If you pay attention to the auto industry at all, then I’m sure you know that the Geneva Motor Show is opening this week in Switzerland. The 2013 version of the show was an absolute performance car explosion, and while we aren’t sure if this year’s show will be able to top that, we’ve already caught wind of some pretty cool machines making their debut in Geneva this week. One of which is this radical little hatchback from Vauxhall.
Dubbed the Astra VXR EXTREME, Vauxhall is calling this their most powerful front-wheel drive car ever. With 300 horsepower coming from its two liter turbocharged four cylinder, there’s no reason to doubt that claim. But more than that, the VXR EXTREME is about as close to a street-going race car as it gets – with lots of know-how borrowed from the brand’s Astra Cup racer.
Thanks to weight saving measures like a carbon fiber roof panel, the EXTREME weighs 100 kilograms less than the Astra VXR and the body also features track-ready upgrades like a carbon fiber rear wing and front splitter. Inside, the back seat has been removed in favor of a roll bar, while the seats are fixed-back Recaros.
Needless to say, uprated brakes in the form of Brembo six-pot calipers are also part of the package, as are lightweight 19″ wheels and sticky Hankook tires. The dampers are also adjustable – perfect for the weekend racer this car is aimed at.
If reaction to the show model is positive, Vauxhall says it will likely build this car in a limited production run. You can expect to see more on the VXR EXTREME and all the other new machinery from Geneva as we continue our coverage through the week.
Mike Garrett
Instagram: speedhunters_mike
mike@speedhunters.com
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The Focus RS500 has 350BHP
Maybe it should stay on the track. Personally all the stickers and body bits don't appeal to me for a daily driver.
Astra OPC Extreme :)!!! Reminds me of the old pinifarina designed Astra Coupe Extreme (DTM silhouette)! Nice! We need more street running cup racers!
Max Muller "Vauxhall is calling this their most powerful front-wheel drive car ever"
"their most"
This wont be made, and if it is it won't be a full roll caged track car with no interior whatsoever.
straight to wtcc, would be sick!
tokuku I know what you mean, but I'm not sure how many buyers would actually drive this thing everyday anyway
Oh wow this is so awesome! Hopefully they'll really build it. Cars like these ( & taxes like ours) remind me why I go to work every day...
Brilliant! I hope they make it!
A lot of European car makers have a habit of designing these track day cars but never putting them into production even though they say "if people like it we'll build it.."
I like it. but it still has weight problem. Kerb weight is said to be 1450kg, so even it has shed 100kg of its weight it is still as heavy
as a standard Golf 7 R with awd
I'm not really into big, heavy, computer riddled modern cars. old school for my sins. but looks wise this Astra kicks ass.
nice car but i´m not sure this Project go on
it looks so ugly. they could have done a better job...
such cars are just downgrading their audience.
I'm not saying it should look super nice, but something mediocre but acceptable and slightly attractive,
like the VW Scirocco or the AR Mito would do.
it looks so ugly. they could have done a better job...
such cars are just downgrading their audience.
I'm not saying it should look super nice, but something mediocre but acceptable and slightly attractive,
like the VW Scirocco or the AR Mito would do.