Australia to get Mentalist Astra: HSV VXR WOOHOO!!

[flyingfridge]

We're finally getting a truly cooking Astra!! The OPC is coming down under!!

Remember those Astra ads with the Dandy Warhols' 'Bohemian Like You' in them (woo ooo oooooo) I think the 'woo hoo' is about to get some real meaning...

The funniest thing is, they're using the Vauxhall badging and slogans... "Are you VXR enough?" :lol:

www.carsguide.com.au][/url]

The turbocharged 2.0-litre HSV VXR, with an estimated price below $43,000, is the first 4-cylinder from HSV, better known for producing hot V8s.

HSV sales and marketing director Chris Payne says the VXR has enormous potential in a new market segment. "It will be a totally new category for HSV but we wouldn't be looking at VXR if we were not convinced that it's capable of setting new benchmarks in the hot hatch class," he says.

The HSV VXR's four-cylinder engine produces 176kW of power and 320Nm of torque with a power to weight ratio of 6.9kg per kilowatt. The VXR powers to 100km/h in just six seconds.

"We've been aware of the phenomenal qualities of this car since the early development phase at OPC (Opel Performance Centre) in Germany. OPC is in many ways to Opel what HSV is to Holden," Payne says. "With its success overseas we thought it was time to assess the Australian public's response to the VXR."





The VXR will feature HSV styling, high-performance brakes, a close ratio six-speed gearbox, 19-inch alloy wheels, Recaro sports seats, sports tuned suspension and a sporty interior. The car will be based on Opel's OPC Astra, launched at the Geneva Motor Show this year.

"It will technically be an exchange. We have given them a large V8 [the Monaro] and they will give us the VXR. It will be specially imported for HSV," he says.

The car is the result of more than two years' intensive planning between Vauxhall and HSV, to fill one of the areas HSV has been lacking in, until now.

"We would not expect a high conversion rate from the V8-type customer, but we would expect the VXR to be the second HSV in the family, the second car, or the car for a younger family member, and those who had never considered an HSV before," Payne says.

A limited number of VXRs will be available through HSV dealers next year.

 

[fbc]

Will be very interesting to see how the HSV brand applies to a turbo four-cylinder hatchback...

As for the car itself - meh, the reports I've read have been disappointing - the Golf GTI is still king, though the Focus ST (to be called XR5 here) looks to be a challenger for the GTI

Remember those Astra ads with the Dandy Warhols' 'Bohemian Like You' in them (woo ooo oooooo)

I always found that a strange choice since the song has a lyric "You got a great car, yeah what's wrong it today...". Great song though.

 

[watto]

Re: Australia to get Mentalist Astra: HSV VXR WOOHOO!!

Awesome, even though it is stupidly overpowered for a front drive, it's a mad machine and I love it... GTI is still King of the Hill though

The funniest thing is, they're using the Vauxhall badging and slogans... "Are you VXR enough?" :lol:

Really? So, the Vauxhall lion griffen thing instead of the Holden lion? That's a bit dumb isn't it?

 

[fbc]

^ Err I think he's referring to the VXR badge, not the Griffin.

 

[watto]

^Hmmmmmmm, fair point... VXR doesn't sound right with HSV... I don't know what WOULD sound good, but VXR just doesnt sit well.

 

[SL65]

Just call it the "Woo hoo!", hell they already called something the EFIGY (??) so it doesnt really matter anymore

What a hot hatch - Wonder if HSV is good with small cars...
It looks great, but I hate the arsehole style rear exhaust.

Gonna see it on Sunday 8)

 

[bihus]

Just read evo articles about this. Great read. Get them here

 

[watto]

Just had a quick look at those as I have to go to work (dammit).

I see that the Focus uses a 5-cyl engine (hence why it'll be the XR5 when it gets here). 5-cyl has Volvo written all over it. Ford owns Volvo... am I coming to the right conclusion? Are they using the engine out of the S40/V50 T5 models?

 

[fbc]

^ Correct

 

[andyhui01]

woohooo!... the VXR is coming , does any victorians know the insurance policies for P drivers?

 

[flyingfridge]

^^ A: Check out Just Car or Shannons. They'll be the only companies willing to touch you with that. But be careful. If you do have a prang, you won't be covered anyway, you're driving a car you're not licensed to drive because of the power to weight rule. Even if the coppers don't enforce that rule, Insurance companies will do anything to get out of paying up...

 

[sydney_walker]

I'm more interested with the turbo focus though.

the VXR wins hands down on looks and power

but i kinda feel that the focus will be a better car

 

[static]

One question.

Take the basic 3-door Opel/Vauxhall/HSV Astra GTC. And then compare it to this OPC/VXR. Does it look different or is it just some body kit? I mean is this OPC version even meaner looking or is it just me?

Edit: Answering to myself

Back. First GTC and then OPC:

Front. Again first standard GTC and then the high performance OPC version:

Conclusion: Yeah they're the same. Slightly toned backlights and agressive bodykit. But no new design.

 

[bihus]

The VXR is based on the GTC, or better yet, the GTC is the 3 door Astra, and the VXR is a 3 door Astra.

 

[skip]

FPV v HSV: the bosses clash
James Stanford
05nov04

AUSTRALIAN muscle-car makers have clashed over the arrival of Ford's latest turbo rocket.

Ford Performance Vehicles boss David Flint and Holden Special Vehicles counterpart John Crennan have spoken out as FPV releases the new F6 Typhoon.
The Typhoon is a turbo-charged six-cylinder Falcon that will be sold alongside the GT Falcon.

Crennan says the arrival of the Typhoon will confuse the market image of FPV and that HSV is clearly a V8-only brand.

"I consider our branding and our vision and our plan to be very pure. The essence of good marketing is purity, and to a certain extent simplicity. And I look at the Ford side of things and I see something that is more confusing," Crennan says..........

HSV double standards must have short memories, just like their target audience.

Here's the killer - a price of $43,000 !! that's $4,000 more than a standard 6 speed manual BF Ford Falcon XR6 Turbo :shock: they're only $39,000 walk in off the street, I know which one I'd prefer.

 

[flyingfridge]

^^ Yeah I'd prefer the Astra. Don't take too much notice of that crap. It's all just our marketing vs your marketing crap. Marketing is crap. I am doing a Marketing degree. I am crap. It's all the same really, crap.

 

[zeroSignal]

It takes a brave man to accept and recognize that his choices in life are.. well.. crap.

 

[fbc]

FPV v HSV: the bosses clash
James Stanford
05nov04

AUSTRALIAN muscle-car makers have clashed over the arrival of Ford's latest turbo rocket.

Ford Performance Vehicles boss David Flint and Holden Special Vehicles counterpart John Crennan have spoken out as FPV releases the new F6 Typhoon.
The Typhoon is a turbo-charged six-cylinder Falcon that will be sold alongside the GT Falcon.

Crennan says the arrival of the Typhoon will confuse the market image of FPV and that HSV is clearly a V8-only brand.

"I consider our branding and our vision and our plan to be very pure. The essence of good marketing is purity, and to a certain extent simplicity. And I look at the Ford side of things and I see something that is more confusing," Crennan says..........

HSV double standards must have short memories, just like their target audience.

Here's the killer - a price of $43,000 !! that's $4,000 more than a standard 6 speed manual BF Ford Falcon XR6 Turbo :shock: they're only $39,000 walk in off the street, I know which one I'd prefer.

That sort of arrogant garbage is what you expect from John Crennan really.

 

[Magnet]

Will be very interesting to see how the HSV brand applies to a turbo four-cylinder hatchback...

They've been there and done that. Remember the SV1800?

 

[fbc]

^ I'd really rather forget the SV1800... in HSV's defence that was during their early days, when the company was young and foolish...