This is it, a brand new hot-hatch from Vauxhall’s new performance division - the Astra GSe.
As we’ve pointed-out on these news pages previously, a properly sporty hatch has been a glaring omission from the Vauxhall line-up for a few years now.
The old ‘VXR’ models were jettisoned in 2017 and the ‘GSi’ Insignia was also banished from existence.
But that all changes with the plug-in hybrid Astra GSe.
Vauxhall says the Astra GSe and the Astra Sports Tourer GSe estate will ‘match the best in their respective classes for launch from a standstill, acceleration and maximum speed’.
And when you’re looking at rivals, the Astra and the Ford Focus have long been at each other’s throats.
So, how does the sporty Astra GSe stack up against the sporty Ford Focus ST?
The Astra GSe has power of 225 PS and max torque of 360 Nm, as well as an ability to return up to 250 miles to the gallon.
There’s no word yet on acceleration times but you can expect the GSe to be brisk, and it also sits on a dedicated chassis that’s 10mm lower than the regular Astra and delivers ‘superior stability during cornering, under braking and at higher speed’.
The Focus ST - in both estate and hatchback guise - offers more power at 280 PS, thanks to a 2.3 litre EcoBoost engine.
Another good comparison for the GSe might be the Volkswagen Golf GTE plug-in hybrid, an alternative with power of 245 PS, 400 Nm of torque, and the ability to travel for up to 38 miles using electricity alone.
Then there’s the Peugeot 308 plug-in hybrid. Peugeot is, of course, part of the same Stellantis group of manufacturers as Vauxhall, so you might consider the 308 and Astra sibling cars.
And the Astra GSe is pretty much identical to the 308 when it comes to power - with the Peugeot also getting 225 PS with the most premium trim level.
Vauxhall will, then, be pinning its hopes on lease customers being lured to the Astra GSe’s driver-focused chassis set-up.
A spokesperson explains:
“The steering in the All-New Astra GSe and All-New Astra Sports Tourer GSe has been calibrated for a sportier feel, while the unique springs and oil-filled dampers of the front and rear suspension are specially tuned not only for dynamic driving but also for comfort.
“The dampers feature KONI ‘Frequency Selective Damping’, which enables different damping characteristics at high frequencies - suspension control - versus low frequencies - body control. The ESP settings are also exclusive to GSe models, with a higher activation threshold to match the dynamic driving behaviour.”
The Astra GSe also looks the part, coming with eye-catching 18 inch alloys, sporty bumpers, and Alcantara-trimmed performance front seats.
Further specification details will be announced in due course and the Astra GSe is due to become available later this year.
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