New Vauxhall VXR8 hits the market 15 | 12 | 2010

SCOTLAND'S VAUXHALL VXR dealer in Scotland — Peter Vardy in Aberdeen — will open its order book next month for the revised 425bhp VXR8 sports saloon. At £49,500, it's not exactly the cheapest Vauxhall you'll ever park on your driveway, but the VXR8 is something of a rare beast.

With its 6.2-litre V8, the new VRX8 is now based on HSV’s E3 GTS model which has recently been launched in Australia and the new rear-wheel driven performance car has heavily-revised front- and rear-end styling, a new cabin and a host of driver aids.

Vauxhall is being understandably aggressive in its marketing, pitching the car as a cheaper alternative to a Jaguar XFR and Audi RS6. It's also quick: it'll hit 60mph from standstill in 4.9secs and accelerate on to a governed max of 155mph.

The VXR8 also comes with a new, ‘Shockwave’ grille, LED daytime running lights and sleek new wing-vents which mark the new car out from the front. At the rear-end there's a new ‘Superflow’ rear spoiler, LED tail lamps and twin exhaust tips that mimic the shape of the front grille.

For the first time on a VXR8, Vauxhall has used Magnetic Ride Control (MRC), an adaptable suspension system based on technology used in GM’s current Corvette ZR1 supercar

And that's not all; it also gets Launch Control, which is engaged when drivers select the ESC’s (Electronic Stability Control) Competition Mode, which dictates the level of torque delivered to the rear wheels for maximum acceleration, according to surface conditions.

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Jim McGill