What the Press said about the Corsa VXR

[VXRonline.co.uk]

www.autoexpress.co.uk
Date: 14th December 2005
By:
The new three-door Corsa will certainly turn heads - but the most dramatic version will be the flagship VXR. And, as with all performance Vauxhalls, there will be more to it than big wings and alloys.
Revealed by Auto Express in issue 859, and set to debut at next autumn's Paris Motor Show, it should offer at least 180bhp from its 1.6-litre turbo engine.
It will also feature a six-speed gearbox and Lotus-tuned suspension. Inspired by the Fiat Punto Arbarth concept, the unique body has flared arches and a more aerodynamic front bumper. Drivers can expect 0-60mph in seven seconds and a top speed of nearly 140mph.
A Vauxhall spokesman told us: "We anticipate 70 per cent of VXRs will be sold in the UK. We have high hopes for the hot Corsa."
Available as a three-door only, the flagship gets a sporty interior to match its bodywork. This will offer Recaro seats, plus luxuries such as air-conditioning and electric windows.

[Sheriff]

Corsa D, 1.6iT (Z16LET), Approch Vauxhall, Mid 2005

www.approach.co.uk
Date: Mid 2005
Found on Approch Vauxhall's Web site.

[Sheriff]

Corsa D, 1.6iT (Z16LET), www.whatcar.co.uk, 10/02/06

www.whatcar.co.uk
Date: 10 Febuary, 2006
By:
• 200bhp expected from Corsa VXR
• Power from 1.6-litre turbocharged engine
• Prices around £14,000; on sale in mid-2007
The most powerful Vauxhall Corsa ever will hit the streets next year.
Under the bonnet will be a more powerful development of the 1.6-litre turbocharged engine fitted to the new Meriva VXR. This puts out 178bhp, but Vauxhall insiders promise this will be raised to almost 200bhp by the time the Corsa VXR arrives.
More humble versions of Vauxhall’s next-generation supermini go on sale late this autumn, while the hot VXR model should reach showrooms by mid-2007. Expect a price tag of around £14,000.
The Corsa will face stiff competition, however. Renault’s new Clio, What Car?’s 2006 supermini of the year, will spawn a hot hatch this summer. Expect a 200bhp 2.0-litre engine and a top speed of close to 150mph. Prices should start from around £15,000.
Fiat looks set to outgun them both with its own super-fast supermini. The Fiat Grande Punto Abarth should produce 240bhp when it arrives in summer 2007, with a likely price of at least £16,500.

[VXRKev]

New Corsa - first pictures

First pictures of the new Corsa. Details of the VXR model are yet to be announced, but take a look at these to get an idea of what is to come...
http://www.vxronline.co.uk/messagebo...hp?p=3368#3368

[Sheriff]

Corsa D, 1.6iT (Z16LET), www.autoexpress.co.uk, 24/05/06

www.autoexpress.co.uk
Date: 24/05/2006
By: Sam Hardy

Hot on the heels of last week's first official pictures of Vauxhall's new Corsa comes this... the VXR version.



It's set to be the fastest supermini hot hatch in its class, because the pocket rocket boasts 200bhp from a 1.6-litre turbocharged engine.

With a top speed of 150mph and the 0-60mph sprint covered in six seconds, it's the ultimate sporting flagship for the new Corsa range. And as you can see from our pictures, it will have the looks to rival its searing acceleration, too.

Taking inspiration from the Astra VXR, the quickest Corsa features big air intakes with honeycomb grilles, bulging wheelarches and a ground-hugging front spoiler. However, one of the most distinctive styling additions is a sculpted rear bumper complete with Venturi-style tunnels and a central triangular shaped exhaust pipe.



Together with 17-inch alloy wheels and a bold array of colours - including a VXR-exclusive white - it's sure to be the most head-turning supermini hot hatch around when it goes on sale.



In their bid to make the newcomer the most powerful model in its class - a title which was recently claimed by the storming new 197bhp Renault-Sport Clio - engineers have increased output from the 170bhp of early development models to a staggering 200bhp. That will ensure blistering acceleration, making the Corsa VXR nearly as rapid as its Astra brother.

Stiffened and lowered suspension, along with Vauxhall's CDC electronic dampers, plus the very latest stability control systems, will ensure that all the power reaches the road. However, driving the car will still be a raw experience - test engineers have spent months at the Nürburgring circuit in Germany honing the Corsa VXR to be as involving as possible.

As with the Astra VXR, the Corsa will get a Sport button on the dashboard which sharpens up the suspension, steering, dampers and throttle response. The Corsa will also feature heavily bolstered sports seats, carbon fibre trim and VXR badging inside. And although it will be fitted with climate control and an MP3-compatible sound system as standard, it won't have much in the way of luxury kit.

Vauxhall is very keen to keep costs down and position the Corsa VXR as an affordable driver's car - so a price tag of just under £16,000 is likely when the newcomer goes on sale in January. Prospective buyers will be able to get their first glimpse of the new hot hatch at the Paris Motor Show in September.

[Sheriff]

Corsa D, 1.6iT (Z16LET), www.carmagazine.co.uk, 23/08/06

www.carmagazine.co.uk
Date: 23 August 2006
By: Angus Fitton

Vauxhall's 200bhp Corsa leads VXR onslaught

Vauxhall is in the final stages of signing off the storming Corsa VXR. The latest VXR runs a turbocharged 1.6-litre developing a thumping 200bhp, spinning the front wheels via a six-speed box.

Much of the development work has been carried out at the Nurburgring, which the Corsa has been relentlessly lapping to fine tune the suspension and engine mapping. With the 1.6 turbo putting out 200bhp, only a John Cooper Works Mini can beat it for power.

Insiders told CAR online that the new Corsa VXR is even more aggressive than its Astra VXR sibling with a brutal bodykit, stiffened suspension and a bespoke interior. Expect prices to be close to the VXR's hottest rival - the new £15,995 Mini Cooper S. Sales are expected to start in spring 2007.

[Sheriff]

Corsa D, 1.6iT (Z16LET), www.carmagazine.co.uk, 06/09/06

www.carmagazine.co.uk
By: Angus Fitton
Date: 06/09/2006

The lowdown
Vauxhall's Corsa VXR is hot-lapping the Nurburgring virtually undisguised, as the clock ticks down to its spring 2007 launch. For the first time, the beefy bodykit and massive 18-inch wheels hiding pumped up brake discs and callipers are visible. Underneath the bonnet is a turbocharged 1.6-litre engine developing a class-topping 200bhp, mated to a a close ratio six-speed gearbox. The production car will be seen for the first time at the Geneva motor show next March; it goes on UK sale around the same time.



Goodbye cute, hello aggressive
The new flagship Corsa almost looks tough enough to kick sand in the face of the hardcore Astra VXR. The front bumper houses a deep airdam framed by further cooling vents and a pair of spotlights. For the production car a new Vauxhall 'V' badge will replace the Opel version seen here, although the honeycomb inserts will stay. The rear is dominated by a wide diffuser intersected by a centre exit exhaust, similar to the Astra VXR's. Fish-like 'gills' are slashed into the rear bumper. More subtle are the darkened rear light lenses and a small spoiler just above the rear window.



Watch out Mini...
The new Corsa VXR will be a direct rival to the Mini Cooper S when it goes on sale in spring '07. Like the Mini, the new Corsa uses a turbocharged 1.6-litre engine mated to a six-speed gearbox. That's where the similarities end. The new Corsa produces a blistering 200bhp - 25bhp more than the Cooper S manages. It doesn't end there. Not only is the Corsa more powerful than the £15,995 Mini but, according to insiders, it will cost less too. Expect prices to start at around £15,500 making the Corsa VXR incredible value for money.

[Sheriff]

Corsa D, 1.6iT (Z16LET), www.worldcarfans.com, 25/08/06

www.worldcarfans.com
By: Hans G. Lehmann
Date: 25/08/2006

While Opel has just introduced its fourth generation Corsa, the top of the line sporty variant OPC is still in the pipeline and will be due next spring.

Here are photos showing a prototype of the new Corsa OPC during a test drive in Germany. The rear view is showing the OPC writing on the right hand side of the tailgate . The little sports car is going to compete against in particular Renault’s sporty Clio, and it is expected to be powered by a 1,6 litre engine delivering 190 HP.






Copyright by Lehmann Photo-Syndication

[Sheriff]

Corsa D, 1.6iT (Z16LET), www.autocar.co.uk, 30/08/06

www.autocar.co.uk
By:
Date: 30/08/2006

Vauxhall's rival to the Clio 197 - the Corsa VXR - is almost ready, as these spy shots prove.

Spied undergoing final testing near a soaking-wet Nordschleife in Germany, this blue development car is pretty much undisguised. Its aggressive front and rear bumpers are clearly visible, as is the centrally-mounted triangular exhaust pipe. Expect the production model to have integrated front fog lights, though.



The Corsa will use a turbocharged 1.6-litre engine producing 197bhp. That should be good enough to propel the car to 60mph in around seven seconds, and to ensure a top speed of around 150mph.



The Corsa VXR will be officially unveiled at next March's Geneva motor show, with UK sales expected to start in April. Expect a price tag of around £15,000.



Centrally-mounted triangular exhaust is a nice touch

[Sheriff]

Corsa D, 1.6iT (Z16LET), www.autoexpress.co.uk, 10/06

www.autoexpress.co.uk
Text: Automedia
Video: Automedia
Date: October 2006

This performance supermini promises to be a class leader

Sitting at the top of the new Corsa range will be this – the storming OPC.

Watch Video

And as with its identically badged Astra brother, the performance supermini promises to be the fastest and most powerful contender in its class. Following the launch of the new Renaultsport Clio, Opel has turned the wick up on the Corsa OPC’s 1.6-litre turbo. Initially, the engine was set to produce 170 bhp, but when it hits the road it will put out 200 bhp – beating the 197-bhp Clio, and giving 0-100 km/h in around six seconds and a 240 km/h top speed.

Uprated brakes, stiffened and lowered suspension (complete with adjustable dampers), and traction control will ensure the OPC stops and handles as well as it accelerates. And it'll look the part, too, with flared arches, low spoilers front and rear and honeycomb air intakes. There will be a new colour - pearlescent white – while sports seats and alum¬inium trim are expected inside.

On sale in January, the three¬-door-only OPC will be priced at around 23 000 Euros.

[Sheriff]

Corsa D, 1.6iT (Z16LET), www.autocar.co.uk, 03/01/07

www.autocar.co.uk
date: 03/01/2007
By:
Found by user: Dougie

189bhp Corsa VXR muscles in

Could Vauxhall’s Corsa VXR be the most exciting baby hot hatch yet? It’s certainly set to become the quickest, and these teaser images, released ahead of its debut at the Geneva motor show in March, show that the flagship model really will be a ‘pocket rocket’.

Muscular bumpers, side skirts and a roof spoiler give the Corsa, which will only be available as a three-door, an aggressive stance.

The VXR will be powered by a turbocharged 1.6-litre engine, producing 189bhp and in excess of 192lb ft of torque, thanks to an overboost facility. This is the same system as that on the Meriva VXR, which temporarily increases the engine’s torque output to assist in overtaking manoeuvres.

The result is rather rapid — the 0-60mph dash takes just 6.8sec (0.7sec quicker than the Corsa’s closest rival, the Renaultsport Clio 197) and the VXR will reach 140mph.

Despite this sizzling performance, Vauxhall promises combined fuel consumption of 35.8mpg.

The VXR’s interior is differentiated from that of the standard Corsa by the addition of drilled alloy pedals, a flat-bottomed steering wheel and a pair of Recaro sports seats. The Corsa VXR will cost £15,995 when it goes on sale in March.

[Sheriff]

Corsa D, 1.6iT (Z16LET), www.carmagazine.co.uk, 03/01/07

www.carmagazine.co.uk
Date: 3 January 2007
By: Tim Pollard
Found by user: Dougie

Vauxhall Corsa VXR: the lowdown

Vauxhall will unleash its hottest-ever supermini in March: the 190bhp Corsa VXR. In keeping with the UK-only VXR branding, the hot hatch will be spruced up with a butch bodykit, a series of chassis tweaks and a turbocharged version of Vauxhall's 1.6-litre engine.

Vauxhall's previous sporting superminis have left us lukewarm, but this latest one promises some fireworks in the engine department: the company quotes 0-62mph in just 6.8sec, and it tops out at 140mph.

Quite a pocket rocket then. Have they turned the Corsa into a proper hot hatch this time?

It certainly looks the part. The wedgy three-door Corsa bodystyle lends itself to the sporting treatment (the VXR won't be available in five-door form) and the 18-inch alloys are just the start of the makeover.

A deep front air dam and body-coloured V-grille make the car unmistakable from the front, while the racer-style door mirrors and sideskirts lend the car an aggressive profile. At the rear, a centre-exit, triangular exhaust, chunky diffuser and roof spoiler mean you won't mistake the VXR for a 1.3 CDTi.

Will the Corsa VXR drive like a hot hatch?

CAR Online hasn't driven the VXR yet, but the omens are good. The basic Corsa is a good starting point and has impressed us with its driving manners, quality and roominess. The VXR's 1.6 is turbocharged to produce 190bhp and has a temporary overboost facility to release up to 192lb ft of torque for brief overtaking manoeuvres.

Keeping all that power in check is a tuned Corsa chassis, with revised damper and spring settings, plus a new ESP system. Variably-assisted steering tweaks the weight and feel depending on speed (a unique feature in the class, Vauxhall claims). It'll have to be good to beat our current favourites, the Renault Clio 197 and Mini Cooper S, though.

What about inside the Corsa VXR?

Roll-resisting Recaro sports seats replace cooking models' flatter chairs, and a Golf GTI-style flat-bottomed steering wheel sets off a purposeful driving position.

Metallic finishes abound in the cockpit - the pedals are drilled alloy, while the highlighted air vent surrounds and wheel trim contrast the piano black of the fascia. It should be well equipped, too, although we don't know the final spec yet.

When can I buy a Corsa VXR?

Vauxhall and European sister company Opel will unveil the hottest Corsa at the Geneva Motor Show at the beginning of March.

Sales in the UK, its biggest market globally, start in March and it's priced to undercut its main rivals: the VXR will cost £15,595 - £400 less than the Clio 197.

Running costs should be reasonable, too, Vauxhall claiming a reasonably teetotal 35.8mpg on the combined cycle.

[Sheriff]

Corsa D, 1.6iT (Z16LET), www.whatcar.co.uk, 03/01/07

www.whatcar.co.uk
Date: 03 January 2007
By:
Found by user: Dougie

Hot Corsa VXR unleashed

• New Corsa VXR costs less than £16,000
• Car on sale here in March
• Uses uprated version of Meriva VXR engine

This is the all-new Vauxhall Corsa VXR, set to stir up the mini hot-hatch market when it comes here in the spring.

On sale in March, it will cost £15,595 -£400 less than Renault's Clio Renaultsport 2.0. It's faster than its French rival too, covering 0-60mph in a claimed 6.8sec (Clio 7.5sec) and reaching a top speed of 140mph (Clio 128mph). It's also less thirsty than the Renault, with a combined economy figure of 35.8mpg compared with the Clio's 31.7mpg.

Power comes from the 1.6-litre turbocharged engine from the Meriva VXR, uprated from 178bhp- to 190bhp. Like the Meriva, the Corsa has an overboost feature that temporarily increases pulling power to a maximum of 192lb ft to shorten overtaking distances.

It's only available as a three-door and it comes with unique triangular mirrors, front foglamp surrounds and centre exhaust outlet.

There are deep front and rear bumpers and side skirts, too, and an angular spoiler is set into the roof. A mesh grille, blue brake calipers and 18-inch alloys also make sure you won't mistake it for any other Corsa.

Recaro sports seats, a flat-bottomed steering wheel, drilled alloy pedals and piano-black dash trim decorate the interior.[/b]

[Sheriff]

Corsa D, 1.6iT (Z16LET), www.autoexpress.co.uk, 04/01/07

www.autoexpress.co.uk
Date: 04/01/2007
By:

[Sheriff]

Corsa D, 1.6iT (Z16LET), UK Preview 8/3/07

This was one of five previews held around the UK. This was at Wessex Raceway.