No, this isn’t just a version of the old 208bhp 3.2-litre V6 petrol engine previously used in plush, over-stuffed Vectra Elite models. Instead, this is an advanced 2.8-litre V6 turbocharged powerplant, a variant of which has seen action in the Saab 9-3. It’s also a very satisfying engine, being low on turbo lag with healthy reserves of torque – some 262lb/ft – and able to put a little breathing room between itself and the engine fitted to the Astra VXR. Variable valve timing and a twin scroll turbo help to keep the power delivery as linear as possible, reducing the old ‘bog and surge’ characteristics of many such turbocharged installations. Vauxhall reckon the car will hit 60mph from rest in just 6.1 seconds and will dispatch the 50-70mph sprint in fifth gear in a mere 7.6. This is a car that demands respect.
But is it going to get it? There are a good many customers looking for a credible performance car who wouldn’t even contemplate a Vectra. Despite burgeoning competition success, the car has yet to build a following. Vauxhall could have set about trying to change perceptions by making the VXR as outrageous as possible, but thankfully they’ve concentrated on engineering rather than gratuitously outrageous styling.
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