Vauxhall VXR8 Gets New 425Hp LS3 6.2L V8

Like its Australian counterpart, the Holden Commodore based HSV Clubsport R8, the UK market Vauxhall VXR8 is being enhanced with GM’s new and more powerful LS3 engine. The new V8 engine’s capacity grows from 6.0-liters to 6.2-liters and thanks to various improvements over the outgoing LS2 unit, power is up by 14 PS to 431 PS (317kw or 425 Hp) at 6,000rpm.

With the new LS3 the automatic VXR8 goes from 0 to 60 mph (96 km/h) in 4.9 sec, a 0.1 sec improvement over the LS2 model. Moreover, in-gear acceleration for manual models has also improved with 50-70mph in 3rd gear dropping from 2.8 to 2.6 sec while 30-50mph in 2nd gear drops from 2.0 to 1.9 sec. -Continued

Vauxhall supports that, despite the VXR8’s enhanced performance credentials, its LS3 produces the same emissions and fuel consumption as the outgoing LS2 unit. In addition, the VXR8 automatic receives a transmission oil cooler as standard.

The LS3 VXR8 is also offered with all-new body colour - Heron White – at no extra cost, as well as the option of factory-fit 20-inch rims for the first time on this model. Prices for both manual and automatic versions of the LS3-powered VXR8, which are on sale in the UK now, rise by £485 to £35,695.

Video: 5th-Gear Pits the Vauxhall VXR8 Against the 382Hp Vauxhall Lotus Carlton

Back in the beginning of the 1990’s, Vauxhall -Opel’s UK counterpart- introduced the Omega based, Lotus Carlton which was developed in co-operation with Lotus (then owned by GM) and equipped with a twin-turbocharged 3.6-liter V6 engine developing 382Hp.

Nearly two decades after, Vauxhall found the Lotus Carlton’s spiritual successor in the form of the Aussie made, VXR8 which is practically a rebadged Holden Commodore based HSV Clubsport R8. Check out 5th Gear’s video with Vicki Butler-Henderson testing out both cars on the race track right after the jump. -Continued

Video: Holden HSV R8 Supercharged vs BMW M3 vs Mercedes C63 AMG

While we wouldn’t mind having the keys of any of these V8-powered high-performance saloons tested by Brit car magazine, EVO, we’re curious to see how the supercharged version of the HSV Clubsport R8 (called Vauxhall VXR8 in the UK) holds up against the BMW M3 and the Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG. Since we don’t want to spoil any surprises, we’ll let you find out for yourselves by seeing the video.

Video: Holden HSV R8 Supercharged vs BMW M3 vs Mercedes C63 AMG

While we wouldn’t mind having the keys of any of these V8-powered high-performance saloons tested by Brit car magazine, EVO, we’re curious to see how the supercharged version of the HSV Clubsport R8 (called Vauxhall VXR8 in the UK) holds up against the BMW M3 and the Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG. Since we don’t want to spoil any surprises, we’ll let you find out for yourselves by seeing the video.