The VX220 is a reinterpretation of the fantastic Lotus Elise. The basic idea is that it’s better to drive out the weight rather than to add power. The receipt is good: with a small engine, one obtains very interesting performances, and the handling as well as braking are top class. The best is that these light sport cars do not consume a lot of petrol, thanks to the weight. Vauxhall quite simply requested a blow of hand from the specialist in the kind, Lotus, to conceive this small sporting. Although the VX220 is assembled in the same factory that the Lotus Elise, they share only 10% of the joint parts. The Vauxhall is heavier of one hundred kilos, but has a more powerful engine and very flexible.

The style is radical, one would say that it’s a prototype released on the road; just look at the head people make when they see it for the fisrt time ! We can adore or hate it, but it should well be recognized that it comes out of the batch, it’s a car that we notice. The VX220 looks definitely better in truth than on the photographs, it’s not an easy car to photograph. Interesting detail: it looks still pretty good with the hood, it goes perfectly well in the line. Considerable pretty convertibles become ugly with their hood in place.

Good news ! The handling is of very high level, and agility very clearly above the batch. To make you an idea, imagine a kart with a bigger engine: that’s it. Feelings are explosive, direction super direct and sharp like a razor and comfort… well not so bad for this kind of vehicle. It’s incredibly fun. So much fun that when I return in a normal car, I have the feeling to drive a truck. By the way, we can have the same feeling after having fun with a go-kart. When I tell you this car is like a go-kart !

It’s the 2.2 16v made of aluminum which is also used in Astra and Vectra. This is not a very impressive engine, but in the 870Kg light VX220, it makes miracles. The 0 - 100Km/h has been measured at 6.2s (6.5s with 2 people onboard), which is very astonishing, considering the modest power (147PS). Once again, the weight-power ratio is determining. By way of comparison, one needs more than 200PS in order to compete with the Vauxhall. This engine is very flexible and full of torque, which ensures him of exceptional power at low revs. It’s a very pleasant engine to use. It’s very linear but revs better and better to the limiter (@6500RPM), even if it’s hasn’t got the rage of other sport engines. It has often been said that the sound is not good enough. At use, the sound is not that bad; the engine hums at low revs and gives voice at high revs. The best way to give you an idea is to look to a video. The gearbox is very short, fast and precise, a make a racing noise. Considering the modest power and the generous size of the back tires, motricity is excellent. The VX220 brakes also strongly, since it needs 38 meters to stop at a speed of 100km/h.

Wow ! It’s a real fun machine ! A small test won’t reveal it to you in his entirety, it’s necessary to drive a few hundred km to realize at which point this toy for adult is brilliant. The VX200 can rush in the small mountain roads where its couple makes miracles, but will be also perfectly happy with a peaceful slow drive. It’s very easy to drive and does not require particular talents on behalf of its pilot in order to have real good fun. Speed impression is great even at reasonable speeds, because there’s nothing to isolate to you from the road. You have to live the road.

We’re sitting surprisingly comfortably, well protected from the wind. Heating is rather effective, one can roll without problem by 0o C with the hood and without with 10o C. The hood doesn’t float, because it sufficiently small and is well tended. On the other hand, there are many air noises starting from 80km/h only. Personally, I haven’t taken the radio (in option) and I know very well why I didn’t.

Vauxhall wanted a safer car than the Elise : the VX220 has got assisted brakes with ABS (a little too much sensitive) and even an airbag, in the very nice tiny Momo wheel. The car has been set to understeer, in order not to be surprised by the mid-engine architecture.

Of course it has got some ! First of all, be logical : do you want a real sport car ? Then don’t expect assited steering, nor air-conditioning, nor electrical gadgets. If fact you won’t find anything essentials for driving. Secondly, you have to be seriously in love with it to spend £23’000 for your second car. And at last, quality could have been better for this price. Then expect to have some little problems sometimes. One last detail : the petrol indicator is not precise when you drive, and the hood is not water-proof. But if you’re in love with the VX220 (like me), you’ll forgive it a lot of things…

If you’re already owning one, congratulations ! If it’s not the case, you should try one in order to understand how good it is. However, if you do prefer comfortable saloons, then you will never know what you’re missing.