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RETURN TO OZ

If you were worried that Vauxhall’s VXR range had gone off the boil since the Monaro was axed, here’s proof that the Aussies can still lure us with their whimsical creations

This fanciful motor is Australia’s answer to the BMW M5 and Audi’s R8; it houses an exuberant 6-litre V8 engine which has all the performance to match its German counterparts plus the ability to comfortably seat two six footers in the rear. What’s more it costs just £34,995 and has a highly driftable rear wheel drive lay-out as well as stability control which can be fully disabled. Obviously any restrictions concerning C02 and petrol costs have been well and truly laughed off; this is a muscle car through and through and that means total disregard for anything except the raw driving experience.

Don’t be surprised to see 10mpg flash up on your trip computer, if you’re driving it hard then this is fully expected. At a push you can push this up to the late twenties if you avoid stop-start traffic. Cruising along is something it does with remarkable grace; the suspension is supple and the engine noise almost undetectable which is rather an oxymoron for a muscle car like this.
Looks wise, the VXR8 won’t have you salivating but then neither did the Vauxhall Lotus Carlton and it certainly didn’t hinder its marketability. It seems likely that the replacement Monaro wants to hark back to the brazenness of the nineties with the very in your face body kit and rear spoiler. There’s also little to disguise its beginnings as an Australian-built Holden HSV Clubsport R8.

The engine in this new limited edition model is straight out the old Monaro but following a few nit-picking revisions it now produces 414bhp and 550Nm of torque. A sub 5 second 0-60mph time for muscle cars is pretty much a given now-a-days but on paper is one thing and wheel spinning off down a disused runway is another. Its stopping power though is its most impressive feat, extravagant though 365mm vented discs are; it’s quite something to grind this brute to a halt in less time than a Lamborghini Murceilago.
Don’t expect the same finery inside the cabin though; Vauxhall has clearly rummaged around in their parts bin judging by some of the tacky plastics that grace the interior. The good news is the standard equipment, for a car of its price it’s great that it doesn’t skimp on things like leather upholstery and climate control. Options include a manual override for its automatic box; it comes at an additional £1,400. There’s also 20” alloy wheels and a throaty exhaust system to spice things up a bit.

The beauty of Vauxhall’s VXR8 is that it doesn’t try and re-invent the wheel or be too futuristic in its approach. It knows there’s still a market for obscenely fast cars so that was the primary focus. It doesn’t have the ambience or the sophistication of say a Jag or the presence of a Chrysler 300C but it is thoroughly entertaining as well as offering great value for money. Of the 110 models made all have been sold so its a case of getting your hands on one the second time around. Servicing it will be straight forward as you can take it to any of the centres in Vauxhall`s network. You`re main concern really then is that petrol doesn`t go up in price too much. Yes it`s still an extravagance but it isn`t just a car, it`s a hobbie - get it on the track and all will be revealed.

Verdict

FOR: Fast, driftable and real value for money
AGAINST: Thirsty, and has a sizeable carbon footprint
CONCLUSION: It’s not overly clever or particularly pretty but rated on its driveability and its hands down the best thing to emerge from Australia since Kylie Minogue.

Spec

ENGINE: 6-litre V8
Co2 (g/km)/tax: 365g / km
POWER: 414bhp
TORQUE (lb/ft): 550Nm
0-60mph (sec): 4.9
MPG: 12.4 / 25.9 / 18.5 (urban/extra-urban/combined)
TRANSMISSION: Six speed Auto (option manual override)
WEIGHT: 1,831kg
PRICE: £34,995
RIVALS: Chrysler 300C SRT8, Jaguar S-Type R, BMW M5