New car news

07 May 2008 - 11:00

More V8, mate?

OK, it's not quite the seven-litre, 570bhp V8 we were hoping for, but Vauxhall's hirsute VXR8 has just been given more grunt.

14bhp more grunt, to be exact - up to 425bhp from 411bhp - thanks to a new 6.2-litre V8 engine closely related to the lump out of the Corvette ZR1.

And more grunt means more fastness: the VXR8's 0-60mph time drops below five seconds, while in-gear acceleration is improved, too - it'll now get from 80mph to 100mph in fourth gear in just four seconds. Only on a track, obviously.

Despite the improved performance, the VXR8's consumption and emission figures remain the same. Not green, exactly, but no worse.

The new, butcher VXR8 is on sale now, with prices starting at £35,695. Or 84 quid-per-horsepower, if you prefer.