(Tue 06 May 08)

Vauxhall's sports saloon, the VXR8, is now available with a new V8 engine. The new unit, which is called LS3, is very similar to the outgoing LS2, but it has greater capacity (6162cc compared with the previous 5967cc) and there are various modifications including high-flow cylinder heads.

Maximum power has increased to 426bhp, and there's an improvement of a couple of tenths or so in most of the standard acceleration times - the manual transmission version, for example, now takes 2.6 seconds to go from 50-70mph in third gear, while the automatic can get from rest to 60mph in 4.9 seconds.

Other enhancements include the availability of a new body colour - Heron White - and the provision of a transmission oil cooler as standard on the automatic. 20" alloy wheels have arrived on the options list for the first time.

Prices have increased by a matter of £485: both the manual and the automatic now cost £35,695.

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