Vauxhall's 500bhp saloon!

[Pebb]

Source: AutoExpress

Vauxhall boosts power on two VXR models, with the Monaro boasting 0-60 in less than 5 secs


Vauxhall has announced performance tweaks on the 2007 Vectra VXR and Limited Edition Monaro VXR.

The limited-edition Monaro VXR500 is based on the standard 6.0-litre Monaro VXR, but uses forced induction to take the power from 403 to 500PS and torque up from 530Nm to a massive 677Nm. In addition to the positive displacement supercharger, the conversion also includes an upgraded fuel system, clutch revisions and bespoke engine tune.

It’s expected that the VXR500 will have a sub five second 0-60 time and a top speed in excess of 180mph, but with most of the torque available low down in the engine’s rev range, the engine should remain useably flexible. The limited edition Monaro is available for £35,995 - less than half the price of any other coupe with 500bhp. Should be an amazing Q-car, though whether people in that brice bracket can cope with the Vauxhall badge remains to be seen.

Slightly lower down the scale, the Vectra VXR's power is boosted from 255PS to 280PS, thanks to a redesigned induction system, modified engine components and retuned electronic engine control software. These revisions to the 2.8-litre V6 turbo engine knock four-tenths of a second off the 0-60mph sprint time, taking it down to just 6.1 seconds for the hatchback and 6.3 seconds for the estate.

To match the engine’s extra power, Vauxhall’s engineers have also tweaked the chassis to give more dynamic handling. Modified spring and shock absorber settings and correspondingly retuned IDSPlus2 chassis control software is said to optimise the pitch, roll and turn-in characteristics to make the most of the increased performance without spoiling the Vectra's drive. The difference between the normal chassis setting and the Sport setting, which is activated by the dashboard-mounted Sport Switch, has been further increased, making sure that the Vectra’s handling can cope with the more enthusiastic driver’s demands.

The Vectra VXR currently costs £24,180 (saloon) and £25,180 (estate).

 

[Jay]

Oh great, so the UK gets the hottest Monaro model, thats not fair.

I am interested to see this supercharger and who is actually fitting it?

 

[TS]

Sounds like the BMW M5 and Merc E55 have some more competition now.

 

[vladimir]

the monaro is no saloon.

 

[YSSMAN]

I'm very interested in how Vauxhall decided to strap a supercharger onto the Monaro... Neither the Aussies nor we Americans recieved any model like that, but that kinda has a simple solution. If we wanted 500 BHP, we would just throw in a LS7 and call it a day. Not that a supercharger is a bad thing, especially when atop an LS2, but you can't replace a big-bore/stroke V8 like that.

...I'm just interested in how the numbers play out one again. I've herd of sub 5-second 0-60 times with the LS2-powered GTO here in the US, although the IRS makes it a bit difficult to pull of consistantly. Granted, the GTO isn't nearly as fast as the CTS-V, but it makes for an interesting option if you can deal with two doors instead of four.

HEY! Speaking of the CTS-V, it kinda makes you wonder... With all the talk of a "Super-V" floating around with the pictures showing CTS-Vs with hood buldges, could we be getting ready to strap the S/C LS2 under the hood of our Cadillacs?

Meh, maybe not... They are still saying an LS7-powered version is in the works...

 

[Jay]

. Not that a supercharger is a bad thing, especially when atop an LS2, but you can't replace a big-bore/stroke V8 like that.

Sure it can, this supercharged LS2 (6.0L still big) now has more torque than the LS7.

 

[Cap'n Jack]

So the British get this super hot Monaro and we don't? Thats not very fun.

 

[YSSMAN]

...We don't either, too bad really. But, the VE Monaro is on the way!

I'm crossing my fingers the Camaro, GTO, Monte Carlo (or Chevelle?) come quickly after their sedan siblings, S/C LS2 or not!

 

[the Interceptor]

Yes, they are raising the power of the Vectra. What they forgot to mention is that in the same process, they'll also limit the top speed to 155mph.

Oh great, so the UK gets the hottest Monaro model, thats not fair.

So the British get this super hot Monaro and we don't? Thats not very fun.

Cheer up guys, we don't get the Monaro at all, and that's pretty much the only Vauxhall I'd buy in an instant. And I really would buy it!

Regards
the interceptor

 

[Jay]

Cheer up guys, we don't get the Monaro at all, and that's pretty much the only Vauxhall I'd by in an instant. And I really would buy it!

Regards
the interceptor

Yeah it wouldn't have cared too much, but this is a Australian made car so we should get a nice model like that.

Our final limited edition Monaro was just a Monaro CV8 with a few extras called CV8Z, nothing to get to excited about.

 

[Casio]

So the British get this super hot Monaro and we don't? Thats not very fun.

No loss. If you're really that desperate you can slap a supercharger on yourself for peanuts anyway.

You can get your LS1 powered Monaro to 480kw (653PS!), with only a $13,000 upgrade. That puts the you could probably pick up an LS1 Monaro for maybe 40-50K. So for a maximum $65,000AUD, which is £26,000. Less then £1,000 more then the VXR Estate.

I'd imagine the LS2 kits would get even more power.

 

[Milliethemutt]

The last thing the Vectra needs is more power. The Monaro is very interesting but hardly a q-car.

 

[Famine]

The last thing the Vectra needs is more power.

Agreed entirely.

The very first thing it needs is a trip to a car crusher, and the chief designer and engineers to be shot in the face.

 

[G.T]

Haha! I'd be surprised if it could go 4 tenths of a second faster to 60 than the standard car... And tweaking the suspension won't make a difference.

 

[the Interceptor]

I really don't get why they do this. With even more power, the understeer can only get worse, and the only attribute where you might need this power, and the only positive thing Jeremy Clarkson saw on this car - top speed - is cut back to 155 mph. I don't get it!

Regards
the Interceptor

 

[ExigeEvan]

Do any of the Brits here actually see Monaros frequently or at all? I'm pretty sure I've never seen one.

I don't know why, but reading this thread has made me wonder why we need so much power from these cars. Both are easily capable of getting you a driving ban if you push them, so why are they giving them even more power?

 

[Pebb]

Do any of the Brits here actually see Monaros frequently or at all? I'm pretty sure I've never seen one.

I don't know why, but reading this thread has made me wonder why we need so much power from these cars. Both are easily capable of getting you a driving ban if you push them, so why are they giving them even more power?

I've seen about 7 Monaros last time I remember.

 

[MagpieRacer]

Do any of the Brits here actually see Monaros frequently or at all? I'm pretty sure I've never seen one.

I saw a red one last week, VXR model.

 

[G.T]

I've also seen a few: a few red ones, 1 being a VXR with a LOUD exhaust, and a standard silver one.

I'm glad they're still keeping the car alive after its short production life, though.

 

[Milliethemutt]

I've seen a couple of Monaros but there are also a couple of 4 door Holden imports in the Newcastle area that I've seen. Much cooler if you ask me.

 

[Dave A]

Oh great, so the UK gets the hottest Monaro model, thats not fair.

I am interested to see this supercharger and who is actually fitting it?

It's a bit of a tradition with the UK getting the odd stupidly powerful 4 seater cars evey now and then. The Lotus Carlton anyone.

As for seeing Monaro's, I've seen a few, they arn't all over like the rash that is the Boxster but I've seen a few.

 

[Danny]

Aww... I was expecting a 500hp RWD Vectra.

I might have liked the Vectra then.

 

[YSSMAN]

...Well the Monaro is all over here in the US. I usually see an average of about 2-3 per day, most of them the origional Corvette LS1 versions, not the outgoing LS2 models.

 

[ND4SPD]

Gah, the title of the thread got me excited.

 

[TheCracker]

I think i've only seen one Monaro in the UK, which really suprises me with all the good press it got.

Who in their right mind would want a 280PS Vectra?

 

[IMTDS]

I think i've only seen one Monaro in the UK, which really suprises me with all the good press it got.

Who in their right mind would want a 280PS Vectra?

Anyone looking for an expensive way to kill themselves.
I remember seeing the current VXR Vectra on Top Gear have so much understeer that you could drive in a strait line with the wheels turned.
More power can only be a bad thing.

 

[Thiele]

my uncle used to have an old Monaro

i wish they were still around

 

[daan]

It's a bit of a tradition with the UK getting the odd stupidly powerful 4 seater cars evey now and then. The Lotus Carlton anyone.

The Evo FQ400 was only available here too, wasn't it?

I can only recall seeing a couple of Monaros. One was at a car show, so that doesn't really count.

Who in their right mind would want a 280PS Vectra?

Me! Me! Me! Oh. Wait a minute. I think I misunderstood the question. What was it again?

Who in their right mind would want a 280PS Vectra?

Oh, right, got you now. Errr, no. Not me. You could actually miss out the "280PS" bit of the question, and it'd still be no.

 

[TheCracker]

Oh, right, got you now. Errr, no. Not me. You could actually miss out the "280PS" bit of the question, and it'd still be no.

How does the old saying go? - 'You can't make a silk purse out of a pig's ear'
Fitting i think.

 

[daan]

Scene - Vauxhall bored room *

Man 1 - "Did you see the Top Gear review of the Vectra?"

Man 2 - "Yeah, Jeremy liked the power, but he completely lambasted its handling. He says it understeered and couldn't handle the power. What does he know?"

Man 1 - "He may have a point. What can we do to improve it though?"

Man 2 - "Lets give it more power! 280PS is a nice figure"

Man 1 - "Yeah!"

Man 3 - "But the chassis can't handle the power its got just now. Giving it more power will only make it worse."

Man 1 & 2 (in unison) - "Shut it, and go and make us some tea"



* I know