| First Drive | Frankfurt, Germany | Vauxhall Astra BiTurbo |
Key Facts
Model tested: Vauxhall Astra BiTurbo five-door hatchback
Pricing: £24,095 on-the-road
Engine: 2.0-litre four-cylinder twin-turbodiesel
Transmission: front-wheel drive, six-speed manual
Body style: five-door hatchback
Rivals: BMW 120d M Sport, SEAT Leon FR TDI, Volkswagen Golf GTD
CO2 emissions: 134g/km
Combined economy: 55.4mpg
Top speed: 141mph
0-62mph: 8.4 seconds
Power: 195hp at 4,000rpm
Torque: 400Nm at 1,750- to 2,500rpm
In the Metal: 
Each variant of the BiTurbo gets unique styling, which sits well between that of the standard cars and the more extrovert VXR model. All the launch cars were red, but we reckon it'll look best in a stealthier colour. The new 'wing' grille of the five-door hatch is finished in body colour instead of chrome and the lower air intake has a more aggressive appearance. The rear bumper is new too and features two exhaust pipes to differentiate it from lesser models. Sportier side sills and a roof spoiler are the final touches, complemented by 18-inch alloys as standard.
Inside, the BiTurbo gets lots of red stitching to contrast with the black fabric seats (leather is optional), plus a tactile sports steering wheel with a slightly flattened bottom. There are other detail changes.
Driving it:
First up, the reason for this standalone model: the 195hp engine. It's a twin sequential turbo unit, with a small turbocharger spinning up quickly at lower speeds (with its own intercooler) supplemented by a larger item at higher speeds and loads. There's no lag, just a seamless wave of torque. At times there are some sporting noises from the twin-exit exhaust and from under the bonnet, but most of the time it sounds disappointingly like a regular diesel. Admittedly the performance makes up for that and it feels quicker than the 0-62mph time suggests it will. The six-speed manual gearbox has a slicker change than that of the Astra VXR, though you don't really need to stir it much in reality.
While the focus is on the engine, we were more than a little surprised to find that the BiTurbo's chassis is an absolute gem. Ride height is reduced, the springs are stiffer, the bushings are tweaked and the rear axle is significantly modified. It turns out to be a cracking set-up, with far more composure and comfort than the harder edged VXR model, yet really impressive body control and agility. The launch cars did have Vauxhall's optional FlexRide damping system fitted, but so too did all the regular models on hand, and the BiTurbo shone.
What you get for your Money:
In terms of power, the only comparable warm diesel hatch we could think of is the BMW 120d M Sport. The five-door Astra BiTurbo is priced at a similar level to that, which would also get you a Volkswagen Golf GTD (with 'only' 170hp), so it's not cheap.
Standard equipment includes 18-inch alloy wheels, a leather sports steering wheel, the sports chassis and body styling, cruise control, air conditioning, sports seats and trim and a CD stereo with aux-in.
Worth Noting
A host of fresh technology has been added to the Astra options list. Many of the new safety systems use the latest generation front camera, including lane departure warning, 'traffic sign assistant', following distance indication and forward collision alert. Radar-based adaptive cruise control is on the way as well, with 'collision imminent braking' integrated.
As mentioned above, one option fitted to all the test cars was the FlexRide chassis, allowing the driver to select from standard, Tour (i.e. comfort) and Sport modes, seemingly altering throttle response, power steering assistance and damping. If you enjoy driving it's well worth having.
Summary
We expected the new Vauxhall Astra BiTurbo to be effortlessly quick, offering a great combination of performance and economy. It lived up to that, even if it is a tad expensive. However, the chassis of the five-door version really is a revelation - this is one of the best driver's diesel hot hatches money can buy.
