2005 Vauxhall Monaro VXR
 

Vauxhall's Monaro VXR - Powered by the Latest Corvette 6-Litre V8

Could this be the car to go where no Vauxhall has ever gone before? With 404 bhp of power supplied by the Corvette’s 6.0-litre LS2 V8, the new Monaro VXR is set to be the first ever production Vauxhall to top 180 mph, finally overtaking the Lotus Carlton to become the fastest ever Vauxhall.

The latest version of the company’s performance flagship takes over from the original Monaro VXR, which sold out within three months of going on sale earlier this year. The new car takes the VXR brand to even further extremes, with more power and torque than any other production car to wear the Vauxhall badge.

Under the new ventilated bonnet sits the new high-output 6.0-litre LS2 V8 engine, which recently made its debut in the Corvette C6. As you’d expect from a supercar engine, power figures are impressive, with 404 bhp (up from the last model’s 388 bhp) and a massive 391 lb-ft of torque (compared to 376 lb-ft). Although performance figures have yet to be officially recorded, it’s expected that the VXR will be able to comfortably surpass the 177 mph record set by the Lotus Carton in 1990. A 0-60 time of around 5.0 seconds is also predicted.

But the new version of the Monaro VXR hasn’t just been built for outright speed. Along with the new engine, virtually the entire drivetrain has been upgraded with revised suspension and bigger brakes to ensure that the latest version can keep the power tamed while still being thrilling to drive. With its classic front-engine, rear-wheel drive layout, the Monaro has already gained a reputation for being an enthusiastic driver’s favourite.

Since those enthusiasts also loved the way the last VXR looked, the styling changes have been kept to the bare minimum. To help the car breathe more efficiently and keep the engine cool, a pair of distinctive ‘nostril’ vents has been added to the bonnet, while the rear now gains quad exhaust tail pipes. New 10-spoke, 19-inch alloy wheels allow onlookers to see the new grooved discs and VXR-branded brake callipers.

Prices have yet to be confirmed, but it’s expected that the new Monaro VXR will still cost half the price of other 180 mph supercars at around £37,000. The first cars will reach customers in March
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Technical Specifications:
Engine
Type: V8
Displacement cu in (cc): 364 (5970)
Power bhp (kW) at RPM: 404(301) / n.a.
Torque lb-ft (Nm) at RPM: 391(530) / n.a.
Redline at RPM: n.a.
Brakes & Tires
Brakes F/R: ABS, vented disc/vented disc
Tires F-R: n.a.
Exterior Dimensions & Weight
Length × Width × Height in: n.a.
Weight lb (kg): n.a.
Performance
Acceleration 0-62 mph s: 5.0 (est.)
Top Speed mph (km/h): >180 (290) (est.)
Fuel Economy EPA city/highway mpg (l/100 km): n.a.
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http://www.rsportscars.com/foto/06/monarovxr05_01.jpg
http://www.rsportscars.com/foto/06/monarovxr05_02.jpg
http://www.rsportscars.com/foto/06/m...r05_engine.jpg

{i searched TT and didn't find anything}

Marvellous. 180mph for (probably around) 30-35k.

Now let's teach MG Rover to build a 180mph car for under 40k.

It frustrates me - they spend all that money developing the SV which no-one will pay 70-80k for, I mean come on, what else can you buy for that sort of money? Then when they do go and outsource part of their product range they go and buy crap like that Tata Indica thing. Hmm. Probably best MG Rover didn't try and outsource the SV after all.

MGR is failing miserably yet again. BRITISH INDUSTRY IS GOING TO THE DOGS!!! :shock:

Right, I will calm down now...sorry to hijack your thread and turn it into my own rant Dunkinuts

^^^ i think its the same reason we don't have the same cars here in the US as the UK or any other country. The markers are trying to market a person that they think is in one place. But really are all of the world.

288 kph well .. hmm in my jap car i managed to get 240kph and kinda ran outta road :(

that thing is a BEAST!!!! i just wish they would import some into the US and beat down those damn GTO's

It is a GTO....

Holden Monaro = Pontiac GTO = Vauxhall Monaro VXR.

Its just a 2door Commodore :P

I like this beast...saw afew today on the roads...ohh btw, those hood scoops are purely just for form, they don't do a thing...no air can flow through to the motor...wonder why they didn't just cut it out... :|

It's not a bad car, why could't they put the same body kit off the Vauxhall on to the US GTO version? it looks better, and why do you guys get 404hp and were stuck with 350hp???

well the GTO is going to look like vauxhall here shortly i have been seeing and hearing rumors.

The VXR versions look great.the astra VXR looks sweet as hell aswell and also the vx220 vxr looks good.but this monaro is awesome.my favourite vauxhall :D

Well been a Astra driver I've grown to love Vauxhall. The Monaro and all VXR models are just a treat for me :D :!: VX220 is still my favorite, but I'd love a Monaro all the same :P Also that engine bay is the sweetest, thanks for the pics.

Well this is the upcoming VXR Monaro, the current one has the LS1 engine and only 387ps and that one is the equivalent of the US GTO. And the drop in performance there is probably primarily based on emissions regulations. This new one with the LS2 is not the same as the US GTO, unfortunate as it is for us...

And yeah, I think the VXR styling is much better than the Pontiac styling. Hope they change it soon.

I agree completely I went to look at a GTO about 2 months ago, and I was like "Ewww, I'll wait til I go back to the UK in a year or so and buy the Vauxhall thanks"

I wonder what the sales guy must have written on his customer report for that day?

for 2005 we are getting hood scoops and the ls2 rated at 395 i think, so all those 2004 GTO owners get shafted i guess. :?

the bonnet scoops have been put in to satisfy the US market. but i don't like what they did to the front grill looks some much better here.

still i think the best motor is a v-6 with around 250-300 hp., the style is not my taste but its ok

Rite after i posted that, i picked up the New Car And Driver book, and they had the 400hp US version in there, so like you said GM shafts there people again, first with the 2000 ZO6 385hp, then 6 months later with the 405hp ZO6.

hehe yep, and lets not forget the loveable SSR as well gets the 400hp 6 liter (and an optional maual gearbox i think) while last year all the ppl got was the 300hp 5.3 that was too underpowered for such a heavy vehicle that was marketed as kind of a performance vehicle??......i think

Well considering how much we get the shaft, I'm glad that I'm not a fan of the GTO. I would be if it looked like the VXR, but since it looks like every-single-other-pontiac, I am completely turned off. The new bonnet and engine will definitely alter my perspective, but they'd have to do some changes more drastic than that to get my blood flowing :|

Here is the aussie VZ Monaro...
http://www.hsv.com.au/cars/vz/wallpa...coupe_1024.jpg

The next Monaro code named VE, will be made in America in 2007. But the next GTS Monaro may have the LS7 engine out of the new Corrvette Z06, that would be a beast.

thats not the base model Monaro sold here, which is the CV6 and CV8. The link you gave is for the HSV version, the GTO Coupe which costs nearly double what the CV6/8 does. :wink: I love the GTO though, my boss has a black one and it looks stunning. :D

he said 180 km/h[/url]

No, he said 180mph.....a top of 180kmh would be a disgrace for a car like this.

Hay I'm Australian, I know all about Aussie cars! The topic is about the 2005 Vauxhall Monaro VXR, this is the British version of the HSV Z GTO, thats why I gave that link. Holden don't sell CV6 Monaro anymore.

Do you people know anything about cars? LOL!

obvioulsy I don't....I made a mistake so I must not know anything. :P

THe HSV is nice, what if some one desided to get the bland as hell GTO, and get the HSV body kit, or panles and swap them from bland to cool, then you would have a bad ass looking GTO to go with the Power it has. And it would not be mistagen for a GTP, or Grand AM.

Nah, with Nikky Smellyski at the helm of TVR they should start producting a proper quality car and beat the balls out of the competition. Hopefully they'll start export to America as well :D

OK... the '04 GTO available in the US had 350 HP... the '05 is now rated the same as a C6 vette (400 HP, 400 TQ).

My dream car right now is actually an '05 GTO and my father just bought an '04 in cosmos purple with purple interior and he sais that the GOAT turns heads like no other car he's ever had (in a good way)....

They have added hoop scoops (I would probably choose the delete option on those however) and converted the rear to split exhausts opening on either side... they look really good. I love the look of the car as it is not as flashy as others and just has a nice clean look. I'll try to dig up a pic of an '05 midnight blue GTO, it looks AMAZING. This car also has a terrific interior.

And to answer someone's question you can actually order an HSV kit straight from Australia to put on an '04 or '05 GTO to get the look you like. There's also a kit out called 'autocross" which is available from the factory that looks pretty good as well. I'm happy with the clean look of stock however!

Let's hope so. My home in the UK is 15 minutes drive from the TVR factory, when I go back I'll try and get a tour/some pics of the factory if they allow that.