Vauxhall Corsa VXR, Specifications

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1. New Insignia vxr SuperSport Adaptive 4x4. The advantages begin when you pull
away. All four wheels of the Insignia are engaged for stable acceleration with maximum grip.
In normal driving, the power is split 95% front/5% rear, but under acceleration the system
automatically diverts more power to the rear wheels for maximum traction before gradually
moving power back towards the front wheels. With either the VXR or Sport button
depressed, the system apportions more power to the rear wheels in a 40% front/60% rear
split to give an even more sporting feel.
New Insignia vxr SuperSport electronic Limited Slip differential (eLSd). The electronic
Limited Slip Differential (eLSD) is fitted as standard to the rear of the New Insignia VXR SuperSport
offering even more benefits for the enthusiastic driver. By sensing which rear wheel has the
most grip, eLSD can transfer more torque to the wheel most able to utilise it. Up to 50% of the
rear axle torque can be transferred between the rear wheels, increasing stability during high
speed lane changes and providing more traction when accelerating out of corners.
2. Flexride (Adaptive Stability Technology). The Astra VXR and New Insignia VXR
SuperSport models feature FlexRide –
providing three different driving modes: ‘VXR’
for ultimate driving dynamics (tighter
suspension, sharper throttle response and
more direct steering) or ‘Sport’ for everyday
sporty driving. ‘Normal’ is the default mode.
The FlexRide adaptive chassis control system
with Continuous Damper Control (CDC)
monitors the roll, pitch and yaw of the car, and
changes the rate of damping on each wheel to
optimise the handling and selectively stiffens
the suspension. This means the vehicle will
exhibit a reduced rate of roll and pitch, making
it more responsive during direction changes
and more settled during the braking/turn-in/
acceleration transition when cornering. The
FlexRide dampers contain magneto rheological (MR) fluid – magnetic particles suspended in
a synthetic fluid which change flow rate when a magnetic field is applied. Complex algorithms
within the CDC system use acceleration,
braking and cornering data to
instantaneously adjust the electrical current
applied to the electromagnetic coil within
each damper – the higher the charge, the
greater the damping resistance.
Limited Slip differential (LSd). Limited
Slip Differential (LSD). The Corsa VXR
Clubsport and Astra VXR respectively are
the most powerful production Corsa and
Astra models ever produced. And to assist
putting their power onto the road, both
these models have been equipped with a
motorsport-derived Drexler Limited Slip Differential. Following extensive development the
usual aggressive intervention from a front-wheel drive LSD has been re-tuned to provide
outstanding traction and stability without affecting driver enjoyment.
These VXR’s Drexler LSD uses of a series of clutch plates
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that restricts significant
differences in rotational speed between the front wheels limiting wheelspin and enhancing
stability. Acceleration and deceleration cause pressure rings
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next to the clutch plates to
push sideways and compress the clutch stack – reducing the speed variation between the two
driven wheels. Shaped cams on the differential axis
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– reacting to differences in torque in
the differential vary the amount of compression in the clutch stack – changing the amount of
rotational difference between each wheel.
The speed of reaction and the amount of rotational difference are determined by the ‘ramp
angles’
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in the pressure rings. The lower the ramp angle, the higher the pressure applied
to the clutch stack. On VXR the ramp angles are set-up to provide different characteristics
under acceleration and deceleration.
VXR Technology| 33