Limited Edition Vauxhall Astra VXR Gets More Equipment for Less Money

Vauxhall has released a limited edition of its Astra VXR hot-hatch, dubbed Arctic Edition, of which 500 units will be produced. The Arctic Edition is fitted with equipment worth GBP 1,965 at the price of GBP 720 over the standard VXR. The total price of the special edition Astra VXR is GBP 23,595.

If you're thinking about engine or suspension upgrades, forget it. The Astra VXR Arctic Edition is unchanged technically speaking. So the only diference between the Arctic Edition and the standard VXR is the extra equipment offered cheaper on the limited edition. All Astra VXRs from this limited run are painted in Olympic White with contrasting black roof, mirror covers, front grille and tailgate trim.

The GBP 1,965 worth of options include heated leather Recaro front seats, tinted glass and 19-inch multi-spoke alloys painted in black. Also up for grabs is Vauxhall’s panoramic windscreen, a first for a VXR model, costing GBP 920.

The standard Vauxhall Astra VXR is powered by 2.0 litre turbocharged engine producing 240 horsepower and 236 lb-ft of torque (320 Nm) between 2,400 rpm and 5,000 rpm. The engine is mated to a six-speed manual gearbox. The performance is still impressive for a hot-hatch: the 0-60 mph sprint takes 6.2 seconds and the top speed is 152 mph (244 km/h).

The front-wheel drive chassis has been developed by British sports car maker Lotus, so handling-wise the Astra VXR is as sharp as can be. Braking performance is also remarkable, the car being fitted with 321 millimeters vented front discs, the biggest ever mounted on a Vauxhall other than the Monaro coupe.