New Astra Unveiled

It’s the shock of the week – this is the first official picture of Vauxhall’s new Astra! In a measure of the desperation that the company faces, this image of its new compact family car has just arrived at Auto Express without any warning at all, completely out of the blue!
The new Ford Focus rival has finally broken cover in five-door form – although there’s also a striking three-door variant and a Sport Tourer estate version on the way too.

As you can see, it’s clear from this image that it’s taking much of its inspiration from its big brother, the Insignia. It boasts a sporty look with a low nose and high tail, mixing a sleeker version of the Insignia’s nose along with the same stylish kick along its flanks.

Set to go on sale before the end of the year, the new model will be based on troubled parent company General Motors’ Delta platform – which recently made its debut on the Chevrolet Cruze.

Longer by 100mm and wider too, with a 2.7m wheelbase (up 86mm), the new Astra will protect its occupants better in the event of a crash and will offer more space inside than the current car. It will also take a leap forward on quality, with more stylish version of the Insignia’s cabin.
There will be a host of new small fuel efficient engines too, including a 1.4-litre turbocharged petrol turbo and a range of 1.3, 1.7 and 2.0 litre CDTi turbodiesels, with Ecoflex versions boasting CO2 emissions of less than 120g/km.

The flagship Astra VXR three-door will boast a sporty look with a coupe-style body and a diffuser-style rear bumper arrangement. It will get a 270bhp version of the current 2.0-litre turbo engine.

Other variants will include a Sport Tourer estate model which will boast class-leading boot space thanks to a body that’s some 20cm longer than that of the five-door hatchback. The Astra range will also spawn a new seven-seater Zafira too, going on sale in 2012.

For the full low-down on the new Astra plus first official pictures of the Insignia VXR performance variant, make sure you get your copy of Auto Express, on sale April 15th.

Sizzling MG6 puts Brits back on top!

Meet MG’s hot new fastback – which could be heading here! Set to debut at the Shanghai Motor Show at the end of April, the MG6 is based on the Roewe 550 – successor to the Rover 45 and MG ZS.

While details are still sketchy, these concept drawings reveal the new car’s low-slung coupé profile and strong, dramatic lines, which set it apart from the more staid 550 saloon. Engines are likely to be shared with with the Roewe, however, and the range is set to include a 1.8-litre turbo.

The hatch will be sold in Europe alongside the British-built MG TF roadster, giving the Chinese company a foothold over here. SAIC now owns the brand outright, having taken over Nanjing – the firm which originally bought MG. But Ford now owns the Rover name.

SAIC also manufactures the Roewe 750 – a redeveloped Rover 75 – and will reunite the former British brands further by showcasing the MG6-based Roewe N1 in Shanghai. An increasingly confident SAIC has recently been linked with a buy-out of GM brands Buick and Saturn.

It also has a joint venture with VW in China, and is said to be discussing a model swap with Proton. This would see the latter rebadge the 750 in Malaysia, and SAIC in turn would market a rebranded version of the Savvy city car.

Ford Focus

Here it is – our Number One! The best used car in Britain. The superb Focus proves that practical constraints and a limited budget are certainly no barrier to owning a great motor that’s also enjoyable to drive.

The Ford was the overwhelming choice of our experts this year, thanks to its excellent value, all-round ability and, to coin a phrase, buyability. What’s that? Well, during the selection process, our team often asked themselves if they could recommend a particular car to a close friend or relative. However, that didn’t really apply to the Focus, because all of our judges would happily take one home to keep!

Thanks to its status as a top-selling new motor, there’s already a huge variety of second-hand examples to choose from, despite the fact the fresh model arrived as recently as 2005. Prices start from only £7,000, and for that you’ll be getting a spacious, practical and reliable family car.

However, as with its predecessor, the current version doesn’t only tick the sensible boxes. With a quality interior, fine engines and excellent chassis, the Focus is genuinely desirable. Like any other Ford, you’ll also benefit from low running costs and a huge dealer network, so getting your car looked after won’t be a problem, either.

An impressive 19th place in this year’s Driver Power survey goes to show how popular the blue oval’s big-seller is with existing owners – and there are no finer judges than the people who actually drive and run them.

As well as both three and five-door options, there’s also a saloon and an estate. However, wise buyers will avoid the unloved four-door saloon variants and stick to the popular five-door hatchback and load-lugging versions, which will always be easy to sell on.

If you can’t stretch to the latest model, the original Focus remains a worthy second-hand choice. Its cabin looks dated compared with modern rivals, and its boot isn’t the biggest, but the first-generation car still cuts the mustard on the road and it remains a seriously cheap buy.
However, if you can afford it, the capable current car is excellent value for money – and never better than when someone else has taken the initial depreciation hit.

Volvo C30

Volvo's have always had a reputation for safety. And I’d certainly recommend one if, like me, you have a tendency to be a bit of a crash test dummy. You see, our long-term C30 even provides protection when you’re not actually inside the car!

No, I’ve not had a bang on the head. Quite the opposite, in fact – and it’s all thanks to the Swedish hatchback’s weirdly shaped parcel shelf.

If you’d asked me a few weeks ago for my thoughts on this subject, you wouldn’t have heard a single word of praise. Why? It’s impractical, hard to fit and, basically, it gets in the way. Yet, ironically, it prevented me suffering from a pain in the neck as I prepared for a snowboarding trip to the Alps.

I was loading the car with my boarding gear and, as usual, I had to fold the rear seats down – if you want to carry anything larger than a child’s rucksack in the boot of the C30, this is a regular pastime, as space is at such a premium.

Of course, I couldn’t put the parcel shelf in the car – because its strange shape takes up valuable luggage room, I chose to leave it at home. But as I was walking down the steep steps to my front door, I slipped over.

Fortunately for me, the parcel shelf acted like a crash mat. Somehow, while I was in the air, it managed to get underneath me and break my fall. The three-dimensional design of the C30’s shelf performed like a proper crumple zone! Better still, Volvo’s legendary build quality meant it didn’t disintegrate under the 12-stone impact.

It’s still perfectly usable, if battered and bruised – unlike me, which was the main thing. It hasn’t all been plain sailing in the C30, though. My continental trip uncovered one omission from the Volvo’s list of safety kit: a high-visibility vest. In mainland Europe, you have to carry one by law in case of a roadside breakdown. Surely a safety-conscious firm like Volvo should include it as standard?

Thankfully, P&O sells them on its ferries for £10 – so there’s no excuse for not having one. And because I purchased mine on the way out, I didn’t have to run the risk of a fine by getting caught without one.

In all other respects the stylish Swede performed well on the trip. The five-cylinder diesel is at its best at higher speeds, where the low-down torque pulls you along with ease in sixth gear. The long journey also helped our average economy. While 39.5mpg may not sound great, I don’t think it’s bad for such a powerful car.

The Volvo’s cabin is a relaxing place in which to spend time. High safety standards give peace of mind, but what makes the difference over distances is the solid build quality and comfortable seats.

And the C30 was equipped with one safety feature that did come in handy. I made use of the neat first aid kit to bandage up my head – after I’d pulled my hair out trying to squeeze my gear back in for the trip home!

Aston Martin DBS

Styling/ImageDespite the familiar, DB9 inspired design, your money buys a lot more when choosing Aston Martin’s flagship model. But while it’s impossible to pin the car’s appeal down to one single thing, the engine note is amazing, and the performance exhilarating. There’s also a unique sense of Britishness to the product, missing from many rivals.

Interior/PracticalityBeautifully trimmed, and more generously proportioned than any other Aston, the DBS offers drivers a blend of luxury and sportyness. Chief among details is the sapphire key fob, which must be inserted into a hole in the dashboard before the car can be started. Sports seats are comfortable, but there is no room in the back for passengers.

Engine/performanceFire up the 510bhp 6.0-litre V12 engine. Erupting with a deep, deafening bark, it wouldn’t sound out of place in the pitlane at Le Mans – and it gets even better on the move. The engine develops 70bhp more than the DB9’s and offers a 0-60mph sprint time of 4.3 seconds. Top speed is 191mph. It’s at its best above 4,000rpm, though equally as happy at low revs.

Driving experienceThe steering is accurate, the engine responsive and the brakes are powerful. Whats more, the Aston’s new two-mode adaptive dampers offer an impressive blend of comfort and grip. In the default ‘comfort’ mode, the suspension is surprisingly compliant – especially considering the lower ride and 20-inch alloy wheels. Select the harder setting, and they stiffen further, making the car ideal for use on smooth roads or race tracks. Grip in both modes is absolutely incredible.

Ownership costsThe car costs £160,000 to buy, uses only the finest sports tyres and best components. Meanwhile, the 6.0-litre V12 guzzles fuel, and the car’s servicing regime is as expensive as it is strict. However, depreciation is not as savage as you might expect, and if you hold on long enough, it’s just possible your investment in the car could make you a mint! Consider that a 1960s DB4 is now worth in the order of £250,000.

Safety/environmentNot the cleanest car of its type, those who would like to keep emissions to a minimum would be best to select the automatic Touchtronic model, which emits 367g/km and returns 18.2mpg. Though no official safety statistics are available all models are extremely robust thanks to their aluminium and carbon composite chassis. All are fitted with driver and passenger airbags.

Ford Mondeo Estate

It’s Auto Express’s favourite large estate car, and a best seller, too. But just how luxurious can a Ford Mondeo be?

Ours is fitted with a TV system, satellite navigation, climate control and some of the best trimmed seats I have ever sat in. It’s got a sliding boot floor, steering wheel controls, heated and cooled seats, privacy glass and sports pedals.

There are colour-coded roof rails and I’ve even added a sports bodykit. The CD audio system has an iPod connector, and the in-car computer also keeps me up to date with the latest traffic news.

Sound like enough? Well, it’s not… I also ordered Ford’s keyless go system and quick clear windscreen.

In fact, the office joke is that our 2.2-litre TDCi Titanium X Sport took so long to have all its options fitted, it had to go down the firm’s production line twice!

The level of kit makes this Mondeo a genuine one-off – and I’m absolutely over the moon with it. Apart from one thing: it’s not a Ford S-MAX.

Regular readers will recall that I spent the past 12 months running a 2.0-litre TDCi version of the MPV, covering more than 22,000 miles in the process. It clearly left an impression on many of you – I still get a lot of E-mails and calls about the car, and I can understand why.

With its all-round versatility, great visibility and well built interior, the S-MAX was a trusted member of the Strong family. So the big question is, has the new Mondeo – with its bigger 173bhp engine and longer kit list – helped me forget about its big brother?

There is no quick and easy answer, but my latest Ford has a lot to live up to. It’s got off to a good start with its styling. The Estate looks great. With its low ride height, 18-inch alloys and spacious interior, it’s a brilliant machine to cover ground in.

A late night motorway run from London’s Heathrow airport to my Hertfordshire home convinced me there are few more refined cruisers on the market. At 70mph in top gear, the engine barely ticks over. It returns more than 40mpg and makes for virtually silent progress. Not something on offer from the S-MAX.

Add in sharp steering, and it’s easy to see why the car is so popular with UK commuters. It’s as good to drive on twisty roads as it is on motorways.

In terms of practicality, the Mondeo is a big hit too. The £391 sliding boot floor option helps loading, while the rear seats offer plenty of legroom.

So why have I found the car a bit more difficult to love than the S-MAX? The answer is all in the shape. While the Mondeo is probably better to look at, its interior is just not quite as accessible as the MPV’s. You have to bend a little bit lower to load bags in the boot.

The big question is whether the superior road manners make up for this? I’ve got a big journey on the horizon – and after that, I’ll be much better placed to give you an answer.

Hot hatch special

Who makes Britain's best hot hatch?

To celebrate this week’s UK launch of the new Ford Focus RS, autoexpress.co.uk has gathered together the cars that answer the question...

In a special head to head, we reveal our favourite hot hatches of 2009. And with exclusive access to the likes of the RenaultSport Megane 250, as well as the Abarth 500, Mazda 3 MPS and forthcoming VW Golf R20T, you can be sure no stone has been left unturned…

To find out more, just select a car from the list on the right hand side of this page and click on the link.