Tora, Tora, Torana

PITSTOP

This local beauty stole the thunder at the recent Australian International Motor Show in Sydney. The Holden Torana TT36 Concept, to give it the full moniker, is a ground -up new car that revives the old Torana name.

Which was, in the seventies, a rear-wheel drive car with a six-cylinder motor. The TT36, however, shares little more than the format with the old car. The four-seater's new engine is an experimental 375 bhp, 49 kgm twin-turbo V6 based on the global motor that Holden makes for various GM cars.

The platform is all-new too, although it uses some parts of the GM Kappa architecture. Holden says that the Torana is significant because it is the first to move away from the Holden-standard Commodore V-Car showcar platform.

As a result, this Australian powerhouse is also the closest Holden yet, to GM's global sports concepts. If produced, the Torana seems equipped to go head-to-head with the BMW 3 Series. Show rumours also suggested that the new Holden Commodore could look to the Torana TT36 for design cues. The pink car with a high-contrast interior "� white seats and black gadgetry "� was dubbed 'ManGenta' and is supposed to represent the new youth. Whatever, it was pink.

Third Reich

Ladies and gentlemen, we say a tearful goodbye to the sleek and feline 3 Series Beemer. And we welcome this, the new fifth generation E90 3 series. Let's get the hard bit over with "� Chris Bangle's been at it again. However, he's been restrained with the car, and the E90 looks pretty normal. Part of that could be an active interest in making the car look bigger and creating a visual difference between it and the 1 Series.

The new 3 will get revised petrols from the bottom 1800cc four cylinder to the full-house 3000cc inline six. There will also be a new turbocharged version of the big six, plus the 4000cc V8 in the M3. On the diesel front, the model line will start with the 2000cc four, all the way through to the 3000cc six-cylinder.

Like the 1Series, iDrive will be an option, as will active steering, brake force display (extra lights in emergency stops), keyless entry and run flat tyres. The new 3 will be marginally larger and noticeably wider. However, BMW is clear that the car will retain its driver orientation and the promise is that the 3 Series will remain up there as far as practical but hugely fun to drive cars go.