Vauxhall has announced prices for the Astra TwinTop, coinciding nicely with the debut of the Ford Focus CC at the
Geneva Motor Show. The Astra goes head to head with the Renault Megane CC and the Peugeot 307 CC.
Power hoods were once the envy of the cabriolet market with heavy expensive technology only seen on Mercs and Lexus. Now, the technology has advanced and with the economies of scale bringing the cost down, the powered hardtop is the must have for the summer sports car. Consumers now not only expect to feel the wind in their hair but also be able to sleep at night knowing some thieving toe rag hasn't half-inched their stereo by slashing the roof.
Style and security is offered by Vauxhall without a rise in cost, purposely aiming the Astra TwinTop under both the French offerings. The 1.6-litre 16-valve petrol entry model comes in at £16,995 with the 2-litre turbocharged TwinTop Design topping the range at £20,695. An oil burner is also added to the cabriolet range for the first time with the 1.9CDTi 148bhp motor. Looks are not compromised either; many coupe cabriolets need so much space to stow the roof mechanism that it creates an automotive 'derrière' that can upset the lines. However, the Astra TwinTop still looks as good with lid on as it does without.
If Vauxhall is to make a dent on the French manufacturers' dominance in this sector then it needs all of its cylinders firing. The French garcons have a fight on their hands with the Astra TwinTop; let's see if the boys at Ellesmere Port, where the Astra is made, can match their counterparts across the channel.
Paul Wilkinson - 3 Mar 2006