Autoblog

Click to view the Vauxhall Astra VXR Nürburgring in hi-res

There's no shortage of automakers which claim the vaunted Nürburgring Nordschleife as their own stomping ground. Along with the likes of BMW, Porsche and Aston Martin, to name but a few, GM's European subsidiary staked its claim last year with the Opel Astra OPC Nürburgring Edition. Now Vauxhall, its British counterpart, wants to be part of the club, too. But rather than create its own performance model, Vauxhall's big news is that it has essentially taken the OPC Nürburgring and slapped on the shiny new griffin logo and called it its own.

Giving credit where credit is due, however, the special edition Vauxhall VXR edges out its Opel OPC counterpart with an extra 14 horses unbridled by a Remus sport exhaust. Aside from the grille and the tailpipes, however, the package is just about the same. Lightweight 18" alloys – shod with Dunlop rubber, mounted on a widened track and barely hiding 321mm front and 278mm rear ventilated discs with signature blue VXR calipers – come in white, complimenting the white paint job. That's the only color this special VXR offers, and is accented by checkered-flag graphics (like those seen on special-edition Renaultsport hatchbacks from across the Channel) and faux-fiber accents on the B-pillars and wing mirror housings. Step inside and the special touches continue, including leather-trimmed Recaro racing seats embossed with the Nürburgring track layout, carbon fiber door trim and an individually-numbered plaque. The price of exclusivity for British customers comes in at £21,295, a £1,575 premium over the standard VXR. More details in the press release after the jump, and images in the gallery below.

[Source: Vauxhall]

Click image for photo gallery

Opel pulled the wraps off the Astra OPC Nürburgring Edition at Round 4 of the OPC Race Camp, a competition that will ultimately produce a driver team the Automaker will send to next year's Nürburgring 24-hour race. Opel and the Nürburgring go way back, with test stints on the Nordshcleife a standard part of production models' development process. The Astra OPC Nürburgring Edition is a nod to the legendary track. Like its "regular" Astra OPC kin, the Nürburgring Edition is a 150-mph hatchback powered by a 240-horsepower turbo four mated to a six-speed manual.

The special edition is finished exclusively in white with an offset checkered-flag graphic that runs along the hood and roof and fades away on the hatch lid. A high-mount spoiler, carbon fiber accents on the b-pillars and mirrors, and lightweight white wheels complete the visual. Inside, the full-leather interior is accented with an embroidered track map on the headrests and special numbered badging on the glove box.

Meanwhile, all we think while looking at this is "Saturn Astra Red Line." Please make this happen soon, General.

[Sources: GM, Autoblog Spanish]