TORANA
IS REBORN!
Holden unveils
twin-turbo medium-sized
hatchback concept in Sydney
By MARTON PETTENDY

TORANA is back.
As revealed exclusively in GoAuto e-news last
month, Holden has created – and now taken the
wraps off – a stunning new mid-sized concept car
that resurrects the Torana nameplate and features a
twin-turbo version of the new Port Melbourne-built
Alloytec V6.
Dubbed the “Torana TT36”, the hot-pink
hatchback is tangible evidence that the idea of a
medium-sized rear-drive Holden to rival the likes of
BMW’s all-conquering 3 Series – a concept openly
pursued at one point by former Holden boss Peter
Hanenberger – remains alive and well at Fishermens
Bend … and beyond.
It’s also proof of the performance potential
available in Commodore’s 3.6-litre V6.
By applying twin KO4 Warner turbochargers, an
air-to-air intercooler and variable valve actuation to
its Alloytec 190, then dropping the compression to
9.0:1, Holden engineers were able to deliver a power
peak of 280kW and no less than 480Nm of torque,
with 90 per cent available from just 1600rpm.
Despite being offi cially described as a hand-built
experimental engine, its output sends a clear signal
that, come the next generation VE Commodore
from 2006, Holden will be able to strike back at
Ford’s successful XR6 Turbo with a force-fed sixcylinder
of its own.
Combined with a heavy-duty six-speed manual
transmission with a fi nal drive ratio of a short 3:73
– and a kerb weight that should easily undercut
Commodore’s – Torana TT36 would also be a
performance powerhouse in its own right. If it gets
the green light.
Describing TT36 as Torana’s spiritual successor,
Holden chairman and managing director Denny
Mooney said the concept – originally named
XP54, indicating it’s an experimental project and
recognising Holden’s so-called Studio 54 design
workshop in Melbourne’s outer suburbs – differs
from previous Holden concepts by sharing elements
of GM’s global vehicle underpinnings.
These are believed to include GM’s rear-drive
Kappa architecture, from which the Pontiac Solstice
roadster is built, but GoAuto also understands the
Torana could have been modified heavily enough
to take on a whole new GM platform name of its
own.
One source suggests this new name could be Beta. “Torana TT36 represents a revolution in concept car design
at Holden. We’ve unveiled several examples of our design
fl exibility and build capability in recent years but this car is
exceptional for yet another reason,” Mr Mooney said.
“All recent showcars have been based on our Commodore
V-car platform. Torana TT36, on the other hand, shares many basic
structural elements with the latest GM sports concepts and much of its
chassis componentry is sourced directly from GM.
“It is the fi rst Holden showcar to merge Australian design
and engineering expertise with GM technical resources. Quite
simply, for us it is a ‘game changer’ in automotive design and
production.”
GM product supremo Bob Lutz is on record as saying a
global market of 120,000 vehicles would need to be found
to make Torana manufacture viable – a production volume
Holden, which already produces 180,000 Commodore-based vehicles annually,
is not in a position to meet.
But if a large section of Torana’s potential market was found in Asian markets closer to Australia than the Wilmington, Delaware plant that currently produces all Kappa architecture-based GM vehicles, production of Torana by Holden in a dedicated Australian factory could prove a reality.At the very least, Holden stands to gain lucrative royalties from its intellectual
design property if Torana is produced offshore.
Completed only last weekend, construction of the Torana TT36 showcar
began just fi ve months ago following initial work by former Holden design
director Mike Simcoe, who passed the baton to his successor Tony Stolfo, under
whose leadership UK youngster Ewan Kingsbury fi nished the project.
Said to “showcase bold directional design themes”, the four-seater hatch
features a minimalist black-and-white
leather interior, panoramic glass sunroof extending from
the steeply raked windscreen to the hatch and 20-inch,
10-spoke alloys.
“It’s very performance-driven in terms of the size of
the apertures, the air intakes and grille,” said Mr Stolfo.
“The fenders and quarter panels are pumped to accentuate width and stance.
“It also displays some of the key proportions we’ll see in future cars generally:
front wheels forward, minimal overhang, high belt lines and a high deck. All
these elements create strength and purpose and deliver expressive contemporary
styling.
“The hatch style gives us a very fast line running over the top, and we’ve
given it strong directional lines. In terms of overall design intent, it’s far more
sophisticated sports machine than street machine.
“And because it’s a vehicle which delivers a really large interior compartment
in relation to its exterior size, it shows off our packaging skills, which are a
traditional Holden strength.”
The original Torana was built locally between 1974 and 1979 and last
conquered Bathurst in V8 A9X guise some 25 years ago.