Tuesday 9th August 2005

Vauxhall VXRs the Vectra

It's a bit quicker than the current quickest

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More power, bit quicker

Vauxhall is sprinkling VXR dust over the Vectra, the new version to be launched at the Frankfurt Motor Show on 12 September. Vauxhall’s calling it "the most powerful car in the class".

The new model has a top speed of 161mph from an all-new 2.8-litre V6 turbo producing 250+bhp and 236lb-ft of torque. With variable valve timing and a twin-scroll turbocharger, the V6 takes the car from zero to 60mph in 6.6 seconds through a six-speed manual 'box. This makes it a bit quicker than the current quickest of the range, the 3.2i Elite which is powered to 60mph in 7.2 seconds by a 211bhp V6.

Underneath the car is a heavily revised version of the existing Vectra's chassis using electronic damping control to minimise body roll via two processing modules while maintaining comfort. The brakes are the largest fitted to any production Vauxhall, 345mm discs at the front, 292mm at the rear.

The front features a deeper, VXR-badged front bumper and, at the rear, a rear spoiler, a pair of trapezoidal tailpipes and lowered bumper. It rides on 18-inch alloys with 19-inch rims an option.

Vauxhall reckoned it will sell for "well under £25,000".

[B19GRR]

Why the hell can't Vauxhall just have the guts to dump an LSx V8 in something? Ooooh a 2.5 V6 turbo that's only a little quicker than the N/A 3.2 V6 but much more complicated? Pointless exercise number 18563.

I thank God that there are other manufacturers in the world so I'll never have to buy crap from Vauxhall. Grrrr.

Cheers,
Rob
[small]unexplainably angry today[/small]

[r988]

If it was RWD or at least AWD then it might have a chance a being a good drive, but all that turbo power going to the front wheels I dont think so...

[timwatsham]

Is it just me, or does anyone else get a little nervous at the thought of lines of these in the outside lane of the M40 doing 161mph as reps race to their next meeting in Birmingham?

Mad that a 161mph top speed was good going for a Ferrari or 911 not long ago...

[manek]

My 10yo 993 is only a bit faster at the top end than that. Mind you, it looks a bit better

[sumplug]

why dont GM import one of the holden v8's.much,much better then this thing.

[v15ben]

Amen to that. Get a V8 in there like the ones all over the place in Holdens out here!
I still love the V8 SS Holden Estates! They are mental!

[Dougie.]

I reckon Vauxhall won't do a V8 Vectra/mass production car becuase they majority are sold to fleets and the costs of running one, perceived or otherwise will keep them off company car lists. I'm sure they'll import another V8, two or four door, to replace the Monaro though. There was a twin turbo Irmscher 3.0 CDTi knocking about a while back, they'd be as well to put that into production with VXR trim as it had a ridiculous torque figure but still returned reasonable economy.

I'd like to see another 4x4, they haven't had one since they killed off the Calibra Turbo back in 97. Apparently the Vectra platform is designed for a 4x4 drivetrain but they can't get the car to sit low enough with all the running gear attached. Remember reading about it but can't recall where.

[qube_TA]

B19GRR said:

Why the hell can't Vauxhall just have the guts to dump an LSx V8 in something? Ooooh a 2.5 V6 turbo that's only a little quicker than the N/A 3.2 V6 but much more complicated? Pointless exercise number 18563. I thank God that there are other manufacturers in the world so I'll never have to buy crap from Vauxhall. Grrrr. Cheers, Rob unexplainably angry today

Yeah they could call it the Vauxhall Monaro then

[plfrench]

Come on ford, polish up the ST220 and give us a 250 bhp version... ST250 should be able to get that out of a 3 litre without having to resort to forced aspriation... I bet it handles a damn site better than that Vauxhall.

Paul.

[robdickinson]

The Ford 3.0 v6 already does 250bhp in the jag doesnt it.

Oh and doesnt the Astra have 240bhp out of a turbo 2.2?

[Dougie.]

robdickinson said:

The Ford 3.0 v6 already does 250bhp in the jag doesnt it. Oh and doesnt the Astra have 240bhp out of a turbo 2.2?

Turbo 2.0 - it's a revised version of the 200ps unit found in the SRi Turbo.

Be interesting to see what the new Vectra handles like and how much they've closed the gap on the Mondeo in terms of driver appeal. The current Vectras alright, but it's comfort biased, so a bit wallowy on a fast A/B road.

[ronj]

A Vectra that does 161MPH, give it to PC Milton so he can "further hone his driving skills" as his last Vectra was a bit slower!

Ron.




































2

[FestivAli]

v15ben said:

Amen to that. Get a V8 in there like the ones all over the place in Holdens out here! I still love the V8 SS Holden Estates! They are mental!

No! One reason I like going to the UK so much is because of the lack of 'fully sick' holden v8's running around the place. I'd happily own an SS common-dore over what I drive now, but it's far too bogan for Britain. Meh. I've had my rant

[NST]

the engine is clearly be set up for low down and mid range torque which is ok if you are into such characteristics.

its certainly going to fast enough and i'm sure it will handle ok as well. i suppose the main problem will be putting the power down through the front wheel. 260lb/ft is alot to be coping with so i wouldn't be suprised he the first to gears are torque limited.

[Postie]

Dougie. said:

I'd like to see another 4x4, they haven't had one since they killed off the Calibra Turbo back in 97.

With that system's reliability record, I can only conclude that is a good thing.

It was not uncommon for these cars (and the Cavalier 4x4's) to come in to the dealership I used to work in as year old, < 10,000 mile part-ex's with leaking transfer boxes, 2wd only, or transmission ECU faults. The owners would often be tearing their hair out in frustration.

In the end, it got so bad that our warranty company refused to cover the cars altogether, so we stopped taking them as part-ex's. The warranty company reckoned they could guarantee at least £500 worth of transmission repair claims over a typical 2 year ownership period. It was especially worrying as the 2WD versions, despite their dynamic shortcomings, were and still are utterly bombproof.

Interestingly, we bought an MX-5 last year with an RAC Gold warranty on it, and I noticed that even now, the RAC still specifically exclude the Vauxhall 4wd system from their warranties. Says it all.