Forums Forums Enthusiast Forums A - Z Autowirral New Vauxhall Monaro - now with 345bhp!

Revised base model hits UK with yet more power - 345bhp for less than £30K!

Vauxhall is now importing the latest Holden Monaro, complete with more power, bigger brakes, new 18 inch wheels and a heavily revised chassis.

The 2005 model can be distuingished from those that precede it by its twin bonnet scoops.

The heart of the Monaro – its 5.7-litre V8 – has been tweaked with a new induction system, a free-flowing exhaust, reprofiled cams and engine management to give even more power and torque. Besides improving the distinctive exhaust note rumble, the improvements mean the engine now produces a massive 354PS (~345bhp) (up from the previous model’s 333PS) while torque rises from an already impressive 343lb.ft to 353lb.ft (500Nm). Performance figures have yet to be set, but it’s estimated that the new Monaro will comfortably exceed 160mph and should hit 60mph from a standstill in around 5.6 seconds.



To tame the power and further improve the Monaro’s dynamic handling, the chassis has been uprated with sportier suspension settings. Lightweight steering components are now fitted to improve feel and feedback, while relocating the fuel tank has improved overall weight distribution. New 320mm ventilated front discs, borrowed from the latest Corvette C6, make sure the Monaro stops faster than ever too.

Besides the fully-functional bonnet scoops and new air dam, other visual changes include improved head and fog lamps plus a reshaped rear bumper to house huge twin 63mm tailpipes. In addition to looking beefier and sounding great, the new exhaust system has allowed an aerodynamic tray to be fitted underneath the car to improve airflow at high speeds.



Inside the cabin, an extra pair of instruments has been added to a new central binnacle, and the facia panel now has a modern high gloss ‘piano’ black finish.

Despite the improvements, the price of the Monaro has been kept below £30,000 - still a unique proposition with competition only coming from cars with lesser engines.

The first cars are expected to reach showrooms in early March.

Sweet!

Mike, you gone off the idea of a calibra?

I'm not that rich lol

thats well nice!!!!!!

bloody nice motor but 0-60 in 5.7 secs ??

My impreza does 3.9 sec's. either i am spoilt now or its not that fast off the mark

Loads of horsepower but i bet it is one heavy car !!!! Power to weight ratio would be poor.

Its also RWD and not 4x4

An with a V8 that size, with all the torque, it can prolly do the 5.7 to 60 starting off in 4th gear

Proper muscle car theres a couple going round the Wirral at the moment love 'em

Not keen on the looks but its sweet

imo it looks like a cross between a jag and an evo, i like it alot

saw one the other day but wasnt the new version as didnt have the vents. hell of car and one up for vauxhalls.

does this mean its not actually made by vauxhall then?

Plus Opel and the rest of Europe haven't got their hands on it (only on import), it's only available in Australia (Holden), America (Chevrolet) and here (Vauxhall).

I bet it will be car to have, that is after they have had time to tweek it.