Eighty per cent of 4x4...
Eighty per cent of 4x4 owners don"t believe their cars have any impact on the environment. According to research from car insurer Churchill, only one in five of those with mud-pluggers have even considered changing their vehicle to help cut down on emissions. A spokeswoman said: "Motorists are still committed to their gas guzzlers."
This Astra is actually...
This Astra is actually a customer demonstrator based on the 170bhp SRi flagship. It has been fitted with Vauxhall"s Continuous Damper Control - hence the CDC badging on its bonnet and tailgate in the mag"s image.
Spotted doing laps of the Níƒá¼rburgring in Germany, the one-off Astra is being used by engineers to familiarise sales staff with the technology. CDC is part of the Astra"s Interactive Driving System, and constantly adjusts the shock absorber settings to match road quality and the style of driving. Vauxhall claims it also improves grip and reduces braking distances - which could have been useful for this test driver, given the wet weather.
The firm insists there are currently no plans to build a five-door Astra VXR. However, if you like the looks, all is not lost. Buyers of the SRi 200 will be able to specify the VXR bodykit, if not the power.