What is the Vauxhall VX220?
The VX220 is a two-seat sports roadster with an open top and a mid-mounted engine. It gave Vauxhall a focused sports car alongside its everyday hatchbacks and family cars. In the UK, Opel’s Speedster was sold as the VX220.
Lotus developed and built the car at its Hethel factory. It shared its basic architecture with the second-generation Lotus Elise, while its sharp-edged body gave it a distinct Vauxhall look.
Generations and engines
The first generation ran from 2001 to 2005. It was offered with a naturally aspirated 2.2-litre petrol engine and a turbocharged 2.0-litre petrol engine. The VXR220 used a tuned version of the turbo engine.
The UK VCA listing spans 2.0- to 2.2-litre engines, and all four listed versions use petrol. With its mid-engine layout, two seats and compact roadster body, the VX220 stood apart from Vauxhall’s practical cars.
How economical is the Vauxhall VX220?
The lowest official consumption figure in the UK VCA listing is 8.5 L/100 km on the NEDC test. NEDC was the European procedure used for these figures; later European results use WLTP, while the USA uses EPA testing and Canada uses the 5-cycle procedure. Results from different procedures are not directly comparable.
Where was the VX220 sold?
The VX220 was sold in the United Kingdom, while the same car was known as the Opel Speedster elsewhere. Lotus’s role in developing and building it gave Vauxhall a distinctive sports car shaped by the British maker’s specialist engineering.
Questions and answers
What kind of car is the Vauxhall VX220?
It is a two-seat, mid-engined sports roadster developed with Lotus and sold by Vauxhall in the UK.
What engines were offered?
The UK listing spans 2.0- to 2.2-litre petrol engines, including naturally aspirated and turbocharged options.
What is its lowest official fuel consumption figure?
The lowest figure shown is 8.5 L/100 km on the NEDC test for the UK VCA market.
When was the first-generation VX220 sold?
The first generation is dated 2001–2005.