Vauxhall VXR8 Bathurst models rock out with 560 HP
The Vauxhall VXR8 (a.k.a. Pontiac G8 GXP) is no performance slouch by any measure. However, as we all know, there is no such thing as too much power or torque - there are only transmissions and tires that can’t handle the truth. With that in mind, the kids at General Motors’ British outpost, Vauxhall, have taken the VXR8 and bolted a big honking Walkinshaw supercharger to the normally demure 431 horsepower LS3 small block. The result is 560 hp and a bump in torque from the original 405 lb-ft to 527 lb-ft. They gave this beastie the name Bathurst S for the Australian city that plays host to the Bathurst 1000, scene of so many Commodore victories over the years.
Since drivers in the rest of the world seem to lack the anti-clutch pedal gene that has seemingly infected over 95 percent of the US driving populace, the 6-speed shift it yourself gearbox remains in place. The Bathurst S also gets an assortment of visual enhancements and an optional two-mode exhaust system that lets the whole world now how loud an engine can be. The $82,400 (£44,985) price tag makes this the least expensive 500 hp car currently available in the UK.
[Source: General Motors]