Tuesday 6th March 2012

Geneva 2012: Vauxhall Astra VXR

Hottest-ever Astra gets first public airing

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This is the new Vauxhall Astra VXR (ignore the Opel badges, please), which has had its first in-the-metal unveiling at Geneva.

The headline figures for the new hot Astra are 280hp and 295lb ft from the 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine, which makes it one of the most powerful hot hatches in its class, as well as the most powerful production Astra ever.

There's some serious attention been paid to the spec of the chassis, too. As with its GTC hatch/coupe cousin, the new VXR comes equipped with Vauxhall's HiPer Strut front suspension, which helps to both improve agility and reduce torque steer. On top of that there's also a proper mechanical LSD, adaptive switchable dampers and a Nurburgring sign-off programme helped along by touring car hero (and Le Mans winner) Jo Winkelhock.

Visual tweaks take the form of unique front and rear bumpers, side skirts, an aerodynamic roof spoiler and two trapezoidal exhaust tail pipes. Inside, the VXR's cabin gets 'performance' seats with embossed logos in the backs, a flat-bottomed VXR steering wheel and upgraded instruments.

The Vauxhall-badged version will cost £26,995 when it goes on sale later this year. This makes it more expensive than the Megane Renaultsport, but cheaper on like-for-like spec (says Vauxhall, at least).

UK cars will also get a £995 optional styling pack, which includes a bi-plane rear spoiler, 20-inch wheels, and an extra-chunky side skirt (which you can see it on the red car).

 

[Fastra]

This could be anything, Renault, Honda, Peugeot etc, etc...!
The usual amorphous euro blob.
Indistinct and style-less!

[Fastra]

theJT said:

If there's a problem of differentiation at the moment surely that's just because in general car design is getting really pretty good these days.

Not sure I understand what you mean here.

You can design something that's good without looking like something else.

This is just lazy, 'follow-the-crowd', unadventurous, safe design.
Vauxhall is merely mimicking every other manufacturer because it hasn't got the money to fail, so they play it safe in the knowledge that it's pretty much like everything else and people will choose it for no other reason that 'it looks like a Renault but slightly cheaper', or 'there's a dealer near my house' - or what-ever insignificant reason.

[Fastra]

TheBigUnit said:

I disagree with this completely. The Astra's most obvious rival is the Focus, and the Ford is only available with 5 doors and a nose that looks like it belongs on a fish. It is increasingly rare that a mainstream manufacturer produces distinct 3 and 5 door designs, and rarer still that they fit different mechanicals. Vauxhall should be applauded for this.

Escort Si-130 said:

Nope it does look different, may I suggest specsavers

I'm really glad you do disagree.
Boring world otherwise!