The Limited Edition Vauxhall Corsa VXR and Vauxhall Astra VXR

Known as the Vauxhall Corsa and Astra VX Racing Editions, they will have a combined production run of 888 cars. And that number just happens to coincide with the name of Vauxhall's race experts, Triple Eight Engineering, who build and prepare all the VX Racing Cars and contributed so much to Vauxhall's triumph in the BTCC last season when it won the BTCC's Drivers&', Manufacturers' and Team championships.

As well as sharing the VX Racing team colours of red and black, all VX Racing Editions gain full leather Recaro seats as standard. The VX Racing theme continues outside the car with logos on the B-posts and tread plates, too.

And just to make sure that you'd never mistake a VX Racing Edition from an 'ordinary' Vauxhall Corsa or Astra VXR, tinted rear glass, a black rear diffuser and black side bump strips and door mirror covers are all part of the package. In addition, the Astra version gains Piano Black interior decor strips.

We're also sure that VX Racing's drivers, Giovanardi, Neal and Jordan would appreciate the gloss-black alloy wheels - 18" for the Vauxhall Corsa, 19" for the Vauxhall Astra - that come as standard on all VX Racing Editions.

Finally, for that authentic VX Racing soundtrack - as well as up to 20PS extra power - all VX Racing Edition buyers will have the option of purchasing a Remus exhaust system at a discounted price. For Vauxhall Astras, that means £720 (saving £275) and for Vauxhall Corsas, £410 (saving £150). Buyers will also benefit from a healthy discount on other Vauxhall Performance Centre parts and accessories.

The Vauxhall Corsa and Vauxhall Astra VX Racing Editions are available to order now through Discount Vauxhall @ 10 % below List Price, email discountvauxhall@googlemail.com for further details

Vauxhall Corsa Review

Bigger and better than the previous generation Corsa in pretty much every regard, Vauxhall hopes this one will appeal more strongly to younger and more affluent buyers.

The styling certainly helps to set it apart from the crowd, with the Corsa adopting much of the handsome, distinctive design language that originated in the current Vauxhall Astra. The sporty three-door version has a lower roofline and a "coupe-like" glass profile, while the slightly taller five-door looks more conservative. Both benefit from well-finished cabins and strong standard equipment.

The multi-adjustable driving position is good and both front seat occupants enjoy plenty of space, although the driver's frontal visibility is limited by very thick windscreen pillars. Rear seat occupants are well catered for in the five door, but the high windowline and reduced headroom makes the back of the three-door feel claustrophobic.

Driving dynamics feel very mature. Accurate steering and excellent roadholding make the Corsa an amusing backroad companion, while high-speed motorway refinement is excellent for a car in this segment. The only real complaint is with the very firm suspension settings, which create a very crashy ride over rough urban roads.

A wide variety of engines are available, although the basic 1.0 litre three-cylinder petrol motor will struggle to motivate such a large car, and even the more powerful 1.2 and 1.4 litre petrol engines feel less than brisk. Three diesel motors are also available, a 1.3 in 74 bhp and 88 bhp states of tune, plus a more powerful 123 bhp 1.7, which sounds a bit coarse but less lends the Corsa an impressive turn of speed.

But for proper pace look to the VXR model, which has a 189bhp 1.6 litre turbocharged engine capable of propelling this supermini to 60mph in 6.8 seconds. The shove is actually quite brutal - not something we'd expect from a Corsa - but happily torque steer (which blights many a powerful front-driver) is kept in check. The ride's firmer than you'll find on any other Corsa and this adds an extra element of on-the-limit control, should you decide to have a go at some twisty bits. Incedentally, unlike most purported hot hatches, the VXR's handling was tuned in Britain for our lumpy, disintegrating but often engaging B-roads. As for the looks, well it's Max Power meets Knight Rider - especially if you opt for the imposing Darth Vader-black paintwork we had on our test car. And the interior is a bit Halford's bargain bin; think stick on sports pedals, free-magazine-giveaway dials and a square-edged rally-rep steering wheel with plastic faux aluminium plating. Nice. However, it's all sort of endearing and does suit the car's raucous performance - as long as you don't mind playing the chav. In fact, if you're OK with every hot hatch-driving 17 year old trying to race you away from lights, the VXR model is a surprisingly accomplished drive and an exciting high-end addition to the Corsa range. You'll just have to rediscover your inner boy racer.

For Discount NEW Corsa's, email discountvauxhall@googlemail.com