2004 Holden Torana TT36 Concept

What lurks beneath the Torana TT36's sharply profiled hood isn't the Monaro's Gen III LS1 V8, but a hand-built, all-alloy

A hand-built, all-alloy 3.6-liter V6 with air-to-air intercoolers and twin KO4 Garrett turbochargers hides under the Torana's sharply profiled hood. (Photo: General Motors of Canada)

3.6-liter V6 with air-to-air intercoolers and twin KO4 Garrett turbochargers (hence TT36), a sophisticated dual overhead cam configuration to replace the big cubes and old-school pushrods of the big American mill. Holden's goal this time around was to demonstrate that a smaller engine can still produce the grunt of a V8 without resorting to the size. The concept's motor, derived from Cadillac's CTS, was also featured in this year's Buick Velite convertible concept.

While the 3.6-liter V6 is dwarfed by the 5.7 liter LS1 V8 in displacement, the power it produces is nearly equal. Holden claims that the motor can make 375 horsepower, more than most GM products with the V8 application. Show-goers will also be wowed by the Torana's 354 lb-ft of torque, 90 percent of which is available from a lowly 1,600 rpm. The only difference in this picture will be a lighter load at the pumps, and the mild hiss of the turbo as it spools up for afterburner-like thrust, replacing the rumble of the small-block V8. Holden hasn't released any performance figures for the rear-wheel drive, six-speed manual Torana TT36 concept, but a mid five-second acceleration time to 100 km/h could be expected.

Twenty-five years have passed since the era of the Torana A9X, and just as the first Toranas were an example of Holden's best

Just as the first Toranas were an example of Holden's best back then, the TT36 Concept is a representation of Holden's best today. (Photo: General Motors of Canada)

back then, the TT36 Concept is a representation of Holden's best today. Of course, being a modern GM vehicle not all credit can go to Holden. The division not only drew on GM for its motor, but also used the world's number one automaker for suspension and chassis components as well as modular structure systems, although modified to suit the Torana's needs. While there is no confirmation on which of GM's multiple global platforms the Torana is built off of, it would seem logical that the Zeta chassis has been used. This platform is also the basis for several other GM global products.