Vauxhall Astra
The waiting is finally over! Vauxhall's volcanic Astra VXR has hit the road, and Auto Express was first behind the wheel. The turbocharged newcomer goes on sale this month, and is one of the most important models the Luton company has ever launched.
Even a short journey in the Astra VXR leaves you impressed. It's hugely powerful, and very fast. There's masses of grip, and the car is incredibly stable through challenging bends. Mile for mile, there are few models in this class that can match the Vauxhall's pace. But it lacks subtlety and refinement, and will soon prove tiring on long journeys or over a challenging daily commute.
The waiting is finally over! Vauxhall's volcanic Astra VXR has hit the road, and Auto Express was first behind the wheel. The turbocharged newcomer goes on sale this month, and is one of the most important models the Luton company has ever launched.
First seen as a concept at the 2004 Paris Motor Show, the 240bhp, 152mph machine aims to mark the firm's return to the performance car market in sensational style. It has its sights set firmly on Ford's forthcoming Focus ST and the VW Golf GTI, and is priced at £18,995.
Standard equipment is generous, and comprises air-conditioning, 18-inch alloys and electric windows. Options include the leather seats fitted to our car, which cost £1,000, sat-nav (£1,250) and huge 19-inch wheels (£500). But as impressive as the Astra's basic spec is, it is the driving experience that Vauxhall is most excited about.
The seating position is good, and while the thick leather chair is set a little high, there is plenty of adjustment in the steering column, so even tall drivers will be able to get comfortable.You have to stretch to select first in the slick-shifting, six-speed gearbox, too, but otherwise the ergonomics are impressive.
On the road, acceleration is phenomenal, with Vauxhall claiming a time of 6.2 seconds for the 0-60mph sprint. There is minimal turbo lag, but the 2.0-litre powerplant has to be revved to make the most of its potential.
Below 3,000rpm, the four-cylinder feels sluggish. As the rev needle swings around the dial, the engine's urgency grows to a level that would humble sports cars from a class above. This is an essential part of the car's character, according to Vauxhall, as bosses claim few compromises have been made in the pursuit of raw performance.
Our test route soon proved that this philosophy has also been applied to the suspension. The stiff set-up is available in two basic formats. The first, a passive spring and damper arrangement, offers back-to-basics thrills and is branded the enthusiast's choice.
Available as a £400 option, the second setting provides active damping as part of the firm's Interactive Driving Plus system (IDS+). It uses a computer to regulate the suspension, and aims to improve ride comfort and stability.
We tried both set-ups, and although the differences between them are marginal, we think Vauxhall is right to push the basic system. Without IDS+, the Astra feels a little more consistent over really demanding roads. Pushed hard, both versions of the VXR offer great stability and masses of grip. Under acceleration, there is some torque steer, but the feel from the wheel is more than adequate.
A sport button mounted on the dash enhances this model's character further, adding weight to the steering and sensitivity to the throttle. We were less impressed by the brakes. While they clearly have plenty of power, the pedal was light and lacked feel.
The VXR is every inch the no-holds-barred hot hatch Vauxhall promised it would be. And although that means the flagship Astra is not as refined as lesser models, we cannot help feel keen drivers will regard this as a small price to pay.
