2017 Vauxhall VXR8 GTS-R

Vauxhall is ending the VXR8 with a bang, cranking up the boost and delivering a run-out special GTS-R that stands as the company’s most powerful car made in their 114 year history. With the Holden Commodore ending production in Australia this October, The exported versions in the Chevrolet SS for the US and the Vauxhall VXR8 for the UK will end along with it.

Extra power is the name of the game here, with Vauxhall increasing the peak power output of the VXR8 from 568 hp to 587 hp in the GTS-R. This is achieved through a remap of the ECU, and high-flow air filter and a new Eaton supercharger. This supercharger has 4-lobe rotors, 9psi boost and 1.9 litres of air per revolution capacity. Gearbox options are the 6-speed automatic transmission and 6-speed manual, both delivering power to the rear wheels for all the tyre smoking fun in the world.

Visually the VXR8 GTS-R Looks just like Holden’s HSV GTSR with only minor cosmetic changes including some Vauxhall badging. Interestingly Vauxhall haven’t gone all out with the performance, failing to match the 635 hp output of the HSV. The production run is very limited with only 15 examples being made for the UK, marking this as a very exclusive car that signals the end of a glorious tyre smoking era.