Meet General Motors’ 6.2-litre ‘LSA’ V8 – an engine that will make the new MY14 HSV GTS the most powerful Australian-built car.

Ever.

To hit Aussie roads in August, it’s a US-sourced, 430kW supercharged powerplant that will not only dwarf its competition, but set a new benchmark for Australian-built performance.

Basically, it’s mega.

So to celebrate its arrival, we thought it appropriate to rip off the engine cover and take a closer look.

The figures

Displacement (cu in / cc): 376 / 6162

Bore & stroke (in / mm): 4.06 / 103.25 x 3.62 / 92.0

Block material: cast aluminium

Cylinder head material: cast aluminium

Valvetrain: overhead valve, two valves per cylinder

Fuel delivery:1.9L supercharger with intercooler; sequential fuel injection

Compression ratio: 9.1:1

Power (kW @ rpm): 430 @ 6000

Torque (Nm @ rpm): 740 @ 4200

Maximum engine speed (rpm): 6200

How does it compare?

In the ongoing power war between Holden and Ford, the LSA is a nuclear bomb.

Gone are the days of Ford and Holden making incremental 10kW gains in power. Instead, the LSA is a massive 105kW (or 32 percent) more powerful than the current E3 HSV GTS, and 95kW up on FPV’s supercharged Falcon GT R-spec – a car that previously held the title as Australia’s fastest car.

It fact, the LSA is even more powerful than the BMW M5 (412kW/680Nm), and is only matched in output by the Mercedes-Benz E63 S AMG – a 430kW/800Nm version of the facelifted E63, available with 4matic all-wheel-drive for left-hook markets, but only in rear-drive for those who steer from the right.

History

First shown to the world in 2008 in the Cadillac CTS-V, the LSA is closely related to General Motor’s most powerful engine – the 462kW 6.2-litre supercharged LS9.

The biggest difference is the displacement of the Eaton four-lobe-rotor supercharger, with the LSA utilising a smaller blower and lower compression ratio. Lower pressure means the LSA doesn’t need the LS9’s forged pistons or its titanium connecting rods.

Other models to use the LSA include Chevrolet’s Camaro ZL1 – a close cousin to the Gen-F GTS that shares its Zeta platform architecture.

Holden Special Vehicles has confirmed the name of its new line-up, based on the soon-to-be-released VF Commodore, as Gen-F.

In announcing the new naming structure, HSV sales and marketing chief, Tim Jackson said, “We had three basic objectives. Firstly, we needed to ensure we referenced our vehicle’s relationship with Holden’s VF. Secondly, we have a new generation vehicle so we wanted to use language that people would find easily relatable. And finally, we wanted it to be simple.”

Jackson added some predictions regarding the spec of HSV’s next generation offerings were, “On the mark”, confirming all would be revealed at Gen-F’s May 15 launch.

In its April, 2013 issue, MOTOR magazine pointed to likely technology transfer from Chevrolet to HSV, including the addition of a supercharged, 432kW/754Nm 6.2-litre (LSA) V8 engine, as well as a ‘smart’ electronic limited-slip differential, and the latest ‘Magnetic Ride Control’ suspension system, as used in the new C7 Corvette.

The latest addition to Rolls-Royce’s exclusive ‘Bespoke Collection’ marks 100 years since one of the famous marque’s most significant achievements.

A century ago this June, four Rolls-Royce Silver Ghosts contested the Austrian Alpine Trials; at the time recognized as the world’s toughest automotive endurance test.

The works team didn’t miss a beat over 2929km (1820miles) of near impassable mountain terrain, helping to cement the company’s reputation for reliability and mechanical excellence.

This 2013 limited edition tribute is finished in the same colour as the 1913 Silver Ghosts, with black grille and wheels (the first time a painted grille has been seen on a ‘contemporary’ Rolls-Royce).

Inside, the clock displays the Alpine Trial’s timing schedule, with wood inlays on the rear picnic tables and dash detailing the topography and distances of the Alpine route.

It’s the most hotly anticipated Porsche in years.

The replacement to the iconic Porsche GT, the 918 Spyder has enthusiasts watering at the mouth.

Sadly, cashed up buyers won’t be able to get their hands on one until next year, with the model officially making its debut at the 2013 Frankfurt Motor Show.

But that hasn’t stopped Porsche showing a production-ready 918 off in Milan recently.

As it’s in final stages of development, Porsche didn’t even bother with camouflage, instead setting the 918 loose in an iconic race-inspired Martini livery.

Maria Sharapova, the tennis superstar, with supermodel looks, is Porsche’s latest mobile ambassador, signing on to represent the brand in a three year, global communications deal.

The 26-year old Russian is already familiar with Zuffenhausen’s product. As last year’s winner of the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix in Stuttgart, Sharapova not only took home the prize money and trophy, but a white 911 Carrera S Cabriolet as well.

Resident in the United States since the age of seven, Sharapova has won all four Grand Slam titles in women’s tennis, and was ranked the world’s number one tennis player for a total of 21 weeks.

Speaking in Stuttgart about her latest corporate collaboration, Sharapova said, “This is a really special day for me. I have had the privilege to be associated with some of the best brands in the world, but now to be partners with Porsche, is such an amazing honor.”

Electric cars are slow, economical and boring. Right?

Wrong.

Like a speeding bullet, this 700km/h land speed car is about to shatter the perception surrounding EVs forever.

Powered a 2230kW electric motor, the car – called the Venturi VBB-3 – is scheduled to hit the infamous Bonneville salt flats in August where it will attempt to clock 700km/h.

If successful, the Venturi will smash its own land speed record of 495km/h, first clocked in 2010.

A joint venture between Ohio State University and boutique car marker Venturi, the VBB-3 will be piloted by daredevil test driver Roger Schroer.

As the first step in its bid to double annual sales volume before the end of the decade, Porsche Cars Australia has reduced recommended prices across its two door sports car and Cayenne SUV range by as much as 13 percent.

The price of a 911 Carrera S Coupe has dropped from $262,600 to $243,100 (7.4 percent), and the 911 Carrera 4 Cabriolet is reduced from $280,900 to $244,600 (13 percent).

This sharpening of the brand’s pricing pencil is also laying the ground work for the 2014 arrival of the Macan, a compact SUV sitting under the existing Cayenne.

PCA’s Managing Director, Michael Winkler says, “Porsche globally has set its sights on sales beyond 200,000 cars before the end of the decade”, adding the Macan’s arrival is, “key to driving growth in Australia.”

Porsche sold 1373 cars in Australia last year, with a target “beyond 2500 units” now in place for 2020.

Forget Bluetooth. Forget CDs.

This is the ultimate in motoring audio.

It’s called ‘The Rockbox’ and right now, this custom-built, 125 decibel ghetto blaster on wheels is up for sale.

Click through the gallery for video of The Rockbox in action.

A regular at music festivals in America, the twenty-four foot long bus was built in 2007 by 36-year-old music lover Derek Wunder in California.

But with a baby on the way, Wunder says it’s time to sell his beloved creation. ‘My bus creates a party literally every time you park it and music is playing,” Wunder is quoted as saying in UK paper the Daily Mail.

‘This Rockbox is a larger than life conglomeration of the great ghetto blasters from the early 1980s.’

Capable of holding up to 50 people, the portable party bus boasts inbuilt DJ decks, its own on-board 10kW generator and rotating LED lighting.

It’s also got a massive 318 V8 engine, although sadly, it’s not road legal.

In the market for a supercar but want something different?

Something unique?

This could be the car for you.

It’s called the Mazzanti ‘Evantra’ V8, and apparently, it’s an alternative to the mad, insane, Lamborghini Aventador.

Powered by a naturally-aspirated V8 producing 523kW, it certainly has the power to match the big Lambo.

Top speed is quoted as 350km/h (same as the Aventador), with the 0-100km/h sprint completed in just 3.2 seconds.

But what about price? Well unlike the Lamborghini, the Evantra V8 is limited to just five units a year, meaning the price, is likely to be stratospheric.

Still, no one said being different would be cheap.

The next generation of BMW hybrid technology has been caught testing, with both the sports focused i8 and the smaller i3 city car spied in near-production trim.

The i8 was snapped completing high-speed testing at the Nurbrugring, with the images giving us the closest look yet at the plug-in coupe’s production-ready design.

As expected, it’s been toned down from the i8 concept first shown at the 2011 Frankfurt Motor Show, yet it’s clear the i8 will remain a striking coupe.

It should be quick too, with a three cylinder, 165kW, 1.5-litre engine driving the rear wheels, while a single 97kW electric motor powers the front axle.

Early talk suggests the i8 should charge from 0-100km/h in under five seconds and hit a top speed of 250km/h.

Unlike the i8, the new, urban-focused, i3 coupe will rely solely on electric power.

The smaller car is predicted to have a top speed of just 150km/h to protect its battery, and hit 0-100km/h in under eight seconds.