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The new Vauxhall Astra is here

The new Vauxhall Astra has been revealed ahead of its big reveal in Frankfurt, complete with pictures and details galore of the hatchback that will be manufactured in old Blighty.

A redesign of the vehicle architecture means the new Astra is up to 200kg lighter than the outgoing model and therefore should be more frugal, although Vauxhall is yet to release any fuel economy figures.

Much of the hefty diet was achieved by using lighter materials where possible such as low-weight steels, employing other chassis-related measures and by reducing the weight of the front and rear axle.

Vauxhall has made the new Astra nearly 5cm shorter than its predecessor, but new rear seats have actually increased legroom by 35mm. It is also 2.6cm lower, helping to reduce the drag coefficient to below 0.30 for more efficient motoring.

Star of the range is a brand new 1.4-litre four-cylinder Ecotec Direct Injection Turbo petrol, which offers 145PS and 250Nm of torque from as little as 1,800rpm and is 10kg lighter than the current cast-iron equivalent in the outgoing model.

An entry-level 1.0 Ecotec Direct Injection Turbo with 105PS and a 1.6-litre CDTi diesel will also be available. No word on performance figures, but given the weight loss it should make for a more spritely drive.

The interior will be blessed with Vauxhall’s OnStar service, which includes assistance if an airbag is deployed and, should you not reply because you’re unconscious, your location is given to emergency responders who will come rescue you.

Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are compatible with the new generation IntelliLink R4.0 infotainment system built into the new Astra, so you can access the likes of Google Now, Google Play Music and Spotify or have Siri read out messages to you while driving.

Also new to the Astra are LED headlights that switch off a portion of the 16 LED segments so other vehicles aren’t dazzled. Leave an urban area, meanwhile, and the high-beam is automatically enabled.

Other extras that will be available include Lane Keep Assist, Lane Departure Warning, Forward Collision Alert with Collision Imminent Braking, cruise control with speed limiter, rear-view camera and Side Blind Spot Alert.

Expect to see the new Astra in the flesh at the Frankfurt Motor Show on September the 17th to 27th. In the meantime check out the following pictures.

New Vauxhall Astra pictures

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