The Astra is reborn
AMID all the Brexit furore, I have been flying the flag with an early drive of the smart and frugal new British-built Vauxhall astra.
It’s the 8th generation of the popular family and company car hatchback, marking 40 years since the first astra Mk 1 was launched in 1979 — and more than three million astras have been sold in the UK since then, including 30,000 last year.
It remains Vauxhall’s second-biggest seller after the Corsa super-mini, and bosses reckon that improvements to engines, a 200kg weight loss, and sleeker aerodynamics make it the most fuel-efficient astra ever.
With order books now open in time for the new september ‘69’ plate, and prices ranging from £18,885 to £29,310, it’ll be on show at the Frankfurt Motor show in just over a week’s time.
Full production starts at Cheshire’s ellesmere Port factory in October, in time for the first UK deliveries in mid-november.
There is a choice of petrol and diesel engines — all of them frugal three-cylinder versions — offering a saving on fuel consumption and emissions of up to 21 per cent. and I had a go in most of them.
about 85 per cent of sales are expected to be petrol.
Petrol engines on offer comprise a new 1.2-litre threecylinder Turbo in three levels of power — 110, 130 and 145 horsepower (Ps) — all linked to a sixspeed manual gearbox and achieving fuel economy of up to 54.3mpg, with low emissions of just 99g per km.
In a ‘ green’ eco- driving challenge I managed 58mpg, but was one of the worst performers, with some rivals achieving around 10mpg more.
There’s also a willing 1.4-litre, 145 horse-power Turbo petrol linked to a continuously variable CVT automatic gearbox. The diesel option is a smooth 1.5-litre Turbo D with 105 horse-power, linked to a six-speed manual, or a more powerful 122hp model with the option of manual or a smooth new nine- speed automatic gearbox.
This auto- diesel has a top speed of 127mph, and sufficient acceleration from rest to 60mph in ten seconds. With a base price of £26,500, it is a smart package.