Now is a good time for B-segment hot hatches.
Peugeot
Polo GTI
Fiesta STs
Audi
has proved it can make a pocket rocket of note. Now Vauxhall is re-entering the fray with an updated Corsa VXR.
How does the "tasty rear view" grab you?
Okay, so the car you see here is the Opel OPC version but it would be surprising to see any major changes from this to UK VXR specification. And, dare we say it, the details released thus far are quite promising.
A little more power has been liberated from the 1.6-litre turbo, the peak figure now 207hp. Torque is also up to 207lb ft on overboost or 180 otherwise, available from 1,900-5,800rpm. Previously maximum torque was available only at 2,250rpm, Opel keen to boost response at low revs. A 0-62mph time of 6.8 seconds and a 143mph top speed make the VXR competitive amongst its contemporaries, although a 174g/km CO2 figure looks a little profligate in the face of the 125g/km 208 GTi 30th.
Recaros and a proper handbrake - hot hatch win!
Anyway, to more pressing concerns for the hot hatch customer. New 'Frequency Selective Damping', or FSD, has been developed with Koni to adjust damping forces to the frequency of the car. Opel claims an ideal balance between "uncompromising athleticism and an adequate level of comfort." The VXR's steering, a cause for complaint on the
original car
, has also been recalibrated to be "even more direct and precise and gives... much better feedback." A Competition Mode for the ESP loosens its threshold and it can be switched off completely should you wish.
Moreover, a Performance Package will be available from launch too. It includes the Drexler limited-slip diff from the Corsa Nurburgring and Clubsport, "powerful grip" Michelin tyres and further (currently undisclosed) chassis tweaks. Front Brembo brakes are 22mm larger than standard at 330mm. All of this combines to make the Corsa "a true athlete that can deal with the demands of both the urban jungle and the Green Hell." Indeed. We'll hope to test that when UK availability is confirmed sometime after Geneva.