Friday 11th September 2009

Revised HSV Holden Could Spawn Tweaks For VXR8

A new nose for the VXR8? Who knows...

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HSV Clubsport R8 GTS: Great car, silly name

The V8 Vauxhall VXR8 super-saloon could be in line for a facelift, after the car's Aussie sister revealed a major nip/tuck.

Holden's HSV performance arm has made a host of revisions to its Commodore HSV Clubsport R8 range - the saloon version of which is better known in the UK as the Vauxhall VXR8.

The nose of the Commodore HSV gets aggressively flared 'nostril' vents on the bonnet, daytime running lights and a restyled bumper.

At the rear the HSV Clubsport R8 now wears a more dramatic rear bumper, while chunky twin oval tailpipes replace the previous version's quad exhaust set-up. The spoiler on the range-topping GTS model now also sports black struts.

We want a Vauxhall version of the Maloo pick-up...

The models in the new E2 version of the HSV Commodore range are also now fitted with Magnetic Ride Control as standard, a la Ferrari 599 and Audi R8.

Vauxhall won't say whether or not it's bringing the revisions to the UK's VXR8 'Pommodore' (geddit?).

"We are in negotiations with the guys in Australia," a Vauxhall spokesman said. "At the moment we are considering whether to take that model on, but if we do it won't be until next year."

[aarondrs]

Looks nice though any Monaro VXR8 is on my wish list of cars to own/drive.

I wonder how the Vauxhall/Opel sale will affect these things now that they have been sold.

In fact I wonder what we can expect at all. My guess is the Opel badge coming back to the UK and an ever more ageing line up being offered.

[Aeroresh]

I hope they do bring it over here, especially the 427 and the estate this time round.

[madmatt1985]

looks like its melting

[Staffy1984]

How about we just get Holdens, instead of rebranding them as vauxhalls, problem solved.

[aarondrs]

Staffy1984 said:

How about we just get Holdens, instead of rebranding them as vauxhalls, problem solved.

Good point. If they could sort out a deal with a dealership group etc that would be great. They 'could' be cheaper too?

[V88Dicky]

Staffy1984 said:

How about we just get Holdens, instead of rebranding them as vauxhalls, problem solved.

I'm with you on that one. Have a chain of GM dealers here in the UK selling Holdens, (non-Korean) Chevrolets, Corvettes, Caddys, Buicks et al.

[SleeperCell]

The styling on these 'facelifted' E2 models is just horrendously bad and the GTS is the absolute worst of the lot.

[Cacatous]

The styling changes really are crap. They have lost their aggressive style now. The alloy designs are interesting though.

I'd take the Ford Falcon F6 everytime.

[dpbird90]

V88Dicky said:

Staffy1984 said:

How about we just get Holdens, instead of rebranding them as vauxhalls, problem solved.

I'm with you on that one. Have a chain of GM dealers here in the UK selling Holdens, (non-Korean) Chevrolets, Corvettes, Caddys, Buicks et al.

Yeah, bring on a RHD ZR1 and Camaro

[LuS1fer]

Sorry but that's bloody awful. The VXR8 hasn't sold that well judging by the low prices on the forecourt and I think this would make it worse as I don't know any 18 year olds who might like the looks who could afford it. That grille at the front - how many cans of XXXX did it take to make them think that looked good?

[bennno]

Asking price £35,995 but paid £22k for my brand new 6.2L VXR8....

Cannot believe Vauxhall make anything on these cars apart from perhaps the first handful that are bought at list

bennno

[obscene]

bennno said:

Asking price £35,995 but paid £22k for my brand new 6.2L VXR8....

Cannot believe Vauxhall make anything on these cars apart from perhaps the first handful that are bought at list

bennno

I want one NOW.

[sprinter1050]

Bathurst version for me -ta !

[tim2100]

bennno said:

Asking price £35,995 but paid £22k for my brand new 6.2L VXR8....

Cannot believe Vauxhall make anything on these cars apart from perhaps the first handful that are bought at list

bennno

We went to the dealer a few weeks ago looking for a bathurst model.

Before we sat down he was asking who we worked for to get a huge discount. he then said going online gives you a 6k discount. If they dropped the list price instead of huge discounts, then the car would fall into more peoples price brackets, currently at like of £36k it is very expensive.

If they drop the list price to £25-£28k then surely it would sell lots more.

[Turbobanana]

I was lucky enough to drive one (well, three actually) at Rockingham on a VXR Trackday I won on Pistonheads tecently. Under the tutillage of such luminaries as Karl Jones I had a blast. It poured down all afternoon and these things were sideways all the time, even with the obligatory traction control on. Naff steering wheel. Great fun...

...but I'd still prefer a Falcon.

[V8mate]

tim2100 said:

bennno said:

Asking price £35,995 but paid £22k for my brand new 6.2L VXR8....

Cannot believe Vauxhall make anything on these cars apart from perhaps the first handful that are bought at list

bennno

We went to the dealer a few weeks ago looking for a bathurst model.

Before we sat down he was asking who we worked for to get a huge discount. he then said going online gives you a 6k discount. If they dropped the list price instead of huge discounts, then the car would fall into more peoples price brackets, currently at like of £36k it is very expensive.

If they drop the list price to £25-£28k then surely it would sell lots more.

List prices are £35,995 for a standard VXR8 and £45k for the Bathurst.

Several dealers have delivery mileage '59-plate Bathursts for £26,995 though.

[Aeroresh]

A bit odd....the pic's of a standard car.

I think the Supercharged Bathurst is 46k list and the NA Bathurst is 39k (7k for the supercharger).

[andy68]

Front looks better, rear looks worse and the wheels are awful

[stuckmojo]

I like that a lot. A steal at under 30k as some examples above here.

[stigmundfreud]

looks like a tarts handbag