Currently reading: Revamped Monaro is hottest Vauxhall ever

Vauxhall is revising its Monaro VXR flagship with a new 400bhp V8, making it the most powerful Vauxhall ever. Powered by the 6.0-litre V8 from the latest Corvette, the VXR comfortably beats the 388bhp of the Lotus Carlton.

Vauxhall reckons a 5.0sec 0-60mph and 170mph-plus top speed should be achievable. To distinguish the revised car from the regular Monaro, the VXR features key styling improvements including a twin bonnet scoop and front and rear bumpers with more aggressive vents. The VXR also features rear lights with smoked lenses and a set of quad exhausts.

To cope with the 40bhp power hike, the new VXR gets a mildly stiffer chassis with revised springs and dampers. The six-speed manual ’box and rear-axle ratio are unchanged, as are the sizes of the tyres – although the 19in wheels feature a new multi-spoke design.

Inside there are detail design tweaks, such as the leather-trimmed steering-wheel spokes and an alloy-effect surround for the instrument cluster. The price of the car is tipped to rise by around £1400 over that of the regular Monaro, to £37,000.

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