If you only have time to read one sentence right now, make it this one: the VXR8 GTS-R is Vauxhall’s most powerful road-legal car in its 114-year history.

Now after learning that, we know you won’t be able to resist reading on, so here’s everything else you should know about Vauxhall’s most vivacious car yet.

Under the bonnet

Powering the VXR8 GTS-R is a 6.2-litre V8 engine, thumping out up to 740Nm of torque and 586bhp – 18bhp more than the non-R variant, thanks to a high-flow air filter.

This means the car can dash from a red light to 60mph in just 4.2 seconds, with speed limited to 155mph.

This V8 is linked to a six-speed automatic transmission as standard, sending drive via a limited slip differential to the rear wheels, but purists will breathe a sigh of relief that the car is available as a manual too.

It’s also worth knowing that this V8 is the same unit found in the Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 – one of many cars we wish the Yanks would let us have.

Unlike a turbocharged car, the GTS-R is equipped with a new Eaton supercharger that provides stronger and more linear performance across its entire rev range.

The engine is versatile too, letting the driver choose from four modes: touring, sport, performance or track.

Design

The VXR8 GTS-R’s ‘twin-nostril’ grille and an all-new fascia helps deliver an aggressive look and shape an air intake surface large enough to cool the V8.

Its aggression is ramped up with the inclusion of projector headlights for greater high beam range, LED daytime running lights, a superflow performance rear spoiler, a rear bumper incorporating a sports rear spoiler and quad exhaust outlets with shadow chrome tips.

At the rear, the VXR8 GTS-R has distinctive sports LED tail lights, while the diffuser rear fascia houses shadow chrome quad exhaust outlets.

A unique body-coloured performance rear spoiler with black accents helps set the GTS-R apart even further.

Inside, the VXR8’s cabin design gets a more premium look and feel, thanks to the new instrument cluster, gauges, centre console and door trims.

Price

Despite being exclusive to the UK, only 15 VXR8 GTS-Rs will arrive here, each priced at £74,500 on the road.

It’s not exactly cheap to run either, returning 18.5mpg combined at 363g/km CO2, which will hit you for a £2,000 road tax disc in the first year.

Equipment

What does your £75k get you though? Well, in addition to all the power, you’ll find a well-kitted-out interior too, at the centre of which is an eight-inch high-res colour touch-screen display and a Premium BOSE audio system with nine speakers, a CD player with Bluetooth and USB/aux-in connections.

Around the rest of the cabin, there’s dual-zone electronic climate control, VXR Performance seats in Alcantara, eight-way electric heated seats in the front, a leather-covered flat-bottomed sports steering wheel with perforated gripping zones and mounted controls for the audio system, a trip computer, Bluetooth, and a leather-covered gear lever and sports pedals.

The car rides on 20-inch Blade forged alloy wheels in satin graphite on top of Continental ContiSport Contact 5P tyres.

That asking price may be a major put-off even if you were lucky enough to clinch one of the 15 models coming to the UK, but overall, what do you make of the VXR8 GTS-R? Let us know down there in the comments.

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