Vauxhall Greenhouse

[XTR]

The new Astra is ideal for growing your tomato plants

http://www.sky.com/skynews/xml/artic...210819,00.html

A huge windscreen that sweeps back uninterrupted over the driver's head will be available as an option on the three-door Vauxhall Astra, which goes on sale next spring.

Vauxhall says the panoramic windscreen provides an almost unobstructed view ahead, like that experienced by pilots in the cockpit of aeroplanes.

Constructed from 6mm toughened glass, the windscreen filters out heat from sunlight and is also shaded to prevent passengers from being dazzled. A pair of sun-blinds can be folded out on bright days.

Vauxhall says extra strengthening in the roof and floor ensures cars fitted with the panoramic windscreen drive just like standard models, and perform as well in crash tests.

The option, likely to cost £1000, will be available by next summer, a few months after the three-door range goes on sale. A standard three-door Astra is likely to cost from £11,000.

[Atomic]

6mm toughened glass, so you wont get chucked through it but then the fire brigade will have trouble getting you out aswell.

Nah the emergency services will be able to get through that with ease, after all ther 'jaws of life' munch through a metal structural support pillar with no problems so what challenge will a bit of 6mm glass be!

I'd say it'd be easier for them to get to you/get you out because once the glass is gone there is a much larger hole for access...

[XTR]

think of how much extra weight it will be............. the 1.4 model will refuse to move

[Stoo]

Cool!

Now all we need is a proper HUD and a button on the steering wheel to launch the anti-middle lane hog stinger missiles

[Zak33]

Astra 3door goes live April. I had to order my 3 allocations last week.

2.0 Turbo 170 SRi plus alloy upgrade
1.9 CDTi 150 SRi plus alloy upgrade
1.8 Auto Design plus rear park sensors.

Why the sensors? Its an auto, lots of people will buy this car and reverse it straight into a wall.
Rear visibility is dire, but not bad looking car. If a bit...Vauxhall

[Butuz]

Astra 3door goes live April. I had to order my 3 allocations last week.

2.0 Turbo 170 SRi plus alloy upgrade

Your seriously telling me that Vaux needs to add a turbo to get 170bhp out of its 2.0 lump? Wtf?

Butuz

[Rave]

Your seriously telling me that Vaux needs to add a turbo to get 170bhp out of its 2.0 lump? Wtf?

Butuz

They don't need to, but by doing so they can run the engine in a lower state of tune and so potentially get better midrange power, better engine longevity, better fuel economy etc.

Turbos are good.

I'm not sure I like the long windscreen idea though, I reckon I'd feel a bit vulnerable.

Rich :¬)

[XTR]

Renault manage 225bhp out of a 2.0 Turbo

[Zak33]

you lot.

As it goes SAAB get 170 from it with a turbo.

We get 220 but dont market it much

[Russ]

honda get 237 without
and they also get 220 without

any idea's what sort of insurance groups there gonna be zak? i'll be 21 then, so may treat meself

[Richie]

Honda get great BHP but pish torque and you need earplugs to drive it

[Howard]

Any pics of the whole car? Sounds cool.

A HUD like on the Corvette would be awesome!

[Flibb]

Did a test drive of the 1.6 civic and 1.6 astra. Both had similar top end and fuel economy but by jesus did you have to thrash the civic to get it to go. Ended up gettin the astra as my ears couldnt handle the civic.

[Russ]

Honda get great BHP but pish torque and you need earplugs to drive it

true but 237 break at 8300 revs, who's to worry.

[Lowe]

I'd like 230bhp with the same in torque though thanks. VTEC's good, but it's not as good as a turbo.

[Russ]

I'd like 230bhp with the same in torque though thanks. VTEC's good, but it's not as good as a turbo.

true, but still marvelous engineering