Astra VXR With 300 HP from 1.6 Turbo

German magazine Auto Bild says the Astra is going to be the latest rival for the Golf R. Just like the Megane RS, it will sell only as a practical 5-door, which will anger some purists.

Like the Megane, the hot Astra is rumored to have around 300 horsepower. You might presume that it comes from a 2.0-liter turbo, like the one found in the old VXR, but you’ll be wrong. Apparently, the space under the hood of the Astra K is too small for that engine, so they will use a high-strung 1.6-liter instead.

The German magazine goes on to claim that the Astra will be FWD-only and fitted with a 6-speed manual. That makes perfect sense. Scheduled to be revealed towards the end of 2017, it could debut as early as next month at the IAA in Frankfurt.