That HSV, it WILL leave any rice burner or super charged/turbo six in its dust. I have a friend who had a Lotus Elise until he wrapped it around a pole going thru a roundabout far too fast and ripped the car into half. (no insurance either - ouchhh)
He said it was like the WRX he also got rid of, always had to rev it to the maximum like a boy racer because it just needed more grunt.

Hence, no substitute for cubic inches, kilowatts and torque. Make it handle, and u cant lose.