Luxury finishes on mainstream...
Luxury finishes on mainstream cars are a step closer, as boffins have worked out how to add a touch of class to budget trim. They"ve discovered an easy way to stick a veneer of good-quality materials to standard cabin components, so that even basic models can feel like range-toppers. The scientists - of Battelle, a technology company in Ohio, US - say the technique is carried out as the parts come out of the moulding machines.
Say hello to the new...
Say hello to the new and improved Vauxhall VXR8! The flagship of the Luton firm’s range has been given a power hike and a striking new paint finish in time for the summer.
The makeover sees the performance saloon get a new 6.2-litre V8 to replace the existing 6.0-litre unit. Its output has risen by 14bhp to 425bhp – and as a result, the VXR8 is faster than before. Automatic versions now complete the sprint from 0-62mph in 4.9 seconds – that’s one-tenth-of-a-second less – while manual cars offer improved in-gear acceleration.
Yet despite the boost in pace, the new engine is as economical as the unit it replaces, and even produces the same level of emissions. That means buyers can expect 18mpg fuel returns and a CO2 output of 365g/km.
Vauxhall has announced a range of subtle cosmetic tweaks to go with the mechanical changes. New 20-inch alloys are introduced as an optional extra, while customers will be able to order the four-door with a head-turning white paintjob for the first time – and best of all, the trendy Heron White finish is available at no extra cost. Other improvements include the addition of an oil cooler to the transmission of automatic cars as standard.
However, as our picture shows, the revamped VXR8 won’t get Vauxhall’s new Griffin badge – at least, not yet! As Auto Express revealed in Issue 1,002, the first model to feature the revised design will be the company’s Vectra replacement, the Insignia, which is set to make its world debut at the British Motor Show in July. It will then be introduced across the line-up.
The first examples of the tweaked VXR8 will hit showrooms here in the same month as the London ExCeL expo, although buyers can place their order now. The updates to the design come at a cost, however; prices for both manual and automatic versions will increase by ÷£486 to ÷£35,695.
And if the standard VXR8 doesn’t provide enough muscle for you, Vauxhall’s Australian sister brand Holden is dev-eloping an even more powerful version. The 7.0-litre model is likely to carry a price tag of around ÷£55,000 when it reaches UK showrooms later this year, although its exact bhp output has yet to be confirmed.