Bitter Vero

When Erich Bitter unveiled his Vero saloon in October 2007, it was the first new product from his company in two decades. That first showing was in Bitter's former home town of Schwelm; within weeks the Vero got a wider audience when it was shown at the 2007 Essen motor show, but it was at the 2008 Geneva Salon that it received greater recognition.

A year later, in 2009,  Bitter was back at Geneva, this time with three Veros including a Sport edition, which was based on the short-wheelbase Holden Commodore SS saloon; the regular Vero was based on the contemporary Holden Caprice.

Buyers could choose between a 261bhp 3.6-litre V6 engine or a 6.0-litre V8 in either 360bhp naturally aspirated or 542bhp supercharged forms, with the latter powerplants developed and built by Tom Walkinshaw in the UK. Sold only with an automatic transmission, initially the Vero came with five gears but within months this had been upgraded to a six-speed gearbox.

Intended to be a luxurious grand tourer for those who wanted something a bit different, the Vero came with a comprehensive standard kit list including navigation, climate control, 18-inch alloy wheels and parking assistance.

According to the official Bitter website, Vero production ended in 2009 after just 10 or so cars had been built – suggesting that the Vero Sport is an especially rare beast.