2010 Vauxhall Astra ecoFLEX range unveiled

By Tim Beissmann | January 27th, 2010

Vauxhall has revealed its most environmentally friendly Astra yet with the unveiling of the ecoFLEX range in Europe.

Powered by a 70kW 1.3-litre CDTi diesel engine (borrowed from the new Vauxhall Corsa), the ecoFLEX hatch sips just 4.2 litres/100km and emits CO2 at a rate of 109g/km – 12 percent better than the current best-in-range 1.7-litre CDTi model.

Efficiency gains have been achieved by reprogramming the engine’s control settings and retuning the ratios of the five-speed manual transmission to optimise economy.

The ecoFLEX is also aerodynamically superior to the standard hatch thanks to an active aero shutter (which opens to allow air past the engine at low vehicles speeds and then automatically closes at higher speeds to smooth airflow at the front of the car) and a redesigned underside.

The Vauxhall Astra ecoFLEX will be available in four trim levels in selected European markets from April starting at £17,920 (AUD$32,150).

Holden chose not to import the all-new version of the Astra when it debuted overseas last year, instead opting for the Cruze small car.

Currently the most environmentally friendly Cruze is the five-speed manual CD model which is powered by an 110kW 2.0-litre diesel.

Its 5.7 litres/100km and 149g/km CO2 combined cycle efforts are a fair way short of the Astra. But then again, so is its $23,990 pricetag.

JEKYL & HYDE

$32K verses say $25K for the fiesta eco,no wonder its not coming in.there was not much wrong with the old astra 1.9td,even the auto used to get around 6lts/100kms(real world).they sold in the high twenty’s(on road)..

Deco

Different class of vehicle.

Light versus Small.
Baddass

The Astra isn’t coming no matter if the price, Jekyl.

Disco Stu

I thought the Astra was a Holden not Vauxhall

Trump

Everything but the Commodore is a rebadged car made by a GM satelite brand, mostly Daewoo.

Holden PR strikes again.

Disco Stu

Thanks for that Trump – I still can’t believe Holden don’t make all their cars!!!

Baddass

Dude are you serious?

Deco

He’s being a troll.
Disco Stu

I just figured that Holden manufacture all their cars. Similar to when I purchase a Samsung TV I expect it to be made by Samsung.

Deco

Fair way short of the economy gains, but that may be bcause of its extra 0.7l of displacement and better performance…

lazybones

Thats true for us in Oz right now, we only pay $1.20-$1.40(AUD) per litre.

If like the UK we were paying $2.00 – $2.25(AUD) + Additional on your rego based on your Co2 Emissions. The ecomomy of scale changes. Who knows what we’ll be paying in just 5 years from now or what policy might be applied to cars which emit greater Co2. So its good to know cars like these are hopefully only an import away. Rather than on the drawing board.

Frenchie

Those CO2 emmission tax the Brits/Europeans pay, is that similar to Krudd CO2 tax he wants to bring in?

lazybones

Yeah, I reckon we’ll get some kind of Co2 TAX on cars somewhere in the next 5 years. Unfortunately it has to happen to make the next generation of expensive fuel sippers economically viable.

Whatever

Unfortunately, the Cruze and 2010 Astra can not be compared – they re completely different cars, even though they share the same Delta platform. However, the people at Opel chose a more sleek design that really gives the competition a run for its money, while GM DAT / Holden / Daewoo (whoever they are) chose a more ‘blend into everything else look, poor interpretation of an Astra’.

But it is true, it (Astra) can definately not compete for price against the lack lustre Daewoo

Devil’s Advocate

Also IIRC, even though they share the same platform, the new Astra has completely different rear suspension to the Cruze. The new Astra has a multi-link, fully independent rear suspension whereas the Cruze has a cheaper, but less effective torsion beam rear suspension similar to the Astra before this one. This helps keeps the cost of the Cruze down even more, however this is to the detriment of the ride and handling this platform is capable of.

Bent 8 Brigade

Yes, that rear suspension is a problem, considering everyone who buys a Cruze wants to slide sideways on full lock around every corner.
Seriously…where has there been posted in a review of Cruze negative comments by a tester regarding the lack of ride quality?

The Cruze sales figures well and truly vindicate Holden’s decision to import Cruze over Astra.

Devil’s Advocate

Well if that is the case we may as well tell Holden and Ford they should save some more money etc and go back to a live rear axle for the Commodore and Falcon, because essentially that is the same thing. You can’t tell me a decent independent rear end hasn’t improved those two cars by leaps and bounds… (and I mean the multi link in the VE and not the trailing arm that was used on earlier models)

I was not saying it was bad so there is no need to get defensive, if anything it is about as good as torsion beam gets and proves how good GM-H are at tuning suspension to suit our roads. It is just that it prevents Holden from tuning the chassis suspension wise to the platform’s true potential. I am also sure the majority of those tests wouldn’t have driven the car on a typical, country gravel road with the usual corrugations etc. Extremely rough roads like this (and they are not uncommon) is where the limitations of the torsion beam would be highlighted. Even on normal roads, if you hit a reasonable sized bump mid corner you would be able to tell the difference between the two.

Oh, btw, if it was possible to easily slide sideways full lock on every corner in a Cruze, it would actually be easier with the torsion beam to get the rear end out than it would be with a multi link independent rear end. I thought you would have known that as it is one of the main differences in handling characteristics between a solid/semi independent and a multi link independent rear end!

Callous Aussie

Based on that price translation Holden did the right thing going with the Cruze. I doubt they would ever consider the vauxhall anyway as it would steal sales from their own product.
Shak

In a bussiness case the cruze is the most viable and makes more money because it sells in much higher numbers. Even if the astra were to sell in the smae numbers it would not generate enough profit, and from a bussiness point of view profit drives a company. No mater how much Reuss or Nick Reily or Lutz love cars, they know that their cars need to be cost effective.

Stoney!

Finally someone with a brain…..
Devil’s Advocate

Exactly, the profit made on a small car is nowhere near as much as a large car, therefore you need to rely more on volume of sales. Something that would be difficult with the Astra due to it’s more ‘European’ tag and cost of manufacture.