This is the new Vauxhall Astra VXR and it’s the most powerful production Astra to roll out of Luton…ever.
When it arrives in the UK during summer 2012 it will pack almost 280 horsepower under its shapely bonnet.
Check Out The New Vauxhall Astra VXR Set For Geneva Debut
And it’s an important car for Vauxhall to get right – The UK is by far the biggest European market for the Astra VXR.
So let’s see what it has to offer…
The Styling
Hot on the heels of the gorgeous Astra GTC, the VXR is based on the same three-door bodyshell – which is a good start.
It gets a specially designed VXR body kit including new front and rear bumpers, side skirts, two trapezoidal tail pipes and an aerodynamic roof spoiler.
Unlike previous models, the visual styling is rather subtle and all the better as a result.
The exterior look is completed by 20 inch multi-spoke alloys and huge Brembo brakes.
Inside, the VXR gets special performance seats with embossed logos, upgraded instruments and a flat-bottomed VXR steering wheel. Very sporty.
The Engine
Power comes from a 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol unit. Thanks to direct injection and turbo charging it pushes out 276bhp and 295 lb ft of torque.
That’s 40bhp more than the original model.
It also means it will be good for a top speed of 155mph. Apart from that, no performance figures have been released. But here’s a little clue…
Its predecessor, the 236bhp Astra VXR could reach 62 mph in 6.2 seconds, so you can draw your own conclusions.
If we had to estimate, we would say mid fives – which is quick.
The Mechanicals
Vauxhall claims that the VXR chassis has been specially tuned turning it into a focused, high-performance coupe.
That means a specially developed mechanical limited slip differential, the High Performance Strut (HiPerStrut) from the Insignia VXR, brakes by Brembo and the FlexRide adaptive damper system.
However, 276bhp is a lot of power to put through the front wheels. Hopefully any torque steer will be kept at bay by the HiPerStrut front suspension and the limited slip diff.
Two buttons labeled “sport” and “VXR” allow you to tighten up the performance of the steering, throttle and dampers for maximum control.
To show how serious Vauxhall is about the VXR, much of the chassis development work was done at the Nurburgring Nordschleife – Overseen by Le Mans 24-hour winner “Smokin’ Jo” Winklehock who said “we have devised a great package that will convince even the most experienced and enthusiastic drivers – and not just on the Nurburgring.”
We hope so Jo, we hope so.
Pricing And Availability
Order books for the VXR open in spring 2012 with the first deliveries expected during the summer.
Prices will be revealed in due course, but will come in below £30,000 – Expect to pay around £28,000.
If that’s too much for you, there’s also a five-door diesel power GSI with around 200bhp on the horizon for 2012.
So, the VXR – Are you excited about Ford Focus RS power for Ford Focus ST money?
I own the old astra vxr if the new one was 4wd it would deffo be the best hot hatch on the market FACT!!!!!!!!!
28k – Far to expensive
Way too expensive for a Vauxhall
Seriously? 28k?!? I’m sure the new VXR is going to be good, perhaps very good, but will it be good enough to demand such a premium over its rivals?
Yeah, it will have to be exceptional car to justify that amount of money.
Lots of people will be interested, but many just won’t pay nigh on £30k for a Vauxhall.
Badge snobbery is alive and well.
£28k!?
Not a chance.. An Astra vxr for vauxhall monaro vxr money? This needs to come in around the sane price as the mark 5 Astra vxr, not 10k more
Way too much money. Why is Vauxhall changing their cars so often? People haven’t got the money to keep spending out on new cars. The VXR Arctic Edition was great, why change it again?
That looks like a mistake, 28k is not ST money … is must be I would say between 18-22k. Should be just a bit more than the last VXR.
Shaun and Yusuf,
You’re right, £28k is a lot of money to spend on a Vauxhall, especially in the current economic climate.
However, the official prices have still to be announced, so it could be priced below £28k, but probably not by much.
Either way, at that price level it will run into some talented competition.
The car looks stunning, but like everyone else is commenting, too expensive.
I had the old version, 240bhp that couldn’t hold the road, so god help 280bhp. I now have a Corsa VXR, bags of fun.
The Spud
The price is the major concern with many of the VXR fans that I speak to, especially in the current ecconomic climate.
From memory, the last Astra VXR dipped below the £20,000 mark. The anticipated price of around £28,000 for the new version will take it out of many people’s price range.
And with another 40bhp the new HiPerStrut system will have to be exceptional to cope with all that front wheel power.
As much as I love the look and spec of this car I would not pay near £30k for it. Below £23k would be more realistic. I sold my old VXR and bought a brand new white Audi A5 S-line SE for 4K more. My point being if I had £30k to spend on a car it would not be going on a Vauxhall.
That seems to be the opinion of most VXR fans Liam. Any price beyond £23-24k is a step too far.
By the time people have £30k to spend their mind turns to the prestige badges.
Enjoy your new A5.
Exactly Stuart and thanks but I have unfortunatly recently sold the A5 as I bought a house and couldn’t afford to have both so now I’m actually back in an Astra, only this one is a 1.4 petrol, ha so maybe keeping the VXR would have been the right idea as I had paid that off at the time. SO GUTTED, ah well.
Sorry to hear that Liam.
At least your house will hold its value better than any car, be it an Audi or a VXR.