Friday 7th April 2006

Vauxhall opens performance centre

Offers approved mods

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VXR Performance Centre

Want to squeeze extra performance out of your Vauxhall, but don’t want to buy bolt-on parts from a high street accessory shop?

At Vauxhall’s new VXR Performance Centre, owners of mainstream Vauxhall models can benefit from a range of tuning and styling modifications that are fully supported by the Luton-based company.

Based at the headquarters of VXRacing at 888 Race Engineering, which prepares and campaigns Vauxhall’s Astra Sport Hatch touring cars, the centre offers a range of mods, from styling, suspension and brake upgrades, to remaps of the fuel system to deliver increased performance.

The centre, located in rural Oxfordshire, offers a range of VXRacing-backed modifications for all cars in the Vauxhall range, and can even increase the power outputs of models such as the Astra, Vectra and Zafira VXRs.

The facility also offers the chance to see the birthplace of the VXRacing team, with the option of providing a factory tour, a chance to purchase memorabilia and an insight as to what goes on behind the scenes of a championship winning BTCC Team.

VXR brand manager Stuart Harris said: "The opening of the VXR Performance Centre further strengthens the links between Vauxhall’s VXR road cars and VXRacing. We’re proud to be associated with Triple Eight in a venture that not only celebrates our successes on the race track, but also brings the results of our motorsport expertise to enthusiastic Vauxhall owners."

• www.vxrperformance.co.uk

[qube_TA]

At last I can finally buy official under car neons!

[ninjaboy]

I don't think they should be increasing the power of cars like the Astra it can hardly cope with the power its got.

[Tonto]

Hmm, no mention of the VXR 220 anywhere ,, strange.

[zo-fo]

Not strange - no mention of Monaro either. It's strictly Vauxhall assembled vehicles. Yours is more of a Lotus (with a Vauxhall engine, same as the new Europa, which also doesn't feature on the site).

[PetrolTed]

I went to the launch of this. Was pretty interesting.

Triple 8 are certainly well position to do the work and some of the upgrades are pretty interesting.

I drove a remapped VXR Astra with a 'sport button' that invoked the remap. Had different brakes, wheels and suspection.

To my surprise, it was huge fun. Very, very responsive (~280bhp). Yes there was lots of torque steer but there would be wouldn't there? Had a lot of fun in that (unlike the standard Astras I've driven).

Also drove a chipped diesel. Again with a 'sport' button that invoked the remap. Can't remember the figures, but colossal amounts of torque when provoked. Quite a giggle.

The positive thing to draw from this is that Vauxhall are prepared to sanction upgrades to their cars now. A very good thing for performance enthusiasts.

[zo-fo]

PetrolTed said:

Had different brakes, wheels and suspection.

I'm suspecious. Is the suspection for straight line speed or for the twisties?

It's a shame that the models they used to introduce the VXR brand are apparently now ignored.

[CatherineJ]

I am awaiting information from them on upgrades for our Vectra. Ted I believe the diesel Astra you refer to is putting out 200 bhp.

Edited to say that every car that is modified by them, has an official sticker and number affixed under the drivers door locking mechanism, so hopefully verifying if a car has genuine modification should be a little easier.


>> Edited by CatherineJ on Friday 7th April 22:12

[PetrolTed]

spelling

True, but they recognise the fact that there are specialists who are already serving the Monaro and VX220 owners very well already (and they are much smaller markets).

The mainstream cars are where the volume is and where there's scope to raise the bar when it comes to the quality of upgrades on offer.

[zo-fo]

PetrolTed said:

spelling True, but they recognise the fact that there are specialists who are already serving ....VX220 owners very well already (and they are much smaller markets).

Fair enough. Thorney gets good reviews.