Vauxhall shows off new Astra's cabin look

18/06/09

Car-maker previews inside its key new car - months before it reaches its first UK customers

Vauxhall has just released these pictures of its new Astra – the first to show its cabin. As you can see the car will mark a big change over the current one when it arrives in the UK towards the end of this year.

The company bills it as a big step up in quality over the current car, using design ideas familiar to anyone who’s driven the new Insignia family hatchback. Like that car, the instrument panel features wing and blade motifs, which arc across the cabin and touch the door-top mouldings. The dash has a black, grained finish which differs from other plastics across the cabin.

The design team have worked hard on storage spaces within the cabin, providing the option of a drawer under the front seat that’s big enough to hold a pair of shs, while the glove box has two removable compartments , as well as the usual moulded slots for coin and a pen within its lid. The centre console houses two cup holders and gives space for up to nine CDs in their cases.

In the boot, the floor is arranged to provide extra storage beneath it.

The Astra will be unveiled at the Frankfurt Motor Show in September before reaching UK showrooms a few weeks later.