| 17;m sure most people who have even a vague | | | | The Corsa has lowered sports suspension and |
| interest in Cars must have heard of the Vauxhall | | | | switchable Electronic Stability Programme (ESP) |
| VXR8 also known as the Monaro this is | | | | including Traction Control for those who like to show |
| Vauxhall’s insane muscle car that defiantly | | | | their road skills without assistance. 17” Alloy |
| fly’s in the face of current motoring trends. Well | | | | wheels come as standard with ultra-low profile tyres |
| I’ve discovered there is an entire VXR family a | | | | and optional 18” V spoke Alloys with even |
| sort of family from hell if you like. Vauxhall’s | | | | lower profile tyres can be had to increase your small |
| slightly understated corporate statement goes | | | | but imposing presence round town or more likely in |
| something like “VXR takes the experience, | | | | shopping mall car parks after hours. |
| knowledge and passion gained from racing and | | | | Next on the list is the Astra which Vauxhall claim to be |
| crystallises it into a range of high performance road | | | | their hottest hatch ever and then some! The 2.0 litre 4 |
| cars” | | | | cylinder Ecotec comes with an updated Turbocharger |
| Well they’re not kidding! A few minutes spent | | | | producing 240 PS and 320NM of torque which propels |
| online led me to a high octane fuelled world where I | | | | you from 0-60 in 6.2 seconds and gives a top speed |
| became entranced by a staggering array of | | | | of 152mph. The Astra comes with a centrally mounted |
| performance figures that left me in awe and | | | | trapezoidal tuned sports exhaust, close ratio six-speed |
| amazement, well almost. | | | | gearbox and large diameter disc brakes finished off |
| You see Vauxhall didn’t stop at the VXR8 oh | | | | with 18” or 19” Alloys. |
| no they have created a range that means everyone | | | | The Vectra has always been a favourite with fleet |
| can experience blistering performance right across the | | | | buyers but not sure if they would let you loose in one |
| spectrum from the ubiquitous hot hatch to the family | | | | of these. The VXR gets a 2.8 litre 24valve V6 engine |
| saloon and even the MPV all receive an injection of | | | | with a twin scroll Turbocharger no less. Those in the |
| pure adrenaline. | | | | know will tell you that this is normally reserved for rally |
| Young men with the money to afford the insurance | | | | cars and such like, what it means is 280PS and |
| will be rubbing their hands with glee at the prospect of | | | | 355MN of torque. 0-60 comes in 6.1 seconds and top |
| the Corsa VXR which is the smallest model to get the | | | | speed is a restricted 155mph. |
| VXR treatment. | | | | You’d think Vauxhall would leave it here but |
| It comes with a 1.6 litre 4 cylinder Turbo-charged | | | | even the Meriva and Zafira have received the VXR |
| engine that produces 192 PS and 230NM of torque | | | | treatment. These are the popular MPV models which |
| which increases for five seconds to over 260NM | | | | have been given the potential to make you the fastest |
| when you apply the turbo over boost. This adds up to | | | | Mum or Dad on the school run, not sure if the kids will |
| a 0-60mph time of 6.8 seconds and a top speed of | | | | appreciate Recaro sports seats no doubt they will be |
| 140mph. Unlike hot hatches of yesteryear advances in | | | | busy getting food all over them. It is always handy to |
| braking means that this will actually stop when you | | | | know that by the time you have loaded up all their |
| apply the brakes thanks to large diameter disc brakes | | | | clobber and then gone back home to get the |
| front and rear you get nice blue calipers as well so no | | | | conveniently forgotten sports kit you will still arrive at |
| need to get your spray paint out lads. | | | | the school gates before you left! |