HSV GTSR W1: Performance Car of the Year 2018 5th Place

If hardcore had a part number, it’d be found in the workshop manual for the GTSR W1.

Add huge brakes, a dry-sumped engine and the sort of suspension that is normally found under a Supercar and you have yourself something that should come with a XXX rating and ‘adults only’ sticker. When you get your jaw back up off the floor, the actual driving part of the W1 is damn impressive, too.

That said, it spins up so readily and eagerly, that you’re never waiting too long. That’s especially true with the modified gearset fitted to the W1 and, with a taller first three gears and a shorter last three, the shifter keeps you busy when you’re tracking it. The clutch pedal is a man-sized proposition, too, and although the shift itself is pretty sharp, this is still a car you have to deliberately drive.

The truth is not quite so extravagant. The R-Spec tyres, for instance, will be a liability in some circumstances. The close ratio gearing means the W1 is busier at a freeway cruise than a standard-issue GTS. And the suspension is getting up there for being as stiff as the set-up in a Supercar heading for a street circuit – so the ride isn’t great.

It’s probably a moot point, anyway, since most W1s are destined to live a pampered, trickle-charged, security-garaged existence. Irony being what it is, the fastest HSV ever is also the one that is least likely to ever be driven.

Instead, it dug deep and gave us the W1, ensuring that the whole thing went out with a bang, not a whimper. And for that, we must be thankful.

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2018 HSV GTSR W1 SPECS: Body: 4-door, 5-seat sedan Drive: rear-wheel Engine: 6162cc V8, OHV, 16v, supercharger Bore/Stroke: 103.1 x 92.0mm Compression ratio: 9.1:1 Power: 474kW @ 6500rpm Torque: 815Nm @ 3900rpm Power/Weight: 250kW/tonne Transmission: 6-speed manual Kerb weight: 1895kg Suspension: struts, A-arms, anti-roll bar (f); multi-links, coil springs, anti-roll bar (r) Brakes: 410mm ventilated/drilled discs, 6-piston calipers (f); 372mm ventilated/drilled discs, single-piston calipers (r) Wheels: 20.0 x 9.0-inch (f); 20.0 x 10.0-inch (r) Tyres Sizes: 265/35 R20 (f); 295/30 R20 (r) Tyres: Pirelli P Zero Trofeo R Price: $169,990

0-100km/h: 4.16sec (6th) 0-400m: 12.18sec @ 195.68km/h (6th)

Morley – 5th I feel privileged to have given a W1 a good thrashing at PCOTY. Most won’t be so lucky.

Campbell – 5th Epic engine feels naturally aspirated. I just want one.

Newman – 4th A loveable monster – works on road, awesome on track. Goodbye big fella.

Robson – 3rd A fine rear-driver and the best VF ever… but it’s not the best car here.

Reynolds – =4th Excellent brakes, heaps of grip, but not as much power as I thought there’d be.

JUDGES’ SCOREBOARD