Just 500 Vauxhall Astra VXR Arctic Editions will be built to mark the end of the model’s production run.

At £23,595, the Arctic Edition is £720 more than the standard Vauxhall Astra VXR, but is fitted with £1,965 worth of extra equipment including heated, leather Recaro front seats, tinted windows and black, 19-inch alloys. The only option is a £920 panoramic glass roof.

Each of the 500 cars is finished in Olympic White, while the roof, wing mirrors, grille and boot plinth are painted black.

Mechanically the VXR Arctic is identical to the standard car, with 237bhp and 236lb ft of torque from the 2-litre, turbocharged engine. Top speed is 152mph, while 0-60mph takes 7.2 seconds. The Astra VXR may be getting long in the tooth but it’s still one quick hatch.

Lowered, uprated sports suspension, uprated brakes and ultra-low profile tyres mean that the VXR Arctic should stop and steer as well as it accelerates.

The new Vauxhall Astra is currently only available in 5-door guise, hence the 3-door VXR’s stay of execution. A 3-door version of the new model is expected to be unveiled later this year, with a VXR version hot on its heels.

By Owen Ready

Full Astra VXR Arctic gallery: