First look: Callaway turns tricks on Corvette for LA show

THE name "Callaway" is familiar to fans of Holden Special Vehicles so the Callaway C16 will come as no surprise to HSV fans.

With the underpinnings of a Chevrolet Corvette, the United States tuning house turned out the C16 for last week's the Los Angeles motor show, taking performance into the super-car league.

The headline act is a supercharged version of the familiar 6.0-litre LS2 V8 engine, which in this case develops 460kW at 6200rpm and 794Nm at 4750rpm.

Driving through a six-speed manual gearbox, it can propel the coupe from 0-60mph (96.5km/h) in a blistering 3.3 seconds and devour the quarter mile in 10.9 seconds. Top speed is 331km/h.

The C16 also features unique Z-rated Yokohama AdvanSport tyres – 295/30-series R19s at the front and 345/25R20 sat the rear – and adjustable Eibach coil-over suspension with compression and rebound adjustment for either road or track.

The C16 was drawn by designer Paul Deutschman, who is described as the architect of the Callaway "look" – from the 300km/h Sledgehammer and C4-based Le Mans race cars to the C7, the C12 and now the C16. The car's handcrafted bodywork replaces every panel of the standard Corvette.

Inside, the C16 cockpit is completely re-tooled in German leather and Alcantara with Recaro race seats and a choice of harnesses. Doorsill panels, the steering wheel and the passenger dash area also carry signature Callaway badging.

Each C16 is numbered with a build plaque, as each will be built to order. It will sell in North America for $US119,865 ($A151,000).