By EWAN KENNEDY 
28 August 2006

On first sighting of the stunning new VE Commodore SS at its reveal in Melbourne a few weeks ago, our thoughts moved to the upcoming HSV models. The overwhelming feeling was that the SS had such a strong shape that it would be difficult to improve on it.

We need not have worried. HSV's chief designer, Julian Quincey has done an excellent job of radically stretching out the styling envelope to create the just-announced E series models.

The frontal shape of the new HSV ClubSport R8 and GTS is distinguished by huge cutouts in the extreme corners of the bumper. With dramatic angles that continue outwards from the central air intake, then set the theme for the run-back to the large guards, they look like nothing we have ever seen before.

Note also that the fender vents now run almost to the full height of the guard; that the lower skirt is deep and purposeful, though perhaps not quite as dramatic as we had anticipated; and that the rear lights now feature fast-acting LED technology. The latter set in an interesting interlocking circular design.

The rear wing is more subtle than we have seen in other HSV models, but presumably won’t attract the attention of the law enforcement guys as quickly.

Wheel styling is way out, with a complex twin-five-spoke shape that attracts the eye – though you do have to look at the three-dimensional shape for a long time to work out just what intersects with what and where it does it. (If that doesn’t all sound a bit too Irish!)

At any rate these huge alloy wheels, 19-inch on the R8 and 20-inch on the GTS, carry serious rubber that promises plenty of traction and stability under all circumstances.

HSV uses the latest in electronically-controlled dampers with a system it calls MRC, or Magnetic Ride Control. This varies the damper (shock absorber) settings either manually or automatically according to road surface and/or driver demands. It should be at its best at track days.

Power comes from a further revised version of the HSV 6.0-litre LS2 V8 engine. Maximum output has been increased from 400 horsepower to 410 bhp (or 297 kW to 304 kW if you aren't a muscle car person). Torque peaks at 550 Newton metres.

HSV tells us that its top cars can complete the zero-to-100 km/h dash in under five seconds for the first time. At this stage we haven’t had the opportunity to drive any of the new HSV models, but will do so in the near future and report on our on-road, and perhaps on-track, findings once we have done so.

If all this way out styling is too much for you, HSV continues to offer a more sedate look in the form of the new E series luxury-performance model, the Senator Signature. It uses the same engine as the other models and rides on 19-inch wheels.

HSV is justifiably proud of its new E series and considers the cars can stand wheel to wheel with the best in the high-performance world. Cheekily, part of the media kit is a postcard carrying an evocative photo of an HSV GTS on the front, with the words "Australia 1 – Germany 0" sitting provocatively above it. We are presumably being invited to mail it to our friends in that country!

The company’s CEO, Phil Harding boasts, "…there is no other European product that competes under $200,000 that offers the same power and performance".

HSV ClubSport R8 begins at a modest $62,890; the GTS is priced at $74,990 and the topline Senator has a recommended retail of $76,990.