Vauxhall’s new Astra has been out for almost a year now in five-door form but the three-door is still some time off.

So the current three-door has remained on sale, and to keep interest piqued Vauxhall has been marketing this VXR Arctic special edition.

It carries a £720 premium over the standard Astra VXR hot hatch but comes with almost £2,000 of extra kit, including black exterior detailing, heated leather Recaro seats and 19in black alloys.

The extras, and the Olympic White paintwork, ensure it’ll stand out from other VXRs, and Vauxhall has made only 500 units, ensuring further exclusivity.

That’s a key selling point, as many prospective buyers might rather wait for the new model. Still, even though this model is getting on a bit it’s still a great looking car.

Underneath, it’s the same as a normal Astra VXR. The sports suspension and low profile tyres mean the ride is firm, but hot hatch customers will expect that.

The 2.0-litre turbocharged engine ensures plenty of performance, with 0-62mph achievable in 6.2secs.

Nevertheless, the test for dealers is how to convince buyers to back exclusivity over age.

Price £23,595

Rivals Seat Leon Cupra R, Ford Focus ST