Vauxhall Corsa VXR (2007): first official pictures

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 cars games 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.