Take cover! New Vauxhall VXR8 pictures and specs

Sledgehammers don't come much more hammering than the 425bhp Vauxhall VXR8 - looking easily as mean as a just-poked rattlesnake in these freshly-released shots from Luton.

Fans of the previous big VXRs; Vauxhall's V8 king-of-cubes, will no doubt fancy a bit of the tweaked-up new car too. Looking at the pictures bought an immediate smile to my face - this 'Hazard Yellow' super-saloon looks like it was born ready.

For this sort of money, with this sort of style and performance, there really is nothing else like it. Especially if you enjoy a smoke... of your tyres.

It's a niche car, but one that Vauxhall loves to keep coming and loves to shout about as topping their range. And why not? This brute fills its niche to the brim, and then some. Just look at the stance, the wheels, that in-your-face, face.

So, as of March 2011, and once you've parted with £49,500, you can have one of the most looked at driveways in your neighbourhood. Versus the old price of around £35k for the 'old' VXR8, the new, near £50k tag certainly sounds futuristic. That's the price of technology, I guess, and a test drive will see if it's extra money well spent.

The underlying VXR8 dynamics haven't changed hugely with the new car, though there are some new interior and interesting suspension details to look at. And, style-wise, the new car keeps the volume knob firmly cranked all the way around to 11.

This new VXR8 is based on the HSV E3 GTS, just launched in Australia. HSV, or Holden Special Vehicles, have been building, tuning and racing V8 saloons in Oz for years and they know a thing or two about ballistics. The E3 GTS is a little more high spec than the previous VXR8's base model, so buyers of this car will be getting all the grunt, but with extra goodies.

Outside you'll see the new 'Shockwave' grille, LED daytime running lights and revised front wing-vents to designate the latest 8, while out back there's a new 'Superflow' rear spoiler, LED taillights and a double helping of chrome exhaust tips that mimic the front grille shape.

It may be between £13k to £29k cheaper than the equally beastie Audi RS6, Jaguar XFR and Mercedes E63 AMG, but for just a sniff under £50k you'd be right to expect some quality comfort from your new warp-driver.

Full leather, 8-way adjustable HSV Performance seats take care of the comfort business, while revisions to the instruments and centre console offer a 'cleaner and more integrated look', according to Vauxhall. Standard equipment also includes a USB input, iPod support, and Bluetooth with phone book display and touch-screen dialling.

This stunning sledgehammer should now be sharper than ever thanks to the deployment of a Magnetic Ride Control (MRC) suspension system for the first time in a VXR8 - a space-age system that adapts up to 1000 times a second to road conditions and driver inputs.

Based on technology used in GM's current Corvette ZR1, MRC works by sending an electric current through damper units which are filled with 'soft' magnetic particles. These particles harden as the input reaches its maximum value; firming and softening the damping rate as the bend-attacks begin or decline. A laser-guided sledgehammer, if you like.

GM stump-up the engine too, and they don't come much bigger than the 6.2-litre, LS3 V8. 425bhp and 405lb ft of torque are the big numbers from this big gun. MPG and CO2 have yet to be detailed by Vauxhall.

The only small number to come out of the VXR8 is the to-60mph sprint of time of 4.9secs, then onto a limited top speed of 155mph which is plenty big enough, but no doubt could be bigger with a bit of restriction removal.

To give the tyre shredding a day off and to add consistency to getaways, there's now a launch control system that just requires the driver to floor the gas and hold on tight. Donut fans will also note the rightly-so retention of an LSD between the fat rear tyres and a 6-speed manual gearbox. There is an auto option, but that'd be missing the point, right?

Everything seems to stack up nicely for the revised VXR8; the new car looks to be strong in all the right places - basically max'd-out everywhere. A relentless, throbbing, slightly surreal 4-door bodykit full of fun. Just don't forget to breathe!

The super-saloon stance is spot-on with the new Vauxhall VXR8. There are some design tweaks here and there, but the vital ingredients happily remain

The VXR8's centre console is new and does all the expected iPod and Bluetooth stuff. Gauges read-out what century you've just time-travelled to

The new all-leather interior is to be expected for £50k. And the VXR8 is at least £13k cheaper than anything else is its class

Magnetic Ride Control (MRC) suspension system for the first time in a VXR8 - a space-age system that adapts up to 1000 times a second to road conditions and driver inputs. Once the reserve of supercars

There's nothing else quite like it to spice up your life - the new Vauxhall VXR8 delivers big dollops of fun and should get you noticed at the bowls club knees-up