@wheelsaustralia 73
underpin a vast swathe of global GM
products that never ultimately eventuated.
But if the by-product of that engineering
thoroughness is the bank-vault solidity of
our 13,500km test Redline – one that has
surely been ‘run-in’ with great enthusiasm
by the media – then every cent of that
investment was money well spent.
Indeed, if the legacy of the Australian
auto industry is the VFII Commodore SS-V
Redline, then what a way to go out. It’ll
be an incredibly hard act to follow when
performance versions of the next Opel
Insignia replace it, but I bet the Aussies
working on the project are fighting hard for
something at least as good as this – Holden’s
most complete performance car ever.
As for the similarly superb SS-V Redline
ute, well, there’s still more than 12 months
left in the tank to snap up one of those.
And then, crickets...
Ford versus Holden, blue versus red,
XR versus SS, Broadmeadows versus
Fishermens Bend. In a generation or so
the young-uns won’t know how intense the
rivalry was, and probably won’t care.
But given the depth of our love for hot-
blooded Aussie sedans, what you see
on these pages isn’t about to be cotton-
woolled away for eternity.
Not when it’s all about the driving.
Performance
Power-to-weight: 169kW per tonne
Redline/cut-out: 6000/6700rpm
Speed at indicated 100km/h: 95
Speed in gears
58km/h @ 6000rpm
99km/h @ 6000rpm
153km/h @ 6000rpm
203km/h @ 6000rpm
250km/h @ 5450rpm*
250km/h @ 4300rpm*
Standing-start acceleration
0-20km/h: 0.8sec
0-40km/h: 1.6sec
0-60km/h: 2.5sec
0-80km/h: 3.6sec
0-100km/h: 4.9sec
0-120km/h: 6.7sec
0-140km/h: 8.4sec
0-160km/h: 10.7sec
0-180km/h: 13.3sec
0-200km/h: 16.7sec
0-220km/h: –
0-400m: 13.1sec @ 178.3km/h
Rolling acceleration: Drive
80-12Okm/h: 3.0sec
Braking distance
10Okm/h-0:37.4mPerformance
Power-to-weight: 184kW per tonne
Redline/cut-out: 6000/6250rpm
Speed at indicated 100km/h: 99
Speed in gears
66 km/h @ 6000rpm
118km/h @ 6000rpm
182km/h @ 6000rpm
230km/h @ 5680rpm*
230km/h @ 4350rpm*
230km/h @ 3450rpm*
Standing-start acceleration
0-20km/h: 0.8sec
0-40km/h: 1.6sec
0-60km/h: 2.5sec
0-80km/h: 3.6sec
0-100km/h: 4.8sec
0-120km/h: 6.1sec
0-140km/h: 7. 9 s e c
0-160km/h: 9.7sec
0-180km/h: 11.7sec
0-200km/h: 14.8sec
0-220km/h: 18.2sec
0-400m: 12.7sec @ 186.8km /h
Rolling acceleration: Drive
80- 1 2Okm/h: 2.5sec
Braking distance
1 0Okm/h-0:36.9mPerformance
Power-to-weight: 179kW per tonne
Redline/cut-out: 6000/6250rpm
Speed at indicated 100km/h: 98
Speed in gears
66km/h @ 6000rpm
118km/h @ 6000rpm
182km/h @ 6000rpm
230km/h @ 5680rpm*
230km/h @ 4350rpm*
230km/h @ 3450rpm*
Standing-start acceleration
0-20km/h: 0.9sec
0-40km/h: 1.7sec
0-60km/h: 2.6sec
0-80km/h: 3.7sec
0-100km/h: 4.8sec
0-120km/h: 6.3sec
0-140km/h: 8.2sec
0-160km/h: 10.2sec
0-180km/h: 12.7sec
0-200km/h: 16.5sec
0-220km/h: –
0-400m: 12.9sec @ 181.5km/h
Rolling acceleration: Drive
80-12Okm/h: 2.5sec
Brakingdistance
10Okm/h-0:36.7m1 2 3 4 5 69.0/ 10
A superb all-round performance car;
V8 induction bellow; dynamics; value
Not as many USB ports as a Falcon;
dated headlights; thick A-pillars
Track: Sydney Dragway, dry. Temp: 18°C.
Driver: Nathan Ponchard *Speed limited.
Warranty: 3yr/100,000km. Service interval:
12 months/15,000km. Glass’s 3-year resale: 43%
AAMI insurance: $14168.0/ 10
More dynamically cohesive than its
six-pack sibling; buff and barky V8
Deserved the old FPV GT-P’s seats;
average stereo; yesteryear cabin
Track: Sydney Dragway, dry. Temp: 22°C.
Driver: Nathan Ponchard *Speed limited.
Warranty: 3yr/100,000km. Service interval:
12 months/15,000km. Glass’s 3-year resale: 43%
AAMI insurance: n/a
** Includes metallic paint ($500)Verdict 7.5/ 10
Smooth and stealthy; turbo thrust;
cool styling mods; almost XR8-quick
Lacks throttle progression; jiggly
ride; nervy steering; no manual
Track: Sydney Dragway, dry. Temp: 20°C.
Driver: Nathan Ponchard *Speed limited.
Warranty: 3yr/100,000km. Service interval:
12 months/15,000km. Glass’s 3-year resale: 43%
AAMI insurance: n/aFORD FALCON XR6 SPRINT
$54,990/As tested $54,990
Drivetrain
Engine in-line 6, dohc, 24v, turbo
Layout front engine (north-south), rear drive
Capacity 3984cc
Power 325kW @ 6000rpm
Torque 576Nm @ 2750rpm
Transmission 6-speed automaticChassis
Body steel, 4 doors, 5 seats
L/W/H/W–B 4950/1868/1493/2838mm
Front/rear track 1583/1598mm
Weight 1818kg
Boot capacity 535 litres
Fuel/capacity 98 octane/68 litres
Fuel consumption 13.6L/100km (test average)
Suspension
Front: double A-arms, coil springs,
anti-roll bar Rear: multi-links,
coil springs, anti-roll barSteering power rack-and-pinion
Turning Circle 12.3m (2.6 turns lock-to-lock)
Front brakes ventilated discs (355mm)
Rear brakes ventilated discs (330mm)
Tyres Pirelli P Zero
Tyre size 245/35ZR19 (f), 265/35ZR19 (r)Safety
NCAP rating (AUS)HOLDEN SS-V REDLINE
$56,690/As tested $56,690
V8 (90°), ohv, 16v
front engine (north-south), rear drive
6162cc
304kW @ 6000rpm
570Nm @ 4400rpm
6-speed automaticsteel, 4 doors, 5 seats
4966/1898/1471/2915mm
1593/1590mm
1803kg
495 litres
98 octane/71 litres
13.6L/100km (test average)Front: struts, A-arms, anti-roll bar
Rear: multi-links, coil springs,
anti-roll barelectric rack-and-pinion
11.4m (2.7 turns lock-to-lock)
ventilated discs (355mm)
ventilated discs (360mm)
Bridgestone Potenza RE050A
245/40R19 (f), 275/35R19 (r)(AUS)
FORD FALCON XR8 SPRINT
$62,190/As tested $62,690**
V8 (90°), dohc, 32v, supercharger
front engine (north-south), rear drive
4951cc
345kW @ 5750rpm
575Nm @ 2220-6250rpm
6-speed automaticsteel, 4 doors, 5 seats
4950/1868/1493/2838mm
1583/1598mm
1872kg
535 litres
98 octane/68 litres
14.3L/100km (test average)Front: double A-arms, coil springs,
anti-roll bar Rear: multi-links,
coil springs, anti-roll barpower rack-and-pinion
12.4m (2.4 turns lock-to-lock)
ventilated discs (355mm)
ventilated discs (330mm)
Pirelli P Zero
245/35ZR19 (f), 265/35ZR19 (r)(AUS)