Vauxhall VXR8 

Vauxhall VXR8 

Yes, it’s badged a Vauxhall VXR8 but, like the Monaro before it, the only part of this Vauxhall VXR8 to come from Luton is the Griffin badge. What you’re looking at is a Holden, which will be shipped to our shores from one of the sunnier parts of GM’s global empire on the other side of the world.

The fundamentals of the Vauxhall VXR8 are based on the all-new ‘VE’ Commodore, a car designed from scratch inside Holden HQ at Fisherman’s Bend just outside Melbourne. The Commodore was launched last year and has subsequently been draped with laurels by the local titles: it was Wheels magazine’s Car of the Year and Motor magazine’s ‘Bang for your Buck’ champion. But the Commodore is merely the foundation for the Vauxhall VXR8 – your basic 5-series or E-class underpinnings, if you like.
The final car is the product of HSV, Holden Special Vehicles, the Aussie firm’s M Division, its AMG. The Vauxhall VXR8 (badged as a Clubsport R8 in the land of Madge Bishop) has a huge, 126mm longer wheelbase within the same overall body length, while the track has been widened by 33mm at the front and 41mm at the rear. Visually, the front end gets flared wheelarches with distinctive ‘E’ vents tucked on their trailing edges. At the back there Vauxhall VXR8 are totally new light-clusters complete with ultra- bright LED rings for the brake lights. Vauxhall VXR8 also a rear diffuser and a big rear wing, although they’re more style statements than wind tunnel-honed necessities.
It’s a clever design though, because the stubby overhangs shrink what is actually a very large car. The Vauxhall VXR8 looks narrow too, Vauxhall VXR8 get inside and you’ve got as much elbow- and leg-room as in a 7-series or S-class. Vauxhall VXR8 interior has clearly taken ‘inspiration’ from Audi in the design of its switchgear. Even the key is very flattering to the designers in Ingolstadt. And yet despite this it still doesn’t ooze the tactile quality of its German competitors, although the flat-bottomed steering wheel is very nice to hold and feels just the right size.

Vauxhall VXR8 

The one morsel the new Vauxhall VXR8 carries over from the old Monaro is the 6-litre LS2 V8. And that’s a very good thing. Now Vauxhall VXR8 It’s a splendidly bullish engine, big and powerful by nature and utterly different to the lean, toned European V8s.As you begin to attack a road rather than just cruise, the Vauxhall VXR8 instantly does a very impressive trick; it seems to shed half its bulk and shrink around you. Vauxhall VXR8 steering is key to this. It’s wonderfully precise and accurate, giving you real confidence in the front end, which tacks into corners with remarkably little inertia given that there’s a whacking great bent-eight in front of you. The steering is a touch light once on lock but there’s plenty of feel for what the Bridgestones RE050s are coping with.
Those familiar with the Monaro’s gearshift will recognise the same DNA in the Vauxhall VXR8’s. The Tremec M10 remains a chunky gearbox but the throw between ratios is now considerably shorter and less ponderous. Find yourself heading into a corner in a gear higher than you want and there is now the option for a swift last-minute change – in the old coupe you’d just have to hope that the Vauxhall VXR8’s torque would cover your mistake. The only slight complaint is that second gear feels just a little too short.
Vauxhall VXR8 six-speed auto is also available, which Vauxhall VXR8 hopes will further broaden the appeal of its new flagship over the Monaro. It’s smooth-acting and only dents the 0-60 time by a tenth.
Cliffs are a constant presence on the Great Ocean Road, either providing a huge unyielding red barrier to wipe out on or a huge precipice to drop off. Confidence-inspiring brakes are a must.Vauxhall VXR8 Happily, at 365mm front and 360mm rear, the Vauxhall VXR8’s vented discs are the biggest ever fitted to a production Vauxhall VXR8. Produced by AP Racing, the pads of the four-piston callipers have the same swept area as the optional six-piston items on the Monaro. They need a little heat in them but never once grumbled in 20 minutes of wiping chunks of speed from 1800kg of hard-charging Vauxhall VXR8. They look good too, amply filling the 19in alloys.
Given the somewhat narrow parameters of the road, it’s also amazing how friendly the Vauxhall VXR8 is. It eats straights alarmingly quickly, but when you arrive at the corners you never worry about the fact you’re hustling and sliding nearly two tons of car.
The only time the Vauxhall VXR8 starts to struggle is when you really load up its suspension. On some wickedly compressing cambered corners, the progressive-rate springs can start to feel overwhelmed as travel is used up. Also, although individual corners of the car soak up big bumps well, small imperfections draw out some resilience, leading to more of a party going on in the arches than there should be.

Vauxhall VXR8

Several warranty-approved options will be offered by Vauxhall VXR8 from the outset, however, and since 75 per cent of Monaros in the UK have been modified in some way, it seems likely they will be popular.Vauxhall VXR8 current list is as follows: sports exhaust, air filter and ECU upgrade giving 25-30bhp (£1800), 20in wheels (£2500), six-piston front and four-piston rear callipers (£2079), and, for £6000, a supercharger boosting power to over 530bhp. The only option we had a chance to try in Australia was the exhaust, which is very desirable, adding to the V8 score without any undesirable boom.
So who is the Vauxhall VXR8 going to appeal to? Well, those Vauxhall VXR8 Monaro owners that aren’t hell-bent on having a coupe will love the new car and Vauxhall VXR8 is also hoping to tempt Impreza and Evo owners into something a little different. With the option of an automatic it may even lure the odd AMG owner.