Holden Craig Lowndes SS V Commodore confirmed

News of the new model - which is based upon the Holden SS V Redline Commodore - was rumoured earlier this year, but Holden has now offered up some details on what makes the Craig Lowndes SS V Special Edition different to the the standard car.

The special models will be "hand-finished and individually numbered by trained technicians at the Holden Enhancement Centre", according to the brand, while buyers will also receive a host of "money can't buy" experiences, including a Red Bull Racing private function and tour hosted by Lowndes, tickets to a 2015 V8 Supercars race with a pit tour, and a framed certificate of authenticity. It is currently unconfirmed as to how many of the special edition models will be built but some reports are suggesting just 161 examples - a hat-tip to the number of laps of Mount Panorama in the Bathurst 1000 race.

As for how much the car will cost, Holden says it will reveal pricing and full specifications closer to the car's on-sale date. As it is built on the SS V Redline, it will be powered by a 6.0-litre V8 engine with 260kW of power and 517Nm of torque in models equipped with a six-speed automatic (should one be offered), while the manual versions have 270kW and 530Nm. The Redline models ride on FE3 sports suspension, and braking power is enhanced by Brembo calipers front and rear.

The sedan SS V Redline is priced at $52,490, while the Sportwagon model costs $56,690 (auto only) - we'd expect the Lowndes models to come at a premium over those respective versions, if there's a wagon available. Standard gear is set to mirror the SS V Redline, with a heads-up display, automated parking, sat-nav, crash warning and keyless entry with push-button start.

“I’ve had a lot of success on the racetrack behind the wheel of Commodores and to celebrate that with this special road-going version is a great privilege," Lowndes said. "I know fans and customers all over the country are going to love it.”

Craig Lowndes made his debut in V8 Supercars in September 1994, and become one of the sport's best-known identities when he and teammate Brad Jones finished second in the Bathurst 1000 in October of the same year. He has since won Bathurst five times.