Just_me

We all know that General Motors plans to sell the Australian built Holden Commodore sedan as a rebadged Pontiac in the US, but what we didn’t know is that its UK division, Vauxhall, will be offering the high-performance HSV Clubsport R8 variant as its new VRX8. HSV is an acronym for Holden Special Vehicles, a tuning company that specialises in modifying V8 Commodore sedans, and now its latest E-series Clubsport will be hitting showrooms in the UK.

The new model features the same 6.0L LS2 V8 engine shared with the Corvette, developing a very healthy 420hp and 550Nm of torque. Expect the 0-100km/h sprint to take just 4.9 seconds for the conventional six-speed manual. A performance bargain at just £34,995. For an extra £1,400, customers can opt for a new six-speed automatic with manual mode that’s just half a second slower to reach 100km/h than the manual. Huge 365mm front disc brakes will slow the big saloon down from 100km/h to a standstill faster than a Lamborghini Murcielago or BMW M5. Options include sat-nav and 20inch alloys.

Although the new VXR8 is expected to be based on the Clubsport R8 model, there are rumors that the more potent GTS version equipped with GM’s magnetic ride control suspension system and a possible supercharged version may be hitting the streets.

Curb Zone

 

Monster

Good to see Aussie performance cars doing us proud overseas. I saw a few Clubsport R8 on the road, they look very impressive, and i saw a black GTS with grey 20inch wheels, it looks very very hot.

Kowalski

I like everything about it except those tiny MX-5 tailights which simply don't look right.

I'm confident that Holden (and Vauxhall for that matter) will once again win Jeremy Clarkson's heart with this car, since he loved the old Monaro. So we can only expect more of the same with its replacement.

£34,995 (35K) for a big V8 420 Bhp RWD 4-door muscle car. That's pretty good value for money. On paper, this big Vauxhall appears to be a much better deal for the money than the the BMW 335i.

Just_me

I get the same vibes as I get with EVOs and Imprezas. They dont look or feel solid or exclusive, just cheap but if you look at performance only they offer a lot for the money compared to other cars.
I dont know much about Holdens and if its a reliable car, at least when you buy a Impreza you get realibility as well, not only performance.

Monster

Those HSV tailights looks so much better in real life, espically at night.
THe basic HSV version the Clubsport R8 starts at $62 000 AUD, while the basic BMW 335i coupe starts at $109 000 AUD. The top GTS version cost about $76 000 AUD. So here in Australia, the HSV are in a different price range from the BMWs

Monster

This new generation of VE Holden Commodor/HSV are solid built, and the interior doesn't feel as cheap as an current generation Impreza. Holden reliability slightly below average with their pervious cars. The previous generation Commodor the VT, VX, VY, and VZ have solid engine gearbox realibilty, but the cars do suffers from minor issues such as water leakage, alternator malfunction, faulty electrical window switch. The HSV version of the previous generation of Commodor sufferd from excessive engine oil consumption, engine oil leakage and rear diff+wheel bearing failure.

This new VE generation is much better engineered than all the previous generation so hopefully these issues won't occure anymore

siko

Press release from - ONLY REGISTERED AND ACTIVATED USERS CAN SEE ALL LINKS - CLICK HERE TO REGISTER...



New Vauxhall VXR8 Revealed

• 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!

And VXR8 goes as well as it stops, too, with powerful 365mm front disc brakes that slow the car down from 60mph to a standstill faster than a Lamborghini Murcielago or BMW M5.

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!

Satellite navigation and 20-inch wheels will be offered as options for those who want to make their VXR8 look more distinctive and help find their way to the best driving roads. Even with all the option boxes ticked however, the VXR8 is still around half the price of other cars with comparable performance. As all fast car fans know, Aussie rules……

Curb Zone