Vauxhall confirmed the price of its new and supercharged VXR8 GTS super saloon, as the car gears up for its debut at the Autosport Performance Car Show next month. The 2014 Vauxhall VXR8 GTS is priced at £54,999, and that makes it the most affordable 500+ hp car in the British market.
The exact output of the amazing supercharged LSA V8 that powers the VXR8 GTS 576bhp and 545lb ft of torque, an increase of 150bhp and 140lb ft respectively over the outgoing, LS3-engined VXR8. It catapults the car from 0 to 60 mph in 4.2 seconds and on to a limited top speed of 155mph.
The Vauxhall VXR8 GTS is not all about straight line performance though. Like its predecessors, the car is a portable drift machine. Although, this new version comes with a couple of electronic gizmos designed to control its behavior. They result in a more refined driving experience, but they could also take away from what made the VXRs so great throughout the history by making it less tail happy.
One of those systems is an all-new Brake-Torque Vectoring system that applies braking to the inside rear wheel and transfers torque to the outside rear wheel to reduce understeer during high-speed manoeuvres. The other is the latest generation Magnetic Ride Control with three independent settings – the system they use in the Corvette.
Even with all the computer nonsense governing the VXR these days, it is still one helluva machine. And with 576 hp and under 60 grand, it sounds like a much better prospect than the M5 and E63. We just wish it looked a little better.
