The designer that played a major role in developing the successful Vauxhall Insignia has now been heavily involved in the upcoming Vauxhall Astra.
Mark Adams has led the design team for the sixth generation of the Astra, with the five-door hatchback set to be unveiled at the Frankfurt Show in September.
Among the highlights of the vehicle is a "steeply-raked windscreen and sloping rear roofline", but the features have been interpreted in an innovative manner to ensure it does not bare too many similarities to the Insignia.
Mr Adams said: "We’re continuing with the same premium design cues as the Insignia, inside and out of the car.
"However, the main design themes, like the wing-shaped light signatures and the blade, needed an individual execution to avoid ‘cloning’ the model ranges."
Vauxhall’s marketing director Andy Gilson added that the only thing on the upcoming Astra is its name and this accounts for 30 per cent of all sales of the manufacturer.
Furthermore, Vauxhall states that the Astra has the ability to "rekindle" a person’s passion for driving thanks to features such as its great style and efficient engines.
Trainee mechanics in Bedfordshire are being given the chance to sharpen their engineering skills through working on a Vauxhall Insignia.
The 2009 Car of the Year, which is a direct replacement for the Vauxhall Vectra, is being given to the youngsters to offer training on advanced levels of motor engineering.
A pre-production model of the Insignia has been donated to Dunstable College by the Luton-based company rather than being destroyed.
Derek Pearce at the Kingsland Campus, Houghton Regis, said: "The students will be able to carry out complex checks that are not possible on the older vehicles they are currently using.
"We are also running a higher course in September as our students have progressed considerably and they will now be able to gain City & Guilds Level 2."
He added that the move to donate the Insignia to the college is "very exciting" news.
According to Vauxhall, the Insignia benefits from the inclusion of "dynamic design and innovative technology throughout", with buyers able to purchase both saloon and hatchback offerings in the range.
Vauxhall Astra drivers concerned about parking their vehicles in tight spaces may wish to take advantage of a new system available from Vauxhall Accessories.
Motorists are being given the chance to buy a bumper mounted rear parking sensor system that can be attached to any model in the Vauxhall fleet.
The device is automatically activated when a driver puts their vehicle in reverse gear and works on a beeper system, with the technology beeping at a faster tempo the closer the car gets to an obstruction.
This could be especially valuable for motorists regularly driving in places where parking places are at a premium, such as busy city streets.
As well as being available to order from Vauxhall, the manufacturer will also fit the system on behalf of a motorist to ensure piece of mind that it is in full working order.
Car drivers looking for some facts regarding the Vauxhall Astra may be interested to know that the combined fuel economy of the vehicle is 62.8 miles to the gallon, while it only generates 119g/km of CO2 emissions.
Vauxhall is the latest car manufacturer to embrace the government’s £2,000 scrapping scheme, with the deal being offered on all of the manufacturer’s cars and commercial vehicles.
However, those looking to buy a Vauxhall vehicle through the scheme could also benefit from additional supplementary offers developed by the manufacturer.
These include motorists benefiting from a ‘You Pay, We Pay’ deal that is available with a Vauxhall Astra.
This deal offers a motorist five per cent cash back on the amount they finance, which is then combined with zero per cent finance for four years and free redundancy cover.
Meanwhile, a buyer of a Vauxhall Corsa can simply benefit from three years of zero per cent finance.
Andy Gilson, Vauxhall’s marketing director, said: "There’s never been a better time to buy a new Vauxhall.
"Now we’ve fully embraced the government’s Scrappage Programme, Vauxhall’s customers will be able to cash in on some of the best new car deals available in the UK."
According to Vauxhall, the latest Corsa benefits from "stunning styling and brilliant attention to detail".
Motorists looking for a car to quietly complete the basics without making a statement may find great solace in a Vauxhall Astra, according to a review of the vehicle.
Andrew Anthony states in the Guardian that the Astra is the perfect car for a driver wishing to have a low-profile as it is a car that is generally widely available but generally unrecognised.
Among the strong elements of the car, according to Mr Anthony, is that the Astra completes the standard wants of a car "without fuss or excess", such as pulling away and stopping.
Meanwhile, he comments that the car is equally at home in a busy city or cruising on a motorway, while on the inside it is "inoffensive" to motorists thanks to the use of grey interior.
Furthermore, eco-friendly drivers are equally appealed to in the new Astra, as the ecoFLEX addition to the range means that carbon dioxide levels are reduced when compared with past model offerings.
Buyers of the Vauxhall Astra 1.7-litre ecoFLEX can witness emissions of 119g/km, while fuel consumption sits at a strong 62.8 miles to the gallon.
The Vauxhall Astra is available in colours including Green Spirit, Power Red and Black Sapphire.
The on-the-road credentials of the Vauxhall Corsa VXR Arctic are one of the vehicle strongest points, according to one review.
Channel Four has indicated that the vehicle features a "rorty new exhaust", which is said to add character to the vehicle.
However, it is also revealed that this doesn’t become too noisy for motorists when they are cruising down an open road.
Furthermore, the review remarked that the enlarged 18-inch wheels used on the vehicle provide the car with plenty of "front-end grip".
Another area in which the vehicle is strong is in the safety and security department, where it has successfully received the five-star safety rating from Euro NCAP for adult occupation protection.
In terms of child and pedestrian protection, the Vauxhall Corsa received a three-star rating.
The typical Vauxhall Corsa can be purchased in colours including Flame Red, Black Sapphire and Glacier White.
Meanwhile, the vehicle also provides a motorist with a combined fuel economy of 62.8 miles to the gallon, while generating 119g/km of carbon dioxide.
Although Vauxhall rarely ventures into the world of top performance cars, a "pedigree performer" has been created with the Vauxhall Corsa VXR, it has been stated.
Writing for the Dumfries and Galloway Standard, John Connor indicated that not only does the car do the business on the road, but it also "looks the part".
Among the car’s features is the fitting of a firm racing style suspension, a roof spoiler on the back, a rear bumper that incorporates a diffuser and low profile tyres.
Furthermore, Mr Connor highlighted that the appearance of the vehicle is boosted through the "glamorous" effect of the car having black roof and door mirrors to contrast the overall Arctic White exterior colour.
Meanwhile, the writer added that the sports seats used are comfortable, overall the car is "fast yet stable" and in particular the vehicle’s "handling, braking and cornering ability" is "stunning".
The car’s rapid acceleration is one of its top features, with the ability to hit 60 miles per hour from still in 6.8 seconds, while buyers can also reach a top speed of 140 miles per hour.
Motorists unsure whether to plump for the Ford Mondeo or the Vauxhall Insignia, the replacement for the Vauxhall Vectra, have been told that the Insignia "outperforms" its rival in every department.
Chris Russon states for East Kilbride News that the Insignia has tried to enhance its appeal further by developing a new ecoFLEX model.
And he reveals that the car offers motorists greater benefits in all areas compared to the Mondeo ECOnetic.
According to Mr Russon, the Vauxhall vehicle generates fewer CO2 emissions, while also offering faster acceleration.
He remarks that the Insignia has the potential to accelerate from still to 62 miles per hour in 8.9 seconds, while it takes the Mondeo 11.3 seconds to reach the same speed.
Vauxhall has managed to improve its eco-friendly image by carrying out developments including making the car more aerodynamic, alongside fitting the vehicle with low-rolling resistance tyres.
According to Vauxhall, buyers of the Insignia can benefit from a "harmonious, luxurious interior" thanks to features such as chrome accents and the "highest standards in ergonomics and comfort".
The current version of the Vauxhall Corsa is a real "eye-opener" compared to past offerings of the range, according to one reviewer.
Charles Whitcombe has stated on New Car Net that the Corsa 1.2 Club is both solid and practical, while having some "clever styling" features.
He remarked that the styling is "rather daring" from the rear through the inclusion of steeply sloping rear windows and a "curvaceous" bootline.
In terms of its on-the-road credentials, the small engine only allows the Corsa to accelerate to 60 miles per hour from still in 13 seconds, although Mr Whitcombe indicated that the car gathers speed "smoothly and progressively".
Furthermore, he highlighted that the Corsa also provides a passenger with many other benefits, from the surprising amount of headroom in the rear to the "beautifully designed" dashboard.
According to Vauxhall, the Corsa has benefited from a "stunning" amount of detail being given to the interior and exterior, while drivers can profit from both "punchy" petrol and diesel engines.
The Vauxhall Corsa has received a five-star safety rating from Euro NCAP.
A police force has received the first of 27 Vauxhall Astra models, with a turnkey arrangement meaning that the vehicle arrived almost fully ready to hit the road.
Vauxhall has supplied the vehicles to West Yorkshire Police Force, with the first of the number being delivered earlier in the year from the GM UK Special Vehicles Centre at Millbrook in Bedfordshire.
However, in the past the force has been responsible for finishing off the vehicles themselves in terms of the overall look of the car.
This time, the force only had to fit their radios and number plates as they arrived already complete with a siren, an LED flashing lightbar and a Battenberg livery thanks to the arrangement.
Steve Thompson, head of transport for West Yorkshire Police, said: "I’m impressed with the quality of the work done at Millbrook, with everything well placed and secured in the vehicle."
According to Vauxhall, the Astra will "rekindle" a person’s passion for driving thanks to its great style, efficient engines and innovative features.
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