Both Holden and Ford will start the 2007 V8 Supercar season with new vehicles after having updated models ratified by the governing body.
Holden will introduce its new VE Commodore at the Clipsal 500 in Adelaide in March while Ford's BF Falcon will also make its debut the same weekend.
Both models have passed rigorous testing over the past several months to be allowed to contest next year's V8 series - with Holden Racing Team supplying the Commodore and Triple Eight Racing the Falcon for recent aerodynamic testing at Woomera.
All Ford teams next year must adopt the new BF Falcon, with the current BA model only allowed in the development series.
Holden teams however will be permitted to run either their VE Commodore or current VZ model - but it is expected every team will have the new version built and ready to go for the season opener in four months.
While the BF Falcon is considered a basic cosmetic change to the front end of the vehicle, with new front splitter, side skirts and greater rear wing adjustability, the VE Commodore is almost a complete redesign.
Kelvin O'Reilly, the chairman of the Touring Car Entrants Group (TEGA), said the streamlined process of the testing had allowed for a new-look start to next year's 14-round series.
"It was a very streamlined and efficient process," he said.
"The two manufacturers and the teams were tremendous in preparing the cars, assisting the process and ensuring that final approval was seamless.
"It's fantastic that because of this the championship will present a whole new look for the start of the 2007 season."
Ford driver Jason Bright believes the Falcons will start 2007 at an advantage for only having superficial changes to deal with while Holden, like its road model which has been recalled twice, could have some early teething difficulties with the new Commodore.
"It's always good to keep some stability," said Bright.
"There's a lot of good things in what they've been able to update on the Commodore, whether those teams can make the most it's hard to say."
Bright has been criticised for his decision to quit the flourishing Ford Performance Racing outfit next season to race in his own team Britek, one of the current series backmarkers.
But Bright says the naysayers could be eating their own words very quickly next year.
"We have got a lot of work to do," he admitted.
"Up until now we've not really had the budget to do what we needed to do but now the budget for next year is twice as big as what it has been because we have been running two cars off less money for the last two years whereas now we've got more money and only one car to concentrate on.
"That allows you to do a lot more things and I think the speed will come quicker than what people think."
