There’ll be not one, but three special Vauxhall ‘VR’s to ogle at the Goodwood Festival on July 3-5th – the company has just announced it will be showing the 1966 XVR and 1970 SRV concepts alongside the UK debut of the new 325bhp Insignia VXR.
XVR has gullwing doors and pop-up lamps
While the new Insignia VXR will be strutting its stuff on the hillclimb course, its older relations will be relaxing in style on the Cartier Lawn. Apparently neither of these former show-stoppers has been seen outside the Luton Heritage Centre for nearly two decades, so it’s definitely worth giving them a once-over.
The XVR was originally shown at the 1966 Geneva motor show, and was the work of Vauxhall’s then head of design David Jones. Featuring gullwing doors, pop-up headlamps and all-round independent suspension, the XVR also featured a dash treatment used to test reaction to ideas for the forthcoming Vauxhall Firenza.
The SRV was a little more radical, and was first shown at the 1970 Earls Court Motor Show.
SRV was a four-door technology tour-de-force
‘The sleek, imposing shape belies its four-door practicality’ says Vauxhall, ‘but with an aerofoil, electric self-levelling suspension and a manometer to measure air pressure on the car’s hull, the SRV illustrated Vauxhall’s forward thinking technology stance.’
But if it’s action you’re after at Goodwood, you’ll be pleased to hear Vauxhall also plans to bring its most powerful production car ever to the Supercar Paddock.
It has been suggested that the supercharged, rear-wheel-drive, 6.2-litre V8-engined VXR8 Bathurst S Edition may be used create a new ‘Smoke Gets in Your Eyes’ display in front of Goodwood House…
 VXR will be running up that hill |
 Bathurst may be burning rubber... |
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