The Vauxhall Corsa Black Edition

• New 1.4-liter turbocharged petrol engine

• Black body trim and alloys as standard

• From € 15,995

The Opel Corsa Black Edition gets a new engine in order to appeal to the driver of a sporty and elegant city.

Equipped with a gasoline engine with 1.4 liter turbo engine, it has the power to 118 bhp and 129lb/ft, which will make it mph from a standstill to 62 in 9.7 seconds. It will hit a top speed of 121 miles per hour. It will compete with the Ford Fiesta Zetec-S, a 1.6-liter engine and 120 hp has.

Despite this performance credentials, it is also average 51.4mpg and emits 129g/km of CO2 alone, making it cheap to tax.

With 500 first in three and five doors, it has 17-inch alloy wheels diamond cut and a front spoiler, body colored side skirts and lower rear spoiler.

Other external elements, fog lights, tinted headlights and rear windows.

Inside determine sport seats, leather steering wheel, sport pedals, seat ventilation, sewing and silver chrome surrounds the Black Edition apart.

Options include touch-and Vauxhall-Connect infotainment system, air conditioning and Adaptive Front Lighting.

On sale now, it will cost from £ 15 995 for the three-door and £ 16 425 for the five-door hatchback.

Review Update of Vauxhall Astra VXR 2012

The Latest Review of Vauxhall Astra VXR (2012)

First Outside
The Opel Astra VXR has the attractive three-door GTC Coupe as a starting point, adding more of everything. It has a wider stance courtesy of pronounced side sills, a large lower grille and a rear bumper with large exhaust pipe on each side. Choose the optional aero package (most customers for Vauxhall) and you get a two-tiered rear spoiler, body-color upper grille, page longer skirts and alloy wheels forged 20-inch, which are also lighter that the smaller 19 - inch standard elements. VXR is the polis, but with more class than the previous Astra VXR and sleek enough to compete with the Volkswagen Scirocco R. Slinky

Second Inside
After the dynamic exterior, the cabin is less attractive, but that's what I tend to find too hot versions of classic cars. The main changes are a smaller steering wheel for a more direct VXR sports seats, black roof lining, leather and seam details. A complete package for the leather seats are also available. It is comfortable for front passengers, but rear passengers will have a very limited view of the action and is the seat of claustrophobia are. The lack of a touch screen (standard on several competitors) in the center console also means there are more buttons to find out what is ideal. The front seats really hold you up, however, and the car is also surprisingly refined, so it's not that you are in your favor.

Feasibility third
The libertine Astra VXR has evolved from its rivals, the Focus ST was because the car is a five-door hatchback or a luxury car - there is an obvious advantage in practice. The Astra has a luggage compartment of 380 liters, exceeding the Scirocco and Renault Megane, but it has a high threshold to load taller items, hard to do. There are a lot of storage space in the car. I highly recommend you rear parking sensors, such as poor rear visibility, but I also think it's a shame they are not fitted as standard.

4th Ride and handling
The first Astra VXR earned a reputation for being a little rough, sometimes difficult to take advantage of its immense power. How does a car with 40bhp more than the train? The answer is simple: much better. Engineers have developed new ways to power all these complexes, the front suspension of electronic stability control and developed a limited slip differential of the race found it useful. , The nose is incredibly fast with sharp curves and smell are bumps in the road and gently pull against your hands in the process - this car still requires that you have your wits about you though. Our test unit was pouring rain and the VXR, shooting from the corners with punch. There are three driving modes: "standard", "sport" and "VXR" that changes the character of the vehicle is in its default mode, the VXR impressively comfortable and quiet, and were more willing to give up what you have selected. Street for speeding. "Sport" Business of the shock, but retains the throttle response is still required, while "VXR" makes the new chassis is stiffer and increased throttle response. We felt it was too manic driving on wet roads, but like most homeowners and apartment are expected to track day events, is a welcome option.

5th Performance
Five years ago, the idea of ​​a 280 hp Opel Astra at your local retailer may be bought, it seems unlikely. It is just below the pressure you get in a racecar HTSB, for the love of God. At the moment, but can also trap heat from the warmer, with a sprint from zero to 62 mph in 5.9 seconds and a top speed of 155 miles per hour. The accelerator has a long journey that will be useful to foster the soft power meters - turn to drive like a hooligan and that it is possible that the front wheels in the first two reports. In third place, with hard work turbo, it's really addictive accelerating career, with a hiss and growl accompanies other industry than any other car.

The sixth running costs
With a combined consumption of 34.9mpg and 189g/km of CO2 emissions from the VXR has more than 10 percent of the environment than its predecessor, despite the power increase. These figures are impressive drive considering the capacity of the offer, but you must be careful to reach them. For most of our testing shows the onboard computer less than 20mpg. With plans Opel, just over 1000 Astra VXR is for sale each year, demand should be high enough to maintain residual values. Maintenance costs will also be very competitive.

7th Reliability
The amount of engineering expertise and high-end parts in the Astra VXR, but uses you complete confidence. The pillows are from Sachs, Drexler limited slip differential and Brembo brakes - all these companies have impressive racing pedigree. The engine is also up to 10,000 rpm speed limit Nurburgring Nordschleife, which for 180,000 miles of roads have been submitted. This is one of the best selling models in the UK based, it should be easier than the value of labor and parts, and the best source.

8th Security
With six airbags, an advanced electronic stability program and a strong body, the VXR is one of the safest vehicles in its class.

9th Team
Standard equipment includes 19-inch wheels, alloy wheels, adjustable suspension, sport seats in fabric, DAB digital radio, USB input and air conditioning. There are packages of options available, including VXR aero package - big wheels, spoiler and side skirts add - and VXR leather seating package, which is also adjustable in the front seats, heated seats and much more. A performance package seats add the same amount of movement of the seat, but not leather. Bi-Xenon and LED daytime running lights are an option, as are rear parking sensors, wheels, metallic paint, tinted overpowered infotainment (satellite navigation) and metallic paint.

10th Why buy?
Not only is the box where appearance is concerned, the VXR exciting and fast in a straight line on a road in question, because it is still a bit of an animal from the Renault Megane Sport, polite.

Vauxhall buyout will get the government support

Britain's car manufacturers and its unions are no longer the problem, but the solution, business secretary Lord Mandelson said today.

His comments came as he pledged the Government's support in underwriting a deal to buy out struggling car company Vauxhall.

Lord Mandelson toured Vauxhall's Luton plant, meeting union officials and company managers as negotiations continued with potential buyers of its parent company.

He said the Government would underwrite a deal for the sale of GM Europe, which includes Vauxhall in the UK and Opel in Germany, but refused to be drawn on what figures a deal would involve.

He said: "I have seen the performance record, I have seen the productivity, I have seen the safety and the lack of absenteeism.

"Unlike in the past when we saw Britain's carmakers and their unions frankly being part of the problem, it's very different now.

"Definitely here in Vauxhall they are part of the solution."

Canadian car parks manufacturer Magna, backed by Russia's state owned Sberbank, was selected last month as the preferred bidder for GM Europe, but other companies have shown an interest, Lord Mandelson confirmed today.

He said they were not ruling out any options for a buyer but said at the moment Magna was the most likely buyer.

He said: "I can't give guarantees, I am hopeful, I have had some reassurance given to me by the prospective owners but there's still work to be done.

"I believe that Luton should be and will be part of Magna's long-term plans but it's not a done deal.

"We have to make sure that what we are investing in is not just commercially viable but is long term.

"We view Magna International as the prospective preferred owners of GM Europe but I am not excluding others."

The minister said the Government was doing everything possible to save productivity across the car industry especially in Luton and Ellesmere Port, adding: "I have been able to ensure the workforce and the unions know we are doing everything we possibly can to safeguard production here in Luton and Ellesmere Port.

"There's a lot of people's jobs and businesses counting on continued production.

"I am talking to all the right people and I'm going to all the right meetings but what we have to do as a Government, because we are looking after taxpayers' money, is to ensure any solution is commercially viable and long-term."

Lord Mandelson said the Government's pledge to underwrite any deal could take the form of loans or loan guarantees, but refused to be drawn on any details, including the amount to which the support would stretch.

He said nationalising the company was not an option.

Vauxhall's car plant at Ellesmere Port is geared up to produce the new Astra this autumn, but there is less certainty over the future of Luton.

Commercial vehicle sales are down by more than a third this year and the Luton plant contract to build the Vivaro van ends in 2012.

The Luton plant employs about 1,500 workers, provides work for a further 500 in-house contractors and supports about another 4,000 jobs across the component and supply chain.

Yesterday Lord Mandelson commented on the Government's decision to take control of the loss-making East Coast Main Line rail service, saying it could not allow itself to act as "one big ATM" for failing businesses.

But today he said its support of Vauxhall was not the same situation. He added: "It's a difference between what has had a great past and may not have a great future and what we are investing in that will have a great market, will have a quality product and will remain viable for years to come."

Len McCluskey, Unite's assistant general secretary, said: "For the workers at Luton and Ellesmere Port, Lord Mandelson's pledge today of Government support in securing a deal for the plants will be very welcome.

Vauxhall Corsa joins the tax-free club

Vauxhall has announced it will offer a Corsa which emits just 98g/km of CO2, which qualifies it for a free tax disc.

The Vauxhall Corsa Ecoflex claims to be capable of an average fuel economy of 76.3mpg when in three-door format.

As it weighs a bit more, the five-door version?s CO2 rating will be slightly increased, but it will still stay under 100g/km at 99g.

The Corsa Ecoflex replaces the current version, which managed to get CO2 down to 105g/km and therefore qualified for a £35 a year tax bill.

Despite the new car?s increase in economy, it also offers more power and performance than the model it replaces.

It boasts a power boost of 20bhp, from 74 to 94bhp, which brings an increase in the 0-62mph time of 1.2 seconds to 12.3 seconds.

It also manages to add 6mph to its top speed, and is now capable of getting al the way to 110mph.

The improvements come via a lower ride height, low rolling resistance tyres, longer gearing and engine refinements.

Stop start technology will not appear on the Corsa yet, but Vauxhall has confirmed it will be the first of its models to get the fuel-saving device from September next year.

The Astra will then be the next to get it at the start of 2011 and all the Ecoflex models will have it by September 2012.

Prices for the Corsa have yet to be confirmed, but a company spokesman said it will see only a small increase over the current Ecoflex model.

The new Corsa Ecoflex will be available to order from January next year and first cars will make their way to customers by the end of February

 

Vauxhall buyout will get government support

Britain's car manufacturers and its unions are no longer the problem, but the solution, business secretary Lord Mandelson said today.

His comments came as he pledged the Government's support in underwriting a deal to buy out struggling car company Vauxhall.

Lord Mandelson toured Vauxhall's Luton plant, meeting union officials and company managers as negotiations continued with potential buyers of its parent company.

He said the Government would underwrite a deal for the sale of GM Europe, which includes Vauxhall in the UK and Opel in Germany, but refused to be drawn on what figures a deal would involve.

He said: "I have seen the performance record, I have seen the productivity, I have seen the safety and the lack of absenteeism.

"Unlike in the past when we saw Britain's carmakers and their unions frankly being part of the problem, it's very different now.

"Definitely here in Vauxhall they are part of the solution."

Canadian car parks manufacturer Magna, backed by Russia's state owned Sberbank, was selected last month as the preferred bidder for GM Europe, but other companies have shown an interest, Lord Mandelson confirmed today.

He said they were not ruling out any options for a buyer but said at the moment Magna was the most likely buyer.

He said: "I can't give guarantees, I am hopeful, I have had some reassurance given to me by the prospective owners but there's still work to be done.

"I believe that Luton should be and will be part of Magna's long-term plans but it's not a done deal.

"We have to make sure that what we are investing in is not just commercially viable but is long term.

"We view Magna International as the prospective preferred owners of GM Europe but I am not excluding others."

The minister said the Government was doing everything possible to save productivity across the car industry especially in Luton and Ellesmere Port, adding: "I have been able to ensure the workforce and the unions know we are doing everything we possibly can to safeguard production here in Luton and Ellesmere Port.

"There's a lot of people's jobs and businesses counting on continued production.

"I am talking to all the right people and I'm going to all the right meetings but what we have to do as a Government, because we are looking after taxpayers' money, is to ensure any solution is commercially viable and long-term."

Lord Mandelson said the Government's pledge to underwrite any deal could take the form of loans or loan guarantees, but refused to be drawn on any details, including the amount to which the support would stretch.

He said nationalising the company was not an option.

Vauxhall's car plant at Ellesmere Port is geared up to produce the new Astra this autumn, but there is less certainty over the future of Luton.

Commercial vehicle sales are down by more than a third this year and the Luton plant contract to build the Vivaro van ends in 2012.

The Luton plant employs about 1,500 workers, provides work for a further 500 in-house contractors and supports about another 4,000 jobs across the component and supply chain.

Yesterday Lord Mandelson commented on the Government's decision to take control of the loss-making East Coast Main Line rail service, saying it could not allow itself to act as "one big ATM" for failing businesses.

But today he said its support of Vauxhall was not the same situation. He added: "It's a difference between what has had a great past and may not have a great future and what we are investing in that will have a great market, will have a quality product and will remain viable for years to come."

Len McCluskey, Unite's assistant general secretary, said: "For the workers at Luton and Ellesmere Port, Lord Mandelson's pledge today of Government support in securing a deal for the plants will be very welcome.