Vauxhall VX220
The Vauxhall VX220 is a mid engined, targa-topped, 2-seater introduced in early 2001. It was built for GM, along with the left hand drive version (the Opel Speedster), at the Lotus Cars, Hethel, Norfolk plant in England alongside the Lotus Elise S2. It was based on the Elise chassis, modified to accept the GM engine in preference to the K-series Rover engine used by the Elise. It carried the internal model identification Lotus 116 and the code name Lotus Skipton. Vauxhall Union Jack VX220 (2002)
The normally aspirated version used the Astra 2.2 L Ecotec L61 engine giving 147 hp (110 kW) in a car weighing 870 kg. The Turbo model, introduced in 2003, used the 2.0 L Ecotec LSJ engine, producing 200 hp (149 kW) but weighing 930 kg. A final version, the track-oriented VXR220, based on the turbo model, was tuned to give around 220 hp (164 kW) and used Lotus-style 16 in (406 mm) front wheels that allowed the fitment of special sports tyres to gain better road holding.
The car was hailed by the motoring press as a great drivers' car and won several accolades, with the 2.2 NA (normally aspirated) version being the better handling of the two standard variants. Some journalists recommended that this version was better value for money than the Lotus.
Production ended in 2005.
The Vauxhall VX220 is a mid engined, targa-topped, 2-seater introduced in early 2001. It was built for GM, along with the left hand drive version (the Opel Speedster), at the Lotus Cars, Hethel, Norfolk plant in England alongside the Lotus Elise S2. It was based on the Elise chassis, modified to accept the GM engine in preference to the K-series Rover engine used by the Elise. It carried the internal model identification Lotus 116 and the code name Lotus Skipton. Vauxhall Union Jack VX220 (2002)
The normally aspirated version used the Astra 2.2 L Ecotec L61 engine giving 147 hp (110 kW) in a car weighing 870 kg. The Turbo model, introduced in 2003, used the 2.0 L Ecotec LSJ engine, producing 200 hp (149 kW) but weighing 930 kg. A final version, the track-oriented VXR220, based on the turbo model, was tuned to give around 220 hp (164 kW) and used Lotus-style 16 in (406 mm) front wheels that allowed the fitment of special sports tyres to gain better road holding.
The car was hailed by the motoring press as a great drivers' car and won several accolades, with the 2.2 NA (normally aspirated) version being the better handling of the two standard variants. Some journalists recommended that this version was better value for money than the Lotus.
Production ended in 2005.
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