Background The noughties gave us some true future classics, although not all were equally appreciated at the time.

Take the Vauxhall VX220, which made its debut in 2000.

This two-seat roadster may have a devoted following today, but it initially struggled to ignite widespread enthusiasm, despite its eye-catching looks and a development story that involved one of the finest sports car makers in existence.

Under the skin, the VX220 shared much with the contemporary Lotus Elise, being the result of a collaboration between Lotus and Vauxhall.

Built at Hethel, it shared many key components with the Elise S2, including the stiff aluminium chassis tub.

It also benefitted from Lotus’s expertise in glass-fibre bodywork and suspension tuning.

Rather than using the Elise’s K-series engine, the VX220 was powered by a robust 145bhp 2.2-litre Ecotec petrol unit, which was enough to propel the 870kg car from 0–62mph in 5.6 seconds.

In 2003, the option of a 2.0-litre turbocharged engine from t...