Vauxhall VXR8

VXR8 estate?

Wouldn’t a VXR8 estate be great? Down under, Vauxhall’s sister company Holden is putting the finishing touches to this hot new wagon.

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Spied on transporter, estate version of Commodore hints at look of load-lugging VXR8

Text: Chris Thorp / Photos: Stefan Baldauf

10th January 2008

Snapped by one of our spies on the back of a General Motors transporter, the disguised V8-powered load-lugger gives a glimpse of the racy makeover that’s on the way for Holden’s practical Commodore Sportwagon. As the tailgate badge states, this model is in SS trim, so the purposeful styling will be backed up by its driving potential. Large 10-spoke alloys give the estate an aggressive look, even with its garish black and white camouflage.

The swollen wheelarches help to mark this car out as a performance variant, while the production model is likely to be fitted with a deep front airdam as well. The £35,105 VXR8 saloon currently offered in UK showrooms is based on the top-of-the-range Holden Commodore SS-V. But there is no doubt that the cheaper SS-spec carrier in these photographs will deliver super-estate ability.

Power comes from a version of the 6.0-litre V8 engine found in the VXR8, delivering a healthy 362bhp to the rear wheels. And as with its saloon brother, the load-lugging SS will be available with a choice of six-speed manual and six-ratio automatic transmissions.

The bad news for UK buyers is that we are unlikely to see a VXR8 estate in Vauxhall dealers. The red-hot saloon already provides enough practicality for most performance fans, and the company would point anyone wanting a hot load-lugger in the direction of its versatile Vectra VXR estate.