Monday, January 28th, 2008
The Opel Astra GTC with panorama windshield has been recognized as the most fashionable trendsetter among imported vehicles 2007 in China. The “Most Fashionable Vehicle” award was presented by the Chinese Trading Center for Automobile Imports and Sina.com, the largest Chinese-language infotainment web portal. The real eye-catcher was the GTC’s innovative XXL windshield: it extends back into the B-pillar and offers occupants a unique view. The jury of economic and media experts, as well as Internet users, evaluated the dynamic three-door Astra model in a total of ten categories against criteria such as performance, safety, technological innovation, brand image and styling.
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Wednesday, December 5th, 2007
There are plenty of hot hatches on the market, but it’s the Astra VXR that’s the undisputed Ring leader…
And to prove it, Vauxhall has pulled the wraps off the Nürburgring edition, named after the car’s spiritual home, where much of its pre-production development was carried out.
Based on the standard Astra VXR and priced at £20,995, each individually numbered Nürburgring edition will come with an exclusive all-white paint finish and lightweight white 18-inch alloy wheels, equipped with bespoke Dunlop tyres, are also specified. Other exterior features include dark tinted windows, carbon fibre effect mirrors and B-pillars and distinctive chequered flag body graphics, to further emphasise the car’s incredible performance.
Mechanically similar to the standard VXR, the Nürburgring Edition produces 240PS in factory tune, giving it the ability to accelerate from 0-60mph in 6.2 seconds and on to an electronically-limited top speed of 155mph. Each UK-specification car will also come provided with a Remus Sports Exhaust, developed with Vauxhall’s BTCC race team, Triple-Eight Race Engineering.
Like the standard car, the Nürburgring Edition benefits from a six-speed manual gearbox and lowered, uprated VXR suspension with ESP as standard. Ventilated 321mm diameter disc brakes at the front and 278mm diameter discs at the back help slow things down, while blue-painted callipers remain a VXR trademark.
The Nürburgring Edition theme continues inside, with carbon fibre detailing on the door trims and fascia, leather trim with the Nürburgring circuit graphic embossed into the unique Recaro front seat backrests and an individually numbered plaque showing each car’s build number.
In fact, the only thing it doesn’t come with is one of those Nürburgring bootlid stickers you can buy when you do a lap of the circuit. Such a shame, as it means you’ll have to drive it there and buy one yourself.
Posted in Vauxhall | No Comments »
Thursday, November 29th, 2007
It’s a new name for a bold new model, as Vauxhall announces plans to launch its next mid-size contender at the British International Motor Show in London in July 2008. Insignia marks the dawn of a fresh era for the Griffin-badged marque.
With its dynamic design and class leading technology, the new Insignia will shift the perception of the Vauxhall marque to a more aspirational level. It adds both dynamic zest and visual desire to Insignia’s core market, while also displaying the same kind of upmarket feel as some of its more expensive rivals.
“Dynamic performance is one of the Vauxhall brand’s core values. In the new Insignia, this defining characteristic is realised by sophisticated powertrain technology, active safety and the interface between driver and car. The Insignia’s level of comfort and environmental friendliness is unrivalled even among considerably more expensive competitors,” says Alain Visser, Chief Marketing Officer, General Motors Europe. With the Insignia, Vauxhall continues pursuing its strategy of making advanced technology affordable for more customers.
When it comes to the new car’s design, Visser says, “A closer look at our groundbreaking GTC concept car gives a good idea of how exciting Vauxhall’s new design language will be.”
Insignia is the most innovative, ambitious model ever to come from Vauxhall, combining the best environmental technologies with those designed to deliver optimum driver pleasure and active safety. It is the latest evolution in GM’s quest to lead the market, not just in volume but in quality, style and overall appeal.
Vauxhall’s mid-size heritage dates back to 1957, with the launch of the Victor. In total, over a million Victors were sold over five generations. It was succeeded by the Cavalier in 1975, which recorded over 1.8 million sales in three generations until 1995. Two generations of Vectra were then produced, and over a million models have been sold in the UK to date.
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