Caral VSX: The British-Built V8 Sports Car That Redefined the VX220 Platform

EID MUBARAK

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Core Altered - In an era when supercars are often defined by corporate budgets and mass-produced performance figures, there has always been a quieter, more intriguing corner of the automotive world where ambition comes from specialists rather than giants. This is where bold ideas take shape without the pressure of mainstream expectations, and where engineering passion often outweighs branding power. The Caral VSX emerged from that space, offering a compelling reminder that true automotive character can be built through vision, not volume. 

The Caral VSX, often called the Caral V8XS, is a radical reinterpretation of the Vauxhall VX220 (Opel Speedster) developed in 2008 by British specialist Caral Automotive. (Picture from: TopSpeed)

The Caral VSX—often referred to as the Caral V8XS—was never intended to be a conventional production car. Developed around 2008 by British specialist Caral Automotive, also known as Stradale Sport Ltd, it was conceived as an extreme reinterpretation of the Vauxhall VX220 (or Opel Speedster). Rather than starting from a blank sheet, Caral chose to evolve the VX220’s Lotus-designed bonded aluminum chassis, using it as a lightweight and rigid foundation for something far more ambitious. What followed was not a simple upgrade, but a transformation that redefined the car’s identity altogether. 

The Caral VSX reinterprets the Vauxhall VX220 by evolving its Lotus-designed bonded aluminum chassis into a lightweight yet rigid foundation for a far more ambitious V8 sports car. (Picture from: AllCarIndex)

At the heart of the Caral VSX lies its most dramatic departure from the donor vehicle: a 4.2-liter supercharged V8 engine sourced from Jaguar cars. Tuned to produce around 450 horsepower, this engine was mounted longitudinally in a mid-engine layout and paired with a close-ratio six-speed transaxle. With a kerb weight hovering near 950 kilograms, the result was a staggering power-to-weight ratio of roughly 475 bhp per tonne. To cope with this output, Caral re-engineered nearly every mechanical aspect, from redesigned double-wishbone suspension and CNC-machined aluminum uprights to upgraded four-piston brakes and larger 18-inch wheels. 

The Caral VSX features a completely new leather-trimmed interior with customizable colors and a Caral-designed instrument cluster with integrated data logging and lap timing, underscoring its dual road-and-track character. (Picture from: TopSpeed)

Visually, the Caral VSX departs almost entirely from its VX220 origins, retaining only the doors and windscreen while replacing nearly every other exterior panel with lightweight GT-style composite bodywork that creates a purposeful widebody stance. The wheelbase—longer than icons like the Porsche 911, Lotus Esprit, or Ford GT40—underscores that this is no longer a compact roadster but a bespoke V8 sports car.  

The Caral VSX preserves the VX220’s removable roof concept, creating a subtle Targa-like appearance when the top is removed while blending GT coupe proportions with a sense of open-top freedom. (Picture from: GTPlanet.net)

At the same time, the VSX preserves the VX220’s removable roof concept, giving it a subtle Targa-like appearance when the top is removed, blending GT coupe proportions with a hint of open-top freedom. Inside, the transformation continues with a completely new leather-trimmed interior, customizable in color and featuring a Caral-designed instrument cluster with integrated data logging and lap timing, reinforcing its dual road-and-track character and emphasizing that the VSX is not merely a VX220 with a bigger engine, but a fully reimagined high-performance sports car. 

The Caral VSX is powered by a longitudinally mounted, mid-engine 4.2-liter supercharged V8 from Jaguar, tuned to produce around 450 horsepower and paired with a close-ratio six-speed transaxle. (Picture from: TopSpeed)

What gives the Caral VSX lasting relevance today is not just its numbers, but its philosophy. Offered as a comprehensive kit or as a complete build using a new chassis, it allowed enthusiasts to participate directly in the creation of their own high-performance GT car. In a modern automotive landscape increasingly shaped by software, electrification, and uniform design language, the Caral VSX stands as a snapshot of a different mindset—one where mechanical drama, lightweight engineering, and individuality were the main objectives, and where a small British specialist dared to challenge supercar conventions on its own terms. *** [EKA | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | CARAL.CO.UK | TOPSPEED | JALOPNIK | GTPLANET.NET | AUTOGEN.PL | PISTONHEADS | ALLCARINDEX | CARSEX MAGAZINE IN TUMBLR | CARAL-AUTOMOTIVE IN FACEBOOK ]

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