The 2015 Holden Astra VXR has arrived to set the Lion brand amongst the pigeons in the lucrative, highly competitive hot-hatch segment.
We’ve seen an Astra VXR in the past – under the HSV brand – and like that European-made performance hatch, the new model is born and bred in Germany under the guidance of Opel.
And yes, if you’re thinking the new Holden Astra VXR looks familiar, you’re spot on. Apart from the new Lion badges front and rear, it’s essentially the same car as Opel Astra OPC of a few years ago.
That means under the bonnet is one of the most potent four-cylinder engines in the game – a 2.0-litre turbo engine with 206kW of power (at 5300rpm) and 400Nm of torque (from 2400-4800rpm).
It’s available exclusively with a six-speed manual transmission, with all that grunt making its way to the front wheels – which, in the case of our test car, are 20-inch rims lacquered in 35-profile Michelin Pilot Super Sport tyres.
Watch the video to see whether the Astra VXR has what it takes to stand out in the highly-competitive hot-hatch segment.
