| Week at the Wheel | Vauxhall Corsa VXR Arctic Edition |

Inside & Out:

The Vauxhall Corsa is a distinctive looker in standard three-door guise and the more assertive styling that the VXR model brings is particularly striking. In the Arctic Edition's standard Glacier White finish it looks even more so, the black smoked 18-inch alloy wheels and black roof and wing mirrors adding an extra touch of menace. The deep front and rear bumpers have cool vents fore and aft of the wheels, while there's a big diffuser around the back that contains a large triangular exhaust pipe. Smoked red rear lights and a roof-mounted spoiler complete the VXR's look, leaving those passed in no doubt they've been overtaken by something a bit special.

The interior is similarly sporting. The shiny piano black plastic of the centre console is highlighted by the white ringed air vents, between which is an inscription highlighting this as a VXR Arctic special edition and its build number out of the 500 to be sold. The Recaro sports seats are heavily bolstered, the steering wheel chunky and the gearknob as preposterously proportioned as it is in the standard VXR. Very nicely finished inside, the Corsa is no less practical than its non-VXR relatives, with decent rear space and a twin-floor boot.

Engine & Transmission:

With a 1.6-litre turbocharged engine under its bonnet and 189bhp as standard the VXR isn't slow. However, the VRX Arctic adds a further 15bhp to that thanks to the addition of a Remus exhaust system. The torque too increases from 170lb.ft to 192lb.ft for five seconds thanks to an overboost function on the turbo. That's all enough to allow the VXR to sprint to 62mph in just 6.8 seconds and onto a 140mph top speed if you can find a straight on a track long enough.

There's no obvious lag from the turbo, the 1.6-litre punching hard throughout its entire rev range. It's a very linear engine, delivering real grunt from low revs right up to the redline. That exhaust means you're treated to a brilliant cackling and popping on the overrun, the VXR sounding not dissimilar to a rally car with an anti-lag system in operation. That's great when you're out for a blast but the drone from the exhaust can become tiresome on longer drivers. The gearshift isn't quite as quick as we'd like either, the massive gearknob not aiding in its accuracy.

Ride & Handling:

Featuring 18-inch alloy wheels and sports suspension it's not surprising to find that the VXR has a firm ride. That can mean bumpy progress in town, but it's not as compromised as you might think. What that taut suspension does mean is entertaining dynamics, the VXR Corsa a hugely enjoyable drive on cross-country roads. Turn the chunky steering wheel and the Corsa's nose faithfully goes where you ask it, the VXR happily tightening its line with a bit of lift off-oversteer if you're really committed on the track.

There's loads of grip and despite all that power and torque reaching the tarmac through the front wheels there's very little fight from the steering wheel. What corrections that are required only serve to remind you of the Corsa's remarkable potency. Vauxhall claims the VXR in Arctic guise reaches 60mph in 6.8 seconds, but it feels faster. The brakes are well up to the job of stopping the VXR too, though if you're a stand-on-the-brakes driver at a trackday then you might want to explore Vauxhall's optional bigger brake packages available as part of the VXR enhancement kit.

Equipment, Economy & Value for Money:

The £17,225 Vauxhall is asking for the Corsa VXR Arctic seems reasonable enough given the performance it offers. That's about £400 more than the standard VXR, the extra kit the Arctic brings - those wheels, that noisy power-liberating exhaust, white paint and glass sunroof - making it a decent value proposition. So long as you like white cars that is.

Overall:

A cool twist on one of the most enjoyable hot supermini hot hatches there is. A Renaultsport Clio might deliver bigger thrills behind the wheel, but the Corsa VXR isn't far behind and feels a lot more robust. The Arctic adds some desirable kit, and we're sure you could persuade your local dealer to sweeten the deal even more in these days of slow car sales.