2014 Walkinshaw Supercharged V8 Review: 500kW And 550kW – Release The Beast
What’s hot: Gut-busting power and torque, blistering performance, sensational sound.
What’s not: The ‘whole enchilada’ is a bit boofy; massive thirst when tapped.
X-FACTOR: No roll cage, but this Walkinshaw upgrade turns an SS or R8 into a ‘V8 Supercar’ for the streets.
Vehicle style: Large high-performance sedan
WPP Kit Price: $24,990
Base cars: Commodore SS VF 6.0 litre ($45,190 plus WPP kit)
HSV E-Series Clubsport R8 ($73,490 plus WPP kit)
OVERVIEW
When you ‘nail’ 550kW and nearly 1000Nm, things don’t happen merely quickly. They explode.
Even with traction control engaged, there’s a frantic scrabbling at the rear as it tries to control what’s being unloaded at the wheels. And then you’re gone, vamoosed.
But is it fun?
Hmm, let me think about that for a split-fraction of a nanosecond. Fun isn’t close. It’s more than that; it is spiritual, mesmerising... releasing all that power is like flying.
This is driving the Walkinshaw supercharged twins - the 500kW 6.0 litre V8 and the 550kW 6.2 litre.
The first began life as a 6.0 litre Commodore SS, the second, the 6.2 litre, HSV’s thumping Clubsport R8. Each, most would think, fast enough.
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