Vauxhall uprates its Monaro VXR

New 6.0-litre engine pushes power to 400 bhp

By PH Staff / Tuesday, 14 December 2004 / Loading comments

Vauxhall has uprated its Monaro VXR muscle car. With 400 bhp supplied by the Corvette’s 6.0-litre LS2 V8, Vauxhall's new Monaro VXR is set to be the first ever production Vauxhall to top 180mph, finally overtaking the iconic Lotus Carlton to become the fastest ever Vauxhall.

The latest version of the company’s performance flagship takes over from the original Monaro VXR, which sold out within three months of going on sale earlier this year. The new car takes the VXR brand to even further extremes, with more power and torque than any other production car to wear the Vauxhall badge.

Under the new ventilated bonnet sits the high-output 6.0-litre LS2 V8 engine, which recently made its debut in the Corvette C6. As you’d expect from a supercar engine, power figures are impressive, with 400 bhp -- up from the last model’s 380 bhp -- and a massive 390 lb-ft of torque -- was 376 lb-ft. Although performance figures have yet to be officially recorded, Vauxhall expects that the VXR will be able to comfortably surpass the 177 mph record set by the Lotus Carton in 1990. A 0-60 time of around 5.0 seconds is also predicted.

Along with the new engine, most of the drive-train has been upgraded. You get revised suspension and bigger brakes to ensure -- as Vauxhall puts it -- that "the latest version can keep the power tamed while still being thrilling to drive. With its classic front-engine, rear-wheel drive layout, the Monaro has already gained a reputation for being an enthusiastic driver’s favourite."

Styling changes have been kept to the bare minimum. To help the car breathe more efficiently and keep the engine cool, a pair of distinctive ‘nostril’ vents has been added to the bonnet, while the rear now gains quad exhaust tail pipes. New 10-spoke, 19-inch alloy wheels allow onlookers to see the new grooved discs and VXR-branded brake callipers.

Prices have yet to be confirmed, but it’s expected that the new Monaro VXR will still cost half the price of other 180 mph supercars at around £37,000. The first cars will reach customers in March.

They seem to know how to keep a petrolhead happy.