Vauxhall has released the first official image of one of its new Geneva show stars, the Astra VXR EXTREME, which will be the basis for a future low-volume production run.

Derived from last year's Astra Cup race car, which competed in the Nürburgring Endurance Championship, the EXTREME is the street-legal race sibling to the current Astra VXR, which in standard form already produces 280PS and 400Nm of torque.

But shorn of weight, thanks to liberal use of high-quality carbon components, the EXTREME's natural environment will be the race track. An integrated safety structure, racing seats and six-point safety belts drives home the point still further.

The EXTREME's timing couldn't be better, since 2014 marks ten years since the VXR brand was launched. The Astra VXR is now the best-selling VXR – and the UK remains the largest market in Europe for Vauxhall and Opel's highest-powered models.

Watch this space for more information about the Astra VXR EXTREME.