2005 Vauxhall Monaro V8 Hi-res

[porlamfer]

THE RUMBLER FROM DOWN UNDER NEW MONARO V8 ARRIVES IN BRITAIN

Vauxhall’s muscle car revised for 2005
More power, chassis tweaks and brawnier looks
354PS of V8 performance for just £29,895
On sale from 10 March
No one ever accused the Monaro of lacking brawn, but that hasn’t stopped Vauxhall sending its muscle car for a thorough workout. After its strict training programme, the Australian-built super coupe has finally emerged looking meaner than ever. And the stylish twin bonnet scoops, bigger air dam, two big-bore exhausts and new 18-inch wheels aren’t just for show – the latest model has more power, bigger brakes and a heavily-revised chassis too.

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 (up from the previous model’s 333PS) while torque rises from 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, representing exceptional value – some rivals can only offer smaller coupes with puny four-cylinder engines at this price level. Vauxhall’s specialist network of Monaro retailers are accepting orders right now, and the first cars are expected to reach showrooms in early March.



Tom Barnard
01582 427606
tom.barnard@vauxhall.co.uk


2305/18.02.05

Notes to Editors:

Founded in London in 1903, Vauxhall is a UK brand aiming to deliver driving excitement and stylish and innovative design. Its vehicles benefit from the best of GM's worldwide capability while being designed to cater for the various and varied demands of modern day drivers.

Producing thousands of vehicles every year at its van plant in Luton and car plant in Ellesmere Port, Vauxhall is a major contributor to the local economies and communities in both Bedfordshire and Cheshire.

Total sales for 2004 were 373,540 (325,012 cars and 48,528 vans). UK production of cars and vans in the same period totalled 236,883 (147,918 cars and 88,965 vans).

[digitalcraft]

Ahh they put the firebird nostrils on it! >.<

Well not quite as bad as that I guess :P it's actually not too bad looking, but a little too economy car besides the front.

[whiteballz]

i think the nostrils are optional. sorry, the FLAT bonnet is optional. thats what i was told anyway.

[shockwaveracing]

it is standard on all updated monaro's in Oz...

[whiteballz]

i bet if you asked you could get them to give you a normal one

[mduhair]

what the f*** ?!?! this is what we call a chevrolet LUMINA SS here in UAE .... only the logo is different :S but it is almost the exact same exterior !!

[Pinin]

Seen a few on the road now, they're ok.

[fpv_gtho]

Originally Posted by mduhair

what the f*** ?!?! this is what we call a chevrolet LUMINA SS here in UAE .... only the logo is different :S but it is almost the exact same exterior !!

Holden Monaro's, Vauxhall Monaro's, Pontiac GTO's, Chev Lumina SS's............all built here

[whiteballz]

they are all a holden monaro. just exported to different countries with some different badges, and the same australian engineering.

except for the face pontiac put on the GTO

[VtecMini]

It's a shame they have to use badge engineering to sell it worldwide, rather than just crediting it to its creators. I'm sure if they ever decide to import the Corvette to the UK, they won't be so quick to reengineer that as a Vauxhall...

[clutch-monkey]

Originally Posted by mduhair

what the f*** ?!?! this is what we call a chevrolet LUMINA SS here in UAE .... only the logo is different :S but it is almost the exact same exterior !!

why don't u do some research and find out what the lumina SS is based on...

[danno]

Originally Posted by mduhair

what the f*** ?!?! this is what we call a chevrolet LUMINA SS here in UAE .... only the logo is different :S but it is almost the exact same exterior !!

lumina ss = holden commodore

this car is based on the commodore, but as you can see it has slightly less doors..........

[whiteballz]

danno, read the posts above m8.

[Manik]

looks really bad. I hate this car. lol expecially the pontiac i dunno why. maybe cuz they had a great muscle car in the muscle car era. and now they ruined that mucles car. the old GTO's were alot cooler IMO

[danno]

Originally Posted by whiteballz

danno, read the posts above m8.

last i heard the lumina was holden commodore. i assumed the lumina ss was a commodore ss.


EDIT: ummmm.........heres a lumina SS article. the picture looks remarkably like a commodore dont you think??

http://www.motoring.co.za/index.php?...icleId=2411641