Overall rating:

Vauxhall has long filled a (tiny) gap at the top of its range for a thundering V8 saloon car by shipping Corvette engined Holdens over from its unhinged Australian relations. This latest car offers more of the same tyre-BBQ-ing power, with 425bhp from its 6.2-litre V8, but somewhere on the boat the price has increased, meaning this new VXR8 isn't quite the bargain its predecessors were.

Key Facts

Pricing: £51,200
Engine: 6.2-litre V8 petrol
Transmission: automatic, rear-wheel drive
Body style: four-door saloon
Rivals: BMW M3/M5, Mercedes-Benz C 63 AMG, Audi S6
CO₂ emissions: 324g/km
Combined economy: 21mpg
Top speed: 155mph (limited)
0-62mph: 5.0 seconds
Power: 425bhp at 6,000rpm
Torque: 405lb.ft at 4,600rpm

In the Metal:

Sitting very much alone at the top of the Vauxhall line-up the VXR8 is like nothing else wearing the Griffin badge. First of all, it's big; the massive saloon is more suited to the wider roads of Australia than the narrow roads that criss-cross Britain. In the absence of Australian sun this example brings its own thanks to bright yellow paint, reiterating the point that this isn't a car for wallflowers.

That yellow is neatly contrasted with black details, including the intakes, grilles and wheels. It works, giving the VXR8 visual menace to match its brutish power. Inside it's all very black, with the plastics feeling mainstream rather than premium, which is a problem given its pricing and theoretical rivals.

Driving it:

Anything with 425bhp is going to be fun to drive and the VXR8 doesn't disappoint. It'll reach 62mph in just five seconds and strain against its 155mph limiter all-day long if you're passing through Germany - or at least until the fuel runs out. The big V8 engine doesn't really get into its stride until around 4,000rpm, where it turns from merely fast into something seriously potent. Mated to a six-speed automatic gearbox it's easy enough to just leave it in drive and hang on as all hell breaks loose when you floor the accelerator. The gear selector is the right way round too - with upshifts requiring a tug back and downshifts a prod forwards - but that compensates little for the lack of paddle-shifters on the steering wheel.

There's a magnetic damping system that helps the VXR8 ride decently, but even so the chassis lacks the sophisticated feel of its European rivals. That there's an oversteer meter among the numerous option screens in the centre console speaks volumes though, the VXR8 feeling like slightly old-school muscle car in its manners. That's fun, but on tight country roads you need your wits about you, mainly because of the VXR8's size and relative lack of sophistication. That's not necessarily a bad thing, as the VXR8 is always exciting.

What you get for your Money:

You can look at the VXR8 in one of two ways. Either you're getting a mighty engine and performance for your money, or you're buying a very expensive Vauxhall. The VXR8 used to fall very much into the former category, but a recent price jump to over £50,000 sees it competing more readily with some serious European super saloons. Good and fun as it is, that competition is too tough for the Aussie brute to match.

Worth Noting

The Vauxhall VXR8 is not available as an estate, but if you like your mad performance mated with practicality then you could always have the Monaro. It's a ute (utility, pickup) version of the VXR8 for builders in a serious hurry. Just try putting a wheelbarrow in the back of your M3...

Summary

'Niche' barely covers the VXR8's appeal, which, although offering M3 and C 63 AMG like performance, is a leftfield choice. Not least because of its mainstream badge, which fails to cut it against German rivals. As it used to sit price-wise it made some sense, but you'd have to really want something different to opt for it now it's more than £50,000. We applaud you it you do, but we'd spend our money elsewhere.