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[Pmacca2000]

clearly VX has a sports range in the VXR/OPC fleet,  how good would it be to have one VXSV /OSV or Elite as a luxury brand?
Im not saying car development is cheap but maybe get the chassis of a commodore and fit a 500hp V8 with a 7 speed auto to a soft suspension set up like the omega.

 internally fit it out with night vision like Hitler's taxi, leather heated seats front and rear, four zone climate control, large touchscreen centre console?
I'm guessing GM have the parts to make it happen and at the price £50-60,000
Maybe add some bespoke parts, new steering wheel and gear selector maybe a sun blind?
Like the VXR8 you wouldn't see many but you'd be selling exclusivity and with a new badge and isn't that what most BMW, Mercedes Audi drivers are after?

[Migv6 le Frog Fan]

Vauxhall (and indeed Ford) decided to get out of the big / luxury car market about 15 years ago, and the chances of that decision being reversed are something less than zero. 

[Pmacca2000]

I'm stuck between if only and what if ?
As always it's a question of money and  a willingness to do it and a market for the product and with ford out of the game VX could catch them napping?

[Doctor Gollum]

They do... it's called Cadillac and they no longer sell cars here.

And that's that.

[anV6]

clearly VX has a sports range in the VXR/OPC fleet, how good would it be to have one VXSV /OSV or Elite as a luxury brand?
Im not saying car development is cheap but maybe get the chassis of a commodore and fit a 500hp V8 with a 7 speed auto to a soft suspension set up like the omega.

 internally fit it out with night vision like Hitler's taxi, leather heated seats front and rear, four zone climate control, large touchscreen centre console?
I'm guessing GM have the parts to make it happen and at the price £50-60,000
Maybe add some bespoke parts, new steering wheel and gear selector maybe a sun blind?
Like the VXR8 you wouldn't see many but you'd be selling exclusivity and with a new badge and isn't that what most BMW, Mercedes Audi drivers are after?

Wasn't I just talking about this very same idea the other day?

But why automatic? We already have plenty of barges with auto transmissions. What we are lacking are RWD super saloons with a big engine and a manual gearbox.

[Viral_Jim]

Vauxhall (and indeed Ford) decided to get out of the big / luxury car market about 15 years ago, and the chances of that decision being reversed are something less than zero. 

And goven what they've tried to do with the Vignale sub-brand, that is a very good thing indeed!

[Kevin Wood]

<Consults dictionary>

<Lots of nearly-hits describing female genitalia>

<Ahh, here we are>

Vignale : [vig-narrr-lay]
noun
1. "Shitbox in drag"

 

[Doctor Gollum]

Suddenly Escort GhiaX doesn't sound pretentious 

[Nick W]

<Consults dictionary>

<Lots of nearly-hits describing female genitalia>

<Ahh, here we are>

Vignale : [vig-narrr-lay]
noun
1. "Shitbox in drag"

 

2. Long established Italian coach builder bought by Ford and pissed away.

[Pmacca2000]

In answer to the auto box question I would say the VXR8 is a manual or tiptronic super saloon and you wouldn't want to directly compete with your own brand so by going the RWD auto rout your tailoring one for sports saloon and one for luxury bardge, that said put a 5.0 V8 under its petticoats and you'll manage to enjoy both worlds.
I understand what your saying about this idea being a non starter and I do understand why but, like most things cars have trends.
4X4s, then MPVs and now SUVs.
I would argue the Cadillac brand didn't do well in Europe due to build quality?
They always seemed cheep and you can't get far charging what I'd expect to be north of £30,000 for a car that feels cheap ?

[Doctor Gollum]

The autobox in the VXR8 is identical to the one used in the Holden Calais/Chevrolet Caprice... incidentally the Calais isn't available with a manual box

[anV6]

In answer to the auto box question I would say the VXR8 is a manual or tiptronic super saloon and you wouldn't want to directly compete with your own brand so by going the RWD auto rout your tailoring one for sports saloon and one for luxury bardge, that said put a 5.0 V8 under its petticoats and you'll manage to enjoy both worlds.
I understand what your saying about this idea being a non starter and I do understand why but, like most things cars have trends.
4X4s, then MPVs and now SUVs.
I would argue the Cadillac brand didn't do well in Europe due to build quality?
They always seemed cheep and you can't get far charging what I'd expect to be north of £30,000 for a car that feels cheap ?

I thought the VXR8 was available with both manual and auto since the HSV counterpart is.

But it doesn't matter. GM is very unfortunately killing the Holden Commordore this year. It wont even make it to the end of the year. So the HSV versions which are based on the Commodore will die too. The VXR8 is just a rebadged HSV so this is the last year for the VXR8 too. As you see, your proposed car would not compete with the VXR8.

Once the Commodore is gone, and I believe the Falcon is gone too or will be soon, we will be starved for RWD 4 door larger super saloons with a manual transmission. Specially now that even BMW sold out and is dropping the manual gearbox option for the M5. And M6 for that matter. So the only larger 4 door super saloon with a manual option will be the Jaguar XF-R. But if even BMW sold out, how long will it take for Jaguar to stop too, if they haven't already?

We desperately need a 4 door larger super saloon with a manual gearbox. We have so many already with an auto box. Don't need yet another one IMO.

[Migv6 le Frog Fan]

We will see driverless car swamping the roads in our lifetime. This is apparently the future. Manufacturers are concentrating their R&D on this kind of shite and have no interest making cars for enthusiasts who actually enjoy the experience of driving their products.
We are the last generation of humans who have the freedom to get in our cars and drive them how we want, albeit possibly suffering the legal consequences if we are caught breaking the rules.
Meanwhile, the news today said the speed limit on the M1 is being cut to 60mph in the name of saving the polar bears or some other such nonsense.
Expect the rest of the motorway network to follow suit in the foreseeable future.
The future is bleak I'm afraid.

[Nick W]

I thought the VXR8 was available with both manual and auto since the HSV counterpart is.

But it doesn't matter. GM is very unfortunately killing the Holden Commordore this year. It wont even make it to the end of the year. So the HSV versions which are based on the Commodore will die too. The VXR8 is just a rebadged HSV so this is the last year for the VXR8 too. As you see, your proposed car would not compete with the VXR8.

Once the Commodore is gone, and I believe the Falcon is gone too or will be soon, we will be starved for RWD 4 door larger super saloons with a manual transmission. Specially now that even BMW sold out and is dropping the manual gearbox option for the M5. And M6 for that matter. So the only larger 4 door super saloon with a manual option will be the Jaguar XF-R. But if even BMW sold out, how long will it take for Jaguar to stop too, if they haven't already?

We desperately need a 4 door larger super saloon with a manual gearbox. We have so many already with an auto box. Don't need yet another one IMO.

Nobody needs one at all, let alone desperately. A 1.0l Corsa would be good for probably 90% of my motoring needs.There are good reasons for most big power engines having auto boxes bolted to them; that most buyers prefer them is one(look at how few manual V8 BMWs, or recent Porsches there are), and that manual boxes that can reliably handle the power are generally best described as agricultural.

[korum]

We will see driverless car swamping the roads in our lifetime. This is apparently the future. Manufacturers are concentrating their R&D on this kind of shite and have no interest making cars for enthusiasts who actually enjoy the experience of driving their products.
We are the last generation of humans who have the freedom to get in our cars and drive them how we want, albeit possibly suffering the legal consequences if we are caught breaking the rules.
Meanwhile, the news today said the speed limit on the M1 is being cut to 60mph in the name of saving the polar bears or some other such nonsense.
Expect the rest of the motorway network to follow suit in the foreseeable future.
The future is bleak I'm afraid.

This im afraid is what will happen. In 20 years time the number of people learning to drive will decrease, self driving cars will be taxi's as no point owning one you will just order one through an app on your phone get in and off you go   The rise of self driving cars will also put paid to driving jobs where eventually no one will drive.