Brits pay less for HSV GTS

The supercharged 430kW Vauxhall VXR8 GTS has been confirmed for sale in the UK priced from £54,990. Basically a re-badged Holden Special Vehicles (HSV) GTS, the UK price converts to about $A86,000, or roughly $7000 less than the car costs in Australia.

Update, May 31: Asked if the lower UK price would cause resentment among Australian buyers, HSV's General Manager, Marketing and Comminucations, Tim Jackson, responded, "I don't think so."

He said the difference in price is most likely due to the different way the cars are taxed.

"The value for money Australians get with the GTS is hard to argue with. We can't control tax regimes, we're just focussed on delivering the best car that we can," Jackson said.

The rip-snorting Vauxhall will be one of the UK's most powerful large sedans to date.

VXR8 GTS comes with everything that makes the GTS Australia's most powerful production car, namely the 6.2-litre LSA supercharged V8 engine that pumps out an eye-watering 430kW/740Nm. High performance brakes, push-button adjustable suspension and LED driving lights are all standard equipment.

Visual differences for the Vauxhall GTS are minimal: VXR8, LSA and Vauxhall badges on the exterior and interior.

Neither HSV nor Vauxhall have confirmed performance figures yet, but the rear-wheel drive GTS is expected to deliver low to mid 4.0 second 0-100km/h times.

The GM-owned UK-based car brand reckons the new VXR8 GTS is the most affordable way to join the exclusive 500bhp+ club.

"The very fact that cars like the VXR8 GTS still exist proves that there is a small, but immensely passionate band of customers out there who want to drive something which is unique and special," said Stuart Harris, Vauxhall's Head of Carline Brand.

Like the locally-badged HSV GTS, the UK-destined muscle car is offered standard with a six-speed manual, or an optional six-speed auto. It comes with plenty of technology, including torque vectoring between the rear wheels and magnetic ride control with three different ride stiffness settings.

There's also the Driver Preference Dial which adjusts steering, stability control, exhaust note, torque vectoring and launch control levels, with four modes: Touring, Sport, Performance, Track.

Improved tech features such as self-parking, blind spot detection, forward collision alert and a head-up display are part of the deal for UK customers too.

"In its new GTS form the VXR8 offers colossal power and torque in a package that is more technology-led than ever before, yet still retains that unique VXR8-character that no BMW or Mercedes can match," stated Harris.

"It’s also around £20k less than its main rivals – the M5 and E63 AMG – yet has more power than either," he added.

The Vauxhall VXR8 GTS is available for order in the UK now, with deliveries to begin later in 2013.

HSV's export plans came into focus during the Austin 400 V8Supercars race in the USA, the company's owner Ryan Walkinshaw telling motoring.com.au he is keen to sell HSV's in international markets beyond the UK.

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