TO those who didn’t experience the original cars of the 1970s, the Monaro nameplate is still relatively new - although it’s something of a surprise to realise that the car that stunned the Sydney motor show in 1998 has now been around for about three years. The current series has always been considered a handsome car, and a worthy recipient of the Monaro nameplate. Now it’s also spectacularly powerful, flexing the low-end torque that previously had been lacking in the 5.7-litre Gen III V8. The latest Monaro CV8 rumbles and grunts like no Monaro before it. It’s also a big, comfortable and well fitted-out coupe for the money, although some will be disappointed in the way the relocated fuel tank eats dramatically into boot space.