Vauxhall Maloo VXR8 gains LSA V8 with 528hp for 2016
The 2016 Vauxhall Maloo VXR8 arrives in the UK with a supercharged 6.2-litre LSA V8, delivering 528hp and a 0-62mph time of 4.6 seconds.
Vauxhall has introduced the 2016 Maloo VXR8 to the UK market, fitting the pickup with General Motors’ supercharged 6.2-litre LSA V8 engine. The new powertrain delivers 528hp (394kW) and 495lb-ft (671Nm) of torque, a substantial increase over the outgoing LS3 V8. This update pushes the Maloo’s 0-62mph time to 4.6 seconds, with an electronically limited top speed of 155mph.
The LSA V8, well known from high-performance GM models, replaces the naturally aspirated LS3 previously used in the Maloo. The new engine brings an uplift of 103hp and 74lb-ft, giving the UK’s only V8-powered pickup a performance figure that rivals many sports cars. The Maloo VXR8’s price starts at £54,500 on the road, which undercuts the equivalent VXR8 saloon model.
Styling and features for 2016
Alongside the engine upgrade, the 2016 Maloo VXR8 receives a new front end, a ventilated bonnet with black air vents, and dark-finished mirrors. The model rides on 20-inch five-spoke alloy wheels. Two new paint options, Slipstream blue and Some Like it Hot metallic red, join the range. The cabin remains largely unchanged, but Vauxhall has added more standard features, including an updated infotainment system with Bluetooth, GPS navigation, and Onyx leather seats.
Position in the UK market
The Maloo VXR8 occupies a rare niche in the UK as a high-performance pickup, a format more familiar to Australian buyers. Its introduction under the Vauxhall badge brings the HSV-developed model to a new audience. For buyers, the Maloo offers a combination of utility and performance unmatched by anything else currently on sale in Britain. The price positions it below the VXR8 saloon, making it the more affordable route to LSA V8 power within Vauxhall’s line-up.
The 2016 Maloo VXR8’s blend of supercharged power, updated styling, and practical load space continues to set it apart as one of the most distinctive performance vehicles available to UK buyers.
