Walkinshaw Special Vehicles

[theeone]

I'm confused, theres too many Commodes to dislike now.

So TW is putting his name to a range of performance options for the Lion.

I'd say conflict but, they say its more customizing from brakes to full house club cars.

I think Expensive Daewoo might be confused as to the publics opinion of Mr Wakinshaw. Talk about a hole that didnt need filling.

Check the Cars Guide for article.

[Dagabond]

Tom's been doing commodores for years...

Case in point:

http://carsguide.news.com.au/story/0,20384...0-21822,00.html

Mission possible for Tom's top cruisers

02 June 2006

Paul Gover

A one-stop hot Holden shop with up to 370kW on tap has just opened. But it is not just another backyard tuning centre, as the man behind the business is Holden's fast-car supremo Tom Walkinshaw. He has set up Walkinshaw Performance under the same umbrella as Holden Special Vehicles,

Holden By Design and the red lion's two factory-backed V8 Supercar teams, HRT and HSV Dealer Team.

The objective is a fast-car factory, which is tapped to the road and racing work by the rest of the Walkinshaw empire, but takes things further for people who want everything from a little extra cornering or braking grip to an all-out custom car.

Walkinshaw Performance chief executive Chris Payne, says: "We have the credentials to say we know Commodore better than anyone else out there.

"Tom's name on this new business is also significant. His achievements in motorsport and long association with Holden with road cars and racing give us a strong pedigree and point of difference in this aftermarket field.

"This is a massive industry and we want to do it properly. We are probably last into the market, but we have 18 years experience with Holden and within six to 12 months we plan to have a range of totally new products."

The new business has been established in Melbourne's Clayton Business Park, where the rest of the Walkinshaw empire is located. It has a six-member staff and a workshop capable of handling up to six cars.

Importantly, Payne says he has also built three demonstrator cars -- including the 370kW supercharged hero -- so people can see, touch and drive before they buy.

"We test and develop the products we sell, and test them in different combinations and packages. And it's not just Commodore, we have also done an Astra," he says.

"People can come and see and drive our cars to test the outcome. We think that's unique in the aftermarket world."

Walkinshaw Performance has plans to expand to other states before the end of the year, just as it is already operating in Britain -- with both Vauxhall and Mitsubishi -- and will soon move into the Middle East.

It also belongs to the Australian Aftermarket Association. Payne stresses the split between Walkinshaw Performance and the group's other Holden businesses, highlights the new operation's extra freedom.

"We are not a lot different to others in the aftermarket. We're not promising any greater warranty, but promising more expertise," he says. "That's because of what we know about the road car and the racing side of operations. We established it outside our HSV or HBD arrangements, it is part of our racing enterprise."

The racing link will be cemented when the Commodores of Mark Skaife, Todd Kelly, Garth Tander and Rick Kelly carry the new Walkinshaw Performance logo - in the same silver as the very first HSV Commodore later this season.

[RAP1D]

Yeah he puts his name on all sorts... befor the T I had a Walkinshaw Volvo

[Adam]

A factory backed tuning house is going to kick goals without a doubt.

[saleen]

Buy one of them, you'd soon be Walkin' sure.

[Paradoxx]

So they pay him some more money to put his name on some products... how does that mean they are quality or value for money? It really doesn't...

[thebrunks]

If they're anything like the VL Walkinshaws, they'll be a good thing. the VL's had all the good gear for the time!!

Russ

[slikxr6t]

Walkinshaw Performance had their show car at Winton last weekend with some fairly good looking gear attached, superchargers, etc. The quality of the stuff looked impressive, sure they'll do OK with the Dunnydore crowd.

[chipa_12]

little bit off topic but I always thought that the Walkinshaw body kits were the ugliest thing in the world...

when we were younger and wet behind the ears my mates and I used to refer to them as having body kit on top of its body kits...

just seemed that way to us.....

[drcook]

im sure they'll do a good job... but imagine the expence