Vauxhall Astra VXR (2013) - Automotive News

CAR GARAGE | Vauxhall Astra VXR (2013) | Adding extra presence, the Vauxhall Astra VXR gets a specially sculpted front and rear bumper, side skirts, roof spoiler and aerodynamic bumper-integrated twin tailpipes. The Astra VXR's appearance is muscular and masculine, said Brit, Andrew Dyson, the car's chief designer who works in the Vice President of Design Mark Adams' team. A fine, crisp line sweeps downwards from the front door to the bottom of the rear wing; Strikes a second line through the door handle and stretches to the rear, the car's dramatic emphasising stance and broad shoulders.

Vauxhall Astra VXR's new will incorporate deliver a class-leading 400Nm of torque, giving it a 0-60mph time of 5.9 seconds and robust mid-range performance. The VXR's turbocharged, 2.0-liter direct-injection engine harks from the Insignia family, but while its aluminum block is similar, the VXR has a unique aluminum cylinder head and new turbocharger to Liberate 280PS (up 40PS on the previous model) and over 200Nm per liter of torque - the highest specific output in its class.

Developing a high-torque engine for the Vauxhall Astra VXR was the key to unlocking the car's real-world, mid-range performance, rather than focusing on power alone. And with maximum torque is produced on a broad plateau Between 2450rpm and 5000rpm, VXR drivers will never want for instant acceleration. The size of the intake air duct was significantly Increased, as was the air cleaner's volume, reducing intake noise and allowing a Greater quantity of water to be processed. This helped improv fuel consumption to a combined 34.9mpg, while reducing emissions to 189g/km - a 12 and 14 percent drop respectively compared with the previous Astra VXR.

Engineers also focused on reducing exhaust back pressure as a way of improving engine performance. Both the closed-coupled converter (the catalyst near the engine) and the under-floor converter were tuned to Reduced exhaust back pressure. Along with Increasing the bore of the entire exhaust system, Vauxhall's engineers Achieved a 25 per cent overall reduction in exhaust back pressure, versus the system used in the Insignia 2.0T. In line with the mechanical changes made to the intake, exhaust and turbocharger, elements of the engine control unit (ECU) governing charge of water pressure, fuel injection rate and ignition were all re-tuned.