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!

[garypotter]

Fastra said:

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

+1 far to busy back end,

wait for the "ring time"...........

[RyanOakley]

27k for a Vauxhall!

Hot hatches are turning into crazy money... There are so many other cars i would rather have for that sort of money

[EDLT]

The Astra GTC is supposed to be better to drive than the Focus, could this be the best Astra ever (outside of PH where nobody will be able to look past the badge)?

[Gorbyrev]

Have to say, in the flesh, this thing looks amazing.

[jamei303]

20" wheels, this is getting silly.

[3000GT ANT]

i like it, much better looking than the new ST!

[RobCrezz]

I thought the last generation Astra VXR was a good looking hatch, this one just looks a bit boring.

[veevee]

Fastra said:

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

This.

Does look alright though. But I'd still rather have an R26.

[JDMDrifter]

Similar price bracket to the GT86 , I know what I'd have ...

[BBS-LM]

Where is the VXR part again. I think the Ford Fiesta ST looks better then this. Well at least it's got good power and a LSD which is more then I can say for the GTI.

Edited by BBS-LM on Tuesday 6th March 11:08

[dhariwab]

isnt the gt86 circa 100bhp down on this car? this is defo more bang for your buck and cheaper than anything from VW. Still want a proper two door coupe though. Why isnt anyone making them apart from the germans

[E30M3SE]

jamei303 said:

20" wheels, this is getting silly.

[roystinho]

It looks ok, but yes, not very distinct. But to be honest, don't think the Fiesta looks as special as it could have done. Why didn't they flare the rear arches or something? It's like a whacking big sheet of flat metal down the side

[MrGRT]

To PH:
Will you update these articles with more stats? Weight for example.

[anonymous-user]

looks a bit boring?

[anonymous-user]

RyanOakley said:

27k for a Vauxhall!

Hot hatches are turning into crazy money... There are so many other cars i would rather have for that sort of money

Just out of interest what brand new car would you buy for 27k? This is not a dig but lots of people say exactly the same but never say wht they would buy unless its a second hand M3

[Chapppers]

jamei303 said:

20" wheels, this is getting silly.

Saying that though, the huge gap between the wheel rim and the brake disc looks excellent for clearing snow from with a broom / warning triangle / rogue piece of trim.

So many manufacturers forget this need with their crazy "correct" disc-to-wheel size ratios.

[VolvoT5]

20inch wheels, low profile tyres and no doubt rock hard suspension as well... run over a milk bottle top and you will need major spinal surgery.

Excessive amounts of power (for the fwd chassis) and overly fussy/chavtastic styling too.

AND 27k.... No thanks.

[stuckmojo]

Wheel sizes are getting stupid these days. 20 inches???