Miss England to front Vauxhall's Help for Heroes campaign

LONDON - Vauxhall is putting its brand behind Help for Heroes, the armed forces charity, in a two-year partnership.

Vauxhall has pledged to raise money for the charity and has signed-up serving soldier and current Miss England Katrina Hodge to front its efforts.

The car manufacturer has planned a series of events called Vauxhall VXR Power Events that will include "high-adrenaline" activities such as karting and motor racing.

The fundraising events will kick off in April, when Vauxhall dealerships around the country will launch their own fundraising initiatives to support Help for Heroes.

A Vauxhall spokesman said that the partnership was a good fit with the company, which has provided military vehicles for the armed forces in the past.

Vauxhall Beats Porsche, Audi & Jag As Car Choice Of Lotto Winners

New millionaires make B-line for Griffin-badged cars!

LUTON, UNITED KINGDOM – February 25, 2010: There’s no doubt that Vauxhall has raised the bar when it comes to producing premium cars at sensible prices, but an Ipsos MORI survey has now revealed that even lucky National Lottery winners are keen to splash their cash on models from one of the UK’s most popular brands.

In a survey of 100 National Lottery publicity winners who’d won £1 million or more, Vauxhall ranked No.4 in their automotive wish lists, in front of prestige brands like Range Rover, Porsche, Audi and Jaguar.

In total, 15 per cent of those surveyed purchased a Vauxhall after they received their winnings, illustrating how even newly-minted millionaires need cars that are practical, yet stylish, well-equipped and luxurious.

It is perhaps no surprise that cars were revealed as one of the most popular purchases for National Lottery winners, with 36 per cent choosing to visit a car showroom before visiting either an estate agent or even the high street shops*.

“This is great news for Vauxhall,” said Andy Gilson, Vauxhall’s Marketing Director. “It goes to show that, while exotic brands like Ferrari and Rolls Royce may feature further down National Lottery winners’ shopping lists, they’re still a pragmatic group at heart - but one that still recognises quality and value!”

Vauxhall Ampera road-trip

Spy shots show hybrid ahead of 370-mile road trip to Geneva

Vauxhall's Ampera is taking the scenic route to Geneva! First unveiled in concept form at last year's Geneva Motor Show, these pictures show the petrol-electric hybrid in training for its grand entrance in Switzerland this year.

Vauxhall bosses will drive a prototype model of the car from their headquarters in Russelheilm, Germany to Geneva just in time for it to take its place on the Vauxhall stand.

The Ampera uses a hybrid set-up that means it is driven by the 150bhp electric motor at all times. When the battery runs out of charge- after around 40 miles- a 1.4-litre petrol engine kicks in to act as a generator and recharge the battery.

All this means that the 370-mile journey from Germany can be completed while producing around 40g/km of CO2 and managing 176mpg economy.

These pictures are also the first that show a production prototype Ampera out in the open and, thankfully, the original concept's brave design has not been dulled down. There's a few mild tweaks to the nose and rear bumper but the futuristic looks are mostly intact.

Bosses revealed that the Ampera is scheduled to begin production at the end of 2011. When it goes on sale early in 2012 it's expected to cost around £30,000.

The New Vauxhall Astra Accessories Range

What will your all-new Vauxhall Astra be doing today? Ferrying your young ones to nursery or school? Load lugging from the DIY store? Perhaps it'll be living the highlife and transporting you off to your favourite restaurant or on a weekend break?

Whatever the occasion, you've got it covered with the Vauxhall Accessories range.

Stunning looks come as standard with all-new Vauxhall Astra but turn even more heads with the Vauxhall Astra Styling Pack. Boasting sporty VXR front lower spoiler, side sills, rear lower skirt and tailgate spoiler, it is supplied, painted and fitted for £1,499.

Then keep your shiny all-new Vauxhall tidy with tailored velour floor mats and a set of four mud flaps, available across the model range from £128.99.

At just £27, the Safety Pack is a must-have for all Vauxhall drivers. Complete with warning triangle, first aid kit and hi-visibility vest, it's reassuring to know you have every eventuality covered.

With bike racks, tow bars and much, much more on offer, take a look at the full list of accessories available from Vauxhall at your local retailer.

All New Vauxhall Astra VXR

Hottest Astra ever caught testing; packs 250bhp 2.0-litre turbo for 0-60mph in six seconds and a 150mph top speed.

These are the best shots yet of the fastest Astra ever! The high-performance VXR model looks set to shake-up the hot-hatch market as it goes head-to head with the Focus ST and VW's Golf GTI.

Our spies caught this protoype undergoing winter testing and while it may look like a regular five-door model, look closely and you'll spot the widened track and revised front end, complete with larger air intakes.

That's because under this mule's body lies the new three-door only Astra VXR. Powered by a 2.0-litre turbocharged engine, the new VXR should put out around 250bhp and 320Nm of torque. That will be good enough for a 0-60mph time of 6 seconds and a top speed of 150mph.

But the newcomer won't just be quick in a straight line. Vauxhall's adaptive FlexRide suspension means drivers can choose to put the car in 'Sport' or 'VXR' mode which will improve throttle response and stiffen the suspension for more agile handling. For a softer ride, drivers can simply push the 'Standard' button.

The finished article will have the visual muscle to match its performance with a coupe-like body, complete with a rakish roofline, ground-hugging body-kit and a large central exhaust pipe replacing the twin exhausts shown here.

Inside, as with the rest of the Astra range, the newcomer gets a totally redesigned cabin with high-quality soft-touch materials will be used, while equipment including a Bluetooth phone connection and an MP3 compatible stereo are set to appear.

The Astra VXR will be publicly unveiled at the Paris Motor Show in September this year. Sales will begin in early 2011 starting at around £22,000.

Vauxhall Astra turns 30

Six generations and 2.8 million units later, the Vauxhall Astra is celebrating its 30th year in production this month.

The first Mk1 Astra rolled off the production line at Ellesmere Port in February 1980 and was Vauxhall’s first car to incorporate both front-wheel-drive and a transverse engine layout. In 1982, the Astra became the first Vauxhall ever to be offered with a diesel engine.

Sporting pedigree then followed with dominant spells in international motorsport, and the release of hot hatch derivatives including GTE, GSi and most recently, VXR - the badge that brought hot hatch hoonery back into fashion.

Today, the Vauxhall Astra accounts for almost one in 20 of all vehicles registered in the UK, while the latest MkVI version of Astra, the most convincing iteration yet, is Britain’s best-selling UK-built car. Happy birthday, Vauxhall Astra. Here's to the next 30 years...

Vauxhall Flextreme GT/E concept car

*The shape of things to come
*New electric concept car
*On show at Geneva motor show



This is the Vauxhall Flextreme GT/E electric concept car, which will make its debut at the Geneva motor show at the start of March.

The Flextreme GT/E is a four-door coupe that uses the same E-REV plug-in hybrid drivetrain as the Ampera, which will go on sale in 2012 for around £35,000.

With its battery fully charged – which takes three hours through a household socket – the GT/E has a projected range of 40 miles. That’s enough for the majority of journeys taken in the UK, but for longer trips there’s also a 1.4-litre petrol engine to generate more electricity and provide a total range of more than 300 miles.

175mpg and emissions of 40g/km
Vauxhall says the system provides an average 175mpg and CO2 emissions of less than 40g/km. With a 161bhp and 273lb ft of pull, the Flextreme GT/E, is capable of a 0-62mph dash in 9.0 seconds and a top speed of 124mph.

The concept car is a little shorter than an Insignia family car, but is much lower and sleeker. Its rear doors are rear-hinged, like those on the new Meriva.

It is designed to be as aerodynamic as possible and has a drag coefficient of 0.22, lower than that of the Mercedes-Benz E-Class Coupe, which is the most aerodynamically efficient production car with a figure of 0.24.

The Flextreme GT/E also has intakes at the front to guide airflow around the body. The wheels have low-rolling-resistance tyres, while 350mm-long active spoilers are deployed at speeds above 30mph to improve aerodynamics. There are no door mirrors, just small, drag-reducing cameras instead.

Vauxhall Extends Swappage Programme To Three More Models

LUTON, UNITED KINGDOM – February 12, 2010: Due to the astonishing success of its Swappage Programme, where buyers can trade in cars over seven years old to obtain a discount worth at least £3000, Vauxhall has extended the scheme to three more of its best-selling models: the Insignia, Meriva and Zafira.

That means that in addition to the generous discounts already available on the new Astra, Astra Sports Hatch and almost all Corsa models, buyers can now bag a fantastic deal on two of the most popular MPVs on the market and a recent Car of the Year winner.

Vauxhall’s Swappage offer allows buyers to use any seven-year-old UK-registered car with insurance, road tax and MOT – no matter what its value or condition – as currency to reduce the cost of any of the six models listed by at least £3000.

But in some cases, the deal is almost double that. For example, the Swappage price on a Zafira Life 1.6, which normally retails at £18,670, tumbles to just £12,995, if the buyer has an eligible trade in – that’s a massive saving of £5,675!

‘There’s never been a better time to buy a new Vauxhall,’ said Rory Harvey, Vauxhall’s Retail Sales Director. ‘Better still, buyers can take full advantage of the Swappage programme just in time for the new ‘10’ plate on March 1.’

Vauxhall’s Swappage scheme launched on February 5th and applies to new cars ordered or registered before March 31 from participating dealers.

Vauxhall's eco concept

Teaser image previews new Ampera-based electric car set for Geneva Motor Show debut

THE Ampera has a big future ahead of it! Vauxhall has released this cryptic teaser shot ahead of the Geneva Motor Show, along with a handful of details of what will be on display.

Topping the bill will be an all-new concept that illustrates the firm’s claim that “size and comfort do not need to be sacrificed for a vehicle to be environmentally efficient” - suggesting it will take the form of a luxury four-door coupe or even an SUV. What it won't be is an MPV, insiders say.

The concept will feature the same Voltec plug-in hybrid powertrain as the Ampera - which uses electricity as its primary power source supplemented by a small petrol engine for charging the batteries. More will be revealed closer to the car’s official unveiling.

Also on the stand in Geneva will be the revised Corsa range, which gets a mid-life makeover and a new line-up of economical engines. In fact, every new Corsa bar the VXR model will exceed 50mpg when fitted with a manual gearbox. The latest ecoFLEX is the star of the range though - not only does it gain 20bhp but achieves a combined economy of 76.3mpg and CO2 emissions of just 98g/km.

Vauxhall Astra Review

Did you know that the Vauxhall Astra is Britain's best-selling, UK-built car? Well, according to Vauxhall it is, and it has just morphed into a new model.

The new Vauxhall Astra appeared in showrooms in December and is expected to continue its best-selling run by offering "levels of innovation and technology normally found in a class above", with prices for the five-strong range starting at a reasonable, £15,675.

The Vauxhall Astra's five trim levels are: S, Exclusiv, Sri, SE and Elite. Add to this, a choice of eight engines with a new 1.3 ecoFLEX model arriving any time now, and there has to be something in the line-up to suit most tastes.

While Vauxhall expects that the diesel engines; a 1.7 CDTi with outputs of 110PS and 125PS or a 2.0CDTi 160PS, will be the favourites. However, the petrol units in the form of a 1.4VVTi in 87 or 100PS sizes and the 1.6VVTi or 1.6 without the VVTi but with a turbo, will certainly make a healthy contribution to the sales figures.

But let's go back to the most immediate selling point - image. It has been about six years since the Vauxhall Astra had a major overhaul. That was when the Mk5 took over and now we have the Mk6 with its new looks, which are more in keeping with the flagship Vauxhall Insignia and the new face of Vauxhall, in general.

Longer by 17cm than the previous model, the new Vauxhall Astra also boasts a longer wheelbase for that extra bit of cabin space. It is sleeker and more coupe-like than the previous generation and the exterior design has been somewhat simplified.

At the front, the lower grille has been widened and the foglights moved further out. Above, the new 'eagle-eye' headlight clusters accentuate the width of the car as does the new grille complete with updated logo.

In profile, the new Vauxhall Astra looks lean and low, whether it sits on 16- or 18-inch wheels. The design line or 'blade' that runs along the base of the doors, flicks upwards just ahead of the rear wheels, forming an imaginary line that joins up with the tapered edge of the triangular rear quarterlights. The roof also tapers and, together with the wraparound rear screen and taillight units, helps to complete the sporty look.

There is a subtle shoulder line that rises just short of the Vauxhall Astra's front wheelarches and moves through the door handles, rear light clusters and joins at the logo on the boot. Although the rear haunches are emphasised, the rear end displays smart, clean lines but remains unmistakably Vauxhall.

Inside the Vauxhall Astra is a different matter. To clarify, I'm only referring to the centre console, which has a bewildering array of buttons, labels and illumination. Admittedly, some of it is linked to the sat-nav but it is still overly complicated. Some time with the handbook is recommended as initially, it is far from 'at-a-glance' operation. Perhaps I was having a bad day but I had to do just that in order to find out how to switch the radio on and input into the navigation system.

Once mastered, the Satellite navigation system proved to be far better than the one that took me to Vauxhall's offices in the first place. Unfortunately, for a car that is likely to spend a great deal of its working life travelling the country, sat-nav is only available as an option on every trim level and added £832.72, to the £22,408.04, asking price of the Vauxhall Astra test car.

The Vauxhall Astra's CD Navi 500 comprises a full-colour, 7-inch screen with scroll and zoom functions, postcode recognition and 1GB flash memory. On the audio side, there are seven speakers, iPod and MP3 ports. The standard issue audio system also has seven speakers, radio/CD, iPod connection, graphic equalizer and a secondary tuner to compensate for areas of bad reception. There is also a 6CD changer available and an Infinity Premium Audio system on offer as well as a hands-free telephone system but again, these seem to be extras throughout the range

Vauxhall launches £3,000 swappage scheme

Vauxhall is offering customers at least £3,000 for trade-ins aged over seven years on a selection of new cars from now until the end of March.

The carmaker has called its scheme Vauxhall Swappage, Toyota starting using the same term last month, and can be used to buy the recently launched Astra five-door, Astra Sport Hatches and most new Corsa models.

No age limit

Vauxhall said the scheme will only apply to customers with a car which is at least seven years old and is covered by insurance, road tax and MoT. Vauxhall said it would not impose an upper age limit on the used car would accept cars from customers who had only owned it for 90 days.

"We're determined that our customers will continue to enjoy excellent offers as the government's scrappage scheme comes to an end," said Rory Harvey, Vauxhall's retail sales director.

"Vauxhall Swappage not only increases the amount of discount off selected Vauxhalls from £2,000 to at least £3,000, but it also widens the net to cars over seven years old, compared with 10 years plus in the old, government-backed scheme."