Lotus Carlton (pictured) is the most iconic Vauxhall
The 1990s Lotus Carlton – a Vauxhall Carlton fettled by Lotus – is the most iconic car in Vauxhall’s history, say Vauxhall Performance fans in a new survey.
Currently, Vauxhall has the Holden turned Vauxhall in the guise of the VXR8, offering a 6.2 litre V8 with 576bhp good for 60mph in 4.2 seconds and a range of tuned and fettled VRX cars on offer across its range.
Going back in to Vauxhall’s past, there are cars like the Chevette HS, Astra GTE and even the Calibra Turbo with a keen following, but it seems Vauxhall Performance fans rate one Vauxhall above all others – the Lotus Carlton.
So the most iconic Vauxhall is a car without Vauxhall in its name, but that’s because what makes it iconic is the ‘Lotus’ bit.
Lotus took the big, soft Carlton and delivered a car with a 3.6 litre straight-six engine – a heavily modified version of the range-topping Carlton’s 3.0 litre lump – good for 377bhp thanks to a couple of turbos, 0-60mph in 5.2 seconds and a top speed of 176mph.
This was in 1990, when the Ferrari du jour – the brand new Ferrari 348 – took 5.6 seconds to 62mph and could only hit 171mph with its 300bhp. So the Lotus was quick. Very quick. Questions in Parliament quick.
But all that performance – and chassis fettling – came at a very steep price – £48,000 – so it should have been good, and it was so good it has now been voted the most iconic Vauxhall ever in a poll run by Vauxhall Performance Show.
Clearly there’s a reason why this poll result has appeared now, and that’s to promote the Vauxhall Performance Show which starts on 11 June at Santa Pod.
On offer will be all things performance Vauxhall, including a special anniversary display for Cavalier Turbos, a VX-only run up the drag strip and on-site entertainment too.
If you love a quick Vauxhall, this is the place for you. More details at www.performancevauxhallshow.co.uk.
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