Frankfurt International Motor Show is a massive date in the automotive calendar and Vauxhall are hoping to steal all the headlines with the introduction of three brand new models. The show is open to the public between the 12th and 22nd of September, and if you’re heading to Frankfurt then we’d recommend popping over to the Vauxhall stand.
So, what’s new?
First and foremost, Vauxhall is unveiling their all-new fifth-generation Corsa which could prove to be one of their most important cars in the last decade. It’s the first Corsa built since Vauxhall was acquired by the PSA Group, so it shares a lot of its underpinnings with the Peugeot 208. Every single variant of the new Corsa will be more efficient and more environmentally friendly than the equivalent model in the range it replaces. The new Corsa will also be particularly lightweight, weighing less than 980kg, which has helped drastically reduce the CO2 emissions of the car.
Vauxhall will also be introducing their Corsa-e. An all-electric version of the Corsa hatchback which is said to be able to achieve a massive 205 miles on a single charge when tested to WLTP testing standards. It won’t be slow either. The Corsa-e should get from 0-60 mph in just 8.1 seconds thanks to the electric motor generating a considerable 136PS. Corsa has made all that power accessible too - with a public fast charger, they are anticipating that owners can achieve up to 80% charge from a flat battery within just 30 minutes. The first 500 UK customers are going to receive a free home charger kit too, so get your name down if you’re in the market.
The second model being introduced by Vauxhall is the new Astra. Now boasting a fully refreshed exterior and hosting a huge range of brand new fuel-efficient powertrains. There will be three-cylinder turbocharged petrol and diesel engines available, all with stop/start technology. Vauxhall hopes to set the standard in the market for fuel economy and low emissions, with these engines all emitting up to 21 per cent less CO2 than the outgoing models. Vauxhall has sold over 3 million Astras in the UK over the last 40 years, so the new model carries a significant weight of responsibility.
Last but certainly not least, completing a hat-trick of new Vauxhalls in Frankfurt is the new Grandland X Hybrid4 SUV which is the manufacturers first-ever plug-in hybrid. It’s a plug-in car which combines a 1.6-litre turbocharged petrol engine with a 13.2kWh lithium-ion battery, producing a combined 300 horsepower… Sounds quite exciting already, doesn’t it? That power equates to a 0-60 mph time of just 6.1 seconds and it gets better. Under the new WLTP testing standards, buyers can expect up to 166 mpg while emitting just 36g/km of CO2 which is great for the environment and also the bank account. The electric-only range will be up to 32 miles.
The new Vauxhall Grandland X enters showrooms in January 2020 so if you want to test drive one of the first models in the country, we’d suggest that we keep you informed.
So, what do you think? Which of these models takes your fancy and which one do you think will be the most successful when they go on sale in the UK?