THIS is the future of Australian motorsport.

The Daily Telegraph has obtained the first images of the 2018 Holden Commodore Supercar and details of the company’s top-secret future racing program.

The next-generation Holden will be rolled out next year with both a V8 and V6 engine set to line up on the grid for the Supercars championship.

Holden’s first six-cylinder Commodore will be unleashed next year after the Triple Eight Race Engineering team sought official approval to begin the V6 revolution.

But it will only appear as a wildcard entry to be raced at selected Supercars’ rounds.

In a big win for big-block-loving fans, the V8 engine has been given a one-year stay of execution. Holden teams have received the green light to continue using the current 650-horsepower engine next year before going exclusively V6 in 2019.

Holden was expected to dump the traditional race engine next year with no road-going V8 version of the Commodore available in 2018.

media_camera Concept images of the 2018 Holden Commodore Supercar. Pic: Supplied

“It is a pragmatic and sensible approach by Holden and Triple Eight Race Engineering in introducing the new Commodore and a twin-turbocharged V6 powered engine to the sport,” Supercars CEO James Warburton said.

“Importantly, it is a win for all the current teams in terms of the simplicity and market relevance for an easy transition to the new Commodore in 2018.

“This phased introduction sets a clear path forward for not only Holden, but existing and new manufacturers in the sport.”

Holden confirmed the all-new V6 race engine was being built at the General Motors Performance and Racing Centre in Pontiac, Michigan, and would be used as a wildcard entry run by Triple Eight next year.

The staggered roll out will allow the company to test the engine before a fulltime introduction.

“Our sport prides itself on Supercars being the closest competition in the world,’’ Triple Eight boss Roland Dane said.

“And the phased introduction of the next-generation Commodore will ensure that is maintained.’’

media_camera Concept images of the 2018 Holden Commodore Supercar. Pic: Supplied

The Supercars version of the next-gen Commodore is currently undergoing an intensive and rigorous design and development process being undertaken in partnership between Holden and its official factory racing team, Triple Eight Race Engineering.

Sophisticated Computational Fluid Dynamics modelling is being used in the production to provide aerodynamic evaluation.

“What an incredible-looking race car, it carries on the tradition of Commodores looking awesome on and off the track and ushers in a new era for our brand,” Holden’s executive director of marketing and customer experience Mark Harland said.

“I can’t wait to see it out on the track claiming race wins next year.”

Triple Eight Race Engineering own the Red Bull Holden Racing Team and Team Vortex.

Current drivers Jamie Whincup, Shane van Gisbergen and Craig Lowndes are not expected to drive the wildcard V6 entry next year with a non-full-time driver tipped to get the gig.

A new set of rules designed to “future-proof’’ the sport will be introduced next year with Supercars to allow V6 engines into the category.

Two-door cars will also be allowed to race in a move that could put American icon the Ford Mustang on the grid.