Holden has brought back one of its most famous design concepts – the Hurricane sports car.
Originally created back in 1969, the Holden Hurricane (code-named RD 001) exhibited engineering and technology ideas which even by today’s standards are quite high. The Holden Hurricane is a mid-engined, two-seater sports car and features advanced technologies such as a rearview camera (black-and-white CCTV), automatic climate control air-conditioning, digital instruments, station-seeking radio and even an automated ‘route finder’ – incredible stuff really for a car from 1969.
Perhaps not so contemporary these days is the Holden Hurricane’s powerplant – an early development of Holden’s V8, with a capacity of 4.2-litres and maximum output of 193Kw. However, with fuel being fed via a four-barrel carburetor, the Holden Hurricane might not be up to scratch for fuel economy in today’s fuel-injected, forced induction and reduced capacity environment.
But we reckon the Holden Hurricane would sound spectacular when you crank the ignition key.
Design must have seemed like something from NASA back in 1969 (the year man first walked on the moon). The Holden Hurricane stands just 990mm high and there are no conventional doors – occupants access via a hydraulically powered canopy and rising electronic seats. All body panels are made from fiberglass.
Holden re-acquired the Hurricane in 2006 and it has since been fully restored.
GM Design Director Mike Simcoe said, “At Holden we have always prided ourselves on our ability to look into the future through our concept cars. It’s amazing to think that the features that we take for granted today were born out of creative minds over forty years ago”.
