Most powerful Vauxhall yet is last in a glorious line

• Near-450kW final-edition VXR8 swan song for V8 bruiser
• Only 15 super-expensive Aussie-sourced specials for UK
• Also marks end of line for Holden plant Down Under

LUTON, England – Vauxhall’s mighty VXR8 range of cars will be given a final hurrah at the UK’s 2017 Goodwood Festival of Speed (June 29-July 2) when a very special last-of-line edition takes to the track as part of the First Glance track class.

It will be driven by various high-profile drivers.

Known as the Vauxhall VXR8 GTS-R, the new model is an evolution of the current GTS’s supercharged 6.2-litre V8 capable of 446kW595PS and 740Nm – the most powerful car in the Opel subsidiary’s 114-year history.

SISTERS IN POWER

Production of the Holden Commodore model, on which the GTS-R is based, will end in Australia this October 2017 when Holden’s manufacturing plant finally closes.

Vauxhall – a sister brand to Holden in the GM family – has been importing the VXR8 in various forms since 2007 and sells the car through selected dealers in its network with full service back-up and a three-year or 100 000km warranty.

As befits last-of-line status, the GTS-R is no ordinary VXR8 – and in this form it’s exclusive to the UK – sorry, South Africa!

Sending drive via a limited-slip differential to the rear wheels, the GTS-R retains the previous GTS’s clever torque-vectoring system but adds an stronger brakes that use six-piston, monoblock calipers and 410mm discs up front and inside 20″ forged-alloy rims.

GIANT AIR-FILTER HELPS POWER BOOST

The GTS-R has a fresh face, with a new fascia, splitter, wings and carbon-fibre vents, while at the rear there’s a new-look diffuser, spoiler (with carbon-fibre upper), lower panel and four exhaust outlets with diamond-shaped exhaust tips.

Inside, the diamond theme continues in the Alcantara and leather seat trim with the steering-wheel and gear-shifter are also trimmed in Alcantara.

The current supercharged LSA engine has been re-mapped and has a high-flow air filter to achieve its power increase.

Only 15 of these very special cars will reach the UK priced at the equivalent of Vauxhall VXR8 GTS-Rs will come to the UK, at an on-the-road price of £74,500 – about R1.3-million (June 2017).

SPECIAL RUNS BY SPECIAL DRIVERS

The GTS-R will join another new Vauxhall – the 195kW Insignia Sports Tourer 2.0 Turbo 4×4 – in Goodwood’s First Glance Paddock at the annual Festival of Speed. Both will be driven on the hill-climb twice a day by a series of high-profile drivers.

Get more information about the Goodwood Festival of Speed,