How about some vroom...
How about some vroom with a view? The new Vauxhall Astra"s interior has finally been revealed in its entirety, and as expected it"s aiming for the top of the class with mix of upmarket fabrics and ambitious design.
At the very core of the design is the new centre console, arches up toward the windscreen. Controls and satellite navigation systems are grouped here, resulting in a mobile phone like arrangement, similar to the new Ford Fiesta.
Storage also plays a large part in the new car. The glovebox has
been reworked ò€“ it comes with two removable compartments, penholders
and coin slots. Thereò€™s also an option for a compartment under the
passenger seat big enough for a pair of shoes.
The Astra will benefit from ambient lighting, too ò€“ door handle recesses, the gear lever surround and the centre console will be softly illuminated.
Set to go on sale before the
end of the year, the new model will be based on troubled parent company
General Motorsò€™ Delta platform ò€“ which recently made its debut on the Chevrolet Cruze.
Longer
by 100mm and wider too, with a 2.7m wheelbase (up 86mm), the new Astra
will protect its occupants better in the event of a crash and will
offer more space inside than the current car. It will also take a leap
forward on quality, with more stylish version of the Insigniaò€™s cabin.
There
will be a host of new small fuel efficient engines too, including a
1.4-litre turbocharged petrol turbo and a range of 1.3, 1.7 and 2.0
litre CDTi turbodiesels, with Ecoflex versions boasting CO2 emissions
of less than 120g/km.
Click here to see a hot-lap inside the brand-new Astra with Fabrizio Giovanardi