Vauxhall has introduced the estate version of its VXR8 performance sedan to the UK market. With 431 PS (425 HP) from a 6.2 liter V8 engine, the VXR8 Tourer is the most powerful estate car in Vauxhall’s 110-year history.
The V8 engine is the same used by the VXR8 saloon and Maloo ute, with all three models being based on the soon-to-be replaced Holden Commodore. The eight-cylinder is mated to a six-speed manual gearbox or a six-speed automatic transmission. In either case, there’s a mechanical limited slip differential offered as standard, as this is a rear-wheel drive car.
As far as performance is concerned, the VXR8 Tourer doesn’t disappoint: 0 to 60 mph (96 km/h) takes 4.9 seconds, with top speed being electronically limited to 155 mph (250 km/h). This makes it the fastest estate car ever to feature in Vauxhall’s lineup as well.
The chassis uses MacPherson struts/progressive rate coils at the front and a multi-link independent set-up at the rear, with standard launch control hinting that this is not your ordinary estate.
Priced at £49,500 (€58,525), the VXR8 Tourer also offers the largest load volume of all the estate cars on sale in the UK today – a van-rivaling 895 liters to be exact (2,000 liters with the rear seats folded down).
For this kind of money, buyers will also get a full-leather trim on the inside, special HSV Performance Seats, iPod support and Bluetooth with phonebook display and touch-screen dialing, Aux-in/USB inputs, 20-inch Pentagon alloy wheels, two-coat metallic paint, Bi-Modal exhaust and Vauxhall’s Enhanced Driver’s Interface (EDI).
EDI constantly streams real-time vehicle dynamics and performance to the car’s main 5-inch monitor. We’re talking vehicle G-forces, power, torque and lap times, and even the degree at which the VXR8 Tourer is drifting…
By Dan Mihalascu
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