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Vauxhall is not easing off as sales boom and the 11-plate appears
publication date: Mar 19, 2011
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author/source: Robin Roberts
With market
share climbing and five models in the top ten taking it to number one in
February, it could not be a better time for Vauxhall to update some models in
the range.
The latest
Corsa underwent significant mechanical changes last year and is now entering
showrooms with a completely revised and updated interior and a new grille which
reflects the latest design trend seen on Insignia and Meriva. |  | Alongside
the stylish city car, the UK's
most popular medium sized car, the Insignia, now gets an automatic option for
the sporting VXR and at the top of the range a new "halo" model VXR GTS
(above) provides something to look up to.
With just 30
cars to sell with the GTS badge, this is going to be a very exclusive model
over and above that of the VXR Clubsport, which is more widely available.
Four years after it first appeared on UK roads, Vauxhall's storming VXR8 GTS
model is back with heavily revised front and rear-end styling, a new cabin and
new technology under the eye-catching skin.
Priced at £49,500, the new VXR8 is based on HSV's E3 GTS model and the
previous VXR8 remains as the lower-spec ClubSport R8 at £45,000.
That means it still undercuts full-size super saloons like the Audi
RS6, Jaguar XFR and Mercedes E63 AMG by between £13k and £29k, and even
performance saloons from the segment below, such as the BMW M3 and Mercedes C63
AMG. There will
be two more variants in the near future, the Maloo pickup and the Sports Tourer at £47,000.
The latest GTS has what Vauxhall call a ‘Shockwave' grille, LED
daytime running lights and sleek new wing-vents at the front, while the rear
features a new large ‘Superflow' rear spoiler, LED tail lamps and twin exhaust
tips that mimic the shape of the front grille.
The fourth generation 6.2-litre LS3 unit produces 431PS and a massive
550Nm of torque, enough to propel the VXR8 from 0-60mph in 4.9 seconds and on
to a governed top speed of 155mph. Drive is delivered to the rear axle via
either a new MM10 six-speed manual gearbox with uprated LS7 clutch, or a
six-speed auto ‘box.
It now comes with magnetic dampers and launch control to sharpen
responses and offer drivers a choice of refining their driving style between
performance or track settings.
Inside, drivers and passengers have full leather trim and front
occupants are cocooned in special HSV Performance Seats with eight-way electric
and manual adjustability.
A new instrument cluster and surround, centre stack and switchgear also
includes aux/USB inputs, iPod support and Bluetooth with phone book display and
touch-screen dialling.
Vauxhall has introduced EDI, or Enhanced Driver Interface. EDI (below) connects
with the on-board computer to constantly stream real-time vehicle dynamics and
performance to the car's main 5-inch monitor.
|  | At the touch of the screen, drivers can access a variety of data such
as vehicle G-forces, power and torque and lap times - even the angle their VXR8
is drifting.
Completing the clever package is the ability for drivers to download
data, such as track day performance, and analyse it using the MOTEC i2 software
provided. |
Vauxhall's
most powerful Insignia model, the 325PS VXR, is now available with an intelligent
six-speed automatic gearbox, which does not detract from its 155mph maximum speed
or 0-62mph time of about 6secs.
The Insignia VX R
Auto allows enthusiastic drivers the choice of full control over gear
selection, or the convenience of a fully automatic mode on less demanding roads
and the new box adds £1,610 to the price, making it £34,600.
The
new automatic ‘box is fully adaptive and is connected to the Insignia VXR's
standard four-wheel-drive FlexRide chassis, which automatically responds to
changing road conditions and driving styles. |  | Drivers
choose between a default ‘standard' mode ideal for everyday driving or ‘sport', which stiffens the car's dampers and reduces body movement at higher
speeds. A separate VXR button sharpens the car's steering and
throttle response, as well as firming up the dampers still further.The
VXR Automatic's gear-shifting character also automatically adapts to prevailing
road/driving inputs and it learns the driver's style and preferences to
optimize performance and economy. |
The latest Corsa
adopts styling features from the Astra, Insignia and Meriva, most notably the ‘eagle-eye'
headlights and simpler grille.
Vauxhall's Start/Stop technology has reduced emissions on the 1.3 CDTi
(95PS) ecoFLEX Corsa model to just 94g/km, combined with fuel consumption of
91.1mpg on the government's extra urban cycle and 80.7mpg combined.
Vauxhall's optional Touch & Connect multi-media system
replaces the CD60 unit and uses a five-inch touch screen
display featuring both 2D and 3D maps for the navigation system, as well as a
CD/tuner, aux-in, USB and Bluetooth mobile phone connectivity and this is
considered much more attractive to the younger buyers Vauxhall is wooing.
|  | Outside, the new Corsa benefits from new 16-inch alloy wheels on both
SE and SXi models, while the 192PS VXR receives a new 18-inch alloy wheel,
modelled on the design of the optional 20-inch wheel worn by the Insignia VXR,
and there are some new vibrant colours on the specification sheet as well as a new nose. The new Corsa range starts at £9995, which is £70 above the previous
series before the higher 20pc VAT rate was added. With three and five doors models and a huge
choice of petrol or diesel engines, the range runs to a maximum £17,820. |
Significantly, Corsa comes without a deposit requirement, zero percent
interest and free insurance, all very significant for those on a tight budget
as many younger buyers find themselves.
| | | | FIRST IMPRESSIONS
There is no doubting the massive step which has been taken with the
Vauxhall Corsa for 2011.
It looks different from the outside and it feels and sounds more
modern inside. It drives very well, steers and brakes with confidence and rides
surprisingly smoothly.
It is not as quiet as some rivals, the busy engine is smooth and
delivers well, but you can hear it working along with the suspension, although
the ride is good.
The refinement of the Insignia VXR automatic is exceptional and it
loses nothing in driver appeal because you can leave it to its own devices or
make sequential changes up and down without any hesitation or roughness. Responses
are sharp, the ride composed and comfortable and it is arguably the best
Insignia in the line-up. I saw just over 22mpg.
If you love muscle cars, then flex your wallet for the VXR GTS. It
packs a heck of a punch when given its head but this close-cropped
competition-wannabe does not come with a bone-breaking ride even in the track
setting. Push the button for the performance mode and it is slightly more
compliant if not quite as edgy, but you'd hardly see any deterioration on
country roads.
Room is excellent, the half-electric front seats are figure hugging
and surprisingly comfortable, working well with the multi-adjustable column to
give any desired driving position.
Over a comparatively short distance I saw it return 17mpg, which puts
it into the super-car league but if you include the fact it will seat five,
that makes it more economical per occupant than many high performance and less
practical two-seaters.
Those with long enough memories might compare it to the famous and
iconic Lotus Carlton. The VXR GTS is expensive for a Vauxhall, but it's cheap
for the supercar it is. ©Robin Roberts |
 
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