A diesel VXR? Are you serious?
Vauxhall most certainly is. Its engineers have been working flat-out on developing a twin-turbo version of its venerable 1.9-litre CDTi diesel engine. Three years ago, Opel displayed an OPC-tweaked twin-turbo diesel Vectra at the Geneva Motor Show – and come early next year, the production version will power the facelifted Zafira, creating Luton’s first diesel-powered VXR. It works much like BMW’s twin-turbodiesel, using two different sized blowers running in series. At low speeds a smaller, ultra-responsive turbo kicks in to bolster the torque curve between 1000-2500rpm. Above those engine speeds, the smaller blower hands over to a much bigger turbo, delivering a hefty high-rev kick. The claimed result is a seamless and generous torque curve from just over idle to the redline – delivering searing in-gear go, while still meeting Euro IV emission regulation. That’s the idea, anyway.
So just how fast will it be?
In the Zafira, the 1.9-litre will develop a useful 190bhp at 4000rpm and a mighty 270lb ft of torque from 1400rpm onwards. That’s 50bhp down but a useful 35lb ft up on the current VXR petrol model. Vauxhall is still tight-lipped about performance figures – it doesn’t arrive for another eight months, remember – but we expect it shadow the petrol VXR with a 0-60mph time of 7.5sec and top out at about 135mph, while still returning 48mpg on the combined cycle. Expect an on-the-road price of just under £25,000. Vauxhall claims its front-drive architecture is well up to handling all that twist action and that the Zafira will be a controllable and torque steer-free drive. Having sampled the current Zafira and Astra VXR, we’ve no doubt they’ll keep their word. Just don’t expect much steering feel… Vauxhall claims that VXR drivers not only love the flagship brand’s wildchild looks, but also its turbo-enhanced torque which makes them very quick but relaxing point-to-pointers. The twin-turbodiesel should tick the torque box – and then some, but we hope they factor in some finesse rather than just brute power this time. Don’t expect the twin-tubo powerplant to filter too far down the Vauxhall model range – its high development and production costs mean it will probably be reserved for niche applications like the VXR line-up in the UK, and equivalent OPC brand in Europe.
Will this engine be used elsewhere?
We hear the new engine will be installed in the new Vectra replacement (or Insignia, as it’s most likely to be called when it arrives next summer) giving Vauxhall a hot diesel model right from the off. In this application, the twin-turbo unit will be recalibrated to deliver a full 215bhp and 295lb ft of torque – enough to launch the £26,000 Vectra to 60mph in seven seconds dead and onto a 140mph top speed. Not bad for something that should average 44mpg. And doubly impressive against the current petrol VXR’s figures of 6.1sec, 155mph and 25.7mpg. But according to Vauxhall, even the twin-turbo engine is not hot enough for the new Vectra/Insignia VXR. Instead, the diesel Vectra/Insignia flagship will run GM’s all-new 2.9-litre V6 diesel that dishes up 250bhp and an exceptional 406lb ft from 2000rpm. With an anticipated 0-62mph time of 6.5seconds, a 150mph top speed and 40mpg economy, it should make the supercharged V6 petrol VXR utterly redundant…