Vauxhall Monaro CV8

In this exclusive performance line-up, the muscle-bound Monaro CV8 sticks out like a sore thumb. With its huge girth and eye-aching paint job, it is obviously not 'all show and no go'.

Auto Express Car Reviews

January 2003

In this exclusive performance line-up, the muscle-bound Monaro CV8 sticks out like a sore thumb. With its huge girth and eye-aching paint job, it is obviously not 'all show and no go'.

Developed in Australia by Holden, it's the only car here to put size above all else - under the bonnet is a mighty 5.7-litre V8. So surely a machine such as this is too expensive for these rivals? Not when it comes from Vauxhall, which plans to bring the CV8 to the UK with a tag of only ΂£26,000 - replacing the current Holden badge with its own griffin.

Including the Monaro here may bring chalk and cheese to mind, but it's fast, fun and doesn't cost the earth. The styling is not complicated but the muscular shape suits the oversized import. Given the huge capacity, 302bhp seems disappointing, but in Oz there's a 402bhp GTS version which could come to the UK if there's sufficient demand.

Turn the key and the Holden Special Vehicles-tuned coup

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