HSV VXR Astra In Demand

[JoeT]

Astra In Demand

James Stanford
14 July 2006
www.carsguide.com.au

The controversial decision to sell a hot hatch Astra as a Holden Special Vehicle is proving popular.

The first 100 turbo Astra VXRs are due next month and all have been sold.

HSV managing director Phil Harding says the first shipload has not come close to satisfying demand.

"We have had orders placed for well over twice that," he says.

The decision to import the VXR, developed by the Opel Performance Centre in Germany, is bold given that HSV's recent line-up has included only V8 models.

But Harding insists the four-cylinder VXR hatch will fit into the HSV line-up alongside the 6.0-litre V8 sedans and utes based on the Commodore and Statesman.

"We thought the HSV brand could sit on something that has the performance of the VXR, so we are still keen and obviously the take-up of the car is very encouraging," Harding says.

HSV aims to sell about 250 Astra VXRs a year.

"We will always keep (VXR) supply less than demand so that it is seen as something exclusive," Harding says.

The VXR, sold as a Vauxhall in Britain, will be the cheapest model in the HSV range at about $43,000.

It arrives at a time Australians are spoilt for choice when it comes to hot turbo hatches.

These include the Volkswagen Golf GTi (147kW), Megane Renault Sport (165kW), Focus XR5 (166kW), Holden Astra SRi (147kW) and the new Mazda3 MPS (190kW).

The HSV VXR drops into the mix with a 176kW force-fed four-cylinder engine.

"I think our VXR has quite a lot of street presence and a great chassis, so it will take a lot of beating," Harding says.

The Astra VXR has 18-inch alloy wheels or optional 19-inch rims and a body kit with deeper bumpers and a large rear spoiler.

It has Recaro seats, carbon-fibre dashboard inserts, sports suspension and larger brakes.

There's also a sport mode that sharpens the throttle response and stiffens the power steering resistance.

[vsd]

thats a great looking car, any word on if saturn will sell it here? i would love to see the red-line model w/ the turbo. o and those wheels really pull the look of the car together imo.

[b4z]

We got a Vauxhall Astra for 5 days while on our honeymoon in England.

It was 1.6L Ecotec 104 hp. 4 cyl. with a 5 speed.
0-60 was about 12 seconds.

It cornered very flat, had direct steering and great brakes.
It was also pretty quiet at speed.

power in 1st was good, but then it fell off rapidly in second.
Downshifts were the norm to get into the fast lane on the M1.

I would have liked to drive one with about 200hp.
Probably more fun than I could have stood and might have wrecked it.

Oh yeah, for those of you who haven't driven in Britian, it will totally
mess with your mind the first day.

[Butz]

This should of been avilable in NA, I can't understand GM some times.

[poncho1982]

Didn't they announce a couple months ago, that this was the Ion replacement?

[mucker15]

Originally Posted by Butz

This should of been avilable in NA, I can't understand GM some times.

i think it will be here next year as an im port then it will be built here in the states as the Ion replacement the Saturn Astra I wish it were here now. When it gets here it will complete the Saturn line up.

[68Vette]

Originally Posted by mucker15

i think it will be here next year as an im port then it will be built here in the states

If thats the case, I sure hope that they(GM) dont water it down.

[kenman923]

Look for it to come to a Saturn dealership near you in 2008 (or sooner, may need SaturnSteve to clear that one up).

[dindak]

Originally Posted by kenman923

Look for it to come to a Saturn dealership near you in 2008 (or sooner, may need SaturnSteve to clear that one up).

Don't count on it. Hatchbacks are still not big in North America.

[cadillacpimpin]

Originally Posted by dindak

Don't count on it. Hatchbacks are still not big in North America.

the astra will be the one to change that.

[69Firebird400]

I believe that it is confirmed that the Astra will be imported (as a Saturn) from Europe to the US in the next year or two, then production will be transferred to North America (not necessarily the US) after that.

Saturn would be foolish not to have an Astra Redline that looks just like this car, with the Sky Redline's Ecotec 2.0 liter DI turbo. That would be a SWEET car.

[cincygoblue]

Originally Posted by Butz

This should of been avilable in NA, I can't understand GM some times.

Here's what you need to understand: U A W

If the union would let them, GM would be importing cars from all over the world. But the union knows that if GM is selling cars made overseas, then there is no need to have as many plants here. That's why there are always limits on how many imports GM can bring in. Certain number of GTOs. Certain number of Aveos. etc. This is the same, and probably one of the reasons Saturn only says they'll sell 30,000 (?) of the Astra a year, rather than the 150,000 (?) Ions they can sell. I don't think it's all because the Astra is a hatch.

[joshpsf]

If it was available here, I might have purchased that car instead of the new VW GTI I just bought.
The 6-speed DSG gearbox is amazing.

[tgagneguam]

Build a fantastic car, and it sells well. That seems to make sense, no?

[Rick_VT]

Originally Posted by tgagneguam

Build a fantastic car, and it sells well. That seems to make sense, no?

Except in America when u have a union like UAW, they are way to protective of there people, im for unions to help there staff but not to the detriment of the company there peole work for, its like biting the hand the feeds you, if they can sell 150,000 of these like the old ion then maybe they should just tool up a underutilised factory and build it and give opel some kind of royalty for them desinging it