From the monthly archives: October 2011
The Vauxhall Corsa has a wonderful looking VXR variant, which we will review today. Being a member of the VXR division, the car looks very sporty and is more powerful than the average Corsa.
We take a look at some of the best points of the Vauxhall Corsa VXR.
Performance
We always start with the car’s best attribute in our reviews. With the car being a VXR, there really is only one place to start.
The turbocharged 1.6 litre engine can produce an almighty 189 BHP, a very scary figure indeed considering the car’s small frame. It will take just 6.8 seconds for the car to reach 0-62MPH and has a top speed of 140 MPH. There is even an “overboost” function that adds more power to the car’s turbo.
The six speed quick change gear transmission complements the car’s great amount of power perfectly.
Equipment offered
The car has a great amount of equipment to offer. As standard, the amount of kit is quite generous indeed. There are electric heated wing mirrors, cruise control, electric front windows, air conditioning and the standard VXR alloys and body kit.
Safety
Being a Vauxhall Corsa, you would expect the safety standards to be fairly high. The car doesn’t let you down in that respect. Owners of the car will certainly be tempted to accelerate.
There are side and curtain, driver and passenger airbags fitted on as standard. The car also comes with ABS and electronic stability programme (ESP), traction control and brake assist. The hill start assistance and tyre pressure monitor come as useful extras.
Vauxhall have included the safety equipment to help keep those drivers at bay and safe. The car even received the maximum 5 star ratings in the EuroNCAP crash test results.
Practicality
Again the Vauxhall Corsa VXR sustains an advantageous attribute from the original, this time in form of the practicality that it offers.The rear seats are able to split and fold which extends the car’s storage capacity. There is a great amount of head and leg room at the front too.
Conclusion
There is plenty more that we could have mentioned about the Vauxhall Corsa VXR. It’s very exciting to drive and is also very stylish too. A great deal all round for those who are looking just beneath the Vauxhall Astra VXR.
It has been reported that Vauxhall vans are the first choice when it comes to small businesses.
There were over 2,000 vans registered in September of this year (According to the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders). It was also reported that 9,382 commercial vehicles have been sold so far this year. The highly anticipated revamped Vauxhall Combo is set to enhance the company’s commercial vehicle line-up in 2012.Richard Collier, the Vauxhall National Commercial Vehicles Sales Manager said the success was due to a high demand in efficient vehicles. He said “September proved to be yet another excellent month for Vauxhall van sales. It is a great news for Vauxhall that despite the uncertain economic outlook there’s still strong demand for fuel efficient, high quality vans with low running costs and excellent manufacturer support.”
A previous blog post from us titled “Vauxhall head full of praise for UK factories” mentioned how the 500,000th Vauxhall Vivaro was produced at the companies Luton’s plant. The next phase of the van will also be produced at the factory, securing jobs and indicating the company’s intentions to keep the progress up. It has been reported that the Luton factory have indeed won the contract to produce the next set of Vauxhall vans.
Richard Collier, the National commercial vehicles sales manager stated the reasons why people are turning towards Vauxhall vans. He was quoted to have said “It’s great news for Vauxhall that despite the uncertain economic outlook there’s still strong demand for fuel-efficient, high-quality vans with low running costs and excellent manufacturer support,”
Paul Everitt, the Chief Executive of the SMMT (Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders) has spoken positively about the commercial vehicle market. He said “Confidence returned to the commercial vehicle market in 2011 and the September market continues the upward trend, growing 8.8% on last year.” The fact that the market is heavily trending towards fuel efficiency is another reason as to why the van has been so successful according to Everitt. He said “The future state of the economy is certainly a concern, but it’s clear that owners and operators are currently investing in new, fuel-efficient vehicles to help weather the storm of high fuel prices.”
Vauxhall vans are selling very well at present. With the second generation of the Vivaro due we are that success will continue into the future.
The Vauxhall Zafira Tourer has received the maximum 5 stars at the EURO NCAP test for its safety and accident prevention.
The EURO NCAP tests are considered the most effective way of indicating how safe a car is. Adult, passenger and pedestrian safety are all heavily focused on along with safety technology within the vehicle.
The car passed with flying colours along with the car’s body stability receiving high praise too. The safety child seat belts offer a great amount of protection too with them adding to the praise given to the car.
The Vice President of Opel/Vauxhall engineering Rita Forest expressed her happiness at the result. “We are proud of the latest five-star results. Passenger safety has always been high on our agenda, and we are pleased not only to have met the safety standards with Astra GTC and Zafira Tourer, but to have surpassed them.”
The safety elements are just a snippet of the overall advantageous attributes. Our review in the previous months highlighted a very attractive design with the new generation boomerang headlights. The performance and drive of the car will not be that of a typical family car. A sporty type of driving experience will be present to the driver, which will help the car become one of the best within its class. The immense practicality offered is perhaps the highlight, as Vauxhall continue to improve it with every Zafira model that is released.
The car has something for everyone with the different models it will have available upon launch. When released, the Vauxhall Zafira Tourer will certainly have a lot to live up to considering the Zafira’s success in the family car market within the UK.
Variants offered to drivers
- FlexOrganizer
- Sight & Light Pack
- The Winter Pack
- Seat Comfort Pack
Test results:
- Adult Occupant score: 94%
- Child Occupant score: 83%
- Pedestrian: 53%
- Safety assist: 86%
The Vauxhall Zafira Tourer will be available order in just a few days on November 1st. With it managing to achieve an excellent 5 stars in the EURO NCAP, it certainly hasn’t done itself any harm in terms of raising its profile.
The Vauxhall MasterFit program is a winter Safety Check for Vauxhall owners. The scheme has been put in place to ensure that your vehicle is in optimum condition for the upcoming months.
Experienced Vauxhall Mechanics will check vehicles thoroughly. They will check over the essential components which are required to be in good condition throughout the winter in order to avoid potentially dangerous situations.
Plenty of safety issues regarding the car are checked over. This includes tyres being inspected and inflated to the correct PSI level if required. All fluids crucial to the car throughout the colder months are checked to see if they are at the correct levels, which are then topped up to a maximum level of 500ml if needed.
A £20 valued Autoglym kit is provided to everyone who receives a winter check as part of the Vauxhall Masterfit program.
The pack includes
- 500ml de-icer
- 500ml screen wash
- Ice scrapper
- Hi-Tech Microfibre Cloth
Belinda Craik, the Vauxhall Service Channel Manager said that the whole winter check program provides great peace of mind for Vauxhall owners. She said “The Vauxhall MasterFit Winter Safety Check offers Vauxhall owners outstanding value and peace of mind that their vehicle is ready to face the winter months,”
Peter Rodger, the Head of Driving Standards within the Institute of Advanced Motorists was asked by Vauxhall to give some expert advice on how to drive safely during the winter. His main points are listed below
- Keep your windscreen clear and clean your windows inside the car as well
- Check your car’s electrical systems are all working properly on a regular basis
- Use the air-conditioning to keep the air dry and reduce any misting-up
- Ensure your tyres have adequate tread (1.6mm is the legal minimum)
- Keep tyre pressures at the levels in your car’s handbook
- Plan your journeys and take weather conditions into account
- Carry a suitable emergency kit in the car with you
- In severe conditions, think hard about the need to travel
- If you do have to drive on icy or snowy roads, drive very smoothly
- Slow down gently by easing off the throttle and try to avoid applying the brakes
The Vauxhall Masterfit doesn’t seem like a bad idea considering what the past two winters were like.
Vauxhall will offer a wide range of winter equipment including the successful AutoSock Snow Socks.
The accessories are the company’s way of keeping everyone safer during the colder months.
Following the suite of Audi, Volkswagen and Mercedes-Benz, Vauxhall are latest German company to take advantage worries and concerns from motorists during winter.
AutoSock Snow Socks
Of the whole range of accessories on offer from Vauxhall, the standout product will be AutoSock Snow Socks. They are a type of tyre cover which is designed for getting your car out of slippery situations. Many describe them as a brilliant alternative to show chains, which are bulky and are not as effective. They have already been a major success amongst the public last year. They were sold out by many Vauxhall providers very quickly.
Sophie Thomas, who works as Vauxhall’s Accessories Manager said that the product can make those typical driving trips in the winter that bit easier. She said “It’s often difficult to avoid driving on snow and ice during the winter and the weather forecast for the next few months suggests that we will be challenged again very soon. For the journeys we have to make, whether it’s getting home from work or picking the kids up from school, AutoSock Snow Socks provide extra grip that could make all the difference when the roads are slippery.”
AutoSock Snow Socks can be purchased for around £49.95 and are not restricted to be used on just Vauxhall vehicles.
Horrendous conditions last year
Many accidents have occurred due to terrible weather conditions all over the country. Car components were over worn and needed repair, collisions occurred and drivers were placed in extremely hazardous and dangerous situations.
Temperatures plummeted down to unbearable conditions, with many not prepared of what was to come and how to handle it.
Insurance premiums have sky rocketed, even for innocent drivers who were not involved in any accidents. Insurance companies were forced to pay out to those with Fully Comprehensive policies for accidental damage caused by the conditions. An estimated £530 million was paid out spreading across 278,000.
The Vauxhall AutoSock Snow Sock proves to a tremendous utility throughout winter. We can’t do anything about the weather but we can do our best to ensure that accidents are less likely to occur.
We take a look at what experts have had to say about the driving the Vauxhall Astra GTC in today’s article.
In one of our previous articles, we preview the car describing it as potentially having the best handling in its class. We also mentioned that Vauxhall added various other features in order to make it a credible rival to the Volkswagen Scirocco. Does it reach expectations?
According to expert road tests, the handling is indeed brilliant. There is a tremendous grip to the road at high speed. When travelling around corners the car posses a wonderful balance. The optional FlexRide allows the driver to be more engaged with the drive with a better weighted steering system. (The FlexRide system will cost around £700)
A worthy replacement to the Vauxhall Astra Sport Hatch we believe. Does the Vauxhall Astra GTC have enough about it to successfully rival the Volkswagen Scirocco? Is it good enough to sway Audi A3 fans away?
The car comes with a great amount of sporty credentials. Components are specially manufactured to allow the car to reach tremendous speeds and performance levels.
It’s estimated that the 2.0 litre diesel variant will be the best seller. It offers a great mix of comfort, speed and economy. The petrol variants may offer more BHP and torque but we believe the overall features of the 2.0 diesel will see it comfortably through as the best seller. Not only does it offer a great performance, but cruising in the car is also very comfortable and quiet. It meets more demands from most drivers on the road. One major demand includes that of low fuel consumption. With the car said to achieve 57.6 MPG and emit just 127g/km.
Although the car is a three door, it offers a great amount of practicality. That’s a feature which the Vauxhall Astra is generally well known for and owners don’t expect that it to disappear, even with the car being transformed into a much sportier variant.
Equipment list with the car
- Automatic stop-start
- 18 inch alloy wheels
- Air conditioning
- Automatic lights
- Wipers
- ESP
- Cruise control
- Leather multifunction steering wheel
How will the Vauxhall Astra GTC fare against the Vauxhall Astra VXR?
We have already reviewed the Vauxhall Vectra but today we look further in depth into the Estate version of the car.
In today’s article we discuss the features that make Vauxhall Vectra Estate an overall top class car.
Practicality
We have to start with the car’s practicality as it is truly immense throughout. Dropping down the rear seats will provide around 1850 litres of space. There is still plenty of storage space with them sitting up, enough to hold a full families luggage. Everyone is able to in complete comfort with a lot of leg and head room. Being the estate version of an already immensely practical car, you really wouldn’t expect any less.
The drive
The driver gets a brilliant view of the road ahead sitting in a great amount of comfort. For a family car, it grips the road better than expected offering some of the best handling in its class. When cruising along, you won’t get the disturbance of wind noise, which comes as a huge benefit on long distance journeys. When you drive the car how it is supposed to driven i.e. subtle and conservatively, there is hardly any engine noise.
Running costs
The running costs are some of the lowest offered in its class. Servicing the car comes very cheaply, with an alert when it is due through the cars on board computer. When driving the car in a sensible manner, typical bills will naturally be decreased. The 1.9 diesel variant can achieve a huge 47 MPG + and is the best choice in terms of fuel efficiency.
Conclusion
We recommend opting for the normal version of the car rather than the sporty variants. You get the most out the car’s most advantageous features when you buy the mainstream versions.
There are various other brilliant features too including a wide range of safety kit. There is a full set of air-bags along with anti-lock brakes. Is it the best value for money family car on the market?
The Vauxhall Vectra Estate is widely seen a brilliant alternative to the Ford Mondeo. It is wonderful to drive and an all round brilliant family car.
Vauxhall are planning to take on the market with their biggest ever product offensive. This comes after Alain Visser, Chief Marketing Officer of General Motors Europe spoke to Automotive News Europe ahead of Vauxhall’s 150th anniversary next year.
He said “Next year, the year of our 150th anniversary, we are launching the largest product offensive in our history with a wide range of new introductions.”
2012 will be a defining year
Vauxhall’s huge ambitions are there for everyone to see with them hoping to release six new vehicles next year. Amongst those will be the highly anticipated Vauxhall Ampera, one of the greenest vehicles available when launched. As our review mentioned in a previous blog entry, the car will emit just 40g/km whilst achieving a tremendous 175 MPG.
There will be a Vauxhall Zafira Tourer minivan added to that list along in January 2012 along with the Combo light commercial van the following month. In the summer months there is said to be three different models of the Vauxhall Astra with a small SUV type vehicle later in the year.
The car dubbed the “Vauxhall Junior”, a car which has been discussed quite a lot throughout the automotive industry this year, will also be released early next year. Such little details about the car are known that there is no official word on the name of the model yet.
Before all those, expect to see the Vauxhall Zafira Tourer to add to the tremendous line-up of new vehicles.
Great progress
Vauxhall have already made brilliant progress this year, with them expecting to sell 1.28 million this year. This is an improvement from the company selling 1.22 million in 2010. The sales figures signify that Vauxhall are the General Motor’s runners up in terms of the company’s global sales behind Chevrolet.
Alain Visser stated that the company expects to repeat its success in terms of sales next year. He said that Vauxhall expect to sell 1.2 million to 1.3 million vehicles in 2012.
Expanding in other areas other than Europe
Vauxhall are hoping to lessen their dependency on Europe by expanding in countries such as Australia, Chile, Argentina, South Africa and India.
We are sure that Vauxhall will perform superbly in 2012 and beyond.
The Vauxhall Combo will go on sale in February next year it has been confirmed. Many sources have stated that the van will cost £14,703.
The van is said to take inspiration from the Fiat Doblo, and it shows. In terms of practicality, both vans are perhaps the best in their respective classes. Both offer different and clever variants that allow plenty of storage to be held. The Vauxhall Combo will come available in a length of either 439cm or 474cm with a width of either 185cm or 210cm. Up to 750kg or 1000kg can be stored.
The vehicle will come with two trim levels and two weight figures of 2,000kg or 2,300kg.
There is said to be a variety of engine choices too, with Vauxhall making sure there is something for everyone. This includes a 1.3 litre CDTi and a 1.6 litre CDTi which are both able to produce 90 BHP. The 1.6 litre CDTi will be able to produce 105 BHP and the 2.0 litre which is able to produce 135 BHP.
As you can see there is plenty of equipment included too, with all trims. No one will be left disappointed with the amount of features available.
Standard Equipment
- Deadlocks
- Remote central locking
- Full steel bulkhead
- Trip Computer
- Driver’s airbag
- ABS with EBD
- CD/Radio
- 12 Volt power outlet within the dashboard
Sport trim
- Metallic exterior paint with matching colour bumpers and door mirrors
- Fully adjustable driver seat
- Full wheel covers
- Nearside sliding door
- Armrest and lumbar support
- Air conditioning
A full pricing list of the Vauxhall Combo
| COMBO | ||
| 2000 1.3CDTI 16v (90 BHP) | 14,703.33 | |
| 2000 1.3CDTI 16v (90 BHP) Includes : Start/Stop ecoFLEX | 14,838.33 | |
| 2000 1.6CDTI 16v (90 BHP) Includes: Start/Stop Tecshift | 16,338.33 | |
| 2000 1.6CDTI 16v (105 BHP) Includes: Start/Stop | 15,638.33 | |
| 2300 1.3CDTI 16v (90 BHP) | 14,898.33 | |
| 2300 1.3CDTI 16v (90PS) Includes: Start/Stop ecoFLEX | 15,033.33 | |
| 2300 1.6CDTI 16v (90 BHP) Includes: Start/Stop Tecshift | 16,533.33 | |
| 2300 1.6CDTI 16v (105 BHP) Includes: Start/Stop | 15,833.33 | |
|
SPORTIVE |
||
| 2000 1.3CDTI 16v (90 BHP) | 15,973.33 | |
| 2000 1.3CDTI 16v (90 BHP) Includes: Start/Stop | 16,108.33 | |
| 2000 1.6CDTI 16v (105 BHP) Includes: Start/Stop | 16,908.33 | |
| 2000 2.0CDTI 16v (135 BHP) Includes: Start/Stop | 18,008.33 | |
| 2300 1.3CDTI 16v (90 BHP) | 16,168.33 | |
| 2300 1.3CDTI 16v (90 BHP) Includes: Start/Stop | 16,303.33 | |
| 2300 1.6CDTI 16v (105 BHP) Includes: Start/Stop | 17,103.33 | |
| 2300 2.0CDTI 16v (135 BHP) Includes: Start/Stop | 18,203.33 | |
|
COMBO |
||
| 2000 1.6CDTI 16v (90 BHP) Includes: Start/Stop Tecshift | 17,088.33 | |
| 2000 1.6CDTI 16v (105 BHP) Includes: Start/Stop | 16,388.33 | |
| 2300 1.6CDTI 16v (90 BHP) Includes: Start/Stop Tecshift | 17,283.33 | |
| 2300 1.6CDTI 16v (105 BHP) Start/Stop | 16,583.33 | |
| SPORTIVE | ||
| 2000 1.6CDTI 16v (105PS) Start/Stop | 17,658.33 | |
| 2300 1.6CDTI 16v (105PS) Start/Stop | 17,853.33 | |
| COMBO | ||
| 2300 1.3CDTI 16v (90 BHP) | 15,703.33 | |
| 2300 1.3CDTI 16v (90 BHP) Includes: Start/Stop | 15,838.33 | |
| 2300 1.6CDTI 16v (90 BHP) Includes: Start/Stop Tecshift | 17,338.33 | |
| 2300 1.6CDTI 16v (105 BHP) Includes: Start/Stop | 16,638.33 | |
| SPORTIVE | ||
| 2300 1.3CDTI 16v (90 BHP) | 16,788.33 | |
| 2300 1.3CDTI 16v (90 BHP) Includes: Start/Stop | 16,923.33 | |
| 2300 1.6CDTI 16v (105 BHP) Includes: Start/Stop | 17,723.33 |
It was confirmed yesterday that the biggest supplier of police vehicles are Vauxhall.
Does it come as much of a surprise? Vauxhall police cars are already a common site on Britain’s roads and have been for a number of years. Many have reconsigned a Vauxhall Astra underneath the police decoration badges upon their cars since the 1990’s. The company are known for being a high volume car manufacturer that offers great quality and reliable vehicles at affordable prices.
The news comes after Vauxhall Motors Special Vehicles secured contracts to supply vehicles over six police regions. The car’s that will be supplied will be of “low” and intermediate levels according to police vehicle rankings. What does the contract signify? Out the 522 Police Authorities in the UK, 71% of them are tied to purchase Vauxhall cars.
The 7,000 vehicles to be rolled out will not all be cars. Vans will be included to, with them expected to be delivered over the next four years.
Vauxhall vehicles to be included with the orders:
- Vauxhall Corsa
- Vauxhall Astra
- Vauxhall Insignia
- Vauxhall Astravan
- Vauxhall Combo
- Vauxhall Vivaro
- Vauxhall Monvano
James Taylor, the Fleet Sales Director at Vauxhall expressed his delight at securing such a huge contract. “We are delighted to have won so many of the tenders and our success proves that Vauxhall’s infrastructure and superb range of vehicles are the best.”
Dick Ellamm, Vauxhall’s Special Vehicles Manager said that is the companies magnificent approach to the way they manage their fleet operations. He said “A key factor in our success is our approach to the supply chain. The only element we outsource is the delivery of the vehicle to the customer – everything else in done in-house under our control. We are therefore able to make savings for the Police fleets in the time it takes to bring their vehicles into service.”
Vauxhall’s ecoFLEX brand is one of the major factors which has allowed the company to secure such a lucrative contract. The Vauxhall Corsa ecoFlex model comes with a host of technology to enable the car to be as green and eco-friendly as possible. This includes start/stop amongst many others. Vauxhall have said that the car emits just 94g/km.
Vauxhall police cars as mentioned earlier have been present in the UK for a number of years and are set to remain. There are a further number of reasons why such a contract has been secured, we have just looked into a few.
