WITH a mind-boggling amount of torque and a 0-60mph sprint time of 5.9 seconds, the latest Vauxhall Astra VXR pulls no punches in proving that it is the big hitter of the hot hatch market.

Head of the VXR product development team, Volker Strycek, a Nurburgring 24-hour winner, set out to make the car the best in its class and, in true Vauxhall hot car style, it makes a very good case for the top slot.

It certainly looks good but when you unleash the 280PS of power lurking under the bonnet you know that you have a tiger by the tail, but a tiger that is helped to stay on track by some impressive technology.

With 155mph on tap from the two-litre turbo direct injection engine, this car capitalises on the already fine handling qualities of the basic Astra. The upgrade for VXR features a mechanical limited-slip differential -unique in its class as a standard item - Hi PerStrut front suspension and bespoke brakes, springs and damper settings.

As with the previous Astra VXR and the current GTC, the UK will be the new model's biggest market. Around 10 per cent will be VXRs, equalling about 1,200 units per year - the highest of any VXR model.

It is pitched against cars like the VW Scirocco R and Renault Megane Sport 265 but the VXR has a potent ace up its sleeve because its on-the-road price of £26,995 undercuts the Scirocco's by nearly £4,000, and that of the Megane 265 by more than £2,000 when the Renault is equipped with its optional Cup Pack, including 19-inch alloys and a limited-slip differential, both of which are standard on the Vauxhall.

Other standard equipment on the Astra VXR includes FlexRide adaptive damping, DAB, USB, Bluetooth and LED tail lights, plus a whole raft of visual and interior power dressing.

But it is on the road that the true story of this amazing car unfolds.

Performance Vauxhalls of the past have been rather hairy creatures, sometimes plagued by torque-steer, a phenomenon which has been largely wiped our on the VXR by the development of the Hi PerStrut suspension.

But this does not mean you do not get wheelspin because, in its sports setting, this car has phenomenal sprint capability and happily slips in some spin to make it all the more exciting.

And talking of exciting, the exhaust note of this car is amazing because its boom sounds like nothing else in its class.

Although limited a little by the recent heavy snow the UK has had to endure I was able to get a feel of the characteristics endowed by the bespoke chassis of this car, especially the mechanical limited slip differential.

Drexler, who supply differentials to the motorsport industry, have worked with Vauxhall to develop a mechanical multi-plate LSD system for the Astra VXR.

The unit, derived from that used in the Corsa VXR Nurburgring Edition, creates a locking effect with a ramp angle of 45 degrees under acceleration and 90 degrees under deceleration.

That locking effect improves traction when it's needed - such as under acceleration through bends or over changing cambers and surfaces - but the effect is relaxed off-throttle, when it's not required, making the steering more benign.

To cater for the improved traction the traction control and electronic stability control systems have been re-tuned to ensure the best performance, even when the car is used on track or in wet conditions.

With cross-drilled and ventilated 355 x 32mm front discs, four-piston callipers and harder compound brake pads, Vauxhall and Brembo have co-developed a bespoke braking system to cater for the VXR's high performance.