Don't mourn the Monaro – Here comes the VXR8!

[fsandys]

New Vauxhall supersaloon on sale in July, priced at £34,995 · 6.0-litre V8, 420bhp, 0-60mph in 4.9 secs. · First VXR model available with an auto gearbox Motoring enthusiasts across Britain mourned the passing of the Monaro. The only Australian-built car to be sold in the UK offered raw and exciting performance thanks to its 6.0-litre V8 and rear-wheel drive set up. But the thunder from down under hasn’t stopped yet – in fact it’s only going to get louder. Vauxhall has announced the arrival of a new Aussie musclecar – the VXR8 – and it’s more powerful and exciting than even the legendary Monaro. The dramatic-looking new saloon is powered by the same 6.0-litre V8 as the outgoing Monaro VXR, but revisions to the engine have made it even more efficient. It now develops a massive 420PS and 550Nm of torque, giving it enough grunt to sprint from 0-60mph in just 4.9 seconds. No other supercar offers this sort of power for anywhere near the VXR8’s price. Yet the VXR8, based on Australia ’s Holden HSV Clubsport R8, offers more in the way of practicality than the outgoing Monaro, with four doors and space for all the family. Although practical, with a spacious boot, comfortable, long-legged cruising ability and luxuries such as climate control and leather trim, the VXR8 is certainly no softie. Driver aids such as the stability system and traction control can be turned off at the flick of a switch – perfect for drivers who want to hone their skills on a track day! In response to customer demand, the VXR8 will also be the first VXR model to be offered with an automatic gearbox. In order to maintain the control which VXR buyers require, the optional £1,400 self-shifter has a manual override and a sport setting which ensure the performance isn’t blunted – in fact the auto is only half a second slower to 60mph than the manual!

I was looking forward to this until I saw the photos, it looks nowhere near as good as the monaro IMO.

Profile view the rear looks like an old modded impreza and the front far too boring.

[rave426]

0-60mph in just 4.9 seconds. No other supercar offers this sort of power for anywhere near the VXR8’s price.

Unless you are in the U.S of A - Gooooooo GT500!!!!

[TopGearNL]

Thats some insane specs! :shock:

I love it but hate its looks!! :x

[silentm]

nice performance figures, but for that power output, the design is way too "tame"

[Mattk]

Unless you are in the U.S of A - Gooooooo GT500!!!!

But this car is more practical.

Bear in mind that this is based on a family car, which explains why it looks tame. To their credit, HSV does add bodywork to it to make it more aggressive, but FPV does it better with the Falcons.

[TopGearNL]

/\/\ Yep totally true!

Im a big fan of the Aussie cars, and for sure it looks a bit tame but thats the whole point, its a family car in the first place remember! Thats why I love the M5 too, a 4 door saloon that blitzes most cars, come one how cool is that

[Pokiou]

www.hsv.com.au

that has the line of the aussie muscle cars.. and i think for the ford fans

www.fpv.com.au

regardless they look tuff...

Pok

[Mattk]

Im a big fan of the Aussie cars, and for sure it looks a bit tame but thats the whole point, its a family car in the first place remember!

Well, the majority of buyers are not families, but I occasionally see the odd bloke packing his kids into such cars.

[TopGearNL]

Originally Posted by Mattk Im a big fan of the Aussie cars, and for sure it looks a bit tame but thats the whole point, its a family car in the first place remember! Well, the majority of buyers are not families, but I occasionally see the odd bloke packing his kids into such cars.

I knew it!

[EvolutioniuM]

althought the old one was a good car, it never touch my heart, maybe because its not fast enough!!!

don't know about this one to be honest, figures shows its 1 second faster to 60 MPH than the old one

in the middle east we get the Commodore SS Rebadged as Chevy Lumina SS, I'll try my best to test drive it and get some pictures

[silentm]

Originally Posted by TopGearNL its a family car in the first place remember!

well in that case i'd go for the RS6. it may not be a saloon but in comparison it's even more practical surely not as 'cheap' but it's an audi

[jorge]

not beautiful but very aggressive

[pitfield]

Originally Posted by dani_d_mas Originally Posted by TopGearNL Thats some insane specs! :shock: I love it but hate its looks!! :x Well - 0-60 in 4.9 for a 420hp car is not that good IMO Some hot hatches are not much slower than that with way less power :bah:

Sir, it costs 35,995 cheap. I will never own one, but it is exactly the sort of thing (not that I care) Vauxhall needs to fix it's reputation. I'm they'll bevery popular in Essex.

[Mattk]

Originally Posted by silentm Originally Posted by TopGearNL its a family car in the first place remember! well in that case i'd go for the RS6. it may not be a saloon but in comparison it's even more practical surely not as 'cheap' but it's an audi

RS6s are for accountants. This beast is for real men. This car is for people who want a sports car which looks like a sports car.

[HeilSvenska]

Originally Posted by Mattk Originally Posted by silentm Originally Posted by TopGearNL its a family car in the first place remember! well in that case i'd go for the RS6. it may not be a saloon but in comparison it's even more practical surely not as 'cheap' but it's an audi RS6s are for accountants. This beast is for real men. This car is for people who want a sports car which looks like a sports car.

No... BMW's and Mercedes's are for accountants. I don't know who Audis are for anymore. Hmmmmm... I wonder if North America will get this package as some version of the Pontiac G8/Commodore.