Vauxhall has released full details of the new Astra, which has now gone on sale in the UK.
A range of eight engines and five trim levels will be offered on the five-door Astra available at launch. The five-door model will be exclusively built at Ellesmere Port in Cheshire, with deliveries of the first cars to customers expected in December.
See the hi-res Vauxhall Astra picture gallery
Vauxhall design boss Mark Adams previously told Autocar at the Frankfurt motor show that the car's key rival would be the VW Golf. "But the Astra is more dynamic and emotional than the Golf," he says. "It's more youthful and fashionable too."
The entry-level 1.4-litre 85bhp Exclusiv Astra costs £15,675, £270 more than the outgoing base model. The top-of-the-range 158bhp 2.0 CDTi Elite Auto costs £23,695.
Vauxhall claims there is an average drop in CO2 emissions across the range compared to the outgoing one by 13.3 per cent.
Diesel models are expected to make up half of sales and they range from a 1.7-litre producing 108bhp, to a 158bhp 2.0-litre unit. Mated to a manual ‘box, the diesel Astra never emits more than 129g/km of CO2.
An ecoFLEX model will arrive in spring 2010, which will be equipped with a 1.3-litre CDTi engine with CO2 emissions of 109g/km.
Of the five petrol engines in the range, one is all new – the 138bhp 1.4-litre turbocharged unit. This will replace the 1.8-litre unit and is part of Vauxhall’s plans to downsize to lower emissions engines without any loss of power.
To improve the handling and boost interior space, the new Astra’s front and rear tracks have been increased by 56mm and 70mm respectively, while its wheelbase has been increased by 71mm.
Vauxhall’s engineers have taken a novel approach to the traditional torsion beam rear end by using a Watt’s linkage, which helps to increase the overall stiffness of the suspension and improves the handling.
That means the big mounting bushes that connect the beam to the car are softer and more compliant than usual. This has the added effect of cutting noise and increasing comfort.
Following on from the Insignia, Vauxhall has also added a range of new technological features to the new Astra. Its Advanced Forward Lighting system is an option, which adjusts the lighting to suit the road conditions.
A six-way adjustable driver’s seat is available on all trim levels, while a FlexFloor system features in the boot to increase its loading capacity. An optional Flex-Fix system is available at the rear, which pulls out of the bumper to provide storage for two bikes.
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Re: New Vauxhall Astra: full details
Haha, well here's an idea:
Why don't manufacturers keep the new models roughly a similar size to the old ones, then just slot a new, larger model at the top of their ranges.
It would save a lot of messing about!
Re: New Vauxhall Astra: full details
The pricing, especially at the bottom end of the range is more or less suicidal.
You'd be mad to take the entry level model over a cee'd/i30/Octavia, all available at less than 12 grand, or an Impreza 1.5R at about 13K with a special deal that includes a five year warranty.
It wouldn't even work if the Astra had a premium badge, rather than one that has just suffered six months of damaging speculation about its future.
Re: New Vauxhall Astra: full details
Yes its bigger than a Caverlier,like the Insignia is now the Size of the Omega so the next gen Corsa will be the size of the last Astra leaving room for some new mini/micro cars to slot in under the Corsa.