Road - 155 mph Stunner!

Vauxhall has released the first pics of the new Astra VXR which goes on sale next year. Quite  a looker, eh?

Based on the GTC’s platform, the 2 litre turbocharged direct injection engine produces 280 hp and 400 Nm of torque. That’s going to be good for 155 mph.

To cope with the power, the new Astra VXR gets a specially developed mechanical limited slip differential and the GTC’s sophisticated HiPerStrut (High Performance Strut) suspension with Vauxhall’s fully adaptive FlexRide. This can also be controlled by a ‘Sport’ button and also a ‘VXR’ button, which offers two choices of damper, throttle and steering settings. And to keep the whole thing in check, there are Brembos all round.

As seems to be the way these days, the final chassis tuning and suspension settings were signed off on the Northern Loop (Nordschleife) of the Nürburgring with none other than ex-BTCC racer and Le Mans winner, ‘Smokin’ Jo’ Winkelhock in charge. So does that mean the Astra’s got a cigarette lighter and an ash-tray then?

Outwardly, specially sculpted front and rear bumpers, side skirts, an aerodynamic roof spoiler and two tail pipes highlight the VXR. Inside, the cabin gets custom buckets with embossed logos, a flat-bottomed VXR steering wheel and upgraded instruments.