The Vauxhall Speedster is a curious beast. Quite how it will differ in character from the Lotus Elise on which it is based remains to be seen. Initially it looked like Vauxhall was to take the Elise mainstream and fill it with creature comforts. This doesn't now seem to be the case.

GM's interpretation of the sportscar includes a selected mix of features. The open two seater sensibly boasts a roll bar, but includes ABS which won't be to everyone's liking. There's no air-con or even central locking. Instruments are kept to the bare essentials with two dials – a rev counter and a speed gauge – and LCD displays which are activated when needed. Sculpted sports seats are complemented by a leather steering wheel, aluminum gear knob and a starter button. An optional leather interior is available in black, blue, red or beige.

The roof will be of interest to Elise owners fed up with fiddling with the Lotus item. The fold-away roof of the Speedster is supposedly easy to handle and stows away in a special bag which fits neatly behind the seats. How durable this item is in the depths of a wet British winter remains to be seen. A silver-coloured hard-top is available as an option. A boot is located behind the engine large enough Vauxhall claim for two people's weekend luggage.

Despite using a more powerful GM's 2.2 litre 147bhp, the performance of the VX220 looks like it will be similar to the Elise. Kerb weight is around 850kg. Four ventilated, 288 millimetre disc brakes provide deceleration facilities. The VX220's 17 inch diameter aluminum wheels (5.5" and 7.5" wide at the front and rear respectively) retain the striking, five-spoke design seen on the 1999 concept and carry specially developed Bridgestone Potenza tyres (175/55 at the front, 225/45 R17 at the rear).

The transmission is the compact, new, five-speed gearbox with cable-operated shift first seen on the 1999 Vectra.

Production will begin this summer at the Lotus' Hethel plant near Norwich with deliveries across Europe from the Autumn. It will be interesting to see who will be buying the lego-styled VX220 car in preference to the stylish and probably cheaper Elise.