04/02/2015 12:21
Vauxhall will take the wraps off the new Corsa VXR at the 2015 Geneva Motor Show in March.
With significant revisions to its technology, design and chassis showcased in the recently launched New Corsa, the VXR is set to raise the bar for small, fast hatchbacks when it appears in UK showrooms in May.
Performance figures for 0-60mph are an astonishing 6.8 seconds and the VXR has a top speed of 143mph quicker than the outgoing car, but more importantly the VXR produces its 245Nm of torque from lower revs. This makes the VXR a potent performer between 50-75mph, which it can dispatch in just 6.6 seconds in fifth gear.
An overboost facility provides an additional 35Nm of torque, ideal for swift and safe overtaking. Maximum power from its 1.6-litre turbocharged engine is 246bhp, while the Corsa VXR achieves 37.7mpg on the combined cycle with CO2 emissions of 174g/km. As before, power is delivered to the front wheels via a second-generation six-speed transmission with a short, fluid gearchange.
Standard bi-xenon lighting and a choice of six exterior colours help the new Corsa VXR stand out in its class including Flash Blue, exclusively available on the VXR. An aggressive new front-end design features large air intakes and an aluminium-framed opening below the headlights.
Vauxhall has worked closely with damper-supplier, Koni, to develop a new technology, known as Frequency Selective Damping (FSD) for the new Corsa VXR. FSD allows damping forces to adapt to the car's movements, ensuring that body control is maintained when the car is driven fast, but ride quality is optimised at lower speeds. In addition, the car's ride height has been lowered by 10mm all round.
For the first time, Vauxhall is offering a two-stage switchable electronic stability programme (ESP) and traction control (TC) with the Corsa VXR. In Competition Mode the traction control is inactive, while the ESP is relaxed to allow less intervention. For track use, the ESP can be fully disabled.
by: Becca Chaplin