British summertime may have begun, but Vauxhall’s latest addition to the VXR range (Opel OPC range to South Africans) still looks cooler than the country’s recent snowstorms, yet its performance is as hot as ever.

Priced a fraction above the cost of the more standard Astra VXR – each of the 500 Arctic Editions are painted in Olympic White with a contrasting black painted roof, mirror covers, front V-grille and tailgate trim, ensuring that this version of the Astra VXR looks like no other.

Each Arctic Edition also gets a healthy does of options included in its price. Heated leather Recaro front seats, tinted glass and Black 19-inch multi-spoke alloy wheels all form part of the Astra VXR Arctic Edition’s armoury.

And for the first time on a VXR product, customers can also specify their Arctic Edition with the Panoramic Windscreen, an option that offers a window on the world that extends back over the front seats with heat-absorbing glass. And if the skies are grim, a full-length shading system with pull-out sunblinds is also included.

Of course, none of this diminishes the Astra VXR Arctic Edition’s exceptional performance. With 177 kW of power and 320 N.m of torque between 2 400 and 5 000rpm, it’ll hit a top speed of 243 km/h, with 100 km/h arriving from standstill in just 6.2 seconds. Lowered and uprated sports suspension, ultra-low profile 235/35 x 19 tyres and 321 mm front ventilated brakes discs complete the Arctic Edition’s dynamic package.

With Opel being on-hold in SA at the moment, the Astra OPC getting a bit ‘long in the tooth’ and Europe having launched a Nurburgring Edition and now the Arctic Edition, we really think Opel SA should consider an exclusive, limited edition, SA only, Superboss, or motorsport inspired Astra GTC OPC.