Vauxhall’s first ecoFLEX 1.7 turbo-diesel
The new first Astra ecoFLEX with a 1.7 turbo-diesel produces a stunning 119g/km worth of emissions and returns afuel consumption of 62.8mpg on the combined cycle.
It will be available as a Hatch, Sport Hatch and estate and conveniently falls in the lowest BIK tax band for company car drivers, while private buyers will only pay £35 per year in Vehicle Excise Duty as it sits firmly in tax band B. In its diesel guise the engine produces 110bhp with is 10bhp mpre than the existing Astra 1.7 CDTi, meaning that the top speed of EcoFLEX is 117mph.
More efficiency is available from the Astra’s 1.7 CDTi by fitting a taller axle ratio which optimised the engine management system and reducing the engine’s idle speed coupled with the fact that the ecoFLEX’s is 30kgs lighter, with increased aerodynamics and lowered suspension.
Hans Demant, GME’s Engineering Vice President said that the company is committed to reducing fuel consumption and emissions in cars with conventional internal combustion engines and the Astra ecoFLEX is the newest example of that stratergy that is now focused at the high volume end of the market.
Five door Hatch versions of the Astra ecoFLEX are on sale now at a starting price for the Life (a/c) model of £16,340 whilst at the beginning of next year Vauxhall will introduce two further ecoFLEX models with the Corsa 1.3 CDTi hitting the showrooms
Written by Peter Charalambous on the 31 Aug 2008 in Car News, Vauxhall |