Hidden hot stuff

The new, quick Vectra SRi is a bit of a pussycat to look at but still packs a punch. Sue Baker finds Vauxhall's subtle approach very welcome

VAUXHALL Vectra SRi drivers are not known as shrinking violets.

They are familiar to other road-users as prime press-on merchants on motorways and invariably the ones first away from the lights in town. No wonder these sporty Vauxhalls, favoured by exuberant drivers, have also been a popular choice as police cars.

Now the new model Vectra SRi is about to go on sale, and the surprise is how discreet it is, with only very subtle exterior cues to differentiate the "hotter" Vectra from its milder brethren.

Look carefully, and you will spot the darkened glass of the windows and lights, a modest front under-bumper spoiler and distinctive alloy wheels.

Interestingly, having taken such pains to give the new Vectra an uncluttered tail by concealing the exhaust pipe, Vauxhall now deems the pipe a sporty feature worthy of being seen on the SRi - its mark of identity from the rear.

You can't rely on overt badges or telltale red piping, hallmarks of older SRis, to alert you to the new one's presence. The badges are tiny, the red lines history on this latest quick Vectra derivative.

The car's behaviour is subtle too. Although the 2.2 litre SRi, powered by the same engine that gives the VX220 sports car its go, is a zestful performer, it isn't raucous.

Combined with changes to tauten the steering and firm the suspension, the result is a civilised car with an unexpectedly absorbent ride.

It sits squatter on the road than most other Vectras, lowered by about an inch compared with standard models.

It also has stiffer springs and dampers - the usual changes made to a higher performance model to handle the extra power without compromising the cornering behaviour.

Too often, the result is a hard-riding car that jars your bones and rattles your fillings.

Not this time. The SRi achieves a good balance between handling agility and comfort. It is not the bruiser over coarse surfaces that you might expect, so your fillings are safe.

Interior changes enhance the SRi and lift its ambience a little above the standard versions. Its sports front seats give extra support, and chrome-effect trim details add a touch of burnish to the businesslike cabin.

Like the rest of the Vectra range, the SRi has electronic indicators with two-stage operation, a light push giving

three flashes or a firmer push for normal operation.

Familiarity does endear them, but it was a relief to return to normal indicators in another car.

The SRi and its upper-crust sibling the GSi - both fivedoor hatchbacks and built on Merseyside at Ellesmere Port - go on sale later this month.

They are jointly predicted to account for around 20 per cent of total Vectra sales.

The SRi comes in three guises, with a 1.8 as well as the 2.2 litre petrol engine, or a The GSi, flagship of the Vectra range at pounds 20,980, is the most powerful model with a British-built V6 3-litre engine.

2.1 litre diesel.

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