Next gen. Vauxhall Vectra to get AWD, twin-turbo V6

Dan Roth — Sat, 24 Nov 2007 12:31:00 EST

Filed under: Spy Photos, Sedan, Geneva Motor Show, Europe, GM, Saturn, Vauxhall

Here's what the Saturn Aura Red Line should be, courtesy of Vauxhall. The Vectra is being replaced by an Epsilon 2-based car called the Insignia. The Epsilon 2 will also serve as the basis for the second-generation Saturn Aura. That platform sharing will no doubt be good in workaday trim, but Vauxhall's turning up the wick for the Insignia VXR, and we're crossing our fingers that Saturn is hanging out in the gym with its cousin. The VXR will gain visual horsepower and there will be real output from the powertrain to back up the appearance. A twin-turbocharged 2.8-liter V6 laying down 300 horsepower through the all wheel drive system that debuted with the GTC concept car in Geneva. The suspension will be able to cope with the power by using a revised version of the Vectra VXR's adaptive dampers, and the AWD system carries at least one limited slip differential. A 0-60 time in the mid 5-second range sure sounds good, as does the 165 mph top speed.

Just as exciting to us diesel-starved US consumers is the 2.9 liter V6 turbodiesel variant of the Insignia. The diesel packs a not-insignificant 247 horsepower, and both cars get a six-speed manual transmission standard. What will we do if both versions make it Stateside? We'd have a hard time choosing, but it would be amusing to see what Saturn calls the diesel. The Aura Grey Line? Brown Line? The Insignia VXR is about a year and a half away, with lesser models arriving sooner. Cost will be £25,000 -- which we hope doesn't translate into a $50,000 range-topper Epsilon 2.

[Source: Auto Express]

Next gen. Vauxhall Vectra to get AWD, twin-turbo V6 originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 24 Nov 2007 12:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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More Power for Vauxhall's Vectra and Monaro VXR models

Alex Nunez — Wed, 13 Sep 2006 17:34:00 EST

Filed under: Coupe, Sedan, Wagon, Europe, Hatchback

The lads at Vauxhall, the British version of Opel, have been keeping busy with their tuneriffic VXR editions of the Vectra and Monaro.

Let's start with the Vectra. It comes in hatchback (pic after jump) and wagon bodystyles, and its turbocharged 2.8L V6 is good for 276 horsepower (280 PS) and a 6.1-second 0-60 time. (The wagon does it in 6.3.) A button on the dash lets the driver switch the suspension settings between regular and sport modes.

This is all very nice, and it makes us think about a potential (and hopefully probable) Saturn Aura Red Line. We think that a Saturnized grille with VXR-style bodywork and 300 horsepower underhood would do the trick. Pretty please, Ms. Lajdziak...

As for the Monaro, well, this is going to make fans of the recently-departed Pontiac GTO very angry. You see, the Vauxhall Monaro VXR500 (above) is a limited edition version of the rebadged Holden, and in this guise, the 6.0L LS2 gets added jolt via a supercharger, upgrading it to 493 horsepower (500 PS) and 500 lb-ft of torque. 0-60 now takes less than 5 seconds and the badass Vauxhall tops out at 180.

I told all you Pontiac fans you'd be mad about this...

(Vectra VXR hatch pic, press release after the jump)

[Source: Vauxhall]

Continue reading More Power for Vauxhall's Vectra and Monaro VXR models

More Power for Vauxhall's Vectra and Monaro VXR models originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 13 Sep 2006 17:34:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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