For the first time since canning VXR, Vauxhall has a proper sporting sub-brand again. Introducing the Vauxhall Astra GSe.
It’s no secret that despite improved styling under Stellantis ownership, Vauxhall still has an image problem amongst enthusiastic car buyers. However, with its new GSe performance brand, the Luton-based marque hopes to change that.
First though, let’s dive into what we can expect from GSe. The acronym stands for ‘Grand Sport Electric’, meaning that all future Vauxhall performance cars are likely to make use of battery propulsion in some way. That is certainly true of the first model to be given the GSe treatment. The Vauxhall Astra GSe will be offered in either hatchback or estate form, but only as a plug-in hybrid.
Terms like ‘plug-in hybrid’ have rarely done much to enthuse keen drivers though, so what exactly makes this new Astra a sporty one?
Well, power has been upped from 177hp in standard hybrid guise to 222hp, while torque stands at 266lb ft, giving the car a bit more urgency. Up against the 181hp 2.0-litre Toyota Corolla Sport Hybrid, that figure looks quite good, but it still can’t compete with the top echelon of true hot hatches. A Ford Focus ST, for example, churns out 276hp, and the new Civic Type-R gets a whopping 330hp. In reality then, this GSe is more of a ‘warm hatch’ than a hot one.
Nevertheless, 222hp is still plenty of power for a car to be fun, and Vauxhall has made some key changes to the Astra’s underpinnings to help its case in that respect.
The chassis sits 10mm lower than a regular Astra Hybrid, while the suspension makes use of ‘Frequency Selective Damping’ or FSD. This effectively means that the car’s damping will react better to the surface and driving forces placed upon it. What’s more, the GSe’s electronic stability control has been fettled to have a higher activation threshold – so it shouldn’t cut in and spoil your fun too early.
In an attempt to give the GSe the presence to match its performance, the Mk8 Astra – which is already quite a striking car – has been fitted with a new set of 18-inch lightweight alloy rims, while on the inside you’ll find some Alcantara-trimmed sports seats.
The Vauxhall Astra GSe isn’t a car which is going to cause tremors in the hot hatch world, but nevertheless, sporty Vauxhalls are back and this is only the beginning…
