Surprise debut plus two premieres for Frankfurt

Vauxhall is set to unveil two new cars at this year’s Frankfurt Motor Show (15 to 25 September 2011). There’ll also be the surprise debut of an experimental car that emphasises our passion for driver-focused vehicles.

The Astra GTC and Zafira Tourer will each receive their world debuts on our all-new Vauxhall show stand in Hall 8, following a press conference on 13 September. But headlining the show will be an experimental vehicle which explores a new interpretation of ‘driving fun’.

It’s a car that promises to wow everyone with its level of innovation – a series production Ampera – the first electric vehicle in Europe suitable for everyday use, which is soon to appear in European showrooms.

Our fuel efficient Vauxhall vehicles with conventional powertrains will be also represented by a range of new ecoFLEX models from a variety of model-lines.

The new Astra GTC’s rakish design has already won it praise from press and public alike. And with its bespoke high-performance front suspension (HiPerStrut), the GTC has the dynamic performance to match its stunning looks. At launch, a range of petrol and diesel engines with outputs between 120PS and 180PS will be available to order before the car hits UK showrooms later this year.

Defining new levels of interior quality and space in the MPV sector, the new Zafira Tourer has a completely re-designed Flex7 seating system, innovative technologies and fine driving dynamics to complement its range of new engines. The Zafira Tourer will reach UK showrooms early in 2012.

Vauxhall’s Ampera is the first electric vehicle from a European manufacturer to do away with the range anxiety which so often blights electric cars. It fits perfectly into this year’s Frankfurt Motor Show slogan: ‘Future comes as standard’. A 16 kWh lithium-ion battery pack feeds the 150PS electric drive unit. Depending on driving technique, terrain and temperature, it delivers between 25-50 miles of electric operation with zero emissions – ample for a vast majority of UK commutes. But thanks to a clever range-extender, the Ampera can travel for more than 300 miles on electric power without needing to stop at a filling station or to re-charge.

Vauxhall’s ecoFLEX range is already renowned for combining exceptional fuel consumption with hardly any sacrifice in performance. But now the bar’s been raised even higher with the launch of seven new derivatives across four ranges: the Agila 1.0 petrol (109g/km), Meriva 1.3 CDTi (109g/km), Astra 1.7 CDTi (99g/km), Insignia 1.4 Turbo petrol (134g/km) and Insignia 2.0 CDTi (115g/km) – as well as ecoFLEX versions of the Astra GTC and Zafira Tourer.