DESPITE modern-day legislation and high fuel costs tending to point motorists in the opposite direction, there will always be drivers with a yen to follow the "some like it hot" philosophy.
A number of manufacturers cater for this requirement in their family car line-ups, ST-badged models doing it for Ford, while, in Vauxhall-speak, VXR badging indicates a car which is considered to be decidedly hot property.
For the past five years Vauxhall's VX Racing team has dominated the British Touring Car Championships (BTCC) and the development of the VXR road cars was born out of the knowledge, expertise and success gained through the company's motorsport involvement.
The Vectra VXR five-door hatchback bowed in towards the end of last year as the flagship model of a range which was the subject of a major makeover in the summer of 2005.
The VXR is a car which has been designed to break new ground for the Vectra following in the tyre tracks of the Astra and Monaro models bearing the VXR badge.
Despite Vauxhall's designers having made the Vectra VXR look purposeful without appearing overly aggressive, there is sufficient evidence of muscle power in the bodywork, low-slung sports suspension, subtle rear lip spoiler, the dual trapezoidal tailpipes and blue brake callipers on all four wheels, each dropping more than a few subtle hints at its performance potential without being too ostentatious.
Adding to the distinctive appearance of the five-door hatch model in which the fared-in front fogs are set out of harm's way well back into the VXR's unique front bumper are low-slung sidesills which add further emphasis to, what is, a decidedly handsome profile.
Despite its performance car pretensions, the VXR enjoys the practicality of its standard Vectra stablemate within a well set-up cabin which, despite being a little tight in the max headroom department for some six-footer occupants, is still a true five-seater.
A generous standard kit level also adds to the Vectra VXR's attraction in a manifest which includes dual-zone automatic air con, cruise control, multi function computer, electric windows all round, powered door mirrors, CDC40 sound system with DAB/Integral six-disc CD autochanger, plus front, side and curtain airbags.
Interior features also include comfortably supportive Recaro sports seats with leather-trimmed side bolster and lumbar adjustment, leather-covered sports steering wheel and gearknob.
VXR logos are very much in evidence throughout even in the dash with its red-hued VXR instrument panel.
Dressed to thrill and straddling the tarmac on 18-inch alloys shod with ultra low profile tyres, the Vectra VXR looks the business with its 250 plus horses ticking over in meaningful yet refined fashion.
Paired with a very well sorted, slick-shifting six-speed manual gearchange, the Vectra VXR's 2.8-litre turbo petrol engine houses plenty of punch the benchmark 0-60mph dash coming in well under seven seconds while the maximum speed is a claimed 161mph.
However, while there is some decidedly meaty 259lb/ft of torque available from as low as 1,800rpm helping to deliver the fifth gear sprint in 7.6 seconds, a well under 30mpg return over a mixed driving route may prove too rich for some owners, particularly with there being no diesel alternative available to the VXR unlike one of its main rivals, the Ford ST220.
Any which way, the Vectra VXR might be a performance saloon but the 2.8-litre V6 is still a very smooth operator that delivers some refined performance levels.
Stiffer and lower than that found on the standard model, the suspension set-up with Vauxhall's Interactive Driving System Plus (IDS) links the car's electronic traction and stability controls to deliver optimum performance.
Overall, Vauxhall has done an excellent job here in delivering a sharply-styled, responsively dynamic to drive performer boasting the largest brakes ever fitted to a Vauxhall production car.
FAST FACTS
Vauxhall Vectra VXR
Price: £24,180
Mechanical: 255bhp, 2,792cc, 6cyl petrol engine driving front wheels via 6spd manual gearbox
Max speed: 161mph
0-62mph: 6.7 secs
Combined mpg: 27.4
Insurance group: 18
CO2 emissions: 247g/km
BiK rating: 35%
Warranty: 3yrs/ 60,000 miles; 6yrs anti-rust