THE arrival of a new generation of Holden’s family fare is always an exciting moment, but for some reason the limelight is always stolen a short time later by the car-maker’s hot-rod arm, HSV.

Holden Special Vehicles, as it is more formally known, takes stock Commodores and metamorphoses them into objects of desire for performance car enthusiasts.

Often dismissed as crude, blunt, loutish instruments, HSV is hoping its radically improved Gen-F will start to find appeal with buyers who would normally kick tyres in a European car showroom.

It hasn’t really worked until now, but Gen-F has a secret weapon -- the same radical makeover inside and out that has transformed the Commodore into a truly competitive international car, and not just a fading homegrown has-been.

Changes to the HSV range are designed to make the car more liveable day-to-day, as well as more performance-honed than ever before.

Does it add up to make the ClubSport R8 SV the best Aussie-made performance car yet?

Click Our Opinion for the full review...