Autoblog

click above for a high-res gallery of the Holden Efijy concept

Despite several automakers opting out of this year's Melbourne Auto Show, there's going to be a brawl on the floor for the hearts and minds of the masses. Ford is planning to unveil its full portfolio of new Falcons, something that's been almost ten years in the making. But Holden will attempt to eclipse the Falcon's reveal with a concept that might up the ante over the Efijy concept that debuted back in 2005. According to Bob Lutz, who spoke with Drive.com.au at the NAIAS, the Holden concept will "knock everybody's socks off."

Along with the concept, Holden's in-house tuner HSV may show off an amped up version of the SportWagon and a 7.0-liter V8-powered flagship sedan. None of this is good news for Ford, which has seen market share drop in Australia over the last few years as the top-selling Falcon has rotted on the vine.

[Source: Drive.com.au]

click above image for more high-res pics of the Holden Efijy Concept

It's not uncommon for over enthusiastic gear heads to make offers or even send in checks to buy a concept car with the hope that production is right around the corner. General Motors has apparently already received interest for a production version of its heralded Holden Efijy concept from "Oil-rich sheiks, mega-millionaire British businessmen and even the brother of Russia's president." There's currently only one copy of the Efijy Concept, and it's in North America having just appeared in Detroit at the 2007 Woodward Dream Cruise. The 2007 North American Concept Car of the Year could supposedly be put into limited production to satisfy this small demand, though its price tag would likely be $1,000,000 or more, which is what it cost to actually build the concept.

The Efijy is built on a Corvette C5 chassis and uses a supercharged version of GM's 6.0L V8. Carsguide.com reports that the Tom Walkinshaw organization could partner with Holden to help produce the car in very limited numbers by drawing on its associations with Holden Motorsport and Elfin sports cars. While there have reportedly been semi-serious talks within GM about producing the Efijy Concept, no official word from the General has ever indicated it's a real possibility. While producing exact copies for the mega rich would satisfy the requirements for being a production car, we wish GM were seriously studying on how to bring the Efijy to market for around $100,000 rather than a $1 million. Such a stunning design should not be limited to the lucky few who have enough money to build their own.

[Source: Carsguide.com via Motor Authority]

click above image for 22 new high-res pics of the Holden Efijy Concept

A couple of weeks ago, when GM was trotting the Camaro Convertible Concept around the country, there was another throwback hotrod along for the ride: the Soprano Purple Holden Efijy. The car was created two years ago, in 2005, by Richard Ferlazzo, a designer at Holden (otherwise known as GM Down Under). When Autoblog wasn't busy ogling the Camaro, we were checking out the Efijy in all its future retro splendor. Follow the jump for the story, and be sure to check out the gallery of hi-res pics.

It's mostly a 1962 VW Bus. Except for the engine, which is now a 355 small-block. And the aluminum seats. And the 7-inch chop. Oh, and the trademark VW flower vase on the dash was carved from billet aluminum. All that and more makes it one of Hot Rod Magazine's Top 10 Hot Rods of 2006. The photo is linked to a full detailing of the sinister beast.

The other nine top-rated Hot Rods can be viewed by following the 'read' link below, including HRM's Hot Rod of the Year. If you like ungodly amounts of horsepower, you'll probably agree with their choices. If you don't, you might prefer this link instead.

[Source: Hot Rod Magazine via Jalopnik]

While we were pretty sure GM would grace Detroit with the Opel Antara and Holden Efijy, we didn't expect the WTCC, the T2X... and Carmen Electra. But GM announced this week all five would be in icy, snow-bound Michigan next month.

As you well know, the Antara will be the new Saturn Vue and the WTCC and T2X hint at future Chevrolet style. So where does the sumptious Efijy fit into GM's North American plan? GM's press release announcing the North American debut of these concepts doesn't give any indication where in Cobo Hall the Efijy will be displayed. If we had to guess, the Efijy's Corvette V8 would score it a parking spot in the Chevrolet booth. But that's nothing more than pure speculation.

As for Carmen Electra, she and Mario Lopez will be there to give the whole GM stand an air of celebrity. Or something.

Read GM's entire press release after the jump.

Usually, the biggest splash at any given auto show is made by something new, exciting, and never seen before. This January in Detroit, that logic might fly right out the window, as it looks like the sublime 2005 Holden Efijy concept, an HSV-powered throwback hot rod lovingly built by Holden engineers, will be displayed at the Detroit Auto Show. Now, while we tend to prattle on here about other Holden products that many people may not be familiar with, the Efijy is a little different. It was featured in Hot Rod magazine and even won the publication's Hot Rod of the Year award. Hence, it's a known commodity -- albeit one most American fans were unlikely to ever lay eyes on. (Australia's not exactly a hop, skip and a jump away.)

If it comes to Detroit, what display it'll be a part of remains a mystery. We hope that the General gives it the big showcase it deserves, but regardless of where on the floor it resides, expect it to be one of the superstars of the show. As rumors go, this is one we sincerely hope has validity, because we sure as hell want to see the Efijy up close, too.

[Source: Glenn Butler, Sydney Morning Herald]

Related items:

• Holden debuts lead sled concept car at Australian Auto Show
• A family reunion for the Holden Efijy Concept

The stunning Holden Efijy Concept recently got the chance to meet its forebears at an event staged outside Holden's headquarters in Port Melbourne, Australia. The Efijy was joined by a fleet of old-school FJ and FX Holdens, the very cars that served as the inspiration for the Aussie concept in the first place. Efijy made its debut at the 2005 Australian Motor Show and since then has been featured in just about every automotive publication imaginable. It was recently profiled in North America's Hot Rod magazine -- not bad for a car wearing a nameplate the average American is not familiar with (though they unwittingly see one every time a Pontiac GTO cruises by). 

Looking like some kind of Boyd Coddington creation and not an in-house factory concept, the Efijy seemed right at home next to all the rodded-up Holdens that took part in the event. It's fun when automakers go out of their way to acknowledge their heritage like this. General Motors wouldn't happen to have something stateside it could host a similar type of event around now, would it?

(Click to read Holden's press release and see more pics after the jump.)

[Source: GM Holden]