This sixth-generation Astra is an almost entirely new car, but some of its engines live on from previous generations, including the old 1.7 litre, 109bhp Isuzu turbodiesel, which is now the least potent oil-burner in the range until the 109g/km 1.3 CDTi turns up next year.

This engine does not go under the Astra’s bonnet unmodified however, because it now meets Euro V emission standards, and its installation has been modified in the quest for refinement.

There’s also a 123bhp 1.7 CDTi – although this is a different and quicker engine, it produces the same combined fuel consumption figure of 60.1mpg and identical Co2 emissions of 124g/km.
What’s it like?

For this 109bhp engine none of these figures is especially competitive, the 104bhp Golf 1.6 TDI beating it on every count for emissions (119g/km), fuel consumption (62.8mpg), 0-62mph (11.3sec) and top speed (117mph), while Ford’s Focus 108bhp 1.6 TDCi also trounces the Vauxhall.

And the same is true on the road. Although the Isuzu motor is much quieter than before, whether you’re sitting behind it or hearing its presence from outside the car, it still sounds like a set of deftly deployed maracas, and there’s a muted over-run growl to match
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Marking the sixth generation of Astra in 30 years, the new car’s design team was led by Mark Adams, the same team behind the European Car of the Year-winning Vauxhall Insignia.

With its strong, cab-forward silhouette, steeply-raked windscreen and sloping rear roofline, the new Astra makes ingenious use of many of the design features found in the Insignia, but in a fresh and innovative way. Also like the Insignia, it has spent over 600 hours in the wind tunnel, benefiting performance, economy and overall refinement.
“We’re continuing with the same premium design cues as the Insignia, inside and out of the car,” said Adams, Vice President of GM Europe Design. “However, the main design themes, like the wing-shaped light signatures and the ‘blade’ pressed into the car’s flanks, needed an individual execution to avoid ‘cloning’ the model ranges. This is why, for instance, you see twin wings in the rear lights and a reversed blade on the rear quarters.”
Underpinning the Astra’s rakish, 4.4 metre-length body, is an all-new chassis with a 71 millimetre-longer wheelbase, benefiting both passenger comfort and packaging. Wider tracks front and rear feature, as does a new rear axle design, which not only improves stability and agility, but takes the Astra’s ride comfort into a different league.
Enhancing the Astra’s dynamic performance still further is the option of the clever FlexRide system, a rarity among its competitors, which offers drivers three unique damper settings – standard, sport and tour – while being fully adaptive to changes in driving style and cornering speed.
With the all-new Astra’s release, expect big strides in quality to those found in the Insignia, combined with improvements in packaging, seat design and in-cabin storage. The unique wrap-round dash treatment, designed for new Insignia, will also appear in the Astra, but with a different take on that found in the European Car of the Year 2009.

Unique in this category of cars will be Astra’s latest generation AFL (Adaptive Forward Lighting), which features bi-xenon lighting that changes its intensity and reach to suit prevailing road conditions. A similar system was introduced on the Insignia, and is now recognised as one of the most advanced systems available.

The highlight of the new Astra’s powertrain line-up is the introduction of an all-new, 140PS turbocharged 1.4-litre petrol unit, which builds on our commitment to engine downsizing and reduced emissions/fuel consumption, while retaining the performance of a larger capacity vehicle. The 1.4T joins three further petrol engines, which range from 100PS to 180PS, and four diesel engines ranging from 95PS to 160PS. All engines are Euro 5 compliant.
“The only part of the Astra which isn’t new is its name,” says Andy Gilson, Vauxhall’s Marketing Director. “And that name currently accounts for around 30 per cent of all Vauxhall’s car sales, with the five-door hatch taking 60 per cent of those sales alone.

Average fuel consumption of the new Golf R is about 21% better than the R32, up to 27.7 mpg combined according to Volkswagen. Average fuel consumption of the new Golf R is about 21% better than the R32, up to 27.7 mpg combined according to Volkswagen. Not bad considering the hatch tips the scales at more than 3,353 pounds for manual models and almost 3,400 pounds for DSG-equipped cars.

Also available as an option is DCC dynamic chassis control whose character was fully tuned to the Golf R. This system continually adapts suspension damping to the roadway and driving situation. In addition to the standard “Normal” mode, the driver can manually activate a “Sport” or “Comfort” mode.

The chassis consists of a McPherson strut suspension with helical springs and telesco ping shock absorbers up front and a multi-link set-up in the rear. The brake system was also modified for the Golf R’s higher level of driving performance. Instead of a 16-inch system, a 17-inch brake system is used and all brakes have internally ventilated discs and R-specific calipers that are painted a high-gloss black with R-logo. These are housed within a set of 18 inch wheels as standard or an optional set of 19 inch units.

In addition to the wheels, a full bodykit and an aggressive hood scoop help distinguish the Golf R from your run of the mill Golf models. Also featured are bi-xenon headlights, centrally mounted exhaust pipes, and a large roof spoiler.

Inside, there are heated and leather trimmed bucket seats (race car-inspired shell seats are an option), a multi-function three-spoke leather steering wheel, aluminum door sills and stainless steel pedals, plus plenty of Golf R logos littered across the cabin.

Fans of the R32 may be disappointed the sonorous six-cylinder of the old car won’t be returning, but the peppy and efficient turbo 2.0-liter may offer more potential for tuning. Hot hatch fans in general will be glad to see the car come back in any form, as the 2011 Volkswagen Golf R is expected to arrive in local showrooms in the first half of the year.

“The 3008 fills that brief perfectly – it’s got the looks people want, the space they need, it’s great to drive, and it’s well priced and cheap to run.”

Peugeot UK managing director Jon Goodman said: “This is a fantastic result for all the Peugeot UK team and its dealer network, coming as it does in the year that the Peugeot brand celebrates its 200th anniversary.

Audi joined Peugeot in picking up three titles, for best Coupe (TT), best Performance Car (R8 V10) and the Security Award.

There were double wins for Volkswagen (Polo and Golf in the Supermini and Small Family Car classes) and Mazda collected the Family Car and Estate Car prizes with different versions of the Mazda 6.

BMW won the Open-top class with the Z4 and the Compact Executive category with the 3 Series and Mercedes-Benz won the Safety Award and the Luxury Car prize for the updated S-Class.

Hot hatch

Renault dominated the Hot Hatch award with three contenders and the Renault Mégane Renaultsport Cup took the category win.

The Audi A1 won the Reader Award for the most exciting new car of 2010 after an online poll on the What Car? website, whatcar.com.

The Jaguar XF and Land Rover Discovery won the Executive and 4×4 categories respectively.

2010 winners

Supermini: VW Polo 1.4 SE
Small Family: VW Golf 1.4 TSI SE
Family: Mazda 6
Estate: Mazda 6
MPV: Peugeot 5008
Hot Hatch: Renault Mégane Renaultsport 250 Cup
Coupé: Audi TT 2.0 TFSI
Open-top: BMW Z4 sDrive23i
Performance: Audi R8 V10
Crossover: Peugeot 3008 1.6 THP Sport
4×4: Land Rover Discovery TDV6 XS
Compact Executive: BMW 320d ES
Executive: Jaguar XF 3.0D V6 Luxury
Luxury: Mercedes-Benz S350CDI Blue Efficiency
Security: Audi
Safety Mercedes-Benz Attention Assist system
Reader Award: Audi A1

CAR OF THE YEAR: Peugeot 3008 1.6 THP Sport

But trying to slot a £140,000 supercar underneath another vehicle is not a tactic worth attempting – as this astonishing picture show.

Somehow, while driving around Hollywood Hills, California, the skinny-nosed Lamborghini Gallardo slid right under the giant Saab estate, lifting it into the air.

AA Insurance, which asked its panel of more than 20 insurers to estimate a quote, said: ‘Most wouldn’t touch it. And those who would are likely to charge £100,000 a year.’
World No4 Murray bought his Ferrari to cheer himself up after splitting from his girlfriend of four years, Kim Sears, last month.

And he didn’t seem to be letting the huge insurance premium bother him too much as he showed off the car which has a 4.3litre engine and goes from rest to 62mph in four seconds to a friend after a shopping trip near his Surrey home.

We’ve had to switch our expectations of the Rapide; a supercar limo, it is not. Rather than rivalling the Merc S-class or Maserati Quattroporte, the Rapide is more like a DB9+.
Yes, the Rapide’s design is yet another variation upon the DB9 style – stretched this time to liberate enough room for some slightly more capacious back seats.

Aston describes the Rapide as a 2+2, managing our expectation of quite how roomy the rear pews will be. But today’s spyshots reveal that real people – adults even – can fit in.

Internally codenamed the F70, the newcomer will use knowledge gathered from the FXX scheme. This invited customers to buy a pumped-up and stripped-out version of the Enzo for £1.5million, but allowed them to drive their purchases only on approved track days. Afterwards, they briefed Ferrari on possible improvements.

The philosophy behind this new downsized and lightweight hypercar is derived from 2007’s Millechilli concept. Although little more than a fibreglass model, it demonstrated Ferrari’s aim to increase the performance of future models by shedding weight, not by hiking power.

The Enzo’s V12 will make way for a new direct-injection twin-turbo V8 – the same layout as in the legendary F40. Output is likely to be on a par with the Enzo’s 660bhp, but that lower weight should put performance on another level. Expect a three-second 0-60mph time and top speed in excess of 230mph.

One buyer did just that when he snapped up a 1951 Vincent Black Shadow for £47,700 at auction in Harrogate, Yorkshire.

The concours standard 998cc V-4 Black Shadow was the most expensive bike sold at the Bonhams auction, but this is little surprise.

Anything with a Vincent badge on it is guaranteed to raise good money at auction. Last year a Vincent-HRD Series-A Rapide became the most expensive bike ever sold at auction in the UK. It raised a staggering £201,000 – smashing the British record and its estimate by around £50,000

But it is not the only marque to demand top dollar. Indian is always popular too, and this week a 1930 Indian Model 402 Four sold for £33,350, while a rare pre-war Matchless Silver Hawk in need of restoration raised £28,175.

Mechanically the bike is the same as the 2009 GSX-R1000 K9 (the K10 model will remain unchanged too), but with unique cosmetic changes limited to the 1000 limited-run bikes.

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The frame, swingarm and parts of the fairing are painted in a unique gold (or beige, depending on your cynicism) with pearl white fairing panels.

There’s a numbered plaque on the top yoke to prove each bike’s authenticity, and the exhausts and wheels are etched with a 25th anniversary graphic.

The ‘GSX-R’ logos on the fairing and also on the key are unique too – the GSX-R1000Z has a gold ‘R’ instead of the traditional red colour, further marking out the anniversary editions.