| Vauxhall are on a roll. Not content with giving speed | | | | and less frenetic than some of its rivals. Motorway |
| freaks the fastest Astra ever, they've only gone and | | | | driving is a doddle, but it's the twisty stuff the car longs |
| given the same VXR treatment to the baby of the | | | | for and it doesn't disappoint when it gets out into the |
| range - the Corsa. It's not hard to spot in a crowd | | | | countryside. The car clearly shows that it's been part |
| either, with the Corsa VXR styling being bolder than a | | | | of Vauxhall's latest design and development plan from |
| streaker at the Superbowl. | | | | the start. The car rides lower than the standard |
| In a world where any fast hatchback is coveted by | | | | models and has a 25% stiffer rear axle which |
| the Max Power generation, Vauxhall have saved | | | | combines to make the car really fun to drive. The |
| everyone the trouble of pimping their ride with | | | | chassis is fully involved throughout as is the stability |
| enormous aftermarket alloy wheels and air vents by | | | | control which ensures all the power goes onto the |
| putting all this on the standard car. The rear diffuser | | | | tarmac. If you want to be brave and turn it off you |
| gives the car real racing looks and isn't just for show, | | | | can, however not only will you go everywhere slower, |
| as it ensures the car remains stable at high speeds. In | | | | you'll be best mates with the local tyre fitter as you'll |
| fact the whole design has been born out of many | | | | constantly send the wheels spinning uselessly with all |
| hours in the wind tunnel as Vauxhall shaped and | | | | the power going up in tyre smoke. |
| sculpted the VXR design - something clearly seen with | | | | Variable power assisted steering may not be to the |
| the roof level spoiler. | | | | keenest drivers' taste as you don't quite feel every |
| Neat features abound from every angle. The | | | | nuance of the road surface but you really would have |
| aforementioned rear diffuser is striking, but the inverted | | | | to be wearing a fetching anorak to let this spoil your |
| triangular exhaust that is embedded within is a | | | | fun. One aspect that was a tad annoying was the |
| masterstroke. As are the wing mirrors which continue | | | | clunky gearbox, not particularly helped by the |
| the triangle theme with a large chunk cut out from | | | | oversized gear stick but this makes as much |
| each. The front end manages to combine aggressive | | | | difference to my liking of the Corsa VXR as a broken |
| looks with the cheeky charm of the standard Corsa | | | | cup holder on a Boeing 747. |
| range by subtly altering the front bumper to house a | | | | Now to the very best bit. With the price of fuel being |
| sportier front grill and fog lights. | | | | hiked every time I blink, cars like this are in danger of |
| 17 inch alloy wheels are standard although a wise | | | | being priced out of the market. Yet despite the 189bhp, |
| investment of £400 on the options list will see | | | | the turbo, the polished pedals that scream "stamp on |
| them grow to 18 inch monsters. The interior takes | | | | me!" and the stability control working overtime, the car |
| delivery of the latest Recaro racing seats that aren't | | | | returns...wait for it...35.8mpg! Not only are running costs |
| just immensely comfortable, but are designed to allow | | | | going to be low then, but buying the car in the first |
| for side airbags to remain and the chunky steering | | | | place won't require you to sell your arms to medical |
| wheel acts as a timely reminder that you're driving a | | | | science. The UK price is £15,595 which |
| serious performance car. | | | | undercuts its rivals, most notably the Ford Fiesta ST, |
| So to the performance. A throaty engine note greets | | | | Renault Clio 197 and Honda Civic Type R. |
| you as you turn the key, the Corsa VXR housing a 1.6 | | | | A trawl through the options list (including those must |
| litre turbocharged unit that develops 189bhp. 0 - 60mph | | | | have alloy wheels) can hike the price up, but with so |
| is achieved in a mere 6.8 seconds with the turbo | | | | much kit as standard, you'll be hard pressed to find |
| kicking in from the low revs to minimise the dreaded | | | | anything that is a must have once you've ticked for |
| turbo lag. Overboost ensures the power keeps coming | | | | the new wheels. If you were to sell the car in the |
| once your foot is welded to the floor meaning that the | | | | future, expect good residuals too as limited numbers |
| VXR never feels slow or is scrabbling around for | | | | will be available each year - only 2,500 in the UK for |
| power. | | | | example. |
| Despite all this oomph, the Corsa VXR remains refined | | | | |