HOT hatch fans have always made a bee line for the Vauxhall Corsa and the latest version is the nippiest yet.

The Corsa VXR ClubSport pumps out 205ps from a 1.6-litre turbo engine giving it even more power than the Nurburgring special model released last year.

Dressed to thrill with sporty body kit the ClubSport puts Vauxhall's top seller up against the likes of the Ford Fiesta ST and Renault's performance-oriented Clio RS.

The ClubSport is sharp to drive and quick to respond with a 0 to 60 acceleration time of 6.5 seconds and a top speed of 143mph.

Handling is enhanced by a Drexler limited slip differential which keeps the Corsa in check through quick corners.

On the road it is packed with fun and agile enough to satisfy the most enthusiastic of drivers.

The ClubSport is priced from £22,390 which makes it the sporty flagship of the Corsa line up - Vauxhall's most popular little hatch.

With Recaro sports seats, plenty of VXR badges and a flat bottomed steering wheel, the ClubSport has the necessary credentials to impress.

It's also shod with 18-inch gloss black alloys which set off some racy body kit.

Sat nav, Bluetooth and  MP3 connections are all part and parcel of the VXR specification and the ClubSport is a genuine pocket rocket with style.

The engine is mated to a six-speed gearbox and Vauxhall's official fuel figure of 37.2mpg is not unrealistic.

Emissions are 178g/km which means road tax is quite hefty at £210 a year and business users face a 28 per cent charge.

That's high for a hatchback - even a quick one - and the ClubSport's main rival, the Fiesta ST is much lower on the emissions scale at 138g/km.

Under acceleration there is a healthy growl from the exhaust which is a special dual system specific to the VXR.

The ClubSport sits on lowered suspension and although it is quick to respond from the throttle the ride is not harsh. While it is noticeably firmer than a regular Corsa it is not as stiff as some of the other hot hatches, espcially the Clio.

The current Corsa has always had strong appeal since it first appeared some eight years ago and it has always been popular with younger drivers.

Standard models - not the VXR - are now available with free insurance and competitive finance deals, all helping to put the Corsa on track for sales approaching 80,000 for 2014.

Since the current Mk 3 model appeared in 2006 Vauxhall has sold more than 630,000 Corsas in the UK with the car a permanent fixture in the top 10 of the sales charts.