VAUXHALL VXR8 Models/Series Timeline, Specifications & Photos

Most of the Vauxhall cars are just re-badged and right-hand drive European Opel vehicles. But not all of them. The Vauxhall VXR8 was a big difference. And it was based on an Australian car.

Far away from the U.S. and Europe, Australia has its national brand, named Holden. It is part of General Motors and it has some freedom to make cars suited for Australians. One of those cars was the Holden Monaro. A car that was so good that the Americans took-it and re-badged it as a Pontiac GTO. It was offered as a four-door sedan as well. And that was imported in the U.K. and re-badged as a Vauxhall VXR8.

The last year when the car was imported in the U.K. was in 2017. Only 15 units were made and all of them were sold before they were produced. It was a rare car. In the front, it featured a black grille and a big air-intake in the lower part of the bumper. Two side-vents on the front fenders took care of the air trapped in the wheel-well. In the back, a body-colored wing helped to add more downforce to the car.

Inside, the front sport-bucket seats were upholstered in leather and featured very big side bolsters. The dashboard resembled the one found in the Opel Insignia, along with the steering wheel and few details.

But the most important part of the car was under its skin. The engine was the same LSA V8 from the Chevrolet Camaro. It offered 595 hp and 740 Nm (545 lb-ft) of torque. It was mated with a 6-speed automatic and a 6-speed manual was available as an option. Power went to the rear wheels only.

Most of the Vauxhall cars are just re-badged and right-hand drive European Opel vehicles. But not all of them. The Vauxhall VXR8 GTS had a story based on an Australian car.

Holden was the GM arm in Australia and it had some freedom to build cars suited for their home market. One of those cars was the Holden Monaro. A car that was so good that the Americans took its coupe version and re-badged it as a Pontiac GTO. The four-door Monaro was imported in the U.K. and re-badged as a Vauxhall VXR8. In 2013, the model received a special version, named VXR8 GTS.

The last year when the car was imported in the U.K. was in 2017 due to the closure of Holden Australian's factories. In the front, it featured a black grille and a big air-intake in the lower part of the bumper. Two side-vents on the front fenders took care of the air trapped in the wheel-well. In the back, a body-colored wing with black tips helped to add more downforce to the car.

Inside, the front sport-bucket seats were upholstered in leather and featured very big side bolsters. The dashboard resembled the one found in the Opel Insignia, along with the steering wheel and few details.

But the most important part of the car was under its skin. The engine was the same LSA 6.2 liter V8 from the Chevrolet Camaro ZL1. It offered 577 hp. It was mated with a 6-speed automatic and a 6-speed manual was available as an option. Power went to the rear wheels only.

GM agreed to sell the Holden HSV Clubsport R8 on the British market under the Vauxhall VXR8 nameplate.

Holden produced various vehicles based on the European platform provided by Opel and Vauxhall, and it was time for it to pay back something. But it delivered only to the British customers, which drove on the same side as Australians. Europeans were left behind with tears in their eyes as they couldn't get the Vauxhall VXR8 in an RHD version.

The car's look was no subtle at all. Its air vents on the hood screamed for attention, its front bumper with LED daytime running lights and the angry-looking headlights matched the car's performances. The VXR8 sported big vents behind the wheel arches on the sides, and the side sills sent the aftermarket parts makers home. At the back, Holden installed a big wing on the trunk. The carmaker added a diffuser under the rear bumper flanked by two big, oval tailpipes to complete the aggressive package.

Inside, the carmaker installed sport bucket seats with high bolstered areas for the front occupants, while the bench was just flat. All seats sported the VXR logo embroidered on their backseats. It was a way of saying that the middle seat in the back was almost useless for an adult occupant due to the high center tunnel. The carmaker installed white dials with red needles in the instrument panel, complemented by three additional gauges on the upper side of the center stack.

But the essential part of the car was under the hood, where Holden installed an all-American supercharged Corvette engine for Vauxhall VXR8. It was available with either a 6.0-liter or a 6.2-liter displacement.