Wednesday 7th April 2010

Special Edition Astra VXR Revealed

Arctic Edition aims to put a spring in ageing hot Astra's step

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Vauxhall has just released an Arctic Edition version of the Astra VXR hot hatch, a 500-run special edition with around £2k-worth of extra kit for £720 over the standard VXR.

There have been no upgrades to the engine or chassis for the Astra VXR Arctic, and the hot Astra is distinctly long in the tooth these days but, as we found out when we took one out for a night rally a little while back, the hooligan from Luton can still prove to be plenty of fun.

Arctic Editions are painted in Olympic White with a contrasting black roof, mirror covers, front grille and tailgate trim.

The £1965 worth of options for the £23,595 car include heated leather Recaro front seats, tinted glass and Black 19-inch multi-spoke alloys. Customers can also specify Vauxhall’s panoramic windscreen, a £920 option and a first for a VXR product.

[soad]

A 500-run special edition with around £2k-worth of extra kit for £720k over the standard VXR.

Typo there, surely?

[DrTre]

soad said:

A 500-run special edition with around £2k-worth of extra kit for £720k over the standard VXR.

Typo there, surely?

Thing is, I can't even begin to work out what it is actually meant to be

[soad]

DrTre said:

Thing is, I can't even begin to work out what it is actually meant to be

You're getting £2k worth of extra kit for the bargain price of £720.

[S3_Graham]

DrTre said:

soad said:

A 500-run special edition with around £2k-worth of extra kit for £720k over the standard VXR.

Typo there, surely?

Thing is, I can't even begin to work out what it is actually meant to be

erm... £720?? at a guess...

[adycav]

Looks quite good if you like that sort of thing.

Clearly this is an attempt to get rid of the last old shape VXRs - will there be a new shape one?

[DrTre]

soad said:

You're getting £2k worth of extra kit for the bargain price of £720.

S3_Graham said:

erm... £720?? at a guess...

Je suis un doofus.

[bazking69]

So, £23k for a Vauxhall Astra, and a model of Vauxhall Astra that was replaced 6 months ago with a new generation at that. In white too.

Riiiiight...

[mackie1]

They were bashing out the last few VXR8s for that money.

[goron59]

I'm wondering how the PH-o-meter is showing ~ 4.6 for this... I voted 2 and was being generous!

[dazsmith69]

FAIL

[russy01]

i even have an astra, so should be nice to VX. But come on, we're getting bored of these silly add ons now. Just release the new one. (as close to the concept as you can please!)

[forzaminardi]

Its an OK car, and I'd be tempted... but not for that ridiculous price.

[Zletsgo]

bazking69 said:

So, £23k for a Vauxhall Astra, and a model of Vauxhall Astra that was replaced 6 months ago with a new generation at that. In white too.

Riiiiight...

There is no 3dr New Astra as yet and there won't be a VXR until 2011 iirc although you are correct there is a 5dr new generation Astra

I bet dealers like Astons in Leicester chuck this one out for around the £18k mark as they have done with other Astra VXR's - remember the £23k is the RRP

[Essex Exile]

Looks nothing like the Nurburgring edition, does it?

[SR06]

It was a relatively good value for money package when it came out. The only thing mine needed was a rear anti roll bar and it was pretty good. Good build quality too in my opinion. But these special editions are pointless. The Racing Edition was just a standard VXR with black bits, something manufacturers moved away from in the 90’s. You could get away with producing special editions of chassis that are phenomenal and desirable but I see these as modern incarnations of the ‘Rip curl’, ‘Tahiti’ or ‘Sunny spray’.

As for that roof, if it going to illuminate my slaphead like that I’ll pass thanks!

[sleep envy]

has anyone seen an astra with a panoramic windscreen yet?

[RobCrezz]

Essex Exile said:

Looks nothing like the Nurburgring edition, does it?

I wonder if OCD cleaning detailing man will get one of these!

[forzaminardi]

anonymous said:

[redacted]

True, but I was in a dealership the other day and saw a non-VXR Astra like this in metallic blue for £18k. I almost fell over I was so shocked. It had jazzy wheels and looked shiney, but f*ck me, who did they think would buy a 1.8 Astra for £18k?

Mind you I don't know why anyone would buy a 'normal' car for £18k when you see how far that could take you on Autotrader!

[LHD]

sleep envy said:

has anyone seen an astra with a panoramic windscreen yet?

Worth every penny.

[300bhp/ton]

sleep envy said:

has anyone seen an astra with a panoramic windscreen yet?

Nope never, not even at dealers. Think they must have only made them for the TV ads.