Breaking down the many models into several chapters, this is a trip down memory lane for any postwar car enthusiast. Comprehensively illustrated, the book includes line drawings, black & white plus colour period photographs, together with interior detail. All models are covered along with sports derivatives, limited editions, vans, estates, coupes. It includes a section on motor sport achievements and TV/movie appearances. Contemporary factory advertising slogans used is key throughout. Complimenting the historical content, technical specifications, key production changes and build figures are also detailed.

Trevor Alder has been driving Vauxhalls and Opels for many years and has previously written and compiled several Vauxhall/Opel publications from his massive self-indexed magazine archive. The research for this book suggests this a bookshelf-must for anyone interested in a slice of Britain’s motoring heritage.

To mark 40 years since the first Corsa (originally badged Nova in the UK) was unveiled, Vauxhall consulted 2,000 UK adults to understand the lifetime achievements the public think should be achieved by the time they turn 40. Showcasing how important cars are for people, 60% of Brits said they’d want to have their driving licence by the time they’re 40, placing it above buying a house (56%) and starting a family (52%). It was even ranked ahead of getting married (46%).

The research also highlighted generational differences. Getting your dream job by the age of 40 was selected by 43% of 18-39 year olds, compared to just 27% of those aged 40 and over. Similarly, while 44% of under 40s said completing a degree or apprenticeship is an important objective to achieve by 40, only 35% of over 40s agreed.

Of all adults surveyed, 41% agreed it’s more important to have once-in-a-lifetime experiences (e.g. sky diving) by the age of 40 than to accomplish life achievements (e.g. career progression). Among under 40s, this figure rises to 53%, with taking time out to go travelling (54%) and running a marathon (37%) among the key experiences they would like to have done by the time they reach 40.

With 57% of all respondents having bought their first car by the age of 25, the survey also revealed changing considerations to car purchasing with age. While over 40s are more likely to prioritise price, reliability and safety, under 40s are more likely to name in-car tech, design/styling and speed/sportiness as their top considerations when buying a car. Some of the biggest differences were between those aged 18-24 and those aged 65 and over, with 63% of over 65s prioritising reliability compared to just 31% of 18-24 year olds.

Revealed in 1982, the Vauxhall Corsa (badged Nova in the UK until 1993) has been a familiar sight on British roads for the past 40 years, with more than 2.8 million sold^** in the UK so far.

James Taylor, Managing Director, Vauxhall, said: “Our research shows how important cars are in our lives, with people placing learning to drive as a bigger achievement to have completed by the time they turn 40 than getting married. Over the past 40 years, the Vauxhall Corsa has become a staple in people’s lives; from being the car they’ve learned to drive in, moved house with, or used to take newborns home from the hospital for the first time.

“The Corsa’s popularity endures to this day, as the UK’s number one supermini and one of the best-selling cars in the country overall so far this year.^***  As Vauxhall looks to the next 40 years, we already offer the Corsa as an all-electric vehicle, the Corsa Electric, ensuring it will continue to remain part of the social fabric for the next generation of drivers.”

Available as a fully electric car since 2020, the latest Corsa Electric provides up to 222 miles of range (WLTP) from its 50kWh battery, while a 0-80% charge takes just 30 minutes to complete from a 100kW rapid charger. Vauxhall will become an electric-only brand by 2028 – seven years ahead of the Government’s deadline to phase out internal combustion engines from UK roads.

To celebrate 40 years of supermini heritage, Vauxhall has launched a new Anniversary Edition version of the Corsa Electric. Limited to 1,000 units, it features a unique ‘Record Red’ metallic paint finish inspired by the ‘Carmine Red’ of the original Nova and features a modern interpretation of its classic tartan seat fabric. Based on the GS Line version, the Anniversary Edition benefits from additional features including heated seats and steering wheel, blind sport alert, front and rear parking sensors and a reversing camera. Priced at £31,000 On-The-Road, the Anniversary Edition is available to order exclusively online.

The November new car and van registration figures show Vauxhall’s Vivaro Electric is the UK’s best-selling e-LCV so far this year, with 496 registered in November, and 3,750 year-to-date. The success of the Vivaro Electric range has ensured Vauxhall remains the country’s best-selling e-LCV manufacturer year-to-date, with a 28.6% market share.

Vauxhall is one of the few manufacturers able to offer fleets and businesses and electric van across its model line-up. The Vivaro Electric is joined by the Combo Electric and Movano Electric.  Vauxhall will be an electric-only manufacturer from 2028.

November also saw Vauxhall grow its Light Commercial Vehicle market share to 9.8% year-to-date, with the brand consolidating its number two market position in the UK.

James Taylor, Managing Director, Vauxhall, said: “Electric vans have seen tremendous growth this year, with the sector set to flourish even more in the coming years. With that in mind, it’s fantastic to see fleets and businesses choose Vauxhall when it comes to making the switch to electric with all the environmental, financial and experience benefits that brings”.

The Vivaro Electric has a long list of awards under its belt, including ‘Medium Van of the Year’ at the What Van? Awards 2022 and ‘Best Medium Electric Van’ at the Driving Electric Awards 2022. The Vivaro Electric was also voted ‘International Van of the Year 2021’, alongside multiple other top honours.

Available with a 50kWh or a 75kWh battery, the Vivaro Electric achieves a WLTP range of up to 205 miles from a single charge and comes with a maximum payload of up to 1,226kg.

The All-New Vauxhall Astra gives customers the choice of petrol and diesel variants as well as a highly efficient Plug-in Hybrid model, capable of travelling up to 43 miles (WLTP, EAER) on electric power alone, with emissions as low as 23g/km CO₂. All-electric versions of Astra and Astra Sports Tourer will arrive in 2023.

Coming out on top in a highly competitive category, TopGear praised the All-New Astra across a number of areas important for family buyers, including cost, emissions and space.

Jack Rix, Editor, TopGear, said: “Ordinary cars fascinate us. They’re the hardest of all to design and engineer because every penny is counted, every last gramme of CO₂ matters, every millimetre of space is measured, and faults are unforgivingly exposed by the brutalities of daily use. The best of them meet those tedious goals while being more desirable than the next company’s product that was built to exactly the same parameters. This year, that has been best achieved by the Astra.”

James Taylor, Managing Director, Vauxhall, said: “It is exciting to see Vauxhall once again recognised by TopGear. The family hatch segment is incredibly competitive and there is such a strong mix of popular models to stand out amongst. From launch, the All-New Astra has proven to be a popular model with drivers and industry experts, and this award is a testament to the hard work from everyone at Vauxhall as we look forward to introducing a fully electric Astra next year on our journey to being electric-only from 2028.”

Recognition in the 2022 TopGear.com Awards follows recent success for the Astra in this year’s Business Car Awards, as the model was named winner of the ‘Best Family Car’ category.

The All-New Astra Electric joins a growing line-up of electric Vauxhall models, with the Astra Sports Tourer the first fully electric estate from the brand and one of just a handful available on the market.  Already available with efficient petrol and diesel engines, advanced Plug-in Hybrid powertrains, and soon-arriving sportier GSe electrified variants, the All-New Astra Electric and Astra Sports Tourer Electric extend the powertrain offers for buyers.

The arrival of the All-New Astra Electric and Astra Sports Tourer Electric will also increase the number of fully electric Vauxhall passenger vehicles on sale to six. By 2028, Vauxhall has committed to being an electric-only manufacturer – a timeline that is seven years ahead of the UK Government target of 2035.

James Taylor, Managing Director, Vauxhall, commented: “The Astra going electric is a big milestone for both our popular family car as well as for the Vauxhall brand as we move towards our commitment of only offering fully electric cars and vans from 2028.  Astra Electric and Astra Sports Tourer Electric will offer everyday practicality, comfort and locally emission-free driving pleasure combined with the innovative technology and bold and pure design language that Vauxhall is known for.”

Bold and Pure design
The All-New Astra Electric and Astra Sports Tourer Electric feature Vauxhall’s distinctive bold and pure design already found on internal combustion and electrified variants of the Astra and Astra Sports Tourer.

The Vizor front end houses Vauxhall’s latest driver aids and safety systems, the new Griffin logo, as well as Vauxhall’s class-leading IntelliLux LED® Pixel Light technology. Meanwhile, the Vauxhall Compass design principle ensures the All-New Astra Electric and Astra Sports Tourer Electric look balanced from every angle.

From launch, all Astra Electric and Astra Sports Tourer Electric models come standard with 18-inch diamond-cut alloy wheels, which can be had in a black finish for added styling.

Everyday emissions-free driving
Both the All-New Astra Electric and Astra Sports Tourer Electric feature the same, fully electric powertrain. Powered by a 114kW (156hp) electric motor producing 270Nm of torque, and a 54kWh battery, the All-New Astra Electric achieves a WLTP-certified range of 258 miles from a single charge and reaches a top speed of 105mph.

The 54kWh battery is made up of 102 battery cells housed in 17 modules and has been designed with efficiency in mind. The All-New Astra Electric requires just 12.7kWh of electricity to cover 62 miles (100km), making it ideal for daily use, and drivers can choose between three driving modes; Eco, Normal, and Sport, to suit their needs.

As with the rest of the fully electric Vauxhall range, the All-New Astra Electric supports up to 100kW DC rapid charging, with an 80 per cent charge taking just 30 minutes to complete. From launch, all Astra Electric models will come standard with a three-phase 11kW AC onboard charger, suitable for wallbox use at home.

For further convenience, the battery is housed in the vehicle’s underbody, resulting in no compromise in passenger room or luggage space. The All-New Astra Sports Tourer Electric comes with 516 litres of luggage space with the rear seats up, increasing to 1,553 litres when folded – this is identical to Plug-in Hybrid variants of the vehicle.

Innovative interior
The All-New Astra Electric and Astra Sports Tourer Electric feature Vauxhall’s latest interior technologies, driver aids and safety features. The fully digital Pure Panel interior comes with a 10-inch digital instrument cluster and a 10-inch central display – transporting both driver and passenger into a high-tech environment. The latest generation of intuitive human-machine interface (HMI) displays all important functions such as battery charge status or range, while important settings such as climate control can still be easily adjusted at the touch of a physical button.

The large Intelli-HUD head-up display unit and ‘Hey Vauxhall!’ natural voice recognition allow drivers to stay focused on the road ahead, while Vauxhall’s numerous safety systems provide an added level of safety onboard. The All-New Astra Electric and Astra Sports Tourer Electric feature front collision warning with automatic emergency braking, active lane keeping assist, drowsiness detection, as well as rear cross alert to protect both vehicle occupants and other road users.

As is typical of Vauxhall, the All-New Astra Electric and Astra Sports Tourer Electric feature class-leading lighting, with both vehicles available with Vauxhall’s IntelliLux LED® Pixel Light technology. Featuring 168 individual LED elements – 84 per headlight – the technology provides unparalleled visibility at night thanks to seamless adaptation of the light beam pattern to suit the driving conditions and surroundings. The technology gives drivers a choice between several light modes that either turn on automatically depending on the driving situation or can be switched on manually.

Another standard for Vauxhall is comfortable and supporting seating, with the All-New Astra Electric and Astra Sports Tourer Electric featuring ergonomic Active Sports seat, which can be had in Alcantara® trim. The seats, which have been certified by Aktion Gesunder Rücken e.V. (AGR; Campaign for Healthier Backs), offer excellent lateral stability and a wide range of manual and electric adjustment options.

Ordering for the All-New Astra Electric will open in early 2023 with deliveries anticipated from June 2023.  Ordering for the Astra Sports Tourer Electric will open in the Summer with deliveries commencing from the latter part of the year.  UK pricing and specification will be announced closer to the start of sales.

The Vivaro Electric remains the UK’s best-selling electric van with 3,254 sold in the first ten months of the year. The success of this model has helped Vauxhall remain the country’s best-selling e-LCV manufacturer so far this year, as well as being the second biggest-selling LCV manufacturer overall.

James Taylor, Managing Director, Vauxhall, said: “It’s fantastic to see the Vivaro Electric continue its strong sales performance this year, helping us maintain our position as the UK’s best-selling e-LCV manufacturer. As one of the few brands in the country that is able to offer fleets a fully electric van across its entire LCV model line-up, Vauxhall is leading the way towards electrifying Britain’s businesses.”

The Vivaro Electric has a long list of awards under its belt, including ‘Medium Van of the Year’ at the What Van? Awards 2022 and ‘Best Medium Electric Van’ at the Driving Electric Awards 2022. The Vivaro Electric was also voted ‘International Van of the Year 2021’, alongside multiple other top honours.

With a WLTP range of up to 205 miles and a maximum payload of up to 1,226kg, the Vivaro Electric is at the forefront of Vauxhall’s commitment to electrification, as the brand continues its electric vehicle expansion with the goal of offering an electrified variant across its model line-up by 2024, and to offer only fully electric cars and vans in the UK by 2028.

The strategic partnership expands Vauxhall’s existing ‘Plug & Go’ offer by delivering enhanced options for customer home charging, access to more than 300,000 public charge points across the UK and Europe via one single payment card and app, as well as access to new smart energy tariffs.

As part of Vauxhall’s commitment to electrify Britain, and to become an electric-only brand by 2028, Vauxhall is working to make owning an electric car or van as easy as possible, this includes ensuring drivers having the best access to a variety of charging solutions. The new partnership with Octopus Energy allows both new and existing Vauxhall owners to opt for the installation of a home wallbox charger that is linked to the UK’s first flexible charging tariff, Intelligent Octopus, while through Octopus Energy’s Electric Universe platform, drivers have access to more than 300,000 public chargers across the UK and Europe from one single card and app.

James Taylor, Managing Director, Vauxhall, said: “Vauxhall is committed to electrifying Britain and by partnering with a highly-respected brand like Octopus Energy, we’re giving our electric vehicle drivers the ability to ensure that they charge at home in the greenest and most affordable way possible as well as simplifying public charging by providing access to many networks across the UK with just one card.”

Rebecca Dibb-Simkin, Chief Product Officer, Octopus Energy Group, said: “It has never been a better time for drivers to go electric. With the range of vehicles, chargers, flexible tariffs like ‘Intelligent Octopus’ and roaming services like ‘Electric Universe’ available now, making the switch has become an absolute no-brainer.”

“We are incredibly excited to be working with such a forward-thinking brand as Vauxhall, helping its customers switch to electric faster and more comfortably. Going electric is not only good for the planet, it’s also cheaper than fueling gas-guzzlers and has the added benefit of helping to end our dependence on fossil fuels.”

As part of the Plug & Go offer, the cost of which can be built into your monthly PCP agreement, drivers can opt to have an Ohme wallbox charger installed at home that is linked to the UK’s first flexible charging tariff, Intelligent Octopus. The Ohme wallbox charger is the third charger offered through Vauxhall and comes with a three year warranty, as well as the ability to control the wallbox via a smartphone app allowing you to schedule your charging to make the most of your tariff.

The Intelligent Octopus tariff features electricity from 100% renewable sources, with new customers getting an initial £25 off their bill. The flexible Intelligent Octopus tariff charges the vehicle using renewable energy when it is at its cheapest – offering customers savings compared to a standard variable rate and helping to balance demand on the grid.  It will also offer a guaranteed lower rate per kWh during an off-peak time window of 11.30pm to 5.30am.

Thanks to the partnership with Octopus Energy, Vauxhall owners can also sign up to the Electric Universe platform, either as part of the Plug & Go bundle or individually. All new Vauxhall electric vehicle customers will receive an Octopus Universe card and will have an introductory £10 credit applied to their account. Designed to simplify public charging, the mobile app and single card gives access to chargers across the UK’s and Europe’s largest public charging providers such as IONITY, Shell Recharge, Osprey, FASTNED and ubitricity via a single account. Drivers have access to more than 300,000 public chargers through the single account and card.  When combined with Octopus home energy then public charging can appear, and be paid for, through one simplified monthly bill.

Vauxhall is continuing to electrify its model range ahead of becoming an electric-only brand by 2028. Already, the majority of its passenger car models – including the UK’s best-selling car, the Corsa – are available with electrified powertrains, and, as the UK’s leading electric van manufacturer, Vauxhall remains one of the few brands able to already offer an electric version of every van it offers for sale.

The announcement also builds on Vauxhall’s existing partnership with JustPark that’s designed to help more people in the UK switch to an electric vehicle by helping them find convenient charging locations near their home using the JustCharge Community Charging network. Electric owners with underused home chargers who want to help other electric drivers can earn extra money by renting their chargers when not in use thereby helping more of Britain to go electric.

All the contenders for the Best Used Car Awards were evaluated on their performance in key areas by Carbuyer’s team of experts, with judges praising the Corsa for its practicality, low running costs and driving dynamics.

Richard Ingram, Editor, Carbuyer, said: “For much the same reason we heaped so much praise on the Kia Niro in our new car awards, the Vauxhall Corsa comes away with not one but two wins in our used-car rundown. It all comes down to choice; petrol, diesel or electric.

“The Vauxhall Corsa is the UK’s best-selling new car year-to-date, but it makes an even better used buy. Whichever version you go for, the Corsa is practical, good to drive and cheap to run. Our Best Used Small Car and our overall Used Car of the Year, the Corsa represents great value for money.”

James Taylor, Acting Managing Director, Vauxhall, said: “As the UK’s best-selling new car, I’m thrilled that the Corsa has been named Carbuyer’s Used Car of the Year. With a choice of powertrains, including a fully electric option, it’s fantastic to see that the Corsa is proving just as popular with customers looking for a used car as those making a new purchase.”

The Vauxhall Corsa is available with efficient petrol engines as well as with a fully electric powertrain. The Corsa Electric is powered by a 50kWh battery and a 136PS (100kW) electric motor and is capable of up to 222 miles (WLTP test cycle) from a single charge. Capable of supporting up to 100kW rapid charging, an 80% charge takes just 30 minutes to complete.

Completing a trio of award wins for Vauxhall, Carbuyer also named the Insignia its Best Used Family Car – an accolade the model also claimed at the 2022 awards, highlighting its continuing appeal as a used proposition.

Richard Ingram, Editor, Carbuyer, said: “If practicality per pound is top of your used-car wish list, few come close to the fantastic Vauxhall Insignia. There are loads of engines and specs to choose from, as well as a Sports Tourer estate if you need more space.”

The Vivaro Electric remains the UK’s best-selling electric van  with 3,010 sold in the first nine months of the year. The Vivaro Electric’s smaller sibling, the Combo Electric, was also the best-selling e-LCV in its segment.

The success of the Combo Electric and the Vivaro Electric ranges have helped Vauxhall remain the country’s best-selling e-LCV manufacturer so far this year, as well as increase Vauxhall’s total LCV market share to 11.1% for the year.

James Taylor, Acting Managing Director, Vauxhall, said: “As more businesses and fleets look towards electric vans to reduce their overheads and environmental footprint, it’s great to see so many choose the Vauxhall e-LCV range. Vauxhall is one of the few brands in the country able to offer fleets a fully electric van across its entire LCV model line-up.”

The Vivaro Electric has a long list of awards under its belt, including ‘Medium Van of the Year’ at the What Van? Awards 2022 and ‘Best Medium Electric Van’ at the Driving Electric Awards 2022. The Vivaro Electric was also voted ‘International Van of the Year 2021’, alongside multiple other top honours.

With a WLTP range of up to 205 miles and a maximum payload of up to 1,226kg, the Vivaro Electric is at the forefront of Vauxhall’s commitment to electrification, as the brand continues its electric vehicle expansion with the goal of offering an electrified variant across its model line-up by 2024, and to offer only fully electric cars and vans in the UK by 2028.

The annual Business Car Awards recognise and reward excellence in the fleet market, highlighting the best cars for fleets across various categories. The All-New Astra received praise from judges for its competitive pricing and eye-catching design.

The All-New Vauxhall Astra gives customers the choice of powertrains – offering petrol and diesel variants and a highly efficient Plug-in Hybrid model, capable of travelling up to 43 miles (WLTP, EAER) on electric power alone and therefore in the eight per cent Benefit-in-Kind taxation category. With emissions as low as 24g/km CO₂, the All-New Astra is ideal for both fleets and private buyers looking to save on running costs. An all-electric version of Astra and Astra Sports Tourer will arrive in 2023.

Martyn Collins, Editor, Business Car, said: “The Vizor front is a highlight, but the new Vauxhall Astra’s overall design is a bit of a head turner. The inside is equally attractive, with its minimalist look. Prices are competitive, plus there are PHEV versions to keep running costs down and standard specifications represent great value for money.”

James Taylor, Acting Managing Director, Vauxhall, said: “It is rewarding to see such a positive response to the All-New Astra. Vauxhall’s success at the Business Car Awards demonstrates our commitment to design, innovation and leading the way in driving Britain towards an electric future, with an efficient Plug-in Hybrid model available from launch and a fully electric Astra arriving next year.”

The All-New Astra can be ordered entirely online via the Vauxhall Online Store, bringing the brand’s showroom experience straight into buyers’ homes. Customers can arrange a live video tour of a vehicle via the Vauxhall Virtual Showroom and proceed to the Online Store to configure their vehicle, personalise finance payments and place an order, all from the comfort of their home.

The Vivaro-e remains the UK’s best-selling electric van with 2,473 sold in the first eight months of the year. The success of the Vivaro-e range has helped the brand become the UK’s best-selling e-LCV manufacturer.

James Taylor, Acting Managing Director, Vauxhall, said: “The Vivaro-e continues to be the go-to choice for fleets and businesses after an efficient and capable zero-emissions van. As Vauxhall continues to electrify Britain’s businesses, the e-LCV sector is quickly growing, and it’s fantastic to see the Vauxhall Vivaro-e remain the go-to model for those making the switch to electric.”

The Vivaro-e has a long list of awards under its belt, including ‘Medium Van of the Year’ at the What Van? Awards 2022 and ‘Best Medium Electric Van’ at the Driving Electric Awards 2022. The Vivaro-e was also voted ‘International Van of the Year 2021’, alongside multiple other top honours.

With a WLTP range of up to 205 miles and a maximum payload of up to 1,226kg, the Vivaro-e is at the forefront of Vauxhall’s commitment to electrification, as the brand continues its electric vehicle expansion with the goal of offering an electrified variant across its model line-up by 2024, and to offer only fully electric cars and vans in the UK by 2028.

With 1,608 sold in August, and 25,941 in total for the first eight months of 2022, the Corsa has outsold every other passenger car so far this year. Vauxhall’s fully electric Mokka-e was also the best-selling electric B-SUV in August, with 395 units sold. August saw Vauxhall achieve its strongest market share performance in five years – with its passenger car market share up two percentage points to 6.74% for the month.

Across both passenger cars and Light Commercial Vehicles, Vauxhall is now the third-highest selling manufacturer in the UK, with 74,674 vehicles sold in the first eight months of the year.

James Taylor, Acting Managing Director, Vauxhall, said: “The Corsa continues to remain a favourite with UK buyers and has helped Vauxhall achieve a strong company performance despite the ongoing challenging conditions in the new vehicle market. We’re very happy to see our electric models like the Mokka-e also top their segment sales charts, as we work to electrify Britain and move towards becoming an electric only brand by 2028.”

The Vauxhall Corsa is available with efficient petrol engines as well as with a fully electric powertrain. The Corsa-e is powered by a 50kWh battery and a 136PS (100kW) electric motor and is capable of up to 222 miles (WLTP test cycle) from a single charge. Capable of supporting up to 100kW rapid charging, an 80% charge takes just 30 minutes to complete.

The entire Vauxhall passenger car range can be ordered entirely online via the Vauxhall Online Store. The Vauxhall Online Store brings the brand’s showroom experience straight into the comfort of buyers’ homes. Customers can arrange a live video viewing of their vehicle via the Vauxhall Virtual Showroom and proceed to the Online Store to configure their vehicle, personalise finance payments, and place an order, all from the comfort of their home.