VXR is the

branding Branding may refer to: Physical markings * Making a mark, typically by charring: ** Wood branding, permanently marking, by way of heat, typically of wood (also applied to plastic, cork, leather, etc.) ** Livestock branding, the marking of animals ...

for the high performance trim specification, used since 2004 for models in many of

Vauxhall Vauxhall ( ) is a district in South West London, part of the London Borough of Lambeth, England. Vauxhall was part of Surrey until 1889 when the County of London was created. Named after a medieval manor, "Fox Hall", it became well known for ...

's car range in the

United Kingdom The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom (UK) or Britain, is a country in Europe, off the north-western coast of the continental mainland. It comprises England, Scotland, Wales and North ...

Holden Holden, formerly known as General Motors-Holden, was an Australian subsidiary company of General Motors. It was an Australian automobile manufacturer, importer, and exporter which sold cars under its own marque in Australia. In its last thre ...

has also used the VXR badge for some of its high-performance cars such as the Astra VXR, Insignia VXR, and the Commodore VXR. European sourced VXR models were produced and developed by

Opel Performance Center Opel Performance Center (OPC) is a division of the German automobile manufacturer Opel, initially set up as a subsidiary in 1997. The main focus of OPC is the development of performance derivatives of the Opel range, such as the hot hatch Corsa ...

, a division of

Opel Opel Automobile GmbH (), usually shortened to Opel, is a German automobile manufacturer which has been a subsidiary of Stellantis since 16 January 2021. It was owned by the American automaker General Motors from 1929 until 2017 and the PSA Grou ...

. The

VXR8 The Vauxhall VXR8 is a performance car marketed by Vauxhall in the United Kingdom between 2007 and 2017, based on two different models produced by Holden Special Vehicles: the HSV Clubsport (2007–2009) and HSV GTS (2010–2017). The VXR8 is the ...

was produced and developed by

Holden Special Vehicles Holden Special Vehicles (HSV) was the officially designated performance vehicle division for Holden. Established in 1987 and based in Clayton, Victoria, the privately owned company modified Holden models such as the standard wheelbase Commodore, ...

. The VXR brand is closely linked to VX Racing, Vauxhall's

British Touring Car Championship The Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship is a touring car racing series held each year in the United Kingdom, currently organised and administered by TOCA TOCA, formally trading as BARC (TOCA) Ltd, is an organiser of motorsport events in ...

team, and the VXR versions of the cars are race track styled models, with high performance capabilities.

History

The

VX Racing Triple Eight Racing was a motorsports team formed in 1996 as Triple Eight Race Engineering, which competed in the British Touring Car Championship and the British GT Championship. The team's original focus was to design, build and race Vaux ...

name was first used in 2003 instead of Vauxhall Motorsport, taking part in the BTCC with cars prepared by

Triple 8 Race Engineering Triple Eight Racing was a motorsports team formed in 1996 as Triple Eight Race Engineering, which competed in the British Touring Car Championship and the British GT Championship. The team's original focus was to design, build and race Vaux ...

. The VXR badge was first launched in the summer of 2004, at the British Motor Show, with enhanced consumer versions of the Monaro and VX220. In 2005, the VXR range included the Astra VXR and subsequently Zafira, Vectra, Corsa,

Insignia An insignia () is a sign or mark distinguishing a group, grade, rank, or function. It can be a symbol of personal power or that of an official group or governing body. On its own, an insignia is a sign of a specific or general authority and is ...

and Meriva versions. It was launched following discussions with the Directors (K Grice, P Marshall and N Reed) and several Regional Organisers of the ''Vauxhall Sports Car Club'', at the time the official club for owners and enthusiasts of Vauxhall performance models to replace the GSi branding (which itself replaced the GTE label) which was previously used on top end high performance models. Shortly after the introduction of the VXR brand, a dedicated website and discussion forum, ''VXRonline'', was set up by the Directors of the Vauxhall Sports Car Club to provide technical assistance, advice, meetings and events for all owners and enthusiasts of the VXR models.

Former VXR models

Corsa (E) VXR * Launched 2015 * 1.6i Turbo 16v engine B16LER (uprated from previous Corsa VXR) * * LED running lights and bi xenon headlights * VXR exterior and interior styling * Twin Remus exhaust * 0 to in 6.5 seconds * Top speed of * 17" alloys (optional 18") * ESP stability control system * Koni dampers * Traction Control * Heavily bolstered

Recaro Recaro Holding, as the parent company of the Recaro Group, owns the Recaro brand and the independently operating companies Recaro Aircraft Seating (aircraft seats) based in Schwäbisch Hall and Recaro eGaming (gaming seats) based in Stuttgart, Germ ...

bucket seats and VXR badging * Intellilink audio system *

Onstar OnStar Corporation is a subsidiary of General Motors that provides subscription-based communications, in-vehicle security, emergency services, turn-by-turn navigation, and remote diagnostics systems throughout the United States, Canada, China, Mex ...

* 5 second Torque Overboost when fully depressing accelerator pedal The Corsa VXR Performance Pack adds a Drexler limited slip differential, larger Brembo brakes (330 mm over standard 305 mm) and track grade suspension with retuned Koni dampers. Astra GTC VXR * Only available in three door * 2.0 litre four cylinder turbo producing * 19" alloys or 20" forged alloys * 0 to in 5.9 seconds * Six speed manual transmission * Recaro front sport seats * Unique VXR gear knob, alloy pedals, still plates and flat bottom steering wheel * Top speed: (electronically limited) * Drexler limited slip differential * Brembo brakes * electro hydraulic power steering Insignia VXR * Available in the styles of the four door saloon, five door liftback, and five door sports tourer estate. *

turbo In an internal combustion engine, a turbocharger (often called a turbo) is a forced induction device that is powered by the flow of exhaust gases. It uses this energy to compress the intake gas, forcing more air into the engine in order to pro ...

V6 engine A V6 engine is a six-cylinder piston engine where the cylinders share a common crankshaft and are arranged in a V configuration. The first V6 engines were designed and produced independently by Marmon Motor Car Company, Deutz Gasmotoren Fabrik ...

producing at 5500 rpm and at 5500 rpm of

torque In physics and mechanics, torque is the rotational equivalent of linear force. It is also referred to as the moment of force (also abbreviated to moment). It represents the capability of a force to produce change in the rotational motion of th ...

. * Six speed manual or

automatic transmission An automatic transmission (sometimes abbreviated to auto or AT) is a multi-speed transmission used in internal combustion engine-based motor vehicles that does not require any input from the driver to change forward gears under normal driving c ...

Haldex Haldex AB (originally Halda Fickurfabrik AB, then Svenska AB Bromsregulatorer, SAB), also known as Haldex Group, is a Swedish public company operating in the commercial vehicle industry. It is listed on the OMX Stockholm Stock Exchange (Mid Cap), a ...

all wheel drive * 19" wheels (20" forged 7 spoke

alloy wheel In the automotive industry, alloy wheels are wheels that are made from an alloy of aluminium or magnesium. Alloys are mixtures of a metal and other elements. They generally provide greater strength over pure metals, which are usually much softe ...

s optional) * 0 to in 5.6 seconds * Interior features include

front sport seats, VXR

gear knob A gear stick (rarely spelled ''gearstick''), gear lever (both UK English), gearshift or shifter (both U.S. English), more formally known as a transmission lever, is a metal lever attached to the transmission of an automobile. The term ''gear sti ...

, alloy pedals, still plates and flat bottom steering wheel * Navi 900

satellite navigation system A satellite or artificial satellite is an object intentionally placed into orbit in outer space. Except for passive satellites, most satellites have an electricity generation system for equipment on board, such as solar panels or radioisotop ...

* Top speed: (electronically limited) (without limiter, i.e. with 'Unlimited' option) VXR8 Bathurst S The Bathurst S version of the VXR8 became the most powerful ever Vauxhall to be offered, when it was launched in 2009. * producing * 0 to in 4.9 seconds (manual version) * Electrically adjustable leather covered sports front seats *

Traction Control System A traction control system (TCS), also known as ASR (from german: Antriebsschlupfregelung, lit=drive slippage regulation), is typically (but not necessarily) a secondary function of the electronic stability control (ESC) on production motor vehicle ...

(TCS) * Six disc in dash CD player.

MP3 MP3 (formally MPEG-1 Audio Layer III or MPEG-2 Audio Layer III) is a coding format for digital audio developed largely by the Fraunhofer Society in Germany, with support from other digital scientists in the United States and elsewhere. Origin ...

compatible and

Bluetooth Bluetooth is a short-range wireless technology standard that is used for exchanging data between fixed and mobile devices over short distances and building personal area networks (PANs). In the most widely used mode, transmission power is limi ...

, with eleven speakers including sub woofers * Leather covered sports steering wheel * Cruise control * 21" inch hand smithed g6 twin spoke alloy wheels * Aluminium VXR badged pedals * Top speed of ;VXR220 (2004–2005) The VXR220 was a limited edition version of the

Lotus Elise The Lotus Elise is a two-seat, rear-wheel drive, mid-engined roadster conceived in early 1994 and released in September 1996 by the British manufacturer Lotus Cars. The Elise has a fibreglass body shell atop its bonded extruded aluminium chassi ...

based

Vauxhall VX220 The Opel Speedster is a mid-engined, targa-topped, two-seat sports car sold by German automaker Opel and introduced in July 2000. It was built in both RHD and LHD versions at the Lotus Cars plant in Hethel, Norfolk, England. It was presente ...

, with a small production run of 65 vehicles. It was powered by a four-cylinder 2.0i turbo 16v engine producing at 6300 rpm and of torque at 4800 rpm. It could accelerate from 0- in 4.2 seconds and reach a top speed of . The VXR220 was fitted with five spoke Speedline satin black alloy wheels with 195/50R16 Yokohama A048R LTS tyres at the front and 225/45R17 Yokohama A048R LTS tyres at the back and uprated

brakes A brake is a mechanical device that inhibits motion by absorbing energy from a moving system. It is used for slowing or stopping a moving vehicle, wheel, axle, or to prevent its motion, most often accomplished by means of friction. Background ...

with 288 mm discs. ;Monaro VXR (2005–2007) Vauxhall Monaro VXR

The Monaro VXR was a rebadged

HSV GTO The Holden Monaro ( ) is a rear-wheel drive coupé manufactured by General Motors Holden in Australia from 1968 to 1975 and later reintroduced from 2001 to 2005. It was also manufactured as a 4-door sedan from 1973 to 1977. Three generations ...

with a six-litre

V8 engine A V8 engine is an eight-cylinder piston engine in which two banks of four cylinders share a common crankshaft and are arranged in a V configuration. The first V8 engine was produced by the French Antoinette company in 1904, developed and us ...

producing at 6000 rpm and of torque. It could accelerate from 0- in 5.3 seconds and reach a top speed of . The Monaro featured a different grille, wide lower air intake and bonnet scoops, side sills with 'shark gills' and unique alloy wheels and VXR branded brake calipers on later build numbers. It was replaced by the four door VXR8, also from Holden. ;Astra VXR (2005–2011) The original

hot hatch A hot hatch (shortened from hot hatchback) is a high-performance hatchback car. The term originated in the mid-1980s; however, factory high-performance versions of hatchbacks have been produced since the 1970s. Front-mounted petrol engines, ...

Astra VXR was announced in January 2005, and went on sale in the summer of 2005. Based on the

Vauxhall Astra The Vauxhall Astra is a compact car/small family car (C-segment) that has been sold by Vauxhall since 1980. It is currently produced at Ellesmere Port, Cheshire, England. For its first two generations, the nameplate was applied to right-hand ...

Mark 5, it was fitted with a 2.0i turbo 16V engine (Z20LEH) producing . It could accelerate 0 to in 6.2 seconds and reach a top speed of . Externally, it was different from the standard Astra with a central trapezoidal rear exhaust, 18" six spoke alloy wheels with 225/40R18 tyres (optional 19" ten spoke wheels), lowered and uprated suspension and VXR front fog lamps and other external styling including spoiler. ;Corsa VXR Launched mid April 2007 * 1.6i Turbo 16v engine A16LER (Z16LER <2010) * Light weight body panels * 189 brake horsepower (141 kW) * Large front air intakes with honeycomb grilles, bulging wheel arches and ground hugging front spoiler * Rear venturi style bumper * Central trapezoidal exhaust * 0 to 62 mph (100 km/h) in 6.8 seconds * Top speed of * 17" alloys (optional 18") * ESP stability control system * Traction Control * Heavily bolstered Recaro bucket seats and VXR badging * MP3 compatible sound system * Five second Torque Overboost when fully depressing accelerator pedal The Corsa VXR Nurburgring Edition, released in 2011, features a reworked version of the VXR's 1.6 litre turbo engine, as well as a sports exhaust and a modified turbocharger system. ;Zafira VXR (2005–2010) The seven seat Zafira VXR

compact MPV Compact MPV (an abbreviation for Compact Multi-Purpose Vehicle) is a vehicle size class for the middle size of MPVs. The Compact MPV size class sits between the mini MPV and large MPV (minivan) size classes. Compact MPVs remain predominantly a ...

was launched at the end of 2005, and sharing the same turbocharged 2.0 four cylinder engine of the Astra VXR, producing . It could accelerate 0 to 7.2 seconds and reach a top speed of . It could be identified by the VXR bodykit, twin trapezoidal rear exhausts and 18" alloy wheels. It was claimed as the fastest MPV in production ;Vectra VXR (2005–2009) The Vectra VXR was available in both hatchback and estate versions, fitted with 2.8i 24v V6 turbo engine and was based on the

Opel Vectra The Opel Vectra is a mid-size car (large family car) that was engineered and produced by the German automaker Opel from 1988 until 2010. Available in saloon, hatchback and estate body styles, the Vectra was also sold by the Vauxhall marque i ...

OPC. Originally launched in December 2005, it produced and after the facelift of 2007, the output increased to . This post 2007 version could accelerate from 0 to in 6.1 seconds for the hatchback, 6.3 seconds for the estate, and had a claimed top speed of (hatchback), (estate). The Vectra was equipped with 18" five spoke alloy wheels with 225/45R18 tyres (optional 19" ten spoke wheels) and upgraded brakes (345 mm discs on front wheels, 292 mm on rear wheels). It was replaced by the Insignia VXR. ;Meriva VXR (2006–2009) The Meriva VXR was an unusual sporting version of the

Vauxhall Meriva Vauxhall ( ) is a district in South West London, part of the London Borough of Lambeth, England. Vauxhall was part of Surrey until 1889 when the County of London was created. Named after a medieval manor, "Fox Hall", it became well known for ...

mini MPV Mini MPV— an abbreviation for mini multi-purpose vehicle— is a vehicle size class for the smallest size of minivans/MPVs. The mini MPV size class sits below the compact MPV size class and the vehicles are often built on the platforms of B-se ...

. FItted with a 1.6 turbo 16V engine producing , it could reach a top speed of and accelerate to in 7.9 seconds. It was equipped with 17" six spoke alloy wheels and brakes of 308 mm front discs, 264 mm rear discs.

References

External links

Vauxhall-VXR UKVXR Parts
* {{DEFAULTSORT:Vxr Vauxhall Motors Official motorsports and performance division of automakers

History

Former VXR models

See also

References

External links