Overall rating:

There's a long line of big-engined, fast Vauxhalls stretching back to the legendary Lotus Carlton, many of them rebadged Holden Monaros. They've all been great value-for-money, if not perhaps the most polished creations in the automotive world. But the exceptional VXR8 GTS has changed all that; it's still bonkers quick, still rudely and brilliantly noisy, still a lot cheaper than its rivals, but extraordinarily capable to boot. Could the German class leaders have finally met their match?

Key Facts

Model tested: Vauxhall VXR8 GTS
Pricing: £54,499
Engine: 6.2-litre supercharged V8 petrol
Transmission: six-speed manual, rear-wheel drive with limited-slip differential
Body style: four-door saloon
Rivals: BMW M5, Jaguar XFR-S, Mercedes-Benz E 63 S AMG
CO₂ emissions: 363g/km
Combined economy: 18.9mpg
Top speed: 155mph (limited)
0-62mph: 4.2 seconds
Power: 585hp at 6,150rpm
Torque: 740Nm at 3,850rpm

In the Metal:

There's no doubting the VXR8 GTS is aggressive, even more so in Fantale Orange with black detailing and a personalised plate that makes you look like a total drongo when you're on public roads, but it's actually a well-judged piece of styling. From all angles it's neat and without any slab-sided proportions, while the boot spoiler, quad pipes and huge front air intakes all work nicely without being too OTT. It's a bit more visually interesting than the German offerings and not quite as contrary as Jaguar's lurid XFR-S. We like its muscular style; it's the best Holden-Vauxhall tie-up yet.

It also has an interior that's classy. No, seriously. OK, the two little gauges for oil and boost pressure at the bottom of the centre console are like something aftermarket slotted into a 600hp Subaru Impreza tuned by a man called Wayne, while the large VXR8 plaque just in front of them is also needlessly gaudy. But they're the only things that offend. The rest of the dials are nicely rendered, there's some tasteful Alcantara swathing the door cards and dash (with HSV lettering stitched in, betraying the car's origins) and the general fit and finish seems excellent, with a good driving position easily attainable. It might not be quite as sumptuous as anything Germanic, but by the same token it's nothing like as plastic and 'this is what you get for budget performance' as the cabins of some of its predecessors.

Driving it:

The incredible 585hp LSA V8 engine under the bonnet of this Aussie outpunches anything in its class bar the E 63 S AMG - which retails at around £85,000. So, just the thirty grand more, then. Admittedly, the GTS cannot match the Merc's 800Nm, but 740Nm is hardly to be sniffed at. What makes this different from the other V8-engined Vauxhalls that have gone before is that it doesn't want to spend 90 per cent of its time trying to smoke its rear tyres into oblivion when you demand a lot of throttle.

The VXR8 GTS has exceptional traction and poise, capable of thundering along rutted roads without feeling like it is trying to kill you on a whim. It has monster brakes that are excellent and steering that is both well-weighted and communicative, the heft and feedback allowing you to press the VXR8's mass on. And of course it makes a sensational noise under heavier throttle loads, the big-hearted engine mated to a tasty exhaust system, the whole symphony largely bereft of the usually dominant supercharger whine.

But the real revelation is the compliance it can summon up, because when you drive in a sedate manner the GTS is quiet, smooth and a pleasure to rumble along in. It doesn't crash over bumps and lumps and is generally hushed, meaning you could contemplate long distances in it; it's certainly a match for the XFR-S on this score, which is high praise indeed. Yet the GTS always retains control of its long, long wheelbase and body, which suggests the damping - adjustable through a driving control switch in the dash, along with throttle response and steering weight - is calibrated perfectly for road use. Admittedly, it was a dry, warm day and we kept the traction control on, so what it would be like in the wet sans electronics is anyone's guess...

What you get for your Money:

The purchase price difference between it and the BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Audi and Jaguar rivals is huge enough to begin with, but it also comes with luxuries like an eight-inch touchscreen with Bluetooth and USB connectivity, dual-zone climate control, leather trim, a premium Bose sound system with nine speakers, keyless entry and go and the Vauxhall 100,000-mile 'Lifetime' warranty. Say what you like about the folly of a £55k Vauxhall, but this thing is a bargain by modern standards.

Worth Noting

One area where the VXR8 GTS remains resolutely old-school in relation to its German competitors is on economy and emissions. Our Teutonic friends manage to eke reasonable, high-20s combined mpg figures out of their tumultuous V8s (or so the official figures claim, even if the reality is a little different) with CO₂ emissions of less than 250g/km. The GTS can only muster up a paltry 18.9mpg and a colossal 363g/km, which are dreadful numbers in this day and age. Even Bentley manages to get better figures than this out of its 2.5-tonne, all-wheel drive Continental GT Speed Convertible with the 6.0-litre W12 engine under the bonnet. So expect high running costs from the Vauxhall, which will set you back £1,065 in first year's road tax alone.

Summary

We quite admire the Monaro line of performance VXRs, as they've always offered a lot of bang for the buck, as the old cliché goes. The VXR8 GTS offers all of that too, but it also layers on top an extra veneer of dynamic competence that was missing in the older cars. It's still an entertaining and charismatic machine, as these V8 Vauxhalls have proven time and again, but that it is now a genuinely capable all-rounder makes it sorely tempting for this price. Granted, residuals, badge snobbery and the GTS's in-yer-face looks will mean you'll continue to see more examples of 'The Establishment' in this sector going forward, but the VXR8 GTS really does mean business. It's an excellent super-saloon.