Holden Commodore Walkinshaw W310 2013 Review

Twenty per cent more grunt than a Commodore SS is a “good first effort” as Walkinshaw Performance starts to unleash the potential of the new VF range. The W310 - yes, that’d be kiloWatts - is the first “W Series” pack but certainly won’t be the last. 

WP general manager Tony Harris won’t be drawn on specifics but a look at Walkinshaw’s past shows they’re not too shabby at bolting superchargers on to Holden V8s either. “Who knows what might come from us in the future, it could even be something that has a 5 somewhere after the W,” Harris says.

VALUE

It costs $6495 to transform a VF Commodore SS into the W310 - and that price doesn’t include the carbon-wrapped bonnet and boot spoiler. It does include a cold-air intake, recalibrated ECU, ceramic coated headers and a full custom exhaust system that Harris says “brings back the growl V8 owners love so much.”

It also generates 310kW/580Nm from the 6.0-litre V8. The total cost for the auto version is $50,685. That equates with $60,990 for the base model HSV Gen-F Clubsport which boasts 317kW/550Nm from GM’s 6.2-litre V8.

TECHNOLOGY

Aerobic fitness is the basis of the Walkinshaw upgrade. The V8 in/exhalation has been improved and the ceramic headers bring the exhaust gasses up to operating temperature faster than would normally be the case without transferring that heat into the engine bay. Updates to the ECU reflect the above performance gains, yet in regular driving the W310 is as tractable as a standard SS.

DESIGN

Visually, this is a VF Commodore. Walkinshaw Performance has fitted a build plate and a rear-mounted decal to identify the W310 but the basic package doesn’t change the exterior or interior appearance of the SS. Owners can then choose from a range of WP-approved bling, from the upgraded wheels to spoilers. WP warranties its components, so the factory three year/100,000km warranty is intact.

SAFETY

The Commodore’s five-star safety rating carries over here. The upgrades don’t affect the safety rating in any way, meaning ANCAP’s score of 35.06/37 holds, along with its observation: “In the frontal offset crash test driver chest and leg protection was acceptable. Passenger leg protection was also acceptable. All other injury results were good in this test and in the side impact test. Head protection in the side pole test was good,”.

DRIVING

“More power and noise from that V8, sir?” It’s a rhetorical question for performance Commodore buyers and that’s why Walkinshaw Performance has started with a free-flowing exhaust rather than crack the engine to upgrade internal components. That will come, Harris assures Carsguide, but the first step was to maximise the work Holden’s engineers have already done on the car.

Carmakers play conservative in the interest of emissions; aftermarket specialists like WP can push the envelope. And that’s apparent from start-up where the Commodore drops into a sonorous burble that makes the regular V8 sound like an adolescent.  Drop the accelerator and the WP310 has a wail of a time.

The extra go is obvious from low down and continues to build across the rev range. With the six-speed auto in default ‘D’ mode, deep prods with the right foot take a heartbeat to elicit a response - the exhaust note rising before the pace does. Slip the lever to sports mode and the sensations synchronise.

Under any load, the WP310’s sound proves a siren song for V8 fans, who are quick to spot the WP logo embossed into the bonnet wrap. The consensus was the $6500 is worth it for the sound alone. Job done, then.

VERDICT

The W310 whets the appetite for what is still to roll out of the Walkinshaw Performance factory. As an entrée it’s about right: the boost in aural and accelerative performance is solid but doesn’t come at the expense of day-to-day driving.

Walkinshaw Performance W310 Commodore

Price: from $50,865
Warranty: 3 years/100,000km
Resale: N/A
Capped servicing: Yes
Service intervals: 9 months/15,000km
Engine: 6.0L V8, 310kW/580Nm
Transmission: 6-speed auto, RWD
Thirst: N/A
Dimensions: 5.08m (L), 1.9m (W), 1.49m (H)
Weight: 1780kg
Spare: Inflation kit; space-saver a NCO