Aussie V8 big Brit send off
It’s not just Aussie and Kiwi V8 fans feeling the pain when Holden ends production of the Commodore (and, in turn, the mighty HSV range spun off it), the Brits will be suffering too.
They have decided to give the big fella a proper send off at this year’s Goodwood Festival of Speed (June 29–July 2) when a very special last-of-line edition Vauxhall VXR8 GTS-R takes to the track at the legendary event.
Vauxhall – a sister brand to Holden in the GM family – has been importing the VXR8 into the UK in various forms since 2007, and sells the car through selected dealerships in its network with full service back up and a threeyear, 60,000-mile warranty.
The Vauxhall version of GTS-R is exclusive to the UK and, like the HSV version, the supercharged LSA engine has been re-mapped and is fitted with a high-flow air filter to achieve its hike in power - up to 435kW.
Just 15 Vauxhall VXR8 GTS-Rs will head to the UK, and at an onthe-road price of £74,500 (NZ$134,388), the Brits will pay more for the privilege of getting their hands on the last of the big Aussies. In NZ the HSV version costs $130,990.
The GTS-R will join another new Vauxhall – and the car that will become the next Commodore - the Insignia Sports Tourer in Goodwood’s First Glance Paddock at the Festival of Speed.
Both cars will be driven on the hill climb twice a day through the event by a series of high-profile drivers.
-Damien O’Carroll
‘‘he Vauxhall version of GTS-R is exclusive to the UK.’’