Vauxhall Lifetime Warranty will apply to the first owner of any Vauxhall car registered from August 1 2010. Warranty coverage continues throughout the life of the car until it reaches 100,000 miles.

‘With the Vauxhall Lifetime Warranty, we are making a strong statement of confidence in the quality of our products and a clear intent to provide the very best customer service in the UK,’ said Duncan Aldred, Managing Director of Vauxhall Motors.

The comprehensive new OEM warranty cover includes powertrain, steering system, brake system and electrical equipment throughout the life of the vehicle. To maintain the Lifetime Warranty, owners simply need to visit a Vauxhall retailer annually for a free vehicle inspection. Vauxhall is also set to announce details of a further programme enabling second owners to purchase the Lifetime Warranty.

Vauxhall Lifetime Warranty is the latest innovation from the UK’s oldest surviving car maker, which this year celebrates its 107thanniversary. Since 2006, the company has launched a raft of world-class products, including the latest Corsa, Agila, Meriva and Astra models, as well as the European Car of the Year-winning Insignia.

‘Great design, engineering excellence and innovative thinking come as standard with every new Vauxhall so a lifetime warranty, with its boost to the customer ownership experience, is a natural extension to the appeal of our products,’ added Duncan Aldred.

Built in Britain at Vauxhall’s Ellesmere Port plant, the Astra Sports Tourer range starts with the 1.4 (100PS) ES model, which gains an extra 10PS of power over the equivalent 1.4 Astra Estate. It also adds: air conditioning, curtain airbags, Electronic Stability Control (ESP), Electronic Parking Brake (EPB), an aux-in socket and Active Safety Front Head Restraints, all as standard.

Better still, the Sports Tourer’s premium over the 5-door hatch model starts from just £995, for which customers benefit from a larger cargo area (500* versus 470 litres, with rear seats up), despite retaining the same wheelbase as the new hatch.

Diesel pricing is equally aggressive, with the entry-level 110PS 1.7 CDTi ES Sports Tourer costing less than the outgoing 90PS 1.3 CDTi Astra Estate Life, yet packing more power and benefiting from sub-120g/km CO2emissions.

The Sports Tourer range comprises four trim levels: ES, Exclusiv, SE and SRi, but adds a variety of standard and optional equipment, including FlexFold, which allows each section of the 60:40 split-fold rear seatbacks to be lowered at the press of a button housed in the walls of the cargo compartment.

Joining the new Astra range, which has now sold over 30,000 units in the UK since it was launched at the end of last year, the Sports Tourer is likely to account for approximately 10 per cent of all sales. Illustrating the depth of Vauxhall’s engineering and manufacturing excellence, the Sports Tourer will be assembled solely at its Ellesmere Port plant in Cheshire, while its upper-body structure has been 100 per cent engineered at Vauxhall Engineering Centre in Bedfordshire.

The Sports Tourer will be the second model to join the new Astra range, which has now sold over 28,000 units in the UK (to end of May) since its launch last December, and has helped the Astra become Britain’s best-selling retail range in the first five months of this year.

Combining high levels of practicality, clothed in a typically sleek and rakish body from Brit, Mark Adams’ design team, the Sports Tourer will be available to order from the start of October.

Crucially, the Astra Sports Tourer and its hatch sibling will also be among the first Vauxhall models to adopt Start/Stop technology, reducing emissions and fuel consumption.

Illustrating the depth of Vauxhall’s engineering and manufacturing excellence in the UK, the Sports Tourer will be assembled solely at Vauxhall’s Ellesmere Port plant in Cheshire, while its new upper-body structure has been 100 per cent engineered at Vauxhall Engineering Centre in Bedfordshire. And like the recently launched Astra hatch, the Sports Tourer will feature key dynamic elements tuned for UK roads.

PRACTICALITY & EQUIPMENT

Packed with clever features, the Astra Sports Tourer maintains the hatch’s wheelbase (2685mm), yet its superior packaging has allowed the maximum load length to be increased by 28mm to 1835mm, and its load volume by 30 litres to 500 litres with the rear seats up.

As well as boasting a cargo area with flat wall linings to fully optimise available space, a new FlexFold feature (standard or optional depending on trim level) allows each section of the 60:40 split-fold rear seatbacks to be lowered at the press of a button housed in the walls of the cargo compartment. In addition, with the rear seat cushions folded up against the front seat-backs, the Sports Tourer has a completely flat load floor and a maximum load capacity of up to 1550 litres.

But improved interior practicality doesn’t stop there. Compared with the current Astra estate, the Sports Tourer has an additional 25 litres of storage space in the cabin, 50 per cent more than before. And like its hatch sibling, the Sports Tourer also benefits from the option of Vauxhall’s award winning Ergonomic Sports Seats, providing front occupants with best-in-class comfort.

In keeping with Vauxhall’s commitment to bringing premium features to the compact segment, the Astra Sports Tourer will also adopt the option of Intelligent Adaptive Forward Lighting (AFL), which has eight different bi-xenon settings and automatically adapts the headlights according to weather and road conditions.

DESIGN

The Astra Sports Tourer’s exterior design aims to raise the bar in the compact-estate market, bringing a touch of class and dynamism, without compromising the car’s high levels of practicality. The tapered profile, falling roofline and prominent ‘blades’ set into the sides of the car are complemented by a muscular shoulder line, which leads gracefully into eye-catching sculpted rear light units.

Inside, occupants will benefit from the same embracing, premium cabin as in the new Astra hatch, with features like the wraparound wing front fascia and unique ambient lighting.

POWERTRAINS

From launch, Astra Sports Tourer buyers will have a choice of six frugal, yet lively engines, with an ultra-low emissions, Start/Stop-equipped ecoFLEX model available soon afterwards.

The petrol line-up starts with the 100PS 1.4i ECOTEC-4 with variable valve timing and sequential fuel injection, while a 1.6i ECOTEC-4 with 115PS is also available. The Sports Tourer’s most powerful petrol engine will be the smooth and punchy 1.4i Turbo which produces 140PS, yet achieves a combined fuel consumption of 45.6mpg and CO₂emissions of 145g/km.

A new ecoFLEX model will be available soon after launch and will be one of the first Vauxhall models to get Start/Stop technology. Based on the 1.3 CDTi 95PS engine, the ecoFLEX features a Diesel Particulate Filter (DPF) and variable geometry turbocharger.

Two 1.7-litre CDTis, with either 110 or 125PS, and a 160PS 2.0 CDTi, which combines high performance with 55.4mpg combined economy and emissions of just 134g/km, complete the Sports Tourer’s diesel engine range.*

*All figures quoted are provisional

CHASSIS

From the start of the Astra Sports Tourer’s development, Vauxhall’s target was to maintain current levels of ride and handling enjoyed by the five-door hatch. As a consequence, its wheelbase remains the same at 2685mm, as do its front and rear tracks (1544 and 1588mm respectively).

Also carried over is the hatch’s innovative compound crank/Watt’s link rear suspension, which combines exceptional body control and ride characteristics and is unique to Vauxhall/Opel. For the Sports Tourer, the compound crank’s settings have been revised, as have damper calibrations, to cater for the model’s higher load capabilities without compromising the hatch’s dynamics.

Vauxhall has also carried over the steering settings from the hatch, which are bespoke to all new UK Astras. This programme offers drivers a more natural feel, thanks to careful tuning of the car’s electronic power steering system.

FlexRide, Vauxhall’s adaptive suspension system, is also available as an option on the Sports Tourer. The system continuously adapts to changes in driving style and cornering speed. In Standard mode, FlexRide offers the whole bandwidth of settings available and adjusts to suit the driver’s behaviour. In Tour mode, damper settings are relaxed to optimise ride quality, while in Sport mode, throttle and steering responses are sharpened, in addition to the adoption of stiffer damper settings.

For customers who tow, the Sports Tourer will be available with Vauxhall’s electronic Trailer Stability Assist system, which subtly brakes individual wheels to maintain control of the trailer/caravan in emergency situations.

Priced at £23, 595 on the road – just £720 more than the standard Astra VXR – each of the 500 Arctic Editions are painted in Olympic White with a contrasting black painted roof, mirror covers, front V-grille and tailgate trim, ensuring that this version of the Astra VXR looks like no other.

Each Arctic Edition also gets a generous £1965 worth of options included in its price. Heated leather Recaro front seats, tinted glass and Black 19-inch multi-spoke alloy wheels all now form part of the Astra VXR Arctic Edition’s armoury.

And for the first time on a VXR product, customers can also specify their Arctic Edition with the Panoramic Windscreen, a £920 option that offers a window on the world that extends back over the front seats with heat-absorbing glass. And if the skies are grim, a full-length shading system with pull-out sunblinds is also included.

Of course, none of this diminishes the Astra VXR Arctic Edition’s exceptional performance. With 240PS of power and 320Nm of torque between 2400 and 5000rpm, it’ll hit a top speed of 152mph, with 60mph arriving from standstill in just 6.2 seconds. Lowered and uprated VXR sports suspension, ultra-low profile 235/35 x 19 tyres and 321mm front ventilated brakes discs complete the Arctic Edition’s dynamic package.

And what better way to test a new Astra VXR Arctic Edition than at Vauxhall’s VXR Power Events. Starting this month and culminating in the VXR Power Festival at Silverstone in August, Power Events gives VXR drivers and enthusiasts the chance to test their mettle (and their metal) in a series of driving challenges.

Five new Expression models, plus new ES models in the Insignia and Astra ranges, will provide customers with a more attractive entry point into each range, and give them the opportunity to consider cars that were previously out of their budget. Company car users will also reap benefits via reduced tax, based on lower P11D values.

In addition to the entry level Insignia ES and new Astra ES, five Vauxhall ranges will benefit from the lower-priced Expression models: Corsa, New Astra, Astra Sports Hatch, Zafira and the Astra Twin Top. The savings mean that a Corsa Expression costs £9,995 – over £1,000 less than the current entry model – and the new Astra Expression is just £13,995 – more than £2,000 below where the current Exclusiv range starts.

Moving up a class, tempting savings can also be found for Insignia buyers, with the Car of the Year-winning model tumbling in price by nearly £1,700 to £17,120 thanks to the introduction of a new ES model, replacing the current Insignia S. Yet despite its more competitive price, the ES is actually better equipped than the outgoing model, featuring standard 17-inch Structure wheels and a CD400 CD player with MP3 format.

Better still, Vauxhall buyers won’t have to sacrifice its traditionally generous equipment levels on Expression models. While the Corsa and Astra Sports Hatch Expression have slightly revised specification lists, the new Astra Expression trades no kit or cosmetics for its lower price compared with the S model, other than using the 87PS version of the 1.4-litre petrol engine.

And while the £14,995 Zafira Expression slashes £3,675 off the price of the UK’s favourite 7-seat compact MPV, it loses no kit apart from roof rails and air conditioning compared with the current Life model.

“With the government’s Scrappage Scheme almost finished, we recognise that our customers will still be looking for the best offers around on new cars,” said Andy Gilson, Vauxhall’s Marketing Director. “With the Expression and ES ranges, we’re reducing the entry-level list price of all key models, while still offering generous specification levels on each car.’

Pricing

EXPRESSION RANGE

ES RANGES

INSIGNIA ES

The Insignia ES is available in two body styles, the Hatchback and Sports Tourer.

ES 5dr Hatchback

Petrol

Diesel

ES Sports Tourer

Petrol

Diesel

ASTRA ES

* Prices include April 1st 2010 changes in Vehicle Excise Duty.

Expression models:

• Corsa Expression based on 1.0-litre (65PS) S model but without front electric windows and central locking
• Astra Sports Hatch Expression based on 1.4-litre (90PS) Exclusiv model but without Sight & Light Pack, leather steering wheel, SWC, aux-in, cruise control and tinted windows
• Zafira Expression based on 1.6-litre (115PS) Life model but without roof rails and air conditioning
• Astra Twin Top based on 1.6-litre Air model with no equipment deletions
• All Expression models are available in Solid White and Red only and have limited option availability

With a larger wheelbase offering added practicality for buyers – especially those with young children – the Meriva has shifted out of the small-MPV and into the five-seat compact-MPV class, where it’s set to raise the bar for innovation, thanks to standard features like FlexDoors and FlexSpace.

And no matter what the model, the Meriva packs a long list of generous equipment. A CD 400 CD player with MP3 format and aux-in/USB, graphic information display, heated door mirrors, electric windows and electronic park brake means that no Meriva can be classed as ‘poverty-spec’. But even in mid-range Exclusiv form, the Meriva gets air conditioning, cruise control, curtain airbags and the clever FlexRail storage/convenience feature, at a starting price of £16,650 for the 100PS 1.4-litre version.

But for the ultimate in MPV luxury, the SE model holds all the cards. Standard features like a fixed Panoramic full-glass roof with electronic sunshade, dark tinted rear windows and front foldable tray tables on front seat backs will leave families wanting for little, though with a starting price of £17,430, it still offers excellent value.

Entry price for diesel models is £16,875 for the S trim 1.3 CDTi 75PS, and extend to £21,255 for the range-topping SE 1.7 CDTi 100PS automatic. From launch, all 1.7 CDTi versions will come with automatic gearboxes, with a six-speed manual becoming available soon after.

New Meriva Pricing – Effective from 1 April 2010

S 1.4 16v 100PS Manual £15,495.00
S A/C 1.4 16v 100PS a/c Manual £15,995.00
S 1.4 16v 120PS Manual £16,215.00
S A/C 1.4 16v 120PS a/c Manual £16,715.00
S 1.3CDTi 75PS Manual £16,875.00
S A/C 1.3CDTi 75PS a/c Manual £17,375.00
S 1.7CDTi 16v 100PS Automatic £19,325.00
S A/C 1.7CDTi 16v 100PS Automatic £19,825.00
Exclusiv 1.4 16v 100PS Manual £16,650.00
Exclusiv 1.4 16v 120PS Manual £17,365.00
Exclusiv 1.4 16v 140PS Manual £18,140.00
Exclusiv 1.3CDTi 75PS Manual £18,025.00
Exclusiv 1.7CDTi 16v 100PS Automatic £20,475.00
SE 1.4 16v 100PS Manual £17,430.00
SE 1.4 16v 120PS Manual £18,145.00
SE 1.4 16v 140PS Manual £18,920.00
SE 1.7CDTi 16v 100PS Automatic £21,255.00

A raft of mechanical and aero improvements have resulted in the latest Astra ecoFLEX achieving a 12.1 per cent improvement in emissions over the 1.7 CDTi model, currently the new range’s most efficient model. Better still, the ecoFLEX’s added tax benefits – VED down to £35.00, and BIK down to 13 per cent – take effect from the new tax year in April, when the car will hit UK showrooms with a starting price of £17,920.

The Astra ecoFLEX will be the first in range to get the ultra-economical 1.3 CDTi 95PS diesel engine, which has recently been seen in the revised and improved Corsa. Mated to a five-speed transmission with new ratios to optimise economy, the engine features a Diesel Particulate Filter (DPF) and re-programmed engine control settings.

To improve airflow around the ecoFLEX, an active aero shutter has been fitted, which opens to allow air past the engine at low vehicle speeds, and then automatically closes at higher speeds to smooth airflow at the front of the car. This system is complemented by re-tuned aerodynamics on the underside of the car, and to help drivers exploit the car’s full eco credentials, a gear change-up light is standard on all ecoFLEXs.

True to its driver focus, this will be the first five-door ecoFLEX-badged Vauxhall to be available in SRi trim, allowing drivers to opt for a sporty look, but without the higher taxation that usually brings. S, Exclusiv and SE trims are also available, all of which benefit from the same environmental and tax advantages, which also includes a 100 per cent first year Writing Down Allowance for business fleets.

The new Meriva, which will be unveiled at the Geneva Motor Show in March this year, is the first Vauxhall to feature FlexDoors, showcased in 2008’s Meriva design concept.

FlexDoors are rear-hinged back doors which swing open towards the back of the car at an angle of nearly 90 degrees, vastly improving the ease with which occupants enter and leave the cabin. Rather than having to step back, or to one side, as one would using a normal front-hinged door, the FlexDoor allows unimpeded forward access/egress to and from the cabin, enhanced further by the Meriva’s exceptionally high roof line.

For parents with children, there are further benefits. Due to the larger door opening and free space around the B-pillar, parents can lift small children forwards in to rear-mounted, second-stage child seats without having to contort themselves around a door. And with both the front and rear doors open (the fronts open at a similar angle to the rear FlexDoors) a ‘parent-friendly’ zone is created with no door barrier between front and rear occupants.

Crucially, the FlexDoors can only be opened by occupants while the car is stationary, an automatic lock engaging as soon as the car pulls away.

While the concept of two rear-hinged back doors is not new in the motor industry, the Meriva’s FlexDoor system is the first time it has been used on a family car in recent years. But unlike other rear-hinged door applications (Rolls Royce Phantom/Ghost and Mazda RX8), the Meriva benefits from front and rear doors that open independently, and does not require rear passengers to sit behind the door opening.

Class-leading in-cabin flexibility
Once inside the new Meriva, buyers benefit from two further groundbreaking innovations. The FlexRail adopts a completely fresh approach to the design of a car’s centre console, and provides owners with a variety of modular storage and comfort solutions that fix on to an ingenious dual-rail base. The new Meriva’s storage bin and cubby count has also increased, meaning that owners now benefit from one of the most practical cabins in class.

In addition, the current Meriva’s much-praised FlexSpace system has evolved with even greater practicality. Now more intuitive to use, the new Meriva’s FlexSpace allows easier fold-down of the rear seats, while moving the rear seats to create more boot, leg or shoulder room is simpler than ever.

The new Meriva’s seat comfort has also advanced, with the adoption of front seat technology from the Insignia and Astra. Like these cars, the Meriva offers the biggest range of seat adjustment in class, extending to 240mm in length and 65mm in height.

New Meriva adopts design language from Insignia and new Astra
The current Meriva effectively created the compact monocab sector when it was launched in 2003, but since then Vauxhall’s design language has evolved steadily, with big strides being made with the European Car of the Year-winning Insignia and more recently with the launch of the all-new Astra.

No surprise, then, that the new Meriva has adopted a more expressive and dynamic silhouette to its basic cab-forward monocab design. Like the Insignia and Astra, a ‘blade’ features down the side of the body, complementing a window line with a distinct ‘wave’ accentuating the FlexDoors, allowing panoramic views for rear passengers.

The design theme continues in the Meriva’s cabin, with cues taken from the Insignia and Astra enhancing the perceived quality of the materials.

Advanced chassis and more efficient powertrains
With a longer wheelbase and wider front and rear tracks, buyers will see a marked improvement in the new Meriva’s ride and handling qualities.

They’ll also see a reduction in running costs, since the engine line-up – which features six turbocharged units and power outputs from 75 to 140PS – benefits from an average fuel consumption/CO2 reduction of 15 per cent, or -25g/km across the range. A high mpg/low CO2 ecoFLEX model will also be available.

More information will be available closer to the Meriva’s debut at Geneva.

Even in five-door trim, the Corsa ecoFLEX achieves 99g/km and, like the three-door, is equipped with a Diesel Particulate Filter (DPF) as standard, which dramatically reduces the most harmful emissions. As a result, Corsa ecoFLEX drivers will benefit from not only the lowest 13 per cent BIK diesel band, but full exemption from VED (Vehicle Excise Duty).

Yet incredibly, this parsimony has not dented this Corsa’s driveability. Despite the improvement in fuel consumption and emissions, the ecoFLEX packs 21 per cent more power from its 1.3 CDTi turbodiesel engine, its output rising from 75 to 95PS. Torque is also up by 20Nm to 190Nm available at just 1750rpm, allowing drivers the kind of flexibility normally vacant in eco-class cars.

To achieve this rare combination of performance and frugality, the Corsa ecoFLEX’s 1.3 CDTi now employs a variable geometry turbocharger which significantly improves both performance and efficiency. To support the higher turbo pressure, the compression ratio has also been reduced from 18.0 to 16.8:1, while the injection system’s calibration has been revised to boost low-end torque and peak power.

As a result, the Corsa ecoFLEX’s performance is enhanced further, despite using taller gearing. It will now accelerate from 0-62mph in 12.3 seconds and reach a maximum speed of 110mph.

Using the chassis and aerodynamic modifications from the current Corsa 105g/km model, the new ecoFLEX also benefits from a 20mm lower ride height than standard and in Life trim gets 175/70 low-rolling resistance tyres on 14-inch steel rims (Club models get 15-inch steel rims with alloys as an option) and aero-optimised wheel trims.

The Corsa ecoFLEX is available in Life and Club trim only. Full pricing will be announced soon.

The entry level Exclusiv 1.4i (87PS) enters the market at £15,675, a mere £270 more than the outgoing equivalent model, yet now offers as standard air conditioning, electronic stability control, 16-inch wheels and an MP3-format radio/CD player with aux-in.

Further up the range, the SRi 1.4i Turbo, with its new-to-range engine, is just £10 more than the current, un-blown SRi 1.8-litre petrol, yet retains its 140PS output, reduces CO2 emissions by 18 per cent and Benefit in Kind tax by seven bands. Equipment levels rise too, with an electronic parking brake, centre armrest and active head restraints all standard.

The lead-in diesel-powered model’s price has also barely budged. Compared with the current Life 1.7 CDTi 100PS, the new and more powerful Exclusiv 1.7 CDTi 110PS drops a VED band, thanks to a 11g/km reduction in CO2, has even more standard equipment, yet costs just £15 more at £18,015.

Helping reduce the cost of Astra ownership still further has resulted in lower insurance group ratings. For example, an Exclusiv 1.4i (100PS) drops from a 5E/10E rating for the old model to a 3E/9E for the equivalent car in the new range. Similarly, an outgoing SE 1.6-litre (115PS) slides from 7E/13E (current) to 4E/12E (new), and an SRi 1.7 CDTi (125PS) from 12E/21E (current) to 5E/15E (new).

Vauxhall dealers’ order books are now open for the new Astra, with the first cars reaching showrooms in December.