Vauxhall introduced its contender in the hot-hatch segment with a highly tuned Astra GTC in 2005 and brought more than just a set of wheels and a body kit.
Opel built a highly respected hot-hatch in the mid-’80s, the Kadett GSI, but over time it lost its edge in front of Volkswagen Golf GTI, Ford Focus ST, or the Renault Megane Renault Sport, to name just a few. In 2005, GM decided to return with a highly tuned version for the Astra GTC, which, in the U.K., it sported the Vauxhall badge.

Unlike its main competitors, which were more or less just the three-door versions of the five-door hatchbacks, the Astra GTC featured a different bodywork than its siblings. At the front, it sported a wide mesh-grille flanked on the sides by scoops with fog lights. From its sides, the 18” light-alloy wheels made a clear difference compared to the rest of the range. The carmaker installed a center-mounted exhaust at the back, under the bumper, and a roof spoiler on top of the tailgate to complete the sporty image.

Inside, the sport-treatment continued with high-bolstered Recaro sport bucket seats. Vauxhall applied the VXR badges on the tachometer and on the bottom of the steering wheel. The aluminum pedals were also a standard feature of the car.

But the most important part of the car was the drivetrain. It was the most powerful turbocharged two-liters in its class, outperforming the Renault Megane with its 225 hp and killing the Golf GTI with its mere 200 horses. Moreover, Vauxhall offered an adaptive suspension, which stiffened the dampers and made the car handle even better on a race track.