !!!!!!! W427= a joke !!!!!!

    Rick Harris Posted on 24 July 2008 4:44pm
  • Luke , plenty of commodores fall to pieces too how many recalls do commodores have paying 150k plus for a commodore which will probably have interior bits fall off in the first year save yourself $70k and buy a normal hsv instead

    Steve Posted on 24 July 2008 12:32pm
  • If nothing else, the knockers of the new W427 are funny. These same people would stop and stare if they saw one on the road as opposed to ignoring a F6 vanilla blend now. I would hazard a guess that each of us writing about this article would really love to own one and if we can put our biased Ford/Euro/other hat aside for a second, say that we are actually proud that an Aussie company has the courage to actually produce a $155k car, and sell every one they plan to build. Mark might state that the W427 is $90k dearer than an F6 but in 6 mnths time it will be $100k dearer as Ford start dumping their models at discount prices as quickly as HSV tries to build and sell cars. Good on HSV.

    mark mcdonough of Sydney Posted on 24 July 2008 12:18pm
  • I tend to agree with Rick Harris. The plastic front end styling of these HSV's is just soooo cheap and nasty. It's like putting lipstick on a pig! Besides the handbrake, what about the cruise control, this must be the only unit that belongs in a museum. It has to be reactivated after every ignition stop and it must be the only cruise in the world that you have to take your hand off the wheel to make adjustments. Holden have been using the same system for donkey's. How to turn $160K into $80K in 2 years? Buy one of these - a fool and his money are soon separated.

    Ray of Bayside Posted on 24 July 2008 11:09am
  • at this price, i will buy new GTR not this holden thing.

    tony Posted on 24 July 2008 11:04am
  • Wow what a car, Australia should be proud. To talk about price or brand is to underestimate the w427. Good work HSV

    Dave Posted on 24 July 2008 12:35am
  • (Laughing) Yes, Phil. We don’t claim to be Spielbergs. Just journos with a love of cars. But if you want more information, it’s in the written reviews accompanying the video snippets. And more to come, both on the site and in our newspaper sections. Cheers, Karla -------------------------------------------------- That would have to be the worst video test I have seen in a very long time. Shoddy camera work, poor sound and next to no information. Lucky they aren't making many. There aren't that many bogans with that amount of money to waste on a tarted up commodore.

    Phil of Barossa Posted on 24 July 2008 12:22am
  • From the first two comments here, it would seem that the dreaded 'cultural cringe' is alive and well!!

    Mark of hunter valley Posted on 23 July 2008 9:45pm
  • My god what a joke !!! Its just a Commodore with a 7 litre pushrod V8 !! Only a fool would pay $160,000 for Holden !!! That interior is an absolute joke as well.......talk about try hard !!! It still has all the faults of a normal VE.......crappy plastics, poor ergonomics and that woeful handbrake !!!!! Not to mention those seriously unsafe A pillars and those ridiculous front wheel arches !!!!!!! I look forward to seeing one on the back of a tow truck.....where most HSV cars spend a fair bit of time !!!!!

    Rick Harris Posted on 23 July 2008 9:26pm
  • James - i didn't realise that you had the pleasure of driving this car to be able to compare it with anything from europe and japan...

    IROC Posted on 23 July 2008 8:46pm
  • I can appreciate the huge 'non Australian' 7 litre engine giving awesome performance. No doubt making the W427 the fastest Aussie built car. However for less than half the price, you can by an automatic F6, ( with an Aussie designed and built motor ) be nearly as quick, or just as quick in everyday driving, be better dynamically, and alot more economical. I would also rather the smoothness and efficiency of the F6 ZF auto to the 'clumsy' 6 speed manual only in the W427. It would be interesting to see how many times in a drag race to 100kmh the manual only W427 would beat a F6 auto too. Getting the W427 cleanly off the line would not be easy. I have no doubt the performance above 100kmh would be alot better than the F6 but i guess for the extra $90,000 the W427 owner would want to have something to brag about...

    Mark Posted on 23 July 2008 8:08pm
  • I JUST WANT 1!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    Jolly Green Giant of Wodonga, Vic Posted on 23 July 2008 6:29pm
  • Why do you people bag out our own Aussie cars??? Did u guys whatch topgear on Monday, I believe they loved the Vauxhall VXR AKA HSV Clubsport. And they did have this car at the track!!! Have a look at drive they have a video up! If u ask me the Merc or BMW will fall to pieces before this. They are just a historic badge on a car with some cow spread accross the inside.

    Luke of Sydeny Posted on 23 July 2008 5:06pm
  • So HSV has sold all the 427's, and made a fat profit on each one, nothing wrong with that, but why would you buy it instead of say a AMG C63 for $10K less. With the AMG at least you get a qaulity interior ( check out now the seats in a HSV scruff the side of the console) and a decent resale after a cpl of years. If HSV really believe in this car then why dont they give journalists the option to drive it as hard as they want on a racetrack which is what AMG did with the C63 , and none of them broke! Last time anyone took a roadgoing HSV on a track it lasted a couple of laps before it Stuffed itself.

    Darrell Hammond of Mildura Posted on 23 July 2008 3:29pm
  • why would anyone pay that amount? you have an enormous selection of far far far superior vehicles to choose from in the same price category that outmanuver, outsteer, outrun, outbrake... are better in every way. hopefully this is the last, final breath of a bogan car that doesnt come close to competing with anything from europe and japan these days.

    james of brisbane Posted on 23 July 2008 1:57pm
Read all 56 comments

Add your comment on this story

Indicates required

We welcome your comments on this story. Comments are submitted for possible publication on the condition that they may be edited. Please provide your full name. We also require a working email address - not for publication, but for verification. The location field is optional.

Cars for sale

Sponsored Links

Feedback Form
Feedback Analytics