Even the “refined” tastes of the UK appear poised for the arrival of some Holden horsepower & design as the HSV W427 and its 570-hp fresh from their Melbourne debut are getting rebadged as the Vauxhall VXR8 for the UK market. Powered by the new Corvette ZO6’s LS7 7.0 liter V8 engine the HSV W427 has been stated to have 570 hp, the Holden HSV W427 is aggressively targeted at the BMW M5 and the Audi RS6. Why should they aim for less?

The Holden HSV W427 (not the easiest name to say) is priced in the area between $140,000 to $170,000 Aussie dollars and will have its rebadged Vauxhall version in the UK priced at 55,000 Pounds ($110,000 US).  The HSV W427 is certainly a brute force sedan with reclassed styling and refinement for a GM product, but at a price similar to the M5 will the Holden/Vauxall name plate win against a BMW head-to-head. Judging by Automobile Mag’s comparison of a G8 GT to a BMW 550i…. maybe.

The Pontiac G8 GT is based off the same Holden Commodore design as the HSV W427, and with its 361-hp engine it competed nicely against the 550i of BMW at nearly half the price. The only disparity was in the interior where the GM plastics, while much improved from prior attempts, were really no match for the classic elegance of the BMW’s.  However, at half the price some disparities can be forgiven. By pricing the Vauxhall VXR8 too close to the BMW M5, and despite the Corvette power, it could be a tough sell in a Euro-first market. As long as they can keep the US executives/designers hands out of the rebadging process the Vauxhall VRX8 will have a better chance.

As the Pontiac GXP Sedan receives praise for its performance and design by among the auto scribes of both print and web, Edmunds InsideLine reports that hope for the GXP Coupe version is still alive… but barely.

Immediately following the passing of the recent CAFE standards fuel mileage bill into law the mighty execs. at Pontiac and GM scrapped the ideas for their performance cars the G8 GXP Sedan, Ute and Coupe like children tossing toys when their mother says “Go to bed.” After some wrangling and since they were obviously far enough ahead on the project to have it out this year, the G8 GXP Sedan version has survived to see production. The Ute model has also been revived and is now working toward seeing the dealership showrooms, as some believe it was Bob Lutz’s affinity for the Ute that got them this far. Now the battle begins for the Coupe, and word is that right now the battle is at a stalemate.

Pontiac’s recent flirtings with the “excitement” that they feel GM and the Government is trying to deprive them are all based on designs from their Aussie GM family member Holden. The G8 is derived from the Holden Monaro and the Holden Commodore Ute, that is Monaro from the cab forward, is the bases for the G8 Ute here in the states. So too the G8 Coupe would find its design inspiration from a recently unveiled design at the Melbourne Auto Show in Australia. It is the Holden Coupe 60 (full gallery to follow) and it is the latest refashioning of the older design last known as the GTO in the states.

According to the Automotive News and a few sources from GM the odds look good that Pontiac could be the recipient of a new Ute and Sportswagon to model along their G8. GM’s Australian company Holden received some positive attention from their release of the VE Commodore Ute; especially when they included their 362-hp V8 engine in its SS package. Pontiac will hope to make the same splash with their version of the Ute in the US.

Consideration was made about making both models GMC cars, but it was decided that the VE Commodore Ute and the Sportwagon concept would compliment the Pontiac lineup best.

Holden has taken their Commodore sedan and applied the old utility treatment to it. They chopped out the sedan from the B-pillars back and gave it a little truck bed. Adding a perfect accent to the ute back is some aggressive fascia and side skirts. The standard VE version comes with a 241-hp 3.6 liter V6 matted with four-speed automatic transmission or a 261-hp when paired with a 6-speed manual transmission. Ofcourse, Holden did not stop there as they are pairing the VE ute with the SS treatment.

The SS-V version of the Holden ute has GM’s 6.0 liter V8 engine that is putting out 362-hp. So my question is do the Australian’s really need another modified sedan with a high-powered engine? Is the TRD Aurion sedan with its supercharged V6 putting out 329-hp not enough?