Vauxhall Corsa VXR Arctic Edition

"Is this new special Corsa a costly Chav chariot or hot hatch bargain?"

The new Vauxhall Corsa VXR Arctic Edition isn't designed for shy and reitring types. On the outside, its bright white paint and gloss black alloys sit on the fence between just about acceptable and totally chav-tastic. I don't know what it says about me, but I quite like it, and white suits the Corsa well.

Chic or chav - how's the VXR's interior?

Unfortunately I'm not a fan of the Corsa's insides. The dashboard has gained some white detailing around the vents which looks cheap, and the number indicating the limited availability (500) of the Arctic is printed on a piece of vinyl that had all the adhesive properties of a post-it note. In fact it was drooping off in the hot car park.

Listen up - here's the Corsa's best feature

To find the best addition to the VXR Arctic edition you just have to listen. It has a new Remus exhaust developed by the bods who make Vauxhall's dowdy Vectra into a winner in the British Touring Cars.

And it sounds absolutely fantastic. Even at low revs it has a wonderful burble and pedal to the metal it makes hilarious pops and bangs when you change gear. Thankfully though the exhaust knows when to keep quiet so on the motorway it’s not roaring away deafening you and your passengers.

So it costs a grand for a nice noise?

But are you really paying the extra cash just to hear a cool noise? Well, no actually. The exhaust gives the Corsa an additional 15hp on top of the VXR's standard 189hp. Seems like a big jump for just an exhaust upgrade but there is a noticeable difference especially low down in the power band.

The Arctic looks great, it sounds great and the power boost does make a noticeable difference but at a cost of an extra £995 it brings the Corsa VXR up to the best part of seventeen grand. And when you consider that the awesome new Renaultsport Clio 200 is cheaper, the Arctic suddenly seems a bit pricey.

by Craig McAlpine