jr
Member
Registered: 20th May 02
Location: Kent
User status: Offline
|
BTW i have no idea if this has been posted, so dont moan 
It's been a long time coming, but Vauxhall's most exciting hot hatch ever is nearly ready for production. The scorching 240bhp Astra VXR goes on sale this summer - and Auto Express is the first magazine in the world to hit the road in the newcomer.
We were granted exclusive access to the Luton-based firm's multi-million-pound star - first seen at last year's Paris Motor Show - to take it out on British tarmac for the first time.
Buyers will have to wait until August to get their hands on the new sizzler that company bosses hope will give the Volkswagen Golf GTI a good clubbing - but with a claimed 0-60mph sprint time of around six seconds and a top speed in excess of 150mph, it promises to be well worth the delay. The VXR recalls the spirit of the 1989 Astra GTE 16v, which transformed the small Vauxhall's image from that of a worthy but dowdy family model to race-bred performance car overnight.
In its day, the GTE 16v was a hot hatch legend. With 156bhp available from its 2.0-litre engine, it had the ability to cover the 0-60mph sprint in 7.6 seconds and go on to a maximum speed of 132mph - figures that would look impressive even in today's market. Once again, Vauxhall is aiming to set trends that others must follow, offering a previously unseen power output from a four-cylinder engine in this sector.
And what a stunner it is! Few models we've tested have ever turned as many heads as the VXR, a car which proves that the company is serious about changing its image. Such is the macho stance of the newcomer that other motorists stopped in their tracks to get a look at it. And the good news for potential buyers is that the VXR will be virtually identical to the car we tried when it goes on sale.
The only visual differences between the production model and the prototype will be a single centre-exit exhaust in place of the show version's twin pipes, even more purposeful bumpers and a larger rear spoiler. The 19-inch 10-spoke alloys on our car will be an optional extra - the standard wheels will be less aggressive 18-inchers. Whichever option you choose, you'll get red VXR-branded brake calipers, similar to those fitted to the facelifted Monaro.
Inside, the Recaro seats are supple yet supportive. The bright red leather on the concept isn't likely to see production, as it will be replaced by black hide with embroidered VXR logos, but the design of the interior will otherwise be identical, all the way down to the piano black centre console, sporty drilled pedals and brushed trim strips.
The cabin is identifiably that of an Astra, but VXR logos inside the dials and red stitching around the leather steering wheel will remind buyers that the car is something special.
This is also the first time we have been behind the wheel of a three-door Astra, as the VXR is based around the new Sport Hatch, due for launch in the spring. The good news for customers is that access to the rear is easy, and there's plenty of legroom in the back for even the tallest of passengers.
Visibility isn't as good as in the five-door model, thanks to a narrow rear window aperture and wide C-pillars, but the Astra is easy to place on the road, and the view forwards is unimpeded. The driving position in the VXR is no different to a standard Astra's, which means you sit fairly high for a performance model. The controls are well placed, though, and apart from Vauxhall's often criticised electric indicator switches, the driving environment is comfortable and the switchgear easy to use.
While the company was keen to point out the prototype model we took for a spin was nowhere near production ready, even in concept form the VXR was an exciting machine on the track, with a stiff ride and sharp steering.
Final production models will have chassis settings developed by Lotus engineers, so expect a firm but not overly stiff ride and incredibly agile handling Á Á to rival that of the much vaunted Golf GTI. The brakes should also be among the best in class, with a Brembo package being set up by Vauxhall's tuners.
Where the VXR is expected to pull right out in front of rivals, though, is in terms of value for money. The firm has already said the hot model will cost less than £20,000 when it arrives here - but sources have more recently suggested it could be cheaper than £19,000. That would mean the VXR would undercut the base Golf GTI by nearly £1,000, yet it will get standard leather trim, 18-inch alloys and a host of other goodies that VW buyers would have to pay extra for.
And although not as cheap as the Honda Civic Type R, the VXR delivers almost 50bhp more power. That news is nearly as exciting as the car's styling - because if the production model drives half as dramatically as it looks, then Vauxhall will have an affordable performance car to be proud of.
Craig Cheetham
[Edited on 10-01-2005 by jr]
|
CorsAsh
Member
Registered: 19th Apr 02
Location: Munich
User status: Offline
|
Driving that would make me want to murder people with so much red around. I like it 
|
Marc
Member
Registered: 11th Aug 02
Location: York
User status: Offline
|
POSTED BEFORE JR 
|
jr
Member
Registered: 20th May 02
Location: Kent
User status: Offline
|
quote:
Originally posted by Marc
POSTED BEFORE JR
fucker
|
Marc D
Member
Registered: 29th Apr 03
Location: Wirral, Merseyside
User status: Offline
|
i think its rank. i dont like it at all
|
jr
Member
Registered: 20th May 02
Location: Kent
User status: Offline
|
IMO the grill needs to be balck, but apart from that i think it looks
|
Adam-D
Member
Registered: 11th May 02
Location: Cheshire
User status: Offline
|
|
jr
Member
Registered: 20th May 02
Location: Kent
User status: Offline
|
was thiking about trading in the lupo for a golf GTI and paying the rest on finance, but i would prefer to wait for this
|
Chump
Member
Registered: 1st Feb 04
Location: Sharnbrook
User status: Offline
|
quote:
Originally posted by jr
Not normally into bodykits or ought but that is really crying out for a bigger rear roof spoiler IMO
[Edited on 10-01-2005 by Chump]
|
Adzy2k2
Member
Registered: 11th Nov 04
Location: Hitchin Drives: Corsa VXR
User status: Offline
|
i want 1  now!!!
|
Bonney
Member
Registered: 14th Nov 04
Location: St Helens
User status: Offline
|
dont care if its been posted before, looks great, i want one NOW
|
DaXx
Member
Registered: 6th Dec 04
User status: Offline
|
From the side = 
From the back =
From the front =
[Edited on 10-01-2005 by DaXx]
|
Matt H
Member
Registered: 11th Sep 01
Location: South Yorkshire
User status: Offline
|
I like it
|
Neshol
Member
Registered: 10th Jul 02
Location: Midlands
User status: Offline
|
Eww...
|
corsa5dr
Member
Registered: 12th Jan 03
Location: Bath/Bristol - Evo 4 GSR
User status: Offline
|
Looks okay
M3 Mirrors as standard too
[Edited on 10-01-2005 by corsa5dr]
|
mazdaspeed
Member
Registered: 8th Jan 05
Location: Darlington
User status: Offline
|
The wheels are HUGE
The brakes are small
It has stone age rear suspension
It looks nice tho
|
chr15barn3s
Member
Registered: 5th Oct 03
Location: Farnborough
User status: Offline
|
love it
|
corsa120
Member
Registered: 4th May 02
Location: Northamptonshire
User status: Offline
|
IF U READ THE PARAGRAPHS IT SAYS CAR WILL INDEED HAVE A BIGGER REAR SPOILER FOR U CHUMP
|
Chump
Member
Registered: 1st Feb 04
Location: Sharnbrook
User status: Offline
|
to be honest i couldn't be arsed to read the text...just looked at the pics
|
corsa120
Member
Registered: 4th May 02
Location: Northamptonshire
User status: Offline
|
|
Scott McKenzie
Member
Registered: 16th Jul 02
Location: Aberdeenshire Drives: Corsa B 1.6 16v
User status: Offline
|
Awesome, I want one
|
leeshez
Member
Registered: 3rd May 01
Location: Great Harwood, Lancashire
User status: Offline
|
|
Joff
Member
Registered: 17th Oct 00
Location: Cambridgeshire
User status: Offline
|
quote:
Originally posted by corsa5dr
Looks okay
M3 Mirrors as standard too
Just goes to show how Vauxhall are aiming the Astra H VXR primarily at the chav market. They've could have done so much more to the exterior but all they've shown is that it is difficult to polish a turd.
|
J100RSA
Member
Registered: 4th Mar 01
Location: Thornhill, West Yorkshire
User status: Offline
|
has any 1 seen the extended solar windscreen availible on this saw piccys in some mag and looks mint
|
Chump
Member
Registered: 1st Feb 04
Location: Sharnbrook
User status: Offline
|
quote:
Originally posted by Joff
quote:
Originally posted by corsa5dr
Looks okay
M3 Mirrors as standard too
Just goes to show how Vauxhall are aiming the Astra H VXR primarily at the chav market. They've could have done so much more to the exterior but all they've shown is that it is difficult to polish a turd.
They've gone for M3 style mirrors....next they'll be putting 15" TSW Venoms on the new Corsa 
[Edited on 10-01-2005 by Chump]
|
