The new Daddy of hot hatches?

TestTransmission

Joachim Winkelhock is a two-time winner of the Nürburgring 24 hours. And he reckons the new Vauxhall Astra VXR is a smashing bit of kit.

That's right, the new Vauxhall Astra VXR. The kind of car Internet forums were made for. It has finally come amongst us, and it has been built with an approving eye from a very fast man with a legendary smoking habit.



The important bit first: the new VXR gets a 2.0-litre turbocharged four-pot petrol engine developing 280bhp - some 40bhp over the original - and a considerable 295lb ft of torque. No performance times have been supplied, save for its 155mph top speed, but you can expect it to hit 62mph in under six seconds.

Making a valiant attempt to harness this new found strength will be the same chassis as the three-door Astra GTC (a very good thing), but with added oily bits. Vauxhall has bolted on a specially developed mechanical limited slip differential on the front wheels, to work in conjunction with the High Performance Strut (HiPerStrut) from the Insignia VXR; a standard fit on all GTCs.

The chassis also benefits from Brembo brakes and Vauxhall's FlexRide adaptive damping suspension, which equals two buttons inside the cabin to play with: one labelled ‘Sport', the other ‘VXR'. Both dial up the dampers, throttle and steering.

Inside, Vauxhall has fitted a pair of bespoke performance seats with embossed logos, a flat-bottomed VXR steering wheel and upgraded instruments. The external flashpoints include specially sculpted front and rear bumpers, beefier side skirts, an aerodynamic roof spoiler and twin exhaust pipes.

"We have devised a great package that will convince even the most experienced and enthusiastic drivers," assures ‘Smokin' Jo, "and not just on the Nürburgring."

It might be wise to listen to this man. He won the 1999 Le Mans race in a 580bhp V12 BMW.

So, a new hot hatch is born; a new hatch that is the most powerful production Astra ever built. A new hatch that promises to be less mad than its psychotic predecessor...

It'll hit UK shores next year, with prices to be confirmed in due course. Excited?

kildare.17hmr

meh its no Glanza

166man

I'd have that over a Focus ST/RS anyday. I presume that the VW GTI is now no longer a competitor for this and the Focus anymore seeing as it's down 70-80bhp on both?

bitemybanger

More of a retro man myself, not into these 1million BHP curvy hot hatches.
Gimme a mk1 golf GTi or 205 GTi

ugglasdav

better then any gti, its alot better looking and has quite alot more performance, and also its not a car you see every 10 seconds while driving along. i dont see why people buy a gti over this. must be the badge

rocky

166man wrote: »

I'd have that over a Focus ST/RS anyday. I presume that the VW GTI is now no longer a competitor for this and the Focus anymore seeing as it's down 70-80bhp on both?

Competition is the Golf R20 - 270 bhp

Amzie

Took em long enough!! I like I though

ugglasdav

rocky wrote: »

Competition is the Golf R20 - 270 bhp

yea it might have 270 bhp, but its just a standard golf with bigger wheels and a R badge at the back, while the focus and astra have made the car look different from its standard version

Owen

Here's hoping the Limo up front will sort that stupid torque steer that the previous loola cars from Opel/Vauxhall suffered badly from. Never driven anything so awkward to put the power down in.

Zubeneschamali

The Scirocco R is probably closer, as the Golf R is 4WD, the Scirocco is FWD only.

MugMugs

God bless Photoshop and it's ability to make even an Opel desirable

I'd rather drive an Octy vRS

ugglasdav

Owen wrote: »

Here's hoping the Limo up front will sort that stupid torque steer that the previous loola cars from Opel/Vauxhall suffered badly from. Never driven anything so awkward to put the power down in.

less of the Jeremy clarkson theory

W.Shakes-Beer

Looks stunning, far better than its competitors, I'd imagine it goes better as well.

R.O.R

I'd be more impressed if the comments were from Stevie Soper - never really liked smokin' Jo.

The new model Astra handles so much better than the previous one, so I'm holding out high hopes for this one.

/writes e-mail to Opel contact........

ShadowHearth

I loved last generation opc. This looks even better, but I doubt there will be much of these on the roads, because it is 5 million euro per year to tax it....

V Eight

MugMugs wrote: »

God bless Photoshop and it's ability to make even an Opel desirable

I'd rather drive an Octy vRS

LOL on both comments....

Owen

ugglasdav wrote: »

less of the Jeremy clarkson theory

What, because the car has a known issue putting power down and I mention it, I therefore must be resorting to quoting Top Gear with no experience? :rolleyes:

At a car launch about 5 years ago, the Astra VXR was one of the competitor cars we drove to gauge how the model we were launching was like on the road. The VXR stuff is honestly shocking bad when you're trying to get going on the road. Was like playing Virtua Racer way back in the Mid ninties with the steering bucking in your hands.

NinjaK

Looks great

Ardennes1944

Meh, my astra has a bigger boot and better mpg

vectra

MugMugs wrote: »

I'd rather drive an Octy vRS

LOL

I would as well,,,Maybe that is because I drive one already

TestTransmission

vectra wrote: »

LOL

I would as well,,,Maybe that is because I drive one already

Only you would choose a tractor over a 280bhp hot hatch

Drummerboy08

Meh, I still fancy a Focus RS over it.

In my little dream world I'd have an Escort Cossie though....

MetzgerMeister

I think it looks brilliant! Doubt it'll make an appearance here though. People who can afford €2100 a year tax won't be buying an Opel!

I also think they should have kept the single exhaust pipe in the middle though.

BArra

how will it handle the power, the current gen opc/vxr is a pig for torque steer

time will tell, looks great though

Squall19

166man wrote: »

I'd have that over a Focus ST/RS anyday. I presume that the VW GTI is now no longer a competitor for this and the Focus anymore seeing as it's down 70-80bhp on both?

Focus RS has 305bhp.

It's still the daddy.

CianRyan

Uuuuugly.
I'd have the Focus RS.

Not much better looking really but it just appeals to me way more.

vectra

TestTransmission wrote: »

Only you would choose a tractor over a 280bhp hot hatch

I bet not.
At least my car will go straight ahead when the foot is pushed down
I dont have to fight with the steering wheel :pac:

And mine has a bigger boot as well

Mr Benevolent

They'll probably use steer-by-wire or viscous coupling (a la Fiat Coupe) to eliminate torque steer. They've gotten some serious stick about it over the years.

Marcusm

Rather than buy one of these why not head over to the UK and pick up a used VXR8 or Monaro. NOrmally aspirated 6.0/6.2 producing 450bhp or so. Could get a good one for £14k or £7k respectively. VRT can't add that much. Interesting to see the insurance comparatives - the Astra is probably more of a boy racer target.

CianRyan

Marcusm wrote: »

Rather than buy one of these why not head over to the UK and pick up a used VXR8 or Monaro. NOrmally aspirated 6.0/6.2 producing 450bhp or so. Could get a good one for £14k or £7k respectively. VRT can't add that much. Interesting to see the insurance comparatives - the Astra is probably more of a boy racer target.

Running costs, no?
I'll assume a heavy foot in the Astra will give between 15-25mpg where as in the VXR8 or Monaro you'll probably get between 5-15mpg.
Then there's tax too.

-Chris-

Owen wrote: »

Here's hoping the Limo up front will sort that stupid torque steer that the previous loola cars from Opel/Vauxhall suffered badly from. Never driven anything so awkward to put the power down in.

+1,000

The battle for massive BHP in a FWD car must end. The OPC was a bloody joke.

-Corkie-

Focus RS all day for me. Golf R is fifty grand.:rolleyes:

EPM

I'd go with a Giulietta Cloverleaf over the lot of them. R.O.R had one at a meet. It's bloody gorgeous.

VolvoMan

It can have all the power it wants, it doesn't stop the current Astra from being a fat elephant of a car.

VolvoMan

VolvoMan wrote: »

It can have all the power it wants, it doesn't stop the current Astra from being a fat elephant of a car.

:pac:

Strange one that coming from a fan of humongous Volvo estates

Ardennes1944

Just out of interest VolvoMan...do you like the look of the new focus?

-Corkie-

RoverJames wrote: »

:pac:

Strange one that coming from a fan of humongous Volvo estates

LOL.Nothing wrong with them either...

Ardennes1944

Ardennes1944 wrote: »

............do you like the look of the new focus?

Does anyone :pac:

EPM

RoverJames wrote: »

Does anyone :pac:

I do.

EPM

EPM wrote: »

I do.

I'm not surprised tbh.

-Corkie-

EPM wrote: »

I do.

If i won the Lotto a Focus Rs would be number 1 on my buy list.New focus are a fine car imo.

EPM

RoverJames wrote: »

I'm not surprised tbh.

Why's that?

Ardennes1944

Yeah why is that RJ? :pac:

VolvoMan

RoverJames wrote: »

:pac:

Strange one that coming from a fan of humongous Volvo estates

I actually prefer the saloons.

Some of the estates I dislike more than anybody, as they are the reason the brand has such a poor image today.

Ardennes1944 wrote: »

Just out of interest VolvoMan...do you like the look of the new focus?

No, hate it.

The only car I'd buy in that segment would be the Alfa Giulietta.

Ardennes1944

VolvoMan wrote: »

No, hate it.

The only car I'd buy in that segment would be the Alfa Giulietta.

Thats ok so! Once you didnt think that was nice and the astra isnt. Id pick the giulietta too though, those rear lights in the darkness. I was spoiled in rome so many of them :eek: even the police had 2.4 159s with the upgraded alloys!

VolvoMan

Ardennes1944 wrote: »

Thats ok so! Once you didnt think that was nice and the astra isnt. Id pick the giulietta too though, those rear lights in the darkness. I was spoiled in rome so many of them :eek: even the police had 2.4 159s with the upgraded alloys!

I understand.

I was actually a fan of your Astra always. The new one is just too big and apparently can weigh as much as 1700kg with a few options!

EPM

EPM wrote: »

Why's that?

In another thread earlier today you had it down for car of the year, you mentioned you thought it the best car of what was there. Also the Octavia wouldn't be winning beauty contests either so the Focus being to your liking would be no surprise.

Ardennes1944 wrote: »

Yeah why is that RJ? :pac:

See above

Ardennes1944

VolvoMan wrote: »

I understand.

I was actually a fan of your Astra always. The new one is just too big and apparently can weigh as much as 1700kg with a few options!

Id agree tbh, they took a step back for me, even the inside looks quite cluttered. The astra h was criticised for its interior layout but i love it and find it easy to use. New one looks a nightmare though. Theres no need for even a modern hatchback to be over 1400kgs really

Ardennes1944

RoverJames wrote: »

In another thread earlier today you had it down for car of the year, you mentioned you thought it the best car of what was there. Also the Octavia wouldn't be winning beauty contests either so the Focus being to your liking would be no surprise.




See above

Ah, cant fault that answer

Marcusm

CianRyan wrote: »

Running costs, no?
I'll assume a heavy foot in the Astra will give between 15-25mpg where as in the VXR8 or Monaro you'll probably get between 5-15mpg.
Then there's tax too.

Not too sure but can't see the Astra VXR being lower than band F tax at these specs so not likely much diff in annual tax costs. Vis a vis running costs, Astra will have a more complex engine than the massive lump of pug iron I mentioned so that migh even out. Irrespective, the Astea's going to be at least 45k so doubt that petrol will be a major factor - depreciation from new will put it in the ha'penny place. Go for the real muscle car; these hot hatches are not like the legacy 80s ones in any meaningful sense anyway.

EPM

RoverJames wrote: »

In another thread earlier today you had it down for car of the year, you mentioned you thought it the best car of what was there. Also the Octavia wouldn't be winning beauty contests either so the Focus being to your liking would be no surprise.




See above

Yeah, but I've never said the Octavia was any beauty though.

On the focus you're misquoting me (like you've done in the past to suit your point might i add(. I said it was the best car out of the list but also that there were better ones excluded.

Check what I said again RJ, beause you're original post smacks of being a smart ass tbh if you are just making an argument suit.