All of those would-be Saturn Astra tuners could do worse than aping the Astra VXR Nürburgring Edition, which is the speedier trim level of the Vauxhall version of GM's global small car platform. Mechanically similar to the VXR, the hot hatch is good for 240 hp, enough to propel it to 60 mph in 6.2 seconds and an electronically limited top seed of 155 mph. Differentiating it from the standard VXR is the super white paint, carbon fibre effect mirrors, 18-inch alloys and checkered flag body graphics. Full press release below:
The car for when even an Astra VXR isn't VXR enough...
# Astra VXR Nürburgring Edition, on sale now
# Exclusive white paint, embossed seats and graphics
# Priced at £20,995 on-the-road
There are plenty of hot hatches on the market, but it's the Astra VXR that's the undisputed Ring leader...
And to prove it, Vauxhall has pulled the wraps off the Nürburgring edition, named after the car's spiritual home, where much of its pre-production development was carried out.
Based on the standard Astra VXR and priced at £20,995, each individually numbered Nürburgring edition will come with an exclusive all-white paint finish and lightweight white 18-inch alloy wheels, equipped with bespoke Dunlop tyres, are also specified. Other exterior features include dark tinted windows, carbon fibre effect mirrors and B-Pillars and distinctive chequered flag body graphics, to further emphasise the car's incredible performance.
Mechanically similar to the standard VXR, the Nürburgring Edition produces 240PS in factory tune, giving it the ability to accelerate from 0-60mph in 6.2 seconds and on to an electronically-limited top speed of 155mph. Each UK-specification car will also come provided with a Remus Sports Exhaust, developed with Vauxhall's BTCC race team, Triple-Eight Race Engineering.
Like the standard car, the Nürburgring Edition benefits from a six-speed manual gearbox and lowered, uprated VXR suspension with ESP as standard. Ventilated 321mm diameter disc brakes at the front and 278mm diameter discs at the back help slow things down, while blue-painted calipers remain a VXR trademark.
The Nürburgring Edition theme continues inside, with carbon fibre detailing on the door trims and fascia, leather trim with the Nürburgring circuit graphic embossed into the unique Recaro front seat backrests and an individually numbered plaque showing each car's build number.
In fact, the only thing it doesn't come with is one of those Nürburgring bootlid stickers you can buy when you do a lap of the circuit. Such a shame, as it means you'll have to drive it there and buy one yourself. [Source: GM]