{{short description|Concept car developed by Vauxhall}} {{About|the concept car of 1966|the tuning division by Vauxhall|VXR|the four door sedan based by Holden|Vauxhall VXR8}} {{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}} {{Infobox automobile | name = Vauxhall XVR | image = 1966 Vauxhall XVR.jpg | caption = The surviving Vauxhall XVR mockup | type = | manufacturer = Vauxhall | aka = | production = 1966<br />(three built) | designer = David Jones (design director) | class = Concept car | body_style = | related = | layout = FMR Layout | engine = {{cvt|1975|cc|L|1|disp=flip}} ''Slant-four I4'' | transmission = 4-speed manual | wheelbase = | length = | width = | height = | weight = | doors = Gullwing doors }}
The '''Vauxhall XVR''' is a concept car built in 1966 by Vauxhall. The name stands for ''eXperimental Vauxhall Research''. It debuted at the March 1966 Geneva Motor Show, receiving favourable reviews from the press, but never went into production.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.supercars.net/blog/1966-vauxhall-xvr/|title=1966 Vauxhall XVR|website=supercars.net|date=20 December 2015|accessdate=16 October 2020}}</ref>
== Production == thumb|XVR (rear end) Three prototypes of the XVR were built in total. Two were glassfibre rolling mockups with no engines, while one was a metal bodied, fully functional example, built by ''Motor Panels of Coventry''. The fully functional car was the one displayed at the Geneva Motor Show in March 1966. In total, the concept took five months to design and build.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://hooniverse.com/2017/03/24/vauxhall-xvr-the-little-vette-that-wasnt/|title=Vauxhall XVR: The Little Vette that Wasn't|date=24 March 2017|work=Hooniverse|accessdate=20 September 2018|language=en-us}}</ref>
Only one of the mockups survives today. The running prototype was damaged while on display in Canada and was scrapped; Vauxhall also crushed the other mockup.<ref name=APC84>{{cite magazine | magazine = Classic and Sportscar | title = Vauxhall man recalls | date = May 1984 | page = 14 | first = Aubrey | last = Cohring | publisher = Haymarket Publishing }}</ref> The surviving car remains in the ownership of Vauxhall Motors and is currently on display at the ''British Motor Museum''.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://classicandsportscar.com/news/classic-vauxhall-collection-moves-british-motor-museum |title=Vauxhall Heritage Collection moves to British Motor Museum, Gaydon | work = Classic & Sports Car | publisher = Haymarket Media Group | date = 2021-08-24 | first = Lizzie | last = Pope }} </ref>
== Specifications == The lone fully functional XVR was powered by a few different front mid-mounted engines during its existence. As the intended fitment was still undergoing testing, the XVR was fitted with a used 1.5-litre four, cleaned up and repainted, for the Geneva Motor Show.<ref name=APC84/> Once the 2.3-litre slant-four was ready, a tuned pre-production example of the variant model which was later used in the Vauxhall VX4/90 was installed. Upper management then decreed that development work be halted and had a 2.0-litre slant-four in standard trim replaced the car as it entered the show circuit.<ref name=APC84/> This engine produces around {{cvt|100|bhp|kW|0}}.<ref name=xr4>{{Cite news|url=https://www.topgear.com/car-news/classic/tgs-guide-concepts-vauxhall-xvr#4| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20181204115759/https://www.topgear.com/car-news/classic/tgs-guide-concepts-vauxhall-xvr#1 | archive-date = 2018-12-04 | title=TG's guide to concepts: the Vauxhall XVR|date=5 June 2017|work=Top Gear| first = Craig | last = Jamieson |language=en}}</ref>
The suspension was fully independent in the front and rear, and there were disc brakes at all four corners.<ref name=xr4/> With the 2-litre engine, the XVR was able to reach a top speed of over {{cvt|100|mph|km/h}}.
== Design == The design team for the XVR was directed by David Jones and included Wayne Cherry, John Taylor, Leo Pruneau, and Judd Holcombe.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.deansgarage.com/2017/vauxhall-xvr-concept/|title=Vauxhall XVR Concept|website=deansgarage.com|date=20 January 2017|accessdate=16 October 2020}}</ref> The styling was inspired by the 1965 Mako Shark II concept car by Chevrolet.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2020-04-07 |title=TG’s guide to concepts: the Vauxhall XVR |url=https://www.topgear.com/car-news/concept/tgs-guide-concepts-vauxhall-xvr |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20241007201235/https://www.topgear.com/car-news/concept/tgs-guide-concepts-vauxhall-xvr |archive-date=2024-10-07 |access-date=2026-02-18 |work=Top Gear |language=en}}</ref> Notable design features include a split windscreen, pop up headlamps, and gull wing doors that are hinged at the center of the car, with the windscreen mounted to them.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.autocar.co.uk/opinion/concept-cars/blog-vauxhalls-long-lost-sports-car-original-gt-concept|title=Blog: Vauxhall's long lost sports car - the original GT Concept|website=autocar.co.uk|date=30 January 2016|accessdate=16 October 2020}}</ref>
== References == <references />{{Commons category|Vauxhall XVR}}{{Vauxhall Motors}}
Category:Cars introduced in 1966 Category:Vauxhall concept vehicles Category:Automobiles with gull-wing doors Category:Front mid-engine, rear-wheel-drive vehicles