Car Reviews > Vauxhall > Corsa > Vauxhall Corsa VXR Nurburgring Edition Car Review

Facts At A Glance
Prices: £22,295
Engine: 1.6-litre 4-cylinder turbo
Gearbox: 6-speed manual, front-wheel drive
Power/torque: 202 bhp/ 250 Nm 0-60 mph: 6.5 seconds
Top Speed: 143 miles per hour
Economy: 37.2 miles per gallon
Emissions: 178g per kilometre
Equipment: Cruise control, air conditioning, Recaro seats, alarm, curtain airbags
On Sale: Now

The hot hatchback flier gets taken to the next level with the sizzling Corsa VXR Nurburgring Edition.

Just the name of Vauxhall’s Corsa VXR Nurburgring Edition seems to promise thrills aplenty, and added to that the fact that it was developed at the toughest racetrack in the entire world; it is understandable why expectations are so high.

Driving the car on roads in the United Kingdom for the very first time, it becomes clear that the changes that have been made from the standard VXR are far more than just cosmetic ones. Underneath the bonnet, the turbocharged 1.6-litre 4-cylinder engine has been upgraded to allow it to deliver an additional 13 bhp, for a total of 202 bhp, while the torque level has also been increased by an extra 36 Nm to a total of 250 Nm.

The extra punch proves to be hard to miss, with lots of in-gear urge and the 0-60 miles per hour time having fallen by three tenths to just 6.5 seconds.

The standard vehicle never lacked straight-line pace though, with driver engagement being its major omission, so will hot super-mini enthusiasts finally get what they want because of the changes to the chassis?

For a start, there is a lower ride height, while unique Bilstein springs and dampers serve to reduce roll and assist the Corsa to be able to corner with an impressive degree of composure. Even better, leading specialist Drexler have provided a limited-slip differential that cuts understeer and improves traction, meaning the driver can maintain a tight line even under hard acceleration.

The Nurburgring is able to turn into corners very quickly and also gains speed at a phenomenal rate. The level of grip also means that dry tarmac fails to give its recalibrated traction control much trouble either.

The Brembo brake discs are as much as much as 30 per cent lighter in weight than was previously the case, and the ABS has likewise been revised, although it is something of a pity that the result is that the pedal feels somewhat numb under foot.

Even with the excellent high-speed stability and the vehicle’s glued to the road cornering, drivers are likely to be left still feeling somewhat detached from the experience because of the lack of feel in the steering.

When it comes to the interior of the vehicle, the cabin proves to be well built and marked out by the Nurburgring badges on the sills, while the logo of the famous German circuit is also embroidered into the hugely supportive and heavily embroidered Recaro sports seats.

As is the case with the standard vehicle, there is a wide range of adjustment and it is very simple to make yourself comfortable, although blind spots are caused by thick A pillars and both the heater and radio controls are positioned far too low on the dashboard.

That said, the exterior styling is an improvement on the standard VXR, with a racy body kit, twin stainless steel exhaust pipes, Nurburgring decals on the B pillars, and forged alloy wheels.

The vehicle also comes in two unique colours, Henna Red and Grasshopper Green. The Nurburgring is also guaranteed hot hatch exclusivity, with a maximum of just 250 cars sold here each year.

by Autoweb