Wednesday 3rd March 2004

Vauxhall VXR

New performance range of Vauxhalls kicks off with souped up VX220

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Vauxhall are now working hard at creating a performance sub brand. Although Vauxhall have had their moments with various GTEs or GSI's, the marque has lacked a focused sub-brand for its performance cars.

That should change this year though with the introduction of the VXRs. 'R' is all the rage with other manufacturers so GM have played safe here and followed the herd. Performance Vauxhalls of the future will be marketed under the VXR badge complete with the associated clothing and merchandising.

Cars expected within the range include the Australian Holden Monaro V8, turbo charged Astras, Corsas , and a turbo'd V6 Vectra.

Amongst the first will be the VX220 VXR. The limited edition of just 50 cars will benefit from a new turbo set up and ECU, giving in excess of 220bhp.

The VXR will get new, uprated suspension based on that used by the Exige. It will be lower than the standard car.

It will be distinguished by different wheels (7 x 16 front, 8 x 17 on the rear), a black windscreen surround, black rear spoiler, black wing mirrors and black front grille.

On the inside there'll be some black anodised bits, a carbon fibre effect dashboard and seats from the new Exigge complete with additional shoulder support and provision for harnesses.

Price will be £29,995 and the first cars will be available from the end of May.

[Mr Fix It]

Pitty lotus did not go for a similar powerful engine in the S2 exige!

[xsaravtr]

If Vauxhall are doing this, I think Lotus may well put out something in response... I hope

[Nightmare]

not sure they will as it goes. I think that Lotus have decided, based on the orignal sales of the VX220, that Vauxhall is onto a brand losing war here and they (Lotus) have nothing to worry about.. Personally, if I were making the choice between the VXR and an exige, I'd now defintely get the Vauxhall - its just such better 'performance for money'....I know the VX-T sales have been very good

[dinkel]

Astra VXR is also hot.



Lightning looks good.

Vauxhall is doing wel I guess . . .

[jbsc5]

The lightning is stunning but the question is will they build it?

Something about bumper heights and pedestrian safety ?

Too bad as that car with a supercharged four or VX narrow angle V8 would have been awesome and certainly added to the brands image..

[dinkel]

jbsc5 said:

The lightning is stunning but the question is will they build it? Something about bumper heights and pedestrian safety ? ( . . .)

Does the Lightning have exhaust pipes above the bumper or are they lights?

Astra v8 does excist for track purpose . . .

[bengie]

They are lights; the exhaust is the triangular bit at the bottom middle of the bumper.

[v8thunder]

I really, really hope another Lotus Vauxhall-derived 4-door supercar comes out of this!

[Bettyswollox]

Its not all about BHP, if used as a track-day car, an Elise with much less BHP will be a better performer partly due to the fact that its a few hundred lbs lighter... Ok for 'wine bar, Alpha male genital bashing though'!!... I'd take the Elise, but its a nice looking car all the same!....

[bengie]

Bettyswollox said:

Ok for 'wine bar, Alpha male genital bashing though'!!

As is saying 'I've got a Lotus', rather than 'I've got a Vauxhall'.

[turboman]

A few things the above reports omits to say are that the VXR220 has 325 nm of torque and weighs 56 kg less than a VXT, this thing is a monster.

An wait untill you drive the Monaro VXR....

[cheeky_chops]

xsaravtr said:

If Vauxhall are doing this, I think Lotus may well put out something in response... I hope

its the 111R

[DanH]

Thats the thing, this VX has priced itself the same as the lotus derivatives. Risky policy unless it really is pure gold.

Good luck to them though. If its better than the Elise equivs then Lotus deserves everything it gets...

[Sgt^roc]

give it to Williams and Maclaren perhaps it will help thembeat Ferarri yet anote boring year of F1 in store

[Dakkon]

If this is just under 30k, that makes it 5k more than the base VXT, is the VXR worth it or could you do better yourself modding a VXT with 5k?

[DanL]

Jury's out on that one - depends what you want from the car.

Certainly you could get a VXT and make it more powerful than the VXR for £5k - could even bung on some nice adjustable suspension. On the other hand, the VXR's got different wheels/tires/suspension and brakes, and the brakes can't be upgraded to the VXR spec for the VXT (or so we're told).

VXR's also got different seats, and they do look rather nice.

So - you couldn't get a VXT to be a VXR for £5k. It would cost more. On the other hand, you could get something close.

Dan

[Mr Fix It]

Elise sure looks a lot better, and goes faster around a circut because of that lower mass and better suspension, but that p*ss poor low torque engine is rubbish for overtaking, which we all do much more often on the roads than chasing another car on a circuit.

[zaktoo]

Hmm. I want one of these VXRs though...

http://vauxhall.co.uk/showroom/search/technicalSpecifications.jhtml?driveCode=ER97&driveCodePack=XZAO&description=2.0i%2016v%20Turbo%20VXR

Yes, I realise it's a mistake on the Vauxhall site, but would be nice

Ciao

Zak

[dinkel]

387PS (285kW) @ 5800rpm.
510Nm (376lb.ft.) @ 4800rpm.
930 kgs
0-60 in 4.1s
Sure this was the wrong Vaux-testdriver then . . .

[PetrolTed]

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