NUMBERS PLEASE!

HSV hasn’t confirmed official performance figures for W1 – mainly because Clayton engineers reckon they can squeeze a bit more out of it – but the preliminary numbers are still pretty scorching.

With a gearchange to second just before 100km/ h, the proto W1 managed triple digits in 4.2sec. But it’s the W1’s searing 12.1sec standing 400m time that is the true indicator of its phenomenal thrust.

The W1’s preliminary in-gear times are similarly impressive. The close-ratio gearset means it can bash out 80-120km/ h in second gear ( 2.16sec). Third ( 2.96sec), 4th ( 3.7sec) and 5th ( 5.2sec) aren’t hanging about either.

Best 400m time we’ve clocked in a Gen-f GTS is 12.6sec ( an auto at Sydney Dragway in 2014), while our PB in a W427 7.0-litre manual is 12.8sec ( at the same venue back in 2008).