If you thought badge engineering was a purely American game, check your head. GM's bringing a version of the UK's Vauxhall (Opel) Astra VXR to Australia as the Holden VXR. Never one to leave well enough alone, Holden's HSV performance group — likely gone dingbat on Aeroplane Jelly, Redback and pie floaters — worked up the 2006 HSV VXR, unveiled at the Sydney show this week. Powered by a turbocharged 2.0-liter 16-valve Ecotec-4 producing 237 hp and 236 lbs-ft of torque, the lil' hatch can get from zero to 60 in 6.4 seconds. It rides on 19", 10-spoke alloys and comes with ESP, traction control, ABS and brake assist and Recaro seats. Maybe one day we'll see a Saturn that's similarily equipped, but we wouldn't bet the gee-gees on it.
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Hold on, Holden! Secret HSV E-Series Photos Leaked [internal]