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Vauxhall Magazine; 2009

THE LEAN, MEAN, MONEY-SAVING MACHINE

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WORDS BY ROD MACKENZIE AND PICTURE BY VAUXHALL 

 

As a forward-thinking company, we’re making every effort to find ways of being environmentally responsible. This is nothing new, of course, as we were the first manufacturer to introduce unleaded fuel across the range. Our bold environmental commitments address everything from emissions reductions and use of recycled materials to alternative fuels and fuel cell development.

We have also introduced an ecoFLEX range of environmentally responsible cars, the latest addition being the frugal Astra 1.7 CDTi ecoFLEX. Plus if you agree to allow us to scrap the car that you’re trading in, you could receive up to £1,000 towards the cost of a new ecoFLEX or any Vauxhall model. What’s more, with CO2 emissions of just 119g/km, you pay minimal road tax, so this economical Astra is friendlier to the planet and to your wallet.

To create the Astra 1.7 CDTi ecoFLEX (available as Hatchback, Sport Hatch or estate) our engineers have gone to town tweaking axle ratios, engine management systems, and reducing drag. The result is fuel consumption figures of up to 62.8mpg on the combined cycle with no compromise on looks or driver involvement. In fact, there’s an increase of 10PS on the existing 100PS enjoyed by the Astra 1.7 CDTi, plus 260Nm of torque at 2000rpm and a top speed of 117mph.

Corsa and Agila also offer ecoFLEX variants, with the 1.3CDTi 75PS diesel engine, as well as a frugal 1.0 12V 65PS petrol engine on Agila. A low-emissions version of the new Insignia is also planned.

For further information and terms and conditions on the ecoFLEX range and the scrap allowance offer visit
www.ecoflexcars.co.uk

 

TOP 5 fuel efficiency tips:

  1. Less is more – staying within the speed limit saves fuel, increases driver safety and reduces CO2 emissions. At 70mph, you could be using 15 per cent more fuel than if you drive at 50mph.
  2. Driving aggressively can use as much as a third more fuel than driving conservatively. Avoid braking or accelerating hard – and turn off the engine if you are going to be at a standstill for more than a few minutes.
  3. Move up a gear: change gear earlier (try 2500 rpm with petrol engines and 2000 rpm with diesel) and select the highest gear possible – the higher the gear, the lower the engine speed.
  4. Handle the pressure:under-inflated tyres reduce fuel efficiency while over-inflated tyres can be unsafe. See your handbook for the correct tyre pressures and check tyres regularly.
  5. Extra weight increases the engine’s workload, so keep the boot and rear seat clear of any unnecessary items and remove the roof rack or roof bars
    when they’re not in use.

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For more information on fuel efficiency tips. search online for act on CO2