Vauxhall VXR8 Gets Corvette's 6.2-liter LS3 Engine for Summer
by Clinton Deacon May 6, 2008 1:43 PM
Filed Under: European, Vauxhall
Put simply the Vauxhall VXR8 is a re-badged version of the HSV Clubsport developed by Holden Special Vehicles. So it comes as little surprise to see the UK version get the new 6.2-litre LS3 V8 engine which was first used in the 2008 Corvette before finding its way down under to the HSV range.
Replacing the outgoing LS2 unit, the LS3 increases its power by 14hp to 431hp, acceleration from 0-60mph now lies at 4.9 seconds (previously 5 seconds flat). Although the price has now increased by £485 to £35,695.
Vauxhall’s mighty VXR8 super-saloon gets a potent new V8 engine this summer, with even more power and improved performance. The new unit allows the VXR8 to raise the bar yet again among its rivals, optimising its sophisticated rear-wheel drive chassis still further and retaining its mantle as a driver’s car like no other in its class. New colour and equipment options further enhance this, the fastest car to wear the Griffin badge.
Known as LS3, the new V8 engine’s capacity grows from 5967cc to 6162cc, and thanks to various improvements over the outgoing LS2 unit, such as high-flow cylinder heads, new pistons and an enhanced valvetrain, power is up by 14PS to 431PS at 6000rpm.
This translates to a reduced 0-60mph time for cars with automatic transmissions (down from 5.0 seconds to 4.9) and improved in-gear acceleration for manual models (50-70mph in 3rd gear drops from 2.8 to 2.6 seconds; 30-50mph in 2nd gear drops from 2.0 to 1.9 seconds). And if you fancy smoking your VXR8 at a track day, you’ll see 80-100mph times fall from 4.3 to just 4.0 seconds in 4th gear.
Despite the VXR8’s enhanced performance credentials, its LS3 produces the same emissions and fuel consumption as the outgoing LS2 unit. In addition, the VXR8 automatic receives a transmission oil cooler as standard.
Buyers for the LS3-engined VXR8s also receive the choice of an all-new body colour - Heron White – at no extra cost, as well as the option of factory-fit 20-inch rims for the first time on this model.
Prices for both manual and automatic versions of the LS3-powered VXR8, which are on sale now, rise by £485 to £35,695.
I personally like the styling, except for those blacked front brake vents up front...just leave 'em the same color as the rest of the body. But more importantly this thing will haul a$$..it'll be a good car.
i think that the rear end on this is alot better than the commodre. but im not so sure about the front end it seems abit sqintee... The general feeling of quality isnt to high in these either...
sometimes i see new things (cars, science, literature etc) and if i dont understand, i just search the web or watch discovery channel, and finally i get it. but, in monaros case, i dont. for years and years..i tried to find out, how the f.uck they get such a small amount of bhp from such a humungous engine? (uuu..we got the new engine from the vette! ssoo wwwhhaaaattt???) this has been like my sole purpose, im gonna die stupid, and im gonna end up in hell (anyway)..and i wont know how the hell they do that. f.cking rocket science, man....
"I looked up some numbers on the LS7 engine... I am gonna compare the ls7 to the Mercedes AMG v8 6.3 liter... renowned as the worlds most powerful naturally aspirated v8. Lets see... LS7 505 hp - AMG 510 hp ... LS7 475 ftlbs - AMG 465 ftlbs ... LS7 7000rpm - AMG 7200rpm ... LS7 7.0 liters - AMG 6.3 liters ... LS7 458lbs dry - AMG 445lbs dry ... fuel economy of a LS7 powered Corvette 16city/26highway MPG - fuel economy of a CL 63 AMG 11city/18highway MPG. Sure the Corvette only weighs 3,132lbs where as the CL 63 AMG comes in at a whopping 4,599lbs. And yes that is exactly why it gets poorer fuel economy. My question now is, why do people care about the hp/liter ratio? It doesn't necessarily mean your car is gonna be lighter weight and or more fuel efficient."
I wish people would stop knocking on the V8 engines (AMG 6.2 and the Vette engines)...it's a good bang for the buck engine. Sure there are cheaper more efficient turbo-charged in-line 4 engines...but you can't compare that to a torquey V8. Drive a V8 and hear the exhaust note and you'll be hooked too. It's like comparing beer with wine. They'll both get you drunk...but it takes appreciation to understand it.
Joe_Limon....that was the best way to put it...i wanna add one thing, people act like like a 6.2Liter making 400hp is scrap....do you guys not remember the 80s when 5.7liter Chevys and larger were making ONLY 235-260hp? now similarly sized engines make 50%-75% more power. The 6.2 Liter AMG engine is a great one...but are you guys(Not you Joe) forgetting how much the cheapest AMG with that engine costs ? about 100K...the Manaro, Last gen GTO started at about 32-35K. You cant hate on it.
