Road Test: HSV VXR Astra Turbo

[JoeT]

2007 HSV VXR Turbo Road Test

Car Advice Australia
13 August 2007
www.caradvice.com.au

“I honestly wasn’t expecting the kind of explosive performance that the VXR Turbo delivers, it’s a dead set point to point weapon.”

Test Model: 2007 HSV VXR Turbo with six-speed manual transmission driving through the front wheels.

Options Fitted: None. It’s pretty well appointed but the highlights are the huge 19-inch wheels and superb leather trimmed Recaro seats.

Recommended Retail Price: $42,990

There’s only one model in the VXR range and numbers are limited as they are fully imported from Vauxhall in the UK. An auto version would open this car up to many more punters in Australia and I’m told they do, or have done, an automatic version in the UK. So I’ll check on that and report back.

Where it sits

The VXR is the entry-level HSV car and it does the badge proud. There is a significant jump in price (around $20K) to get into an R8 ClubSport, which is the next price-point in the HSV line-up.

There are plenty of pretend sports models out there with try-hard sports badging and non-aerodynamic body kits that do more to retard a car’s performance than enhance it.

Worse still, is when carmakers use the term ‘race bred’ to promote cars which are more likely to be lapped by a Porsche FS Evolution bicycle.

The VXR Turbo is race bred all right. Try the hard core; take no prisoners racing that is the BTCC (British Touring Car Championship) where this car has run as part of Vauxhall’s (the GM brand in the UK) VX Racing team since 2005 when the VXR was launched.

And that’s not the only good news. That Gospel of handling, Lotus, was called in to tune both the suspension and steering with what was an already accomplished set up on the road going VXR.

This is a seriously quick hatch that can cook a Golf GTI and smoke Honda’s S2000 and Civic Type R, straight out of the box.

Click here to continue article

Holden Special Vehicles Website
Video Review: HSV VXR Astra
Review: HSV VXR Astra

[killerrd2]

SWEEEET!!

Saturn Astra Redline anyone?!

[asim]

Originally Posted by killerrd2

SWEEEET!!

Saturn Astra Redline anyone?!

I hope so. But when are we gonna see that AURA redline? Or has that been canceled because the new Aura is coming out in only a few years?

[AndrewGS]

The Astra OPC/VXR is one bad-ass little machine.

[mikmak]

That's the first time I have read a review where the writer actually didn't endlessly complain about the torque steer.

[JoeT]

I was thinking the same thing.

[Aych Es Vee]

The Opel badge on the steering wheel TOTALLY ruins this car for me. And not to mention the 'OPC' on the instrument cluster.
Seriously, it annoys me that much.
If you're going to sell it as a HSV .... THEN MAKE IT A HSV damn it.

Its bad enough they called it the HSV VXR so they didnt have to change the VXR badges that were already there.

[TDi]

Originally Posted by Aych Es Vee

The Opel badge on the steering wheel TOTALLY ruins this car for me. And not to mention the 'OPC' on the instrument cluster.
Seriously, it annoys me that much.
If you're going to sell it as a HSV .... THEN MAKE IT A HSV damn it.

Its bad enough they called it the HSV VXR so they didnt have to change the VXR badges that were already there.

I couldn't agree with you more, it annoys me too!!

A HSV, with an Opel badge on the steering wheel and a Vauxhall grill!! For godsake, get real!!

[telo]

Simply awesome.

[Koasterking]

I want my Redline!!!!!!

Very nice Astra.

<<= Still upset

[camaro_freak]

Originally Posted by asim

I hope so. But when are we gonna see that AURA redline? Or has that been canceled because the new Aura is coming out in only a few years?

hopefully we'll still get it! I hear since we just got the current Aura the new one will not come here as quickly as it will in Europe.

[tgagneguam]

Seems like a well done machine, not surprisingly.

I wonder, though, how well would it do in the US as an Astra Redline? Again, it's a nice 240-hp/240-lb/ft torque 6.2-6.4 0-60 mph machine, but prior to any tariffs-if there would be any-I think the $42,000 Australian to American dollar conversion would mean a pricetag of a little over $36,000 State-side. That's a bit steep, no? The 250-hp, $32,990 VW R32 gets to 60 in 6.3 seconds and completes the 1/4 mile in 14.9 seconds. The 224-hp/226-lb/ft torque 5.6 second 0-60 mph 2008 Subaru WRX bases at $24,500. While the above-mentioned hp, torque, and pricetags don't tell the entire story, the VRX/Astra Redline would need to be quite compelling in other arenas to justify the price.

And you'd hate to de-content the car too much simply to get it closer in price to its competition.

I hope GM could work the above out, cuz I think outside of the presumed pricetag, it'd be a real winner here; tt would definitely enhance the Saturn line.

[minnfang]

Awesome set of wheels with an awesome set of wheels.

[supraracer]

Originally Posted by mikmak

That's the first time I have read a review where the writer actually didn't endlessly complain about the torque steer.

Same here. Top Gear could not stop talking about the amount of torque steer the car had. That was and '07 model though. Considering that Lotus is involved, the handling should be good.

[VCDJ]

This car is amazing. Why cant we get this car here this year? With a car like this gm will not have any problem selling them.