576bhp Vauxhall VXR8 GTS Is The Perfect Antidote To The BMW M5

Ahead of its debut at the Autosport International Show next month, Vauxhall has given us details its latest cut-price V8 brute, the VXR8 GTS. It's not really a Vauxhall though. Like all VXR8s and the Monaro that came before, this is essentially a rebadged Holden HSV 'Gen-F' GTS. And that's a good thing; the Australian car maker's performance arm, Holden Special Vehicles, has a well-earned reputation for making brutal V8 muscle cars.

We've had a VXR8 GTS before, but this one comes with much more firepower under the bonnet. The supercharged General Motors LSA 6.2-litre V8 kicks out 576bhp and 545lb/ft torque, 150bhp and and 140lb/ft more than the outgoing GTS.

That gives the GTS a 0-60mph time of just 4.2 seconds, and an electronically limited top speed of 155mph. That puts it on a par with super saloon giants like the BMW M5 and Mercedes E63 AMG. At £54,999 it's pretty pricey for something with a Vauxhall badge, but far cheaper than the BMW and Merc rivals Vauxhall is gunning for.

This car does lead us onto some sad news, though. General Motors, Holden's owner, recently announced that the brand will stop making cars in Australia in 2017. It's still not completely clear what will happen to Holden, but it's likely that the days of these Vauxhall-badged brutes from HSV in the UK are numbered.