The name ‘Monaro’ may not mean much to many Brits, but in Australia, it holds similar sentimental connotations as ‘Capri’, ‘Mustang’ and ‘Charger’ – i.e., an affordable, unpretentious, uncomplicated way to go pretty damn quickly. General Motors’ Aussie branch, Holden, dusted off the badge again a few years back for a new rear-wheel-drive coupe based on its Commodore hot-rod saloon, fitted a Chevy-sourced 5.7-litre V8 (329bhp, also used in the last-series Corvette) and counted the cash as it hit the spot with blokes across the southern hemisphere. Yes, make no mistake: the Monaro is most definitely a bloke’s car…

The saying has it that good things come to those who wait. Well Vauxhall certainly kept us waiting for the Monaro, there being about a year between me first approaching them about testing it for PistonHeads and actually getting one.
Basically, after getting us all excited by saying that they were considering selling the Aussie built muscle coupe in the UK, Vauxhall then spent a long time umming and ahhing over whether or not to actually go ahead and do it.
In view of the dismal sales figures GM got last time they tried selling V8 engined imports (Corvette and Cadillac) through their UK main dealer network you can’t really blame them.

Anyway, after some serious thinking it was finally announced that the Monaro would be sold in the UK – and that it would have Vauxhall badges.
Inevitably some people were horrified by the last bit, but those Vauxhall badges actually sit quite comfortably thanks to the Monaro’s styling bearing a strong family resemblance to models like the Cavalier and Omega. This in turn means that it looks rather understated – possibly too understated – and hardly stands out from the crowd.

Which depending on your point of view can be either a good thing or a bad thing. Inside As for the Monaro’s interior, it gives the impression that its designers must have studied interiors of Japanese performance cars because everything is black. Seats, carpets, door panels, dash – even the headlining – all black.
Something else it shares with Japanese cars is that it’s fully specced as standard, having leather trimmed seats (electrically adjustable front), dual zone climate control, cruise control, trip computer, park assist and 10-speaker six disc CD player.
It all seems to be well put together too, with solid construction and good fit and finish. With the front seats offering eight-way adjustment including height and lumbar support and the steering column adjustable for both height and reach, the Monaro should provide a good driving position for most people up to about 6’ 4”. This is aided by the wide footwell, which not only allows for large, well-spaced pedals, but also a large
footrest.

Interior features

• Unique contoured electrically adjustable leather-covered sports front seats
• Eight-way electric front-seat adjustment with driver’s seat memory
• Seat and upper door trim in leather
• Satin chrome on gear knob, handbrake lever and door handles
• Satin chrome rings around dashboard instruments
• Alloy pedal extensions
• VXR sports instruments featuring oil-pressure gauge and voltage gauge

When it came to the back seats the Monaro’s designers wisely eschewed the ‘cram them in’ approach in favour of two supportive individual seats. With the front seats set to suit average size adults, there’s more than ample legroom for average size adults in the back too, though headroom is less generous, with little clearance between skull and rear window. Even so, it looks like up to average size adults should be able to travel long distances in the back of the Monaro very comfortably.
Odds and sods are also pretty well catered for, with a decent size lockable glove box in the dash, various cubby holes in the centre console, two small pockets in the doors and two rather more capacious elasticated pockets on the backs of the front seats. Main stowage space though is of course the boot, which in the Monaro is impressively big. In fact if I was a mainstream motoring hack trying to be Jeremy Clarkson I’d
probably say it was bigger than the outback, but as I prefer to talk facts rather than bollocks I’ll just say it’s 370 litres. Which is big enough to take a lot of luggage.

Up Front
It’s also a lot bigger than what you’ll find at the other end of the car, which is a mere 5.7 litres.
5.7 litres of Chevrolet LS1 V8 that is, which produces 329bhp, 343lb ft and a wonderful noise.
In a world of four valve per cylinder multi-camshaft engines, this two valve per cylinder pushrod unit might initially seem somewhat outdated on paper, even if it is all alloy, but it’s still eminently capable of delivering the goods out on the road. Or track for that matter, as it’s the same engine that powered the Corvettes to class victory over the Ferraris at Le Mans this year. Transmitting the V8’s power to the back axle’s standard LSD is a 6-speed close-ratio manual gearbox, and stopping more of it being transmitted than the 235/40×18 Bridgestone Potenza RE040s can handle is switchable traction control.

Although those Bridgestones provide plenty of grip in normal circumstances, give that V8 full reign and the power overwhelms them, with drag race style starts with the traction control off resulting in the Monaro snaking down the road leaving tyre smoke and long, wavey black lines in its wake. Well, it wouldn’t be a real muscle car if you couldn’t do that would it?

Vauxhall are rather coy about just how fast the Monaro is, quoting 0-60 in ‘under’ six seconds and a top speed ‘over’ 160mph, but when you really put that V8 to work you don’t need printed figures to know that it’s quick. Grunt And you do have to really put that V8 to work to get the most from it because in comparison to most American pushrod V8s it’s relatively high revving, with peak torque at 4,000rpm and maximum power at 5,600rpm. Consequently low speed pull in upper gears is surprisingly sluggish, but use the lower gears and the upper end of the rev range and it goes ballistic.

So just like the muscle cars of the 1960s that inspired it, the Monaro is quick in a straight line, but unlike them it isn’t just about straight line performance, so let’s now look at two aspects the designers of the original muscle cars largely overlooked – ride and handling.

The suspension fitted to Vauxhall’s Monaro (McPherson struts front and what Vauxhall call control link independent suspension rear, with coils, gas dampers and anti-roll bars all round) is exactly the same as that used by its Australian cousin, and all in all it seems well suited to British roads.
Ride

Yes, there is some bumping and thumping over manholes and potholes, which frankly you’d expect with 235/40×18 tyres, but there’s no jarring and crashing, even over the lines of protruding bricks acting as speed humps on a local industrial estate. Ride comfort is also maintained at high speeds along bumpy A-roads, where the chassis also displays impressive levels of composure and minimal roll through the turns.

For such a big heavy car (188.5”/4789mm long and 1647kg kerb weight) the Monaro proved surprisingly nimble along winding B-roads, tackling tight s-bends at challenging speeds without drama and clearly capable of doing so faster than I was prepared to risk pushing it.

When I did finally risk pushing it to the limit round a large roundabout the handling proved to be unexpectedly neutral with no trace of understeer – although of course with the traction control switched off you can provoke it into power oversteer on demand…
But when you don’t want it to be a wheel spinning muscle car, the Monaro is equally adept at playing the comfortable GT.

We’ve already dealt with the ride, so now let’s deal with the controls.The clutch pedal is no heavier than your average modern saloon, which makes it easy to cope with town driving or road works queues on the M25, while the gear change is both light and precise.

Also light is the speed sensitive power assisted steering, which makes for easy parking manoeuvres but does feel rather remote during high speed cornering and could usefully stand quicker gearing than its existing 3 turns lock to lock.

• 6.0-litre GEN4 LS2 V8 petrol engine (5967cc)
• Maximum power: 403PS (297kW) @6000rpm
• Maximum torque: 530Nm (390ft.lb) @ 4400rpm
• Compression ratio: 10.9:1
• Bore/stroke: 101.6mm x 92.0mm
• Aluminium alloy cylinder block and cylinder heads
• Revised engine calibration for improved power and torque
• Sequential fuel injection with coil-per-cylinder distributorless ignition and twin knock control sensors
• Cast steel roller rocker arms, roller cam followers
• Cross-bolted five main bearings six bolts per bearing cap
• Large bore stainless steel 63mm exhaust system with quad exit high-flow alloy sports tailpipes

Acceleration

• 0-62mph in 5.2 seconds
• Top speed: 170+mph
• Rear-wheel drive
• Six-speed manual transmission

Fuel economy – mpg (litres/100km)

• Urban: 11.6 (21.9)
• Extra-urban: 24.9 (10.3)
• Combined: 17.6 (14.5)
• CO2 emissions: 384g / km

Suspension and brakes

• Fully independent multi-link rear suspension with linear-rate springs and matched damper calibration
• Uprated linear-rate front springs with unique sports damper calibration
• Front strut brace
• Front ventilated disc brakes: 330mm diameter
• Front calipers in red
• Rear ventilated disc brakes: 315mm diameter

Wheels & tyres

• 19-inch ten-spoke alloy wheels with 245/35 R 19 Pirelli P Zero directional ultra-low profile tyres
• Car supplied with space-saver spare steel wheel

“Clarkson reviews the Vauxhall Monaro VXR”

Stopping Power

No complaints about the calibration of the brakes though. The servoed pedal is nicely weighted and the 296mm vented front/286mm solid rear discs have a good initial bite, and while the Monaro did sometimes suffer momentary lock-up or slight weaving under extreme braking, overall the brakes are very effective and confidence inspiring.

With top gear giving it a long legged 40mph per 1,000rpm, the Monaro makes for a laid-back long distance cruiser, with negligible wind noise at high speed and tyre noise only noticeable over some more open road surfaces. In fact if you haven’t got the stereo on, the main noise you’ll notice in the cabin is the subdued rumble of that big V8.

That high top gear helps fuel economy too, and with the cruise control set to 80mph on the motorway the Monaro’s computer display hovered around the 30mpg mark. Of course it’s somewhat thirstier overall, and in normal mixed driving generally averages less than 20mpg.

OK, so you don’t expect a 5.7 litre car to be cheap to run (certainly not in the UK!) but at least the Monaro is comparatively cheap to buy at £28,650, making it a lot of car for the money. But worth the wait? I’d have to say yes. With the Monaro, Vauxhall have added another desirable performance car to their range, though as with the VX220 Turbo it’s a performance car for those with the sense to buy one for its capabilities rather than its badge.

And its high levels of equipment, practicality, performance and relative bargain of a price undoubtedly make the Monaro a very sensible buy – at least for people who don’t want to be entirely sensible…

Being launched as a centrepiece to the company’s Centenary celebrations, the VX Lightning is a two-seater roadster based on the same technical foundation as the Pontiac concept Solstice, first seen at the 2002 North American International Auto Show in Detroit. Under the long bonnet of the VX Lightning is a new version of Vauxhall’s all aluminium 2.2 ECOTEC engine, reworked with a supercharger to produce a maximum power of 240hp and 305Nm of torque. A six-speed manual gearbox is mated to the engine, driving the rear wheels.

The chassis incorporates independent suspension, the front end using a simple and reliable strut configuration with a rack and pinion steering. At the rear, the independent suspension is all aluminium for weight saving. Overall, the car manages a near perfect 50:50 weight distribution for the best in handling and agility.

Designed in the UK, the VX Lightning is a classically proportioned sports car with a long bonnet and short rear overhang. There are also some subtle echoes of the past, including the rollover hoops sculptured into the rear deck and bodywork which flows down into the cabin. Inside, deeply sculptured seats are finished in black and red leather, while red leather has also been used to trim the sweeping dashboard.

May 14, 2003 – Although much of the attention – at least in the United States – is on the centennial of the Ford Motor Company, which will be officially celebrated on June 16, this year is also the 100th anniversary of another motor firm: Vauxhall, which has been part of General Motors since 1925. Perhaps as a move to shine some light on the company, it unveiled the VX Lightning concept at the Dorchester Hotel in London this week.

The VX Lightning is based on the same platform used for the Pontiac Solstice concept that was shown at the 2002 North American International Auto Show in Detroit.

The Vauxhall Lightning concept was a joint project between the GM North America (GMNA) Advanced Design Studio in England and the Opel/Vauxhall Design Center in Rüsselsheim, Germany. The programme was initiated by Wayne Cherry, vice president, General Motors Design, and carried out under the overall direction of Anne Asensio, Executive Director of Advanced Design, and Martin Smith, GM Europe Director of Design.

The Lightning was designed and developed at the GMNA studio in Birmingham. The team was headed by GMNA Advanced Design Director and chief designer on the Lightning, Simon Cox. The joint design team included Opel Advanced Chief Designer Stefan Arndt, Dale Grewer (exterior), and Jochen Werner (interior).

As a commemorative vehicle the emphasis in the grille and elsewhere is the Vauxhall ‘V’ motif. It provides a bold front, as the front fascia flares back with two hood lines completing the arrow-like shape that seems to drive the long-hooded vehicle forward. Reinforcing the ‘V’ theme is the creased centerline of the hood, rear decklid and facias. The angular headlamps continue the themes introduced on the VX220, integrating with the dramatically peaked front fenders.

In classic British roadster style, the hood is long and the rear overhang short. The VX Lightning shows a further evolution of the Opel/Vauxhall form language from the VX220/Speedster, with a more subtle softening up of the surfaces. The rollover hoops beautifully sculpted into the rear deck, with just the touch of a crease, is an indication of the new softer, but still edgy direction this European team is taking. An interesting detail is the polished metal air vent panel in the bodyside air outlet. The rear view mirrors seem to have been formed by high-velocity air, stretching them to a speed shape.

Inside, deeply sculptured seats are finished in black and red leather, while red leather has also been used to trim the sweeping dashboard.The seats, inpired by Italian motorcycle racing gloves, are untreated red aniline leather with a thick buffalo-type grain. Pads of dark charcoal leather are added over the surface or in the case of the door and the IP hood, the red leather floats as a panel over the surface, slightly offset from the main structure. The ebony piano lacquer used as an accent on the center console and framing the instrument dials adds a note of elegance that moves this car up a few levels from the Vauxhall VX220.

The VX Lightning has a new version of Vauxhall’s all aluminium 2.2 ECOTEC engine, reworked with a supercharger to produce a maximum power of 240hp and 305Nm of torque. A six-speed manual gearbox is mated to the new engine, which drives the rear wheels. The chassis incorporates independent suspension, the front end using a simple and reliable strut configuration with a rack and pinion steering.

At the rear, the independent suspension is all aluminium for weight saving. Overall, the car manages a near perfect 50:50 weight distribution for handling and agility. The vehicle has a 95-inch wheelbase, is 45 inches high, 153.1 inches long, 71 inches wide and weighs 2,900 pounds. It rides on 19-inch alloy wheels in the front and 20-inch alloys in the rear, with Michelin Pilot rubber.

Kevin Wale, Vauxhall chairman and managing director, said the Lightning is “a return to our early performance roots when Vauxhall was famous as the manufacturer of the first true British sports car – while we continue to be both innovative and bold in exterior and interior design.” He added, “Ultimately, the VX Lightning, as a classic roadster, represents the best of our past, and our future – a vehicle that is quintessentially British.”

While rumors swirl in and around Detroit that the production Solstice will go ahead, there is no word on whether the Lightning will be put into production, but along with the GTC Geneve concept, it is an indication of Opel/Vauxhalls new design direction, and a prequel to the Frankfurt Motor Show in September.

The Monaro was also sold in the United Kingdom as the Vauxhall Monaro where it won Top Gear’s best muscle car award.

To the delight of British motorists, Vauxhall offered the Monaro buyer a special treat prior to the discontinuation of the model: the VXR 500. A Harrop supercharger was installed onto the standard GM 6.0 LS2 engine by Vauxhall dealer Greens of Rainham in conjunction with tuning firm Wortec, bumping up power to 500 bhp (373 kW) and bumping up torque as well to 500 lbf·ft (677 N·m). In addition to this, a shorter gear linkage was added to enable quicker shifts. The resultant acceleration times were impressive at 4.8 seconds from rest to 62 mph (100 km/h).

With the end of production, Vauxhall opted to replace the Monaro in 2007 with a version of the HSV Clubsport R8 4-door sedan. The new model sports sedan is simply referred to as the Vauxhall VXR8.
Looking and feeling every inch the high performance car, Vauxhall’s Monaro VXR is a rare and beautiful creature. Powered by a massively torquey and powerful V8 engine, and boasting supreme drivability, looks and desirability, there really is no other car like it anywhere in the UK today. Following on from the massive success Monaro V8 has enjoyed in the UK already – just one month after its on sale date 45 per cent of the year’s quota had been sold – the highly awaited Monaro VXR offers everything the V8 does and a whole lot more besides.

Monaro VXR boasts a 5.7 litre V8 alloy engine which pumps out a massive 382 bhp of power and 510 Nm of torque, which equates to a zero to 60 mph sprint of 5.4 seconds and a top speed of 170 mph. To complement such immense power, Monaro VXR features uprated disc brakes all round – 330 mm at the front and 315 mm at the rear – with massive stopping potential and tremendous feel.

In the driving seat things not only feel different, thanks to the new VXR black leather and Alcantara sport seats, but they look different as well. A subtle but important improvement is the inclusion of extra engine indicators – oil pressure and voltage indicator – in the specially designed VXR instrument binnacle.

Externally, Monaro VXR has been upgraded with a unique front air dam, rear spoiler and side body skirts, all sympathetically sculpted to enhance Monaro’s already dynamic and stylish exterior. These improvements also play an important part in the car’s aerodynamics, helping to create an even sleeker side silhouette… a side silhouette which is given immense presence by the imposing 19 inch alloy wheels, shod with Pirelli P-Zero Rosso 245/35R19 tyres.

With such stylish looks, impressive power and high standard specification any Monaro VXR owner will want to show it off to as many friends as they can and with Monaro VXR they can do just that. Monaro is a real-world four-seater offering room for four adults to sit in comfort without squashing their knees up to their chins, which means the driver can take up to three mates out with them to experience the thrill of Vauxhall’s fastest-ever sports coupe.

Ferrari Race Car.

Honda S2000 Race Car.

Europen Race Car DTM.

Vauxhall Race Car DTM.

Seat Toledo Race Car DTM.