Walkinshaw to jump from Holden to Chevy Special Vehicles?

The name Walkinshaw carries with it a proud history of collaborating with major automakers to produce some of the most lust-worthy racing machinery and road-going performance vehicles ever known. The Jaguar XJR-9 was developed by Tom Walkinshaw Racing. So were the Nissan R390, Porsche WSC-95 and Mazda MXR-01 – top-tier Le Mans prototypes all. Walkinshaw helped Jaguar develop the XJR-15 and XJ220 supercars.

TWR went under when the Arrows Grand Prix team it owned went bankrupt, but the name (and the family behind it) resurfaced to establish Walkinshaw Performance, the outfit behind Holden Special Vehicles. GM's Australian subsidiary relies on HSV to both run its V8 Supercars operation and tune its Commodore sedans into veritable muscle machines – the likes of which other General Motors divisions were eager to import in the form of the Pontiac GTO, Chevy SS and Vauxhall VXR8.

Unfortunately Holden, as you may be aware, is ceasing its manufacturing operations, leaving the future of HSV and Walkinshaw Performance hanging in the balance. Holden has stated that it intends to keep HSV and Walkinshaw right where it is, tuning whatever vehicles it might have to offer in the future into the tire-shredding monsters we've come to know and love. But Walkinshaw isn't about to sit around and wait.

These days the company is run by founder (and former European touring car champion) Tom Walkinshaw's son Ryan. With Holden transforming itself into a sales conduit for imported GM products, Ryan Walkinshaw is looking to greener pastures. And that could take him and his outfit to Detroit.

According to Aussie car site Motoring.com.au, Walkinshaw is keen to capitalize on its expertise to springboard into producing a flagship line of performance Chevrolets. That could mean importing the partially completed vehicles from Michigan to its facility in Australia. Or it could move its operation to Lansing where assembly of the next generation of Alpha-based, rear-drive GM vehicles – including the Cadillac ATS and CTS and the next Chevrolet Camaro and SS – is being centralized.

If Walkinshaw gets its way and the plans come to fruition, it could be charged with producing a new line of Chevrolet Special Vehicles just like it's done for Holden. Looking at vehicles like the new Camaro Z/28 and Corvette Z06, we can't help but wonder if Chevy really needs the help, but then that's how Mercedes-AMG (not to mention HSV) got its start, so who knows what the future could hold for Walkinshaw and the next generation of performance Chevys.

2015 Lamborghini Huracán LP 610-4 greets the public

If you're into cars and are familiar with this little thing called the Internet, you've no doubt seen the new Lamborghini Huracán by now. And while it might seem redundant to talk about the hot new Lambo again, the stunning coupe finally, officially makes its public debut here at the Geneva Motor Show. In other words, it's an excuse for us to bring you yet another set of photos, ripe for the droolin'.

Senior Editor Seyth Miersma already divulged the important factoids in our recent Deep Dive, but let's quickly recap. The bull's beating heart is a new, naturally aspirated 5.2-liter V10, good for 610 horsepower and 413 pound-feet of torque. In other words, she'll be super quick, with Lamborghini estimating a 0-62 time of just 3.2 seconds, with a top speed of over 202 miles per hour. All that force gets sent to the ground via all-wheel drive, all packaged up in a coupe that is, well, freakin' gorgeous.

The Huracán goes on sale this summer, and Lamborghini expects it to easily eclipse the outgoing Gallardo in terms of sales. We can't wait to drive the thing, but until then, another batch of photos will have to do. Check 'em out in our gallery above.

Hamann gets stealthy with its more powerful Lamborghini Aventador Limited

The tuners at Hamann have gotten their hands on the Lamborghini Aventador and are offering a suite of stealthy upgrades and a boost in power for buyers who don't think Lambo's top model is already enough. The company wants to create a special model with "uniqueness in every way."

The Limited wears a two-tone body kit in Stealth Grey matte paint with Poison Green trim. Hamann adds carbon fiber pieces with new air vent inserts at the front, a two-piece front spoiler and side skirts. The rear receives carbon fiber replacements for the diffuser, engine air intake, spoiler and apron. It is also offering two different sport exhausts – a standard version and a race version... complete with backfire baked in. Finally, the custom Lamborghini is shod with forged, aluminum wheels that are 20 inches in the front and 21 inches in the rear. The interior remains basically stock except for being covered in green leather and contrasting black with green stitching.

Hamann isn't just about style. It is also giving the Limited a boost in performance to 760 horsepower and 542 pound-feet thanks to a few tweaks of the Aventador's software. It seems that if Lamborghini isn't giving buyers enough, then Hamann is happy to take things to the extreme at the 2014 Geneva Motor Show. Feel free to read more below.
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Hamann has taken the bull by the horns and puts the ultimate finish on one of the most striking and powerful sports cars of all time. Even more uncompromising, even more spectacular: the independent body concept of the factory in Swabian Laupheim has turned the martial Lamborghini Aventador into a personalized masterpiece – with unique design details and an impressive increase in power of almost ten per cent.

The leitmotif of the Hamann "Limited" is uniqueness in every way. The front boasts custom-made carbon air vent inserts. The optical counterpart of the lightweight nostrils is the two-piece front spoiler made of the same high strength racing material, which provides for racing grade down force and gives the front wheels increased grip. To optimize the aerodynamics, the new eye-catching side skirts help calm the airflow on the underside.

The greatest optimisation requirement for motorsport specialist Hamann was at the rear of the Aventador. The redesigned features were thus particularly extensive here. Hamann replaced the rear apron and rear diffuser with their own designs and constructions made of ultra-lightweight carbon fibre. The adjustable rear spoiler is made of the same material, as well. Hamann also developed the sport final muffler specifically for the "Limited." There is also a special race version available with backfire.

The voluminous air intake slots on the engine compartment lid supply the huge twelve-cylinder unit with plenty of cool air. Here, Hamann has integrated very high quality clear-coated carbon fibre, which allows a clear view of the Lamborghini power package.

Highlights of the customised Aventador are the alloy wheels, which go perfectly with its new look. The multi-part Hamann "Professional" is produced by a forging process, which guarantees maximum driving dynamics through lightness and the highest level of stiffness. The high-performance wheels in sizes 9x20 and 13x21 inch bear ultra-high-performance tyres in sizes 255/30 ZR 20 in front and 355/25 ZR 21 in the back.

The specialists of Hamann push the performance of the potent Italian to new heights. 700 hp (515 kW) and 690 Nm were the numbers to beat – and that's what motor racing professional Hamann clearly managed to do. The completely redesigned software of the control unit of the twelve-cylinder in the "Limited" now reaches 760 hp (559 kW). The maximum torque of the 6.5-liter V12 increases with the identity field optimisation to a raging 735 Nm*.

Hamann presents the first "Limited Lambo" in the special matt grey paint "Stealth Grey" – and "poison" green contrasted body details. And Hamann fulfils every customer desire imaginable. The highest manufacturing quality and selected materials have been the benchmark at Hamann for over 28 years.

A special hue also makes the interior unmistakable: the three-spoke multifunctional steering wheel is trimmed in green leather on the top and bottom. Intricately stitched applications on the instrument panel, the side panels and the centre console correspond excellently with other features, such the instrument panel cover and the seat tracks of the exclusive, high-speed sports seats.