Vauxhall price increase on January 29th! Beat the Price Increase!

Vauxhall price increase on January 29th! Beat the Price Increase!

The whole Vauxhall range is subject to a Price Increase on the 29th January 2010.

Beat the price increase by ordering your new Vauxhall @ Discount Vauxhall

Email your enquiry to discountvauxhall@googlemail.com

All New Vauxhall Astra SRi Review

Warm hatch shows the new Astra has the model’s best chassis ever

Acouple of miles down the road I was tempted to get out, walk around the back and double-check that I was driving a Vauxhall Astra. I’ve driven quite a few generations of the Griffin-badged hatch and each one has fallen frustratingly short of the class standard. Frustratingly because Astras have always had stonking engines which, of course, have illuminated the chassis’ shortcomings…

Not here. This Astra SRi feels sweaet, riding with great suppleness, steering with precision and cornering with innate poise. The only thing it doesn’t have is much go, though that’s because this is the base SRi with just 138bhp from a turbocharged 1.4-litre petrol in-line four. The 178bhp 1.6 turbo (more on which in a minute) makes a much better partner for what looks and feels like a big car for its class.

If the SRi badges weren’t fitted, you wouldn’t guess it was a sporty version. The 17in alloys wear plump 215/50 Bridgestone Turanzas and there’s nothing edgy in the car’s stance. The way it moves down the road isn’t sporty in the traditional Vauxhall fast hatch way either, i.e. the ride isn’t rocky. Instead there’s fine body control, decent steering feel and weight, and wonderfully accurate and effortless responses. It’s these attributes that encourage you to press on, and when you do the balance and poise of the SRi, and the depth of its control, are impressive. The new rear axle design has transformed the car’s dynamics.

The turbocharged 1.4-litre feels almost normally aspirated, the exertions of its light-pressure turbo – helping deliver 147lb ft of torque between 1850 and 4900rpm – largely smothered by the mass of the biggest-ever Astra. The gearing beyond first and second is quite long (mental maths puts the theoretical top speed in 6th at 200mph) so it’s not a fast hatch in the traditional sense. The claims are 9sec dead to 60mph and a top end of 128mph, with a combined mpg of 47.9.

We also tried the 178bhp 1.6 model, but fitted with optional ‘FlexRide’ suspension. The engine lifts the performance firmly into warm hatch territory (where it should be with the SRi badge), with decent low- and mid-range urge and a top end worth using. However, FlexRide is to be avoided; on its ‘Sport’ setting it’s not as crisp and engaging as the stock SRi chassis, and on ‘Tour’ it’s comfy, yes, but the standard chassis is plenty supple and quiet enough.

The new Astra’s interior is very like that of the recently launched Insignia, and very smart it is too. At night there are pockets of subtle red lighting and glints of chrome, and it appears just as classy in daylight; of high quality and solidly made (in Britain, incidentally). Refinement is very good, the driving position is spot on and the optional ‘ergonomic sports seats’ (£450) are excellent too.

There are a few niggles. The clutch and brake pedals are a bit light and the high-set centre console is a confusing mishmash of tiny buttons and knobs. Indeed the switchgear in general is a bit fiddly. Also, as we said earlier, the new Astra looks and feels like an XL-size hatch in this sector and it’s not as distinctive as the previous-generation model or particularly original.

No matter, we love the way the new Astra drives, even with the modest 1.4 turbo engine. Dynamically, it’s right up there with the very best in the class. The stock SRi chassis with the 178bhp 1.6 should be a sweet combination, and you wonder just how good a properly quick VXR version will be. Very, would be our guess

Awards for the All New Astra

The true sign of a great car is when it is winning prestigious European awards BEFORE it had even gone on sale!

The all-new Astra has won a 2009 Golden Steering Wheel in the compact class of Auto Bild’s highly sought after awards. One of the most prestigious and important prizes for car manufacturers in Europe was instigated by the publisher Axel Springer in 1976 and has been awarded annually ever since then.

“This is terrific news and a real feather in our cap” said Andy Gilson, Vauxhall’s Marketing Director, “not only has the new Astra been shortlisted for the European Car of the Year, which we won last year with the Insignia, but it’s now taken an important award from an International jury of readers. And all before the car hits showrooms on December 11th”The all-new Astra received top marks in the Engine, Fuel-consumption, Chassis, Braking, Steering and Driver assistance safety systems categories. Race drivers and technical experts ranked the all-new Astra no.1 as well, awarding the car 7 out of 8 points.

Having been awarded the Golden Steering Wheel, the all-new Astra succeeds the VW Golf VI and has overhauled its rival from Wolfsburg primarily in the areas of Quality and Comfort.

The Golden Steering Wheel election is organized into two phases. In the first round, European readers voted for their favourite vehicles, selecting a total of 46 in six categories. Next, a panel of fifty experts, including technicians, chief editors, race and rally drivers and VIP’s tested and judged the nominees on dynamics, quality and comfort. Vauxhall last won a Golden Steering Wheel in 2005 with the Zafira.

New Vauxhall Calibra

THE Calibra is back! Vauxhall’s legendary coupé is about to make a welcome return in the shape of this sleek new sports car.

Replacing the much-loved and much-missed Calibra – the world’s most aerodynamic coupé when it arrived in 1989 – the model will sit above the forthcoming three-door Astra, set to debut at this year's Frankfurt Motor Show.

It will go into battle with a raft of desirable machines. With VW’s Golf-based Scirocco proving a hit, and demand for Peugeot’s 308 RC Z and Ford’s upcoming Focus-based two-door likely to be equally strong, the market for compact coupés is growing.


Thanks to a sleek body which mixes styling cues from the GTC Concept – seen at the 2007 Detroit Motor Show as a preview to the Insignia – and those of the new Astra, the car is set to take centre stage.


Along with the Astra Roadster (Issue 1,069), the compact newcomer will be the star of Vauxhall’s line-up, as the firm has put on hold its plans for a larger, Insignia-based coupé, in the style of the GTC.


So it carries a lot of hope on its shoulders – but, just like the original Calibra, it’s sure to turn heads.

Key to its appeal is the sloping roof, which gives the impression of a car that can slice through the air. The front boasts Astra-style headlights along with ‘sabre tooth’ vertical air intakes – a design feature taken directly from the GTC Concept – and a low splitter. Sculpted flanks and sleek tail-lights complete the distinctive shape.


Inside will be a 2+2 cabin, and it’s possible the Calibra could have a development of the GTC’s Flex4 arrangement, which allows the two seats in the back to slide fully forward, maximising boot space.

That would make it one of the most practical cars in its class. As with the Astra, the Calibra will sit on Vauxhall’s latest front-wheel-drive Delta platform.

But with a wider track and increased wheelbase – as you can see from this prototype (centre), which was disguised by a hatch body – it will provide better stability and traction.


Vauxhall’s FlexRide electronic damping system will be fitted as standard to flagship versions. This features Standard, Sport and Tour settings, letting the driver tweak suspension stiffness, throttle response and other variables.


Under the bonnet, power will come from a range of Astra-sourced engines, including a 157bhp 2.0-litre diesel and a 177bhp 1.6 turbo. A range-topping 2.0 turbo from the upcoming Astra VXR will kick out in excess of 250bhp.


The Calibra is still some way off, though. First, Vauxhall will launch the Astra three-door and estate, not to mention a new Zafira MPV. However, when the coupé finally does arrive, it will be an instant hit.

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The New Vauxhall Astra VXR 2010

If you’re desperate for a lovely hot hatch in the form of a Vauxhall Astra VXR, it might be worth waiting just a little bit longer (either for a new or used one). The reason for that is there’s a new model coming our way, due in 2010. Naturally, it’ll offer improvements over the last, but in what sort of form?

If you’ve never driven (or even seen) the VXR then you won’t know that it is one of the most powerful hatchbacks available, with around 230BHP going to the front wheels. On top of that you’ve got decent suspension and a lovely bodykit. The new version naturally adds more of the same, with aggressive lines and uprated suspension for an even better drive.

The car will go on sale against some tough competition, such as the new Ford Focus ST and the Golf GTI – so Vauxhall better have something pretty impressive up its’ collective sleeves. The styling, for those who have seen the previous version, is not too different. It retains the coupe-like lines that made it desirable in the first place.

The exterior includes the same ground-hugging body kit but there are also new air intakes at the front, a diffuser at the rear and the same central exhaust. It looks like there are more lines in there, but simultaneously a sleeker car. Can’t complain there then. 19 inch alloys should keep all but the fussiest boy racers happy, whilst roof spoiler and a range of colours (including white no doubt, unless it is back out of fashion by then) should give a wide appeal.

The big change perhaps, and something that other car manufacturers will take note of for their performance cars, comes in the engine. Rather than the previous version’s 2.0 litre turbocharged unit, this one has a 1.8 litre turbocharged powerplant. This will still have the necessary 240(ish)BHP and a 150MPH top speed, but will be greener and more fuel efficient.

Whether there will be a diesel remains to be seen – frankly I still think that if you’re after a diesel hot hatch you are a bit mad, especially as the price is still going up out of line with petrol. You’ll soon be seeing those extra miles dwindle pound for pound. It also isn’t the fuel of choice for those seeking a performance car like this.

The chassis will be the decent Delta platform (apparently what the new Lacetti replacement and the Saab 9-1 will be based on) that features lightweight materials and a multilink rear suspension layout. For those who are concerned it will be losing character, don’t worry, the VXR will have electronically controlled dampers and no doubt top boffins will be working on a way to lower the amount of torque steer that the mad Astra produces to make all that power more usable.

Am I excited about this? Well, a little bit yes. If just because I might be able to contain myself and my wallet just a little longer in order to purchase a last of the line model at my local dealership. The current VXR is a cracking hot motor; it’s just a bit unruly. A little bit like me really – or so says my girlfriend after we went to look at one!

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