A 6.0-litre engine, 411bhp, rear-wheel drive… pre-drive billings don’t get much more intimidating. The reality is nowhere near as daunting. The VXR8 is a rapid car, but it’s no vicious animal waiting to bite your hand off, and it’s a darn sight easier to drive than the Monaro.
There’s the same mechanical ’box, needing a positive movement from the shoulder rather than a deft flick of the wrist, but it’s smoother than before. The clutch is also lighter, but the VXR8’s unexpected friendliness comes most from the power delivery, building progressively with no nasty surprises. At idle, just the right level of V8 rumble is present (the standard exhaust is actually quite muted; we prefer the optional sports system) and a stab of throttle sends the big saloon rocking.
Despite the billing, the LS2 remains an old-school engine, preferring capacity over revs, and yet it is prepared to use everything it’s got, revving smoothly right up to its 6600rpm red line, where it’s far from strained, but leaves no doubt you’re asking a lot from a big engine.
In reality you needn’t try so hard, the engine most content running between 2000 and 4400rpm, where peak torque is produced and the soundtrack is at its most delicious: a deep V8 thrum overlaid with a hard metallic beat. Fourth gear is good for 20-130mph, with each 20mph increment below 100mph dispatched in less than 4.5sec.
Vauxhall claims the VXR8 will hit 60mph from rest in 4.9sec, although admittedly with a well run-in engine. Our test car arrived with under 1000 miles on the clock, and whether using launch control (leave ESP on, dial in 3500rpm, dump the clutch) or old-fashioned throttle control, our best was a 5.4sec average.
Getting to 100mph takes 13.2sec – not hanging about, but some way off the M5/RS4 pace and about par with a BMW 335i. The VXR8 may have 411bhp, but it also weighs 1840kg and is burdened with quite a slow gearbox.
The large-diameter ventilated disc brakes front and rear stop the VXR8 quickly in dry or wet conditions, stand up well to hard use at the track, and for smooth road use the pedal feel is excellent. In fact, so strong are the brakes that they can, under the harshest of stops, cause the rear suspension a problem –of which more in a moment.
