With the release of Vauxhall’s fresh Astra, a performance version soon appeared. The Mk 2 GTE was a further step in to the hot hatchback market and quickly became the most desirable to own.

Taking a big bite of the hot hatchback market that had fast become a craze in the 1980s was an important strategy for Vauxhall. The Mk 2 GTE followed the successful Mk 1 version, but the its first engine, an 8-valve, was a let down in comparison to its rivals the Ford Escort XR3i and the Volkswagen Golf GTI.

With much poorer performance than expected, the engine needed updating quickly so Vauxhall introduced the now-famous Cosworth-developed 16-valve ‘Red Top’ 20XE twin-cam unit in 1988. It was a complete game-changer. The engine with the iconic red spark plug cover provided the muscle to match the look, and one of the hottest hatches of the era was unleashed.

With its sleek, aerodynamic design and a full LCD digital dashboard which was unique in its class, the new GTE became an incredibly popular car. Its image was given a significant boost when John Cleland won the Class C group of the 1989 British Touring Car Championship with a works Mk 2 GTE.