The same can be said...
The same can be said of Vauxhall"s Astra. It"s nothing like its predecessor, and I"d go as far as saying it"s as visually appealing as anything else out there - BMW and Audi hatches included. But not content with that, Vauxhall has introduced its Panoramic windscreen in time for Paris. I know some readers have concerns about possible insurance problems (see letter of the week, opposite), but for í‚á£1,000, the driver and front-seat passengers get a huge, unique, curvaceous and airy glass expanse from the edge of the bonnet over their heads and into the roof. In the nicest possible way, it"s abnormal.
The secret of this British...
The secret of this British performance success lies under the scooped bonnet, where a quad-turbo 6.0-litre V10 produces 1,175bhp. Acceleration promises to be devastating - a 0-60mph figure of 2.6 seconds is claimed, with power being driven through two huge rear wheels. Using special aluminium and composite construction, the two-seater weighs in at only 1,300kg - making it much lighter than most family cars. The bodywork and engine are the work of British engineer Al Melling, whose previous efforts include the AJPV8 and straight-six units used by struggling sports car maker TVR.
Inside, the Hellcat feels like a stripped-out racer, using carbon fibre and heavily bolstered sports seats. It"s currently still at the prototype stage, but the firm is hoping to put it into production before the end of this year - and is believed to have struck a deal with a US partner, hence the Stars and Stripes and Union Flag livery.
Although prices have yet to be announced, exclusivity should be guaranteed: the company"s factory, based in Rochdale, Lancashire, expects to build only 200 examples a year.