Vauxhall Astra -- All Car History volume5

The Vauxhall Astra is a spacious and practical small family car. The latest model, which was introduced in 2004, is the fifth Astra since the start of its production. It sports a larger interior than the previous versions, with lots of kit providing an up market look and feel. The Astra's wide range of petrol engines and good choice of diesels make it a very popular car in the current market. The three-door Sport Hatch variant has the option of an innovative and attractive panoramic windscreen, which gives the Astra a whole new driving experience.

History of the Vauxhall Astra
The first Vauxhall Astra was introduced in 1979 and replaced its predecessor, the Vauxhall Viva in the UK. The Astra is manufactured and sold all around the world; branded as an Opel in continental Europe, a Holden in Australasia and a Chevrolet in Latin America. In Russia, it carries both the Opel and Chevrolet badges and during the 1980s, the Astra was sold as a Pontiac in the United States.

Types of Vauxhall Astra
The Vauxhall Astra is available in three door and five door versions, as well as estate and van models. There are 13 trim levels to choose from, starting with the entry level Expression ranging all the way up to the Elite with additional SRi and VXR models available too. The Astra has petrol engines ranging from a 1.4 up to a 2-litre turbo in the VXR hot hatch. The diesel choices are 1.3, 1.7 or 1.9-litre units producing power from 90bhp to 150bhp.

Did You Know?

• The griffin emblem which is still used on all Vauxhall cars today was originally derived from the coat of arms of Fulk le Breant. He was a mercenary soldier who was granted the Manor of Luton for services to King John in the thirteenth century.


• The new Vauxhall Astra has been awarded a 5 star rating for adult occupant protection in the Euro NCAP crash test programme.


• The Vauxhall Astra is also available in the top-of-the-range VXR format. The team behind the VXR model combined their racing knowledge and experience to produce some of the best high performance road cars. The Astra VXR runs on a 2-litre Ecotec turbocharged engine producing a maximum output of 237bhp. This power allows it to get from 0-60mph in 6.8 seconds with a top speed of 140mph.

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