The incident took place Sunday morning in Parklea, a suburb of Sydney, Australia, and the good news is that nobody in the house was injured when the "late model Commodore sedan" got out of control, hit a light pole, jumped a dirt mound, and flew about 90 meters through the air to land on the roof of a nearby house. The driver and passenger of the Commodore ended up in the hospital, where they're reportedely in stable condition with non-life-threatening injuries. We're sure they're answering a lot of very pointed questions posed by members of Sydney's law enforcement community right about now. Thanks to Alf, In Pog Form for the tip!
[Herald Sun, full gallery]

In an exclusive interview with the Aussie hoons at Drive.com.au at the Frankfurt Motor Show yesterday, GM CEO Fritz Henderson said the company was making good progress with a plan to sell the Commodore to US law enforcement agencies. Specifically, as we've reported earlier this year, the LAPD.

"We've been working on a package for police applications. I just think that's going to work. We're pretty optimistic about it and that product will be sourced in Australia," he said.

But, while Fritz was all about the fleet applications, he wasn't geeked about other short term roles for the Commodore. But in the long term? He didn't rule out a wider role for the car in General Motors' plans going forward.

"It's a global architecture, it gives us options in the future but right now you'd say, near term, no," he said.

Holden has been searching for alternative export programs ever since, but in June GM shut the door on plans to revive the car as a Chevrolet Caprice.

It was thought the GM plan to import cars from Australia to US enforcement agencies would meet with strong opposition from GM's new owners, the unions and the Government, in light of the mass plant closures and job losses in the United States that followed the company's filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection.

But senior GM exectuive Bob Lutz played down those fears in a blog on a company website in June this year.

"While the large (rear-wheel-drive) cars may be made in Australia, they are an integral part of GM, contain US-built engines and transmissions and numerous other components, and are so ‘American' in character that I don't believe the law enforcement agencies would have any problems with the assembly origin of the vehicle. Plus, they'll love it," he said. (Hat tip to Ben!) [via smh.com.au]

According to the original poster, these were taken outside of the Fisherman's Bend Holden plant in Australia. As expected, they all have soft tops. There are seven tan/brown roofs and one black roof. Most excitingly, they're all apparently LHD.

[Camaro5]

Apparently, the move to stop the export program in the wake of GM's bankruptcy and the killing off of the Pontiac brand has left a warehouse of parts once destined for cars to be exported to the US. Holden's marketing department — sensing an opportunity — has decided to use the stockpile on VE Commodores, which will be sold as a premium priced, limited edition Holden. Brilliant!

Even better news is the special edition will apparently also be available as a ute and wagon! GM had announced plans to bring over a G8 El Camino Sport Truck ST to the United States but then nixing those plans, along with even the idea of a wagon version of the Zeta-platformed RWD G8.

Although there's no official confirmation yet from Holden, the mere thought of the G8 surviving provides us some level of comfort — even if we're not getting it here. Frankly, the mere thought of a Pontiac El Camino vastly increases the likelihood we may have to move to Australia for some good ol' fashioned muscle car hoonage! Seriously, this is the best news we've heard in weeks.

UPDATE: Aussie site carpoint's reporting the following:

"It is unclear how many of each will be made, but dealer contacts have suggested it will be close to 1500 in total, or about 500 of each body style.

Prices of each limited edition model will be $1000 more than a regular SS V. The Holden bulletin outlined to dealers the following:

Pontiac G8 SS-V ute manual $47,490
Pontiac G8 SS-V sedan manual $55,290
Pontiac G8 SS-V wagon manual $57,290"

[via Drive, carsales.com.au, carpoint]

Beyond the so-red-it-purple-tinges-every-camera paintjob, the negative camber any old racecar would be proud of and the rather low ride height, the first thing to catch the eye is the air filter poking out of the hood. The engine force-fed by said filter is certainly a long way from the 1.6-liter inline four from Samara Oblast: this Niva’s got a 5-liter Holden V8.

Probag of Australia, an air suspension specialist, has created this car which can do wheelies, dance the dubs off any air-suspended Donk and perform fancy burnouts on its 22" rear wheels:

If you need to know everything, here’s a quick walkthrough of the modifications:

Should you yearn for a few extra thumbnails, click through to Probag’s site. And while you’re there, ponder the further possibilities of Aussie-Russki collaboration.

How hard would it be for Chevy to do something similar on the engine cover of the Corvette, Corvette Z06 and ZR1? I mean, come on, how friggin' cool does that look? Right?

Some snide Detroit-bashers claim that beads of petroleum byproducts sweat from the plastic of The General's more economical interior components, and then there's all that pesky financial mismanagement and bureaucratic inertia to get 'em hooting and pointing fingers in derision… but nobody laughs at, say, the 638-horsepower LS9, a staggeringly powerful yet compact engine that fits handily inside cramped engine compartments. The aluminum-block, six-bolt-main LS has been around since 1997 and has been factory-installed in everything from the Cadillac CTS-V to the Saab 9-7X. Displacement of the LS series ranges from 5.3 to 7.0 liters (and bigger, if you want to get a race-only factory crate motor), and about the only bad thing we can say about it is that GM couldn't think up a new designation for the engine, recycling the names of totally unrelated early-70s engines such as the LS4 and LS6; come on, letters and numbers are free! And hey, you can even drop one into a Miata!
[Wikipedia] Photo source: Zorly.com

If you haven't guessed, or you've been living under a rock since our inception, we love us some ute's and when Pontiac showed us the Pontiac G8 ST concept last year, we just about wet ourselves. They took our dreams away (They killed Kenny, you bastards!), but we're once again hopeful for its return.

It's said platform designer Holden will potentially lose close to $1 billion in annual profit if the long wheelbase (the short wheelbase underpins the Camaro) Zeta platform leaves our shores, which is why GM is trying to find another way to keep the platform alive. Our first idea would be to re-style and re-brand the Pontiac G8 ST as the GMC Denali ST depicted above, especially given the currently shaky full-size truck market and considering the mid-size truck market is somewhat pointless right now. A light-duty truck is just what GMC needs.

Other examples of where the long-wheelbase Zeta platform could be used is to underpin the next generation STS/DTS replacement. This was initially in the playbook, but when gas prices rose, GM quickly shoved that idea under the rug. We say it's still a viable plan. Another idea in need of a case study would be to bring the Middle-Eastern/South American market Chevy Caprice/Lumina over or just give the Pontiac G8 a quick face lift. We've previously had wet dreams of a big-bodied, LS3-powered Chevy SS model to go with our techno-retro new Camaro thank-you-very-much.

Another option would be to bring the Chinese-market Buick Park Avenue to our shores, though we're not quite sure how Grandma and Grandpa would feel about switching from their plush Lucerne to a semi-rough riding rear-wheel-drive sedan. Hell, maybe they'd just remember the good ol' days of luxo-motoring and like it.

However GM decides to market the Zeta platform, we'll welcome it because as we all know, they need to put a little more excitement in their product lineup and with plenty of other FWD econo-boxes in the portfolio a nice V8 RWD sedan (or Ute!) would supplement nicely. [via goauto]

This after the folks at Melbourne's National Safety Agency put together the above LAPD-liveried Chevy-badged Commodore for the 2009 APCO Australasia Conference & Exhibition last month in Sydney. The expectation is the LAPD would be the first police force to buy the new vehicle, with more exports potentially going to Canada, the UK and the Middle East.

Here's what the Aussies at GoAuto have to say about the potential plan. A plan, which, by the way, we wholeheartedly support:

"...a plan to supply hi-tech Australian-made patrol cars to US law enforcement agencies – led by the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) – could be joined by lucrative police vehicle exports to Canada, the UK and the Middle East.

And while the prospects of reviving plans to sell the Holden Ute in the US as a GMC continue to exist, it is understood the now-defunct Commodore-based Pontiac G8 has a good chance of morphing into a full-time Chevrolet model for US public consumption.

In an ironic twist, if green-lighted, the police project could see Holden's Commodore effectively replace Ford's aged Crown Victoria as the vehicle of choice for many US police departments, which require large, V8-powered rear-drive sedans.

The Crown Victoria, which was discontinued from public sale in 2008 and will be phased out of production for US fleet customers next year, has long been touted as Ford Australia's most obvious US export opportunity for the Falcon.

Some US police departments have already adopted Dodge's new Charger, but the Crown Victoria still attracts 60,000 annual sales for Ford, representing a potentially massive export opportunity for Holden.

Officially, Holden remains cautious about spruiking the prospects of sending Commodores to the US as part of a police vehicle export program, but national media relations manager Scott Whiffin admitted to GoAuto this week that a Pontiac G8-based LAPD prototype produced by Port Melbourne-based National Safety Agency (NSA) has "enormous" potential.

[via GoAuto]

We know what you're thinking. You've already seen the 2012 Chevy Cruze and you're wondering what's the big deal. Well we're in the same boat as you. The main differences between the car that we'll receive next year and the 2009 Holden Cruze that will go on sale in the Fall is most obviously the Holden badges and the fact that it's right-hand drive. The differences end there.

It will be offered in two different trim levels, CD and CDX, the later being the more luxuriously appointed version that can be optioned with leather seats. Both trim levels receive the 1.8-liter 140 horsepower ECOTEC gasoline engine, but the CD model can be optioned with the 2.0-liter turbo diesel that develops 150 horsepower and 236 lb-ft of torque from 2,000 rpm.

Both the 2012 Holden Volt and the 2009 Holden Cruze will give the Holden brand a much needed economy boost, but regardless, the badge engineered styling kills us.

Holden Press Release:

The all-new Holden Cruze made its Australian debut at the Melbourne International Motor Show today signalling the company's latest entrant in the competitive small car segment.

Cruze is the first of General Motors' new wave of global products and enters Australia's small car segment equipped with striking road presence, advanced interior comfort and high levels of safety features.

Powered by a 1.8 litre 4-cylinder ECOTEC petrol engine or optional 2.0 litre 4-cylinder turbocharged common rail diesel engine, Cruze will go on sale in the second quarter of 2009.

GM Holden Chairman and Managing Director, Mark Reuss said Cruze represented Holden's commitment to the small car market and marked the beginning of a new era for the company.

"The small car market is the largest growing segment in the Australian market and this is our response to that change," Reuss said.

"Cruze will play a significant role in Holden's future and presents us with a new generation car, a new design and a new way of thinking.

"It is a world class small car that has the perfect blend of both style and substance, all from the base model to the top of the range."

2009 HOLDEN CRUZE HIGHLIGHTS:

Drawing on GM best practices from around the world, Cruze was developed by a global design and engineering team.

Product line-up

The Cruze line-up will include CD and CDX models, both powered by a 1.8 litre 4 cylinder ECOTEC petrol engine with the choice of a five speed manual transmission or six speed automatic transmission with Active Select.

A 2.0 litre common rail turbocharged diesel engine will be available as an option on the CD model and will form part of the Holden EcoLine range.

The choice of powertrains ensures fuel efficiency and excellent performance all with the ride and handling ability of a true Holden to ensure it feels as good as it looks.

Exterior styling

With a wide track, long wheelbase and its wheels located at the outer edges of its body, the Holden Cruze sedan's 'four-door coupe' styling delivers the presence of an upscale mid-size sedan.

State of the art manufacturing processes ensures gaps are minimised and margins in the exterior design deliver high levels of quality, fit and finish.

Cruze has been designed to appeal to drivers who value sophisticated design combined with sporty good looks.

Interior comfort

Inside, Cruze boasts one of the most advanced interiors of any small car on the market offering exceptional quality and functionality, while delivering sportiness and luxurious comfort.

Stylish and spacious, the Cruze interior offers exceptional fit and finish and comfort with contoured sport seats and a dual cockpit design which houses an advanced integrated centre panel with graphic information display and CD with MP3 "plug and play" functionality.

An integrated centre stack houses the infotainment display, radio and HVAC controls resulting in a fresh and contemporary look.

With generous rear passenger leg, head and shoulder room this small car comfortably sits five adults, and when combined with one of the largest range of standard features from the base model customers do not need to compromise on large car features.

Storage, functionality and convenience applications found on the new Cruze are plentiful with 60/40 split rear seats, seatback pockets, a centre console CD storage, a shopping bag hook and six cup holders.

Safety

Safety was an overriding objective in the development of Cruze. Significant advancements in structural strength and a full offering of active and passive safety systems should combine to make the all-new Holden Cruze among the safest in its class.

The Cruze's stiff structure helps to minimise noise and vibration as well as assuring a good crash safety performance and optimal ride and handling properties.

With an impressive level of standard safety features across the range including:

* Electronic Stability Control (ESC)
* Traction Control (TC)
* Anti-lock Brakes (ABS)
* Brake Assist (BA)
* Electronic Brakeforce Distribution (EBD)
* Six airbags including driver, front passenger, front side and curtain airbags
* Seatbelt retractor and lap pretensioners with seatbelt load limiters
* Sixty-five percent of the structure is high-strength steel

Holden Cruze CD Feature Highlights:

* 1.8 litre 4-cylinder ECOTEC petrol engine or optional 2.0 litre 4-cylinder turbocharged common rail diesel engine
* 5-speed manual transmission or optional 6-speed automatic transmission with Active Select
* 16 inch steel wheels
* Body coloured door handles and mirrors
* Electronic Stability Control (ESC) incorporating:
o Anti-lock Braking System (ABS)
o Traction Control (TC)
o Brake Assist (BA)
o Electronic Brakeforce Distribution (EBD)
* 6 airbags including:
o Front airbags for driver and front passenger
o Front side impact airbags
o Side curtain airbags
* Automatic headlamps
* 6 speaker audio system with MP3 compatible in dash CD, radio and MP3 "plug & play" functionality with graphic information display
* Air conditioning
* Steering wheel audio controls
* Cruise control
* Trip computer
* Power windows, front and rear

Holden Cruze CDX - includes all CD specific feature highlights, plus:

* 1.8 litre 4-cylinder ECOTEC petrol engine
* 5-speed manual transmission or optional 6-speed automatic transmission with Active Select
* 17 inch alloy wheels (4)
* Front fog lamps
* Leather steering wheel
* Leather appointed seats
* Heated front seats
* Rear park assist

Full specifications, fuel economy figures and pricing will be released closer to launch.

[via Holden]

HOLDEN VOLT PROVIDES GLIMPSE OF AUSTRALIA'S DRIVING FUTURE

GM Holden has released the first images of the highly anticipated Volt extended range electric vehicle as it will appear on Australian roads.

The images, which show a right-hand-drive version of Volt sporting Holden badges on its aerodynamic front and rear, were released as part of Holden's presentation at the Melbourne International Motor Show.

It is a local take on the vehicle that has won widespread acclaim for its ability to travel up to 64 kilometres on electricity before using petrol or producing exhaust pipe emissions.

GM Holden Chairman and Managing Director Mark Reuss said the company had been overwhelmed by public interest in Volt since announcing it would launch in Australia in 2012.

"We think Volt has the potential to change the game in Australian motoring," Mr Reuss said.

"Since we announced our plans to introduce Volt to Australia, we have been overwhelmed by public interest in the car and the technology that makes it work.

"There is no doubt that Volt's advanced propulsion systems represent some of the most exciting alternative fuel developments in motoring.

"At Holden, we believe Volt will play an incredibly important role in our efforts to make motoring better for the environment," he said.

General Motors estimates that compared to similar sized petrol-powered vehicles, Volt will save motorists up to 1892 litres of fuel a year. This is based on US research that identifies 75 per cent of commuters travel an average daily distance of less than 40 miles (64 kilometres).

When Volt's battery energy is depleted, a small petrol engine generates enough electricity to power the vehicle for hundreds of additional kilometres.

GM also calculates that charging the vehicle at night through a standard power outlet will use less electricity annually than an average household refrigerator.

Volt is planned for manufacture at GM's Detroit-Hamtramck Assembly and is scheduled for launch in the US in late 2010. The right-hand-drive version will launch later.

Volt – How The Technology Works

Volt is an Extended-Range Electric Vehicle (E-REV). In a significant advance from conventional hybrids , it uses electricity to move its wheels at all times and speeds.
For trips of up to 64 kilometres, Volt is powered solely by the electricity stored in its battery without using petrol or producing exhaust pipe emissions.
When the battery's energy is depleted, a small petrol-powered engine generates electric power for the vehicle to travel hundreds of additional kilometres .
Advanced technology enables the vehicle's battery to be charged in less than three hours on a standard 240v power outlet. Charge times are reduced if the battery has not been fully depleted.
GM estimates that compared to petrol-powered vehicles that average 7.8 litres of fuel per 100 kilometres, Volt will save motorists up to 1892 litres of fuel a year.

Volt – Vehicle Details

The design of the Volt production car has evolved from an original concept that was unveiled at the 2007 North American International Auto Show in Detroit.
General Motors created an energy efficient design for the production vehicle, resulting in one of the most aerodynamic cars in the company's history.
Many of the design cues from the concept car have been carried over in the production Volt, including the closed front grille, athletic stance and rear design graphics.
Inside, Volt will offer the space, comfort, convenience and safety features that customers expect in a four-passenger sedan.

Volt – Battery Details

GM will establish the first lithium-ion battery pack manufacturing facility operated by a major automaker in the United States to produce the Volt's battery pack system.
It consists of lithium-ion cells that are grouped into modules, along with other key battery components.
The plant will be located in Michigan, subject to negotiations with state and local government authorities. Facility preparation will begin in early 2009, with production tooling to be installed mid-year and output starting in 2010.

If these get you in a Classic Ad Watch sort of mood, you might enjoy checking out our favorite Super Bowl Car Ads, then keep going with our Top 20 Vintage Datsun ads, Top 20 Vintage Toyota ads, and Top 20 Vintage Chrysler ads. If that's still not enough, you can go to the Top Car Commercials Of The 1960s, 1970s, 1980s, and 1990s. And now, our favorite (non-Chevrolet) vintage General Motors ads from North America, Europe, Australia, and South Africa:

1962 Oldsmobile Jetfire Turbo	1942 Oldsmobile B-44	1991 Oldsmobile Silhouette	1988 Pontiac Grand Am
1956 Oldsmobile 88	1973 Pontiac Grand Am	1968 Pontiac GTO	1970 Pontiac T37
1982 Pontiac 6000	1981 Vauxhall Cavalier	1969 Pontiacs	1985 Pontiac Fiero GT
1990 Geo Tracker	1979 Holdens	1973 Opels	1972 Holden Kingswood
1985 Pontiac Fiero	1971 Oldsmobile Delta 88	1985 Vauxhall Nova	1992 Opels (South Africa)
1985 Oldsmobile Cutlass Ciera	1970 Pontiac Firebird	1968 Opel GT	1982 Holden Station Wagons
2001 Pontiac Aztek	1986 Holden Astra	1960 Opel Kapitän	1974 Cadillacs

Be certain your seatbelts are securely fastened, your tray tables and seatbacks are in their upright and locked position, because these Kiwi hoons are about to take you on a triple burnout flight of awesome. Looking like some petrol twisted version of Greg Pike's, these guys pulled out a cabover flatbed truck with what sounds like a serious cam on it topped by what we're assuming is a Holden Ute, which is carrying a motorcycle in its bed. Add three drivers with a taste for tire smoke and you have a seriously glorious gratuitous display of horsepower. Wonder if we could slide a flatbed semi trailer underneath, and a nitromethane Traxxus RC truck on top for a five way burnout stack. We're not worthy.

Back in high school and middle school the wedgie (or as we called it, the wedge) was something you most certainly didn't want, under any circumstance and you definitely didn't appreciate it when it came along. But in car design, the wedge is something you can appreciate.

The beautiful and technical shape was used by many of the top design houses of the seventies and was a signal the future had officially arrived. While not the most aerodynamic form in practice, it certainly looked the part and helped usher in a new era of automotive design. Italian design houses ItalDesign, Bertone and Pininfarina were at the forefront of the movement, but the Japanese, Germans and the U.S. jumped on the bandwagon shortly thereafter

10) 1972 Lotus Esprit M70

First displayed at the Turin Motor Show in 1972, the Lotus Esprit M70 was designed by Giugiaro at Ital Design and was built on a widened and lengthened Europa chassis. After positive reviews from the public Colin Chapman decided to put the Esprit into production. The final design was completed in 1973 with many of the concept cues intact and when the then GM owned Lotus decided to build Peter Stevens redesign in 1987, many of those original cues remained.

Fun fact: that you couldn't call yourself a car guy without knowing already: Roger Moore drove a submersible version in the 1977 James Bond movie, The Spy Who Loved Me.

9) 1989 Vector W8

In 1989, after nearly two decades of development, Gerald Wiegert revealed his Vector W8 to the public. Extensive use of aeronautical building techniques were to be W8s selling point, but shoddy quality and a lack of funding eventually brought down the U.S.-built Lamborghini competitor in the mid-nineties. The W8 drew its inspiration from the 1968 Alfa Romeo Carabo and many other wedge cars in our list and is still a beautiful car today and you can pick up one of the few examples for a steal; nearly 20 percent of the original $685,000 asking price.

Fun fact: The Vector W8 was featured briefly in the 1993 movie, Rising Sun.

8) 1972 E25 BMW Turbo

The E25 BMW Turbo was initially built to celebrate the upcoming 1972 Summer Olympics in Munich, but was later used as the inspiration for the M1, 8-Series, Z1 and the new M1 Homage concept. BMW built the Turbo concept as a rolling display for new safety and engineering technologies as well as showing that BMW had officially left the difficult 60's behind. Penned by BMW's French head of design, Paul Bracq, the Turbo concept was styled after the most dramatic Italian supercars of the day and featured an advanced radar system that warned the driver of close objects such as curbs and cars.

Fun fact: The Turbo featured two BMW badges on the rear – symbolizing BMW's exceptional quality – a cue that made it onto the production M1 and M1 Homage concept.

7) 1978 Dome Zero

Dome was and still is a race car manufacturer in Japan and in 1978 they gave the world the Dome Zero concept at the Geneva Motor Show. Intended to show Dome's intention of building a homologation special for a new line of sportscars; it was unable to pass Japanese homologation. In 1979, Dome debuted a revised Zero, dubbed the P2, with U.S. market bumpers and safety equipment added to the design. In the same year, a racing effort was launched at Le Mans but the ‘Zero RL' failed to finish the race. Shortly after, investors pulled their funds and the Dome Zero was officially dead.

Fun fact: The Dome Zero was featured in Gran Turismo 4, Auto Modellista on the PS2 and Sega GT on the XBOX.

6) 1970 Lancia Stratos Zero

At the 1970 Turin Motor Show, Bertone showed off a styling exercise called the Lancia Stratos Zero. The Lancia Stratos HF roadcar was based very loosely off of this concept though the similarities are few and far between. The futuristic Zero stood 838mm tall and was so low that conventional doors could not be used and to gain access, drivers would have to raise the windshield and walk into the car.

Fun fact: The Stratos Zero appeared in Michael Jackson's 1988 film, Moonwalker.

5) 1972 Maserati Boomerang

In 1971 the Maserati Boomerang was shown at the Turin Motor Show as a mockup and then in 1972 the Geneva Motor Show saw the debut of the fully realized Maserati Boomerang concept. It sat next to the Lotus Esprit M70 as both were designed by Giugiaro at ItalDesign. At 1070mm high, it's not the shortest wedge in the list, but it did have a 15 degree windshield rake – the steepest rake you could achieve while maintaining visibility, albeit very little. ItalDesign used the Boomerang as inspiration when designing the DMC Delorean (most noticeable in the rear view) in the eighties.

Fun fact: Intended as a showcar, the Boomerang was registered as a roadcar and was actually sold in 1974 to a private collector which brings us to 2005 when it was auctioned at Christie's for a cool $1,000,000.

4) 1969 Holden Hurricane RD001

The Holden Hurricane was an experimental concept built in 1969 and was the first product of the GM Holden Research and Development group. The Hurricane's ultra low 990mm stance would have made ingress and egress difficult with traditional doors, so an electro-mechanical powered canopy was used and swung forward over the front wheels. Also included were power elevated seats that both rose up and out of the way along with the steering column to make exiting the Hurricane easier. When climbing into the car the seats would lower to a semi-reclined position and the roof would close overhead.

Fun fact: A similar canopy design was used on both the Saab Aero X and the Batmobile from the Tim Burton Batman movies.

3) 1970 Ferrari PF Modulo

Painted black for the 1970 Geneva Motor Show and then re-sprayed white for its debut at the 1970 Turin Motor Show; the Paulo Martin penned Pininfarina-Ferrari Modulo concept gained quite a reputation and won numerous international design awards – 22 of them – for a car that almost wasn't produced. The cars release was held for over a year because of an apprehensive Sergio Pininfarina. Developed using the Ferrari 512-S racer as a basis, the 935mm high PF Modulo was built to explore new construction technologies and to show off the raw passion of the Italian design house.

Fun fact: Paulo Martin was sketching a Rolls-Royce Camargue dashboard when the idea struck him to make the first sketch of the Modulo. You could say he was more than a little bored with the Rolls.

2) 1971 Lamborghini Countach

Designed by Gandini for Bertone in 1971, the original Lamborghini Countach concept was the most pure version the public would ever see of this car. The wild scissor doors were first seen on another car in our list (the Alfa Romeo Carabo concept) and were used primarily because of the extremely wide chassis, but we think the real reason is because Gandini knew every rice boy would want them on their econo-hatch some day. The Countach name was derived from the dialect of the Piedmont region in northern Italy, literally meaning astonishment and amazement. The pure design of the concept translated loosely into the production LP400 though it was short lived when splitters, wings and U.S. bumper requirements were added to the mix in the LP400S, LP500 and QV models.

Fun fact: The Countach was featured in the 1981 movie, The Cannonball Run, and is one of the most replicated cars to date.

1) 1968 Alfa Romeo Carabo

The 1968 Alfa Romeo Carabo is the most significant wedge car and paved the way for many of the cars on this list. Designed by Marcello Gandini of Bertone fame, it was revealed at Porte de Versailles in Paris in 1968 to an absolutely stunned crowd. The Lamborghini Countach concept that arrived 3 years later drew inspiration from the Carabo in its wedge form, wheel house openings and its notoriously cool scissor-doors, though the Countach wasn't the only car that took inspiration from the Carabo. You can see inspired cues from many sports cars and supercars like the Diablo, 4th gen Camaro and Vector. Vector took the inspiration quite literally by duplicating many of the shapes of the front and side profile in its W8. Many wealthy individuals tried to purchase the Carabo including an Arab prince or two, but thankfully Bertone decided to hold on to it and now the Carabo spends its days relaxing inside the Alfa Romeo museum in Arese, Italy.

Fun fact: The unique name "Carabo" and its green paint were derived from the small green beetle, Carabus Olympiae.

Honorable Mentions

Narrowing down our search for the top ten wedge cars was difficult and we couldn't let this list pass without mention of a few other notable wedges. The DMC DeLorean was the hardest to leave off the list based on its cult follow from the Back to the Future films. Another difficult car to omit was the popular Triumph TR7/TR8 which was produced from 1974 to 1981. In the gallery below you'll find the rest of the cars that we thought were worth mentioning. Enjoy!

[via Lotus Esprit Turbo]

(Hat tip to Tim!)

[Youtube]

The conversion kit includes a new hood, hood latch, hood insulator, front bumper fascia, upper grille, front bar fascia and fog lamps. All the badges will cost you extra, but by our estimation are well worth the extra $150. The price of a full upgrade? $1,990 for the base G8 or $3,880 to convert your GT into an HSV model. [via Autofiends]

Having recently moved north from my home town of Adelaide, South Australia to Brisbane, Queensland, I thought my days of seeing old beaters being used for daily transportation might've been over. Adelaide has a dry climate similar to Murilee's description of Alameda, and a lack of emissions testing or even regular roadworthies meant that I was able to drive around in almost anything I cared to pay a registration fee on, seemingly regardless of physical condition, provided it didn't prove a clear and present danger to other road users.

My old Sweeney-brown Mk I Grenada was a classic example. We'd stripped out the mouldy carpets and ratty door trims, and I drove it around for a month with a bare-bones steel interior, the cherry bomb on the RS2000-sourced four-pot reverberating all through the car with no NVH padding to muffle the noise, and brown gaffer tape that gave a close paint match covering up the more obvious rust around the base of the rear window.

I had been told by coworkers up here in Brisbane that Queensland has reasonably rigorous roadworthy inspections as part of their registration process, but to my pleasant surprise I've found that this may have been an exaggeration. Yesterday while I was having breakfast at the Northy Street markets in the city's inner north I spotted two beaten old survivors, both striking me as being DOTS:BE-worthy, even through I only had my cameraphone to hand.

In the 1970s before the introduction of bulk containerisation of shipping, Australia had a thriving industry in assembling CKD kits from other countries. Citroen, Renault and Peugeot all sold locally-produced versions of their vehicles, as did British Leyland. You could even buy Pontiac Parisiennes and other North American GM muscle through your local Holden dealership. I'm no expert de Citroen, but I believe that the smooth headlight covers mark this DS out as a post 1969 model. If this is actually a surviving Australian production model, it was kitted out with all sorts of niceties that were weren't even available as options to our Euro-brethren.

Based on the pattern of dropped berries surrounding it and the seriously underpressure front right, this 1960 Holden FB wagon might be better described as Broken Down On The Street, but these old 'Oldens are built in such a basic fashion that a hammer and a length of bailing wire are probably all that are needed to get it running again. In terms of styling, this generation of Holden was basically a 4/5 scale shoebox Chev. Note that at the time it was built these weren't called wagons - they were station sedans. These old FBs came standard with a fairly mild inline 'grey' six (named after the color the block was painted), but parts interchangeability is so broad within the Holden family from 1948 through to the mid 70s that there could be anything from a 68hp 2.1L grey six to 135hp 3.3L red six.

In the background of one of these shots you can see Ilsa, my 150hp Ford Fiesta XR4 (the local name for the outgoing Fiesta ST). She covered 2100 miles over my trip up north without skipping a beat, and every single one of them was a complete blast. But that's another story. I'll be keeping an eye out in the future for more DOTS:BE vehicles up here in the subtropical north, but I'm also wondering - do we have any other Brisbane-based Jalops?

Whether or not the Type 5 is a bargain depends on how you look at it. In the Australian market, prices should be about that of commonplace Japanese sportscars like the Mazda RX-8. So if performance is your highest priority, the Elfin has plenty of bang for the buck. Obviously though, an RX-8 is going to be much more comfortable, as a hardcore roadster like the Type 5 is...well, hardcore. As is usually the case though, we won't have to worry about this conundrum over here in America, because it won't ever be coming here. Looks like you'll have to just build a Caterham. [via MotorAuthority]

About 674,000 viewers watched episode 2, which was about 250,000 fewer than the first episode. Even worse, it was the least-watched show in its time slot, and only the 26th most-watched show of the whole night. Nonetheless, everyone feels the new Top Gear still has potential to improve. After all, the first season with Clarkson at the helm of the BBC show wasn't amazing either. [TheAge, YouTube] (Thanks Brett!)

Said the NRMA president, "For too long, Australia's automotive industry has been allowed to play by its own rules, setting paltry voluntary targets and consistently building and importing cars that consume more fuel than their overseas counterparts." That's ridiculous; voluntary standards always work... [Drive.com.au]

Although we expect automakers to scream about the new sticker destroying profitability and requiring at least 10 years of development work to implement, we think the program makes some serious sense. In fact, the numbers we've seen peg the potential savings at $240 million US dollars. Not bad for a cost per-vehicle of just $1.90.

Apparently, some automakers have already recognized the writing on the wall. Hyundai is installing the new tamper-resistant stickers on its entire Australian fleet, and Subaru, BMW, Audi and Porsche all used them on at least some models, resulting in improved theft rankings from NRMA Insurance. This all sounds like the kind of thing our friends at Unique Performance would be solidly against...if, you know, they weren't going to jail.
[Drive.com.au; (Photo Credit: Insurance.com)]

Last week while driving through my old neighborhood in Anaheim, CA, I saw this parked over in an industrial parking lot. Yes I know it's cheating but given the expiration date of the plate this car has not moved in a while (Expired in 94). It looks factory but I have been having a hard time finding an example online to verify. Anyways, onto what it is... THis appears to be an 84ish Holden Stateman Caprice. Basically a Aussieamino on US soil. This one appears to be pretty well optioned for a "truck" of its vintage but that just makes it a little bit cooler.

That's right, although Holden may be the new Pontiac, the General has denied us this bit of sportwagon goodness. Come on Uncle Bob, build some excitement in our pants and reverse that decision on the Pontiac G8 GXP Sport Wagon. You know you want to. And you know we want to get a shot at renaming it the "Station Wagon." [WheelsMag]

The admittedly rare Holden has been a ward of Charlie's since he bought it second hand for $575 in 1970. While $1.2 mill sounds like an insane asking price, Mr. McCarron has already turned down offers of $900k for the car. From the sounds of things, there's been little needed in the way of upkeep, and if Charlie eventually finds a buyer for the car, he's looking at a return on investment somewhere in the neighborhood of 2,085%. Not bad for an old car huh? [CarsGuide]

Bow that we've had to listen to some outback lounge singer's interpretation of Issac Hayes, we need to flush all memory of that experience from our minds with a dose of the real thing.

New LS3 engine to power HSV from April

Holden Special Vehicles today announced a running change to its award winning E-Series and WM Grange vehicles, with the new GM LS3 engine to be fitted across the range for cars on-sale from April.

The upgrade will see the ClubSport R8, GTS, Senator Signature, Maloo R8 and WM Granges power output rise to 317kW.

Managing Director Scott Grant said the new engine was a welcome upgrade to the range of vehicles from Australias luxury and performance car maker.

We know our customers want the latest and greatest technology in their cars, Scott Grant said.

The General Motors LS3 engine continues the HSV tradition of scouring the world for technological advancements to enhance the driving experience.

It is built by General Motors Powertrain in North America and is available in the current Chevrolet Corvette. It will also be the engine used in the new Pontiac GXP, to be built by Holden in Elizabeth from the end of 2008 and exported to the United States.

The HSV LS3 engine has a capacity of 6.2 litres, producing 317kW of power at 6000rpm and 550NM of torque at 4600 rpm, as fitted to the HSV range.

Despite the power output increase, the new engine will deliver a slight improvement in fuel economy for Maloo R8 and WM Grange, while the short wheel base models return figures of 14.5 litres per 100km, as opposed to 14.4ltr/100km for E-Series LS2, in automatic mode.

Production of the new LS3 range begins this month and is available in dealerships from April. Vauxhall s VXR8 and the CSV R8, sold in the United Kingdom and Middle East respectively, will also receive the LS3 engine in 2008. New Zealand launches the LS3 engine with a limited edition Murph pack themed ClubSport R8 and Maloo R8.

HSV have released a new colour palette to coincide with the engine upgrade and for the first time WM Grange and Senator Signature will be available in Red Hot. Automatic transmission coolers are standard across the upgraded range. HSV will also introduce a new 20 inch wheel option across its fleet, including Grange, Senator Signature and ClubSport R8.

The wheel is a $2500 option for those customers and a no-cost option for GTS and Maloo R8 performance pack purchasers. The running changes have also resulted in a new pricing schedule with average price increases of between 1.3% and 2.8%.

We'll let them tell the story on this very serious business-in-the-front ute:

We started building our new project car, a VE SS Ute 3 weeks before Summernats. There were many late nights spent building an Engine, Strengthening the Driveline and Developing the Supercharger kit to where it is now.

The engine was stroked to 409 cubic inches, with a one off crank, rods and pistons installed to ensure the engine could withstand over 20psi of boost at 7200rpm. A Custom Camshaft and Ported Big Valve Heads were also used in the build. A custom supercharger kit was developed to allow a V7 YSi Supercharger to be driven off the crank with a 50mm gilmer pulley system. The supercharger kit install includes larger 3.5" pipework and a Custom 200mm thick intercooler with Mondo Bypass Valve mounted behind the front bumper. Exhaust Gasses leave the engine via CAPA 1 7/8" Tri-Y Extractors and a Twin 3" Exhaust.

With all the extra power up front, the drivetrain and brakes had to be upgraded accordingly, with a built T-56 gearbox, Twin Plate Clutch and Full Spool 3.45" installed. Touring Car inspired brakes help bring the Ute to a halt, with 365mm 6 Piston Front and 320mm 4 Piston Rear Brakes sitting behind 22" wheels wrapped in 245mm and 265mm wide rubber. The car sits lower to the ground using Bilstien Coil-overs specifically set up for this ute.

Additional fuel is supplied by an alloy fuel tank, 3 bosch motorsport pumps and a Vortech Super FMU.

We entered our ute in the Horsepower Heroes dyno competition, and it made 856.6 Horsepower at the wheels. The Ute is capable of producing more power, but we had some unfortunate issues with the Clutch slipping. We will be working with Xtreme to build a more powerful clutch before we run the ute up again, which should see the Ute produce over 1000 Horsepower at the wheels. We also took home the Top Super Tech Trophy, which was awarded to the best Street Car which features New Technology and High Levels of Innovation.

And what about the fictional cars? There are at least a few V8 Interceptors running around the outback doing their best Mad Max. What's your favorite Australian car, old or new?