New Astra's inside story

Jun 19 2009 Steve Hughes

VAUXHALL says that its forthcoming new Astra will represent a major shift towards premium quality in a bid to rival the best from BMW and Audi.

Determined to muscle in on the market currently dominated by the likes of the Audi A3 and BMW 1 Series, Vauxhall says that the latest incarnation of its best-selling Astra will continue the upmarket trend started by the executive Insignia model.

Designer Peter Hasslebach says that particular attention has been paid to providing appropriate places inside the car for occupants to store the items that most people carry.

The designers started with the notion that a so-called glove box is rarely used for carrying gloves at all, which most drivers place in their car door pocket.

As a result, the newcomer boasts a range of unusual storage solutions that Vauxhall believes are so clever that several of them have been patented.

A survey revealed that the 20 most common items carried are pens, coins, a torch, road atlas, parking disc, sunglasses, wallet, paper tissues, a mobile phone, CDs, MP3 players, cups, magazines, newspapers, fruit, a first aid kit, jacket, drinks bottle and gloves.

A sunglass case has been inserted above the door opening on the driver's side, coin slots and pen holders are moulded into the inside edge of the glove box lid and the glove box itself has two removable compartments, while a second mini-glove box has been added just below the interior light switch.

The centre console can accommodate nine CD cases and two cup holders and there is the option of a drawer beneath the passenger seat that is big enough to hold a pair of shoes. Rear passengers get a 12-volt connection for mp3 players plus a special storage space for drinks bottles.

The new Astra is due to be launched towards the end of the year and will be built at Vauxhall's Ellesmere Port factory on Merseyside.