Tag Archives: Astra

VauxhallUk

VAUXHALL OPENS ORDERS FOR ASTRA SPORTS TOURER GSe

  • Pricing and specification confirmed for Astra Sports Tourer GSe
  • GSe is Vauxhall’s new electrified performance sub-brand
  • Astra Sports Tourer GSe comes with an uprated 225PS Plug-in Hybrid powertrain
  • Unique suspension and steering calibration provide improved handling
  • A 10mm lower profile and styling upgrades help GSe models stand out on the road
  • Prices for Astra Sports Tourer GSe start from £43,250

Vauxhall is now accepting orders for the Astra Sports Tourer GSe, which is the electrified performance version of the Astra Sports Tourer. The starting price for the Astra Sports Tourer GSe is £43,250.

The GSe stands for Grand Sport Electric, which is Vauxhall’s new sub-brand for performance vehicles that combine electric power with sharp handling and stylish design. At launch, there are three GSe variants available: Grandland GSe, Astra GSe, and Astra Sports Tourer GSe. All three models feature unique styling upgrades both inside and outside, as well as powerful electric drivetrains and improved handling due to suspension and steering enhancements.

Orders are already open for the Grandland GSe and Astra GSe models.

Astra Sports Tourer GSe – electrified performance

The Plug-in Hybrid powertrain in the regular Astra Sports Tourer has been upgraded for the GSe variants. The Astra Sports Tourer GSe is equipped with a 180PS 1.6-litre four-cylinder petrol engine connected to an 81.2kW (110PS) electric motor, resulting in a total power output of 225PS and a maximum torque of 360Nm. This is an increase from the standard Plug-in Hybrid variants, which have 180PS and 250Nm. These upgrades enable the Astra Sports Tourer GSe to accelerate from 0-62mph in 7.5 seconds and reach a top speed of 146mph.

The Astra Sports Tourer GSe is equipped with a 12.4kWh battery, offering up to 39 miles of pure electric range. With emissions as low as 26g/km CO2, the Astra Sports Tourer GSe qualifies for a Benefit-in-Kind rate of 12%.

Enhanced driving experience

Vauxhall engineers have made adjustments to the suspension of the Astra Sports Tourer GSe to improve handling. The car now features 11% stiffer springs and Frequency Selective Damping (FSD) technology by KONI, which adjusts the damping characteristics to provide a smooth and balanced ride.

The steering of the Astra Sports Tourer GSe has also been recalibrated to deliver a sportier feel and better feedback. The steering response has been increased by 9% compared to standard models, improving the on-centre feel and feedback at speed. Additionally, the Sport mode on GSe models has been adjusted to engage the electronic stability control (ESC) slightly later.

Distinctive design and features

The Astra Sports Tourer GSe has several styling upgrades to make it stand out on the road. The revised suspension and damping profile contribute to a 10mm lower profile, while the 18-inch ‘Commodore’ wheels give the car a unique stance. The car also features a black roof and black Griffin logos.

All Astra Sports Tourer GSe models come with IntelliLux adaptive LED® Pixel headlights and dark tinted rear windows.

Inside the car, there are Alcantara®-trimmed performance front seats that are certified by Germany’s AGR (Campaign for Healthier Backs), as well as a GSe-specific leather steering wheel. The car is equipped with a Multimedia Pure Panel Pro Navigation system that includes a 10-inch digital instrument display and a 10-inch touchscreen with Natural Voice Recognition. Other features include wireless smartphone charging and Intelli-HUD head-up display technology for an enhanced driving experience.

For improved safety and convenience, Astra Sports Tourer GSe models come with Intelli-Drive technology that includes Forward Collision Alert, Active Emergency Braking with Pedestrian Detection, Drowsiness Detection, Lane Departure Warning, Traffic Sign Assistant, Cross Traffic and Side Blind Spot alert, and Automatic Speed Assistant with Stop Function. These features contribute to a safer driving experience for both the driver and passengers.

VauxhallUk

VAUXHALL ANNOUNCES PRICES AND SPECIFICATION FOR ASTRA ELECTRIC

  • Vauxhall has released pricing and specification details for the Astra Electric hatchback
  • The Astra Electric will be available in two trim lines: GS and Ultimate
  • The 54kWh battery achieves a WLTP combined range of 258 miles
  • All Astra Electric models come with an 11kW on-board charger
  • The Astra Electric features the advanced technology suite, Intelli-Drive 2.0
  • The interior of the Astra Electric has been redesigned and features the Pure Panel Pro infotainment system
  • The Astra Electric can be charged from 10% to 80% in just 30 minutes using rapid charging
  • Astra Sports Tourer Electric will join the lineup later in 2023
  • Finance options start from £259pm with a 0% PCP over three years
  • Customers who order by the end of July will receive a £500 test drive incentive

Vauxhall has unveiled the prices for the new Astra Electric, the latest addition to its fully electric car range. The Astra Electric will be offered in two trim levels, the sporty GS and the top-of-the-range Ultimate, with prices starting at £39,995 on the road. Order books are now open and deliveries are expected to begin later this summer.

The Astra Electric is equipped with Vauxhall’s next-generation 54kWh lithium-ion battery, which provides an improved performance and a range of up to 258 miles (WLTP). It also features Vauxhall’s most advanced technology suite, Intelli-Drive 2.0, which includes semi-autonomous lane change and intelligent speed adaption.

Later this year, Vauxhall will expand its electric lineup with the introduction of the Astra Sports Tourer Electric. With these new additions, Vauxhall will offer a total of six fully electric models in its passenger car range, in addition to its existing fully electric Light Commercial Vehicle (LCV) lineup. Vauxhall aims to become an electric-only manufacturer by 2028, seven years ahead of the UK Government’s targets.

The Astra Electric showcases Vauxhall’s Bold and Pure design language, featuring the Vauxhall Vizor front end with LED headlights and sensors. The interior boasts the Pure Panel Pro infotainment system, with a 10-inch digital instrument cluster and a 10-inch central display. The Astra Electric also introduces Intelli-Drive 2.0, Vauxhall’s latest driver assistance package, which includes features such as Advanced Intelligent Speed Adaption and semi-automated lane change assist.

The Astra Electric is powered by a 115kW (156hp) electric motor and a 54kWh battery. It can accelerate from 0-62mph in 9.2 seconds and has a top speed of 106mph. The Astra Electric comes with an 11kW on-board charger as standard, allowing for a full charge from empty in 5 hours and 45 minutes using a public charger. It also supports rapid charging of up to 100kW, enabling a 10% to 80% charge in just 30 minutes.

Vauxhall offers a range of finance options for the Astra Electric, including a 0% three-year Personal Contract Purchase (PCP) route with monthly payments starting from £259. Customers who place their orders by the end of July will also receive a £500 test drive incentive. Vauxhall’s ‘Plug & Go’ offer allows customers to spread the cost of a home wallbox across the length of their vehicle finance agreement, making the switch to electric more accessible.

VauxhallUk

VAUXHALL GSe: DELIVERING COMFORT AND CONTROL

  • Grandland GSe, Astra GSe and Astra Sports Tourer GSe benefit from upgraded suspension and steering calibration
  • GSe models utilise Frequency Selective Damping technology from specialists KONI for improved comfort and control
  • Handling upgrades added to complement the increase in performance from plug-in hybrid powertrain
  • Vauxhall Grandland GSe is the most powerful Vauxhall on sale today, with 300PS and all-wheel drive
  • Entire Vauxhall Grandland range now benefits from recalibrated steering and suspension

At the heart of every Vauxhall GSe model lies two defining characteristics – exciting driving dynamics and electric power.

Each GSe model comes with a dedicated chassis which is geared towards a more dynamic and responsive driving experience that complements the electric powertrain on board.

Ahead of the arrival of the Vauxhall Astra GSe, Astra Sports Tourer GSe and Grandland GSe, Dr. Christian Hartweg, Head of Vehicle Dynamics Specification & Requirement, Opel/Vauxhall, explains how the current GSe has been upgraded to provide an improved driving experience.

Precise, dynamic, and yet still comfortable: GSe chassis with FSD technology

“Our goal was totally clear,” says Hartweg: “The GSe models must offer the optimum balance between driving comfort and performance-oriented handling – together with responsibility for the future.”

The most important assets in this process are the electrified plug-in hybrid powertrains and the chassis, which are fully adapted to the higher performance.

In the case of the Grandland GSe, the combination of two electric motors and a 1.6-litre 200PS turbocharged petrol engine equates to a total power output of 300PS and acceleration of 0-62mph in just 6.1 seconds thanks to the electric all-wheel drive. This makes the Grandland GSe the most powerful Vauxhall on sale today.

For Astra GSe variants, the electrified powertrain produces 225PS and 360Nm of torque – up from 180PS on standard variants, with a 0-62mph acceleration taking just 7.5 seconds. The specifically tuned GSe engine sound enhances the experience further.

“The Astra GSe is immediately recognisable by its specially designed front end and sportier stance, which we lowered by 10millimetres,” says Hartweg. “And they are a lot of fun. In corners, the GSe models stick to the road and remain stable – and they can be driven very dynamically but also very comfortably.”

This is made possible by special springs and dampers with KONI FSD (Frequency Selective Damping) technology, which are used in the GSe chassis. The FSD technology provides different damping characteristics at high frequencies (to control the suspension) and at low frequencies (focusing on the body), helping improve ride comfort regardless of the road surface condition and driving style. FSD technology is available across both Grandland and Astra GSe models.

The GSe models react directly to any command from the driver and, as is typical for Vauxhall, remain stable when braking, cornering and at high speeds. “The dampers have an additional valve and a second hydraulic circuit,” explains the Hartweg. “The car is then more comfortable or sportier to drive, depending on whether the valve is open or closed. GSe stands for ‘Grand Sport electric’ – sporty driving behaviour with the latest plug-in hybrid technology. Driving engagement has never been so smart.”

New set-up for all Grandland variants

The development of the chassis and steering has not just been limited to GSe models. All Vauxhall Grandland variants now benefit from improved damping and steering, with Vauxhall engineers having increased the damping force in the low piston speed range and reduced it in the medium-to-high-speed range to improve comfort when driving over poor road surfaces. The steering has also been recalibrated for a more direct and precise feel.

The new steering and suspension calibration is available on Grandland models on sale now.