“Sitting properly increases the sense of wellbeing in a car and helps to prevent fatigue and loss of concentration”

Almost two million Astras have been sold in the UK since the car was first launched in 1980 and the latest version was launched in five-door hatchback format on 1 May. An estate with an extended wheelbase will follow in the autumn and a three-door hatch will make its debut in spring 2005. Billed as a complete departure from the fourth generation’s more conservative design, the new model represents the latest stage in Astra’s evolution – and nowhere is that more marked than in relation to safety. The Health and Safety Executive, in its well-documented best practice guide “Driving at work: Managing work-related road safety”, highlights the importance of ergonomics as a major fleet decision-maker consideration.

In the event of an accident, the new Vauxhall Astra features a raft of safety systems to limit damage to passengers and the vehicle

Sitting properly is not only important from an orthopaedic point of view; it also increases the sense of wellbeing in a car and helps to prevent premature fatigue and loss of concentration. With this in mind, Vauxhall says that significant attention has been paid to seat comfort in the new Astra. Incorporating improved contouring with higher side supports, new materials such as polyurethane foam for the upholstery and a longer seat cushion for better leg support, the new Astra’s seats have been designed to improve comfort and combat tiredness.

Engineers also paid detailed attention to operation of the seats and the location of their controls, with advice taken from the latest ergonomic research. This means that the lever used to adjust the height of the seat is easy to locate and grip, that the head restraints are easily adjusted by pressing a button and that the position of the lumbar support wheel has been changed and is now slightly higher – all measures said to vastly improve new Astra’s ergonomics. Once inside, new Astra protection is plentiful. Vauxhall has further developed its IDS (Interactive Driving System) concept, which was first seen on the Vectra and is now being introduced to the lower-medium sector for the first time.

“Automatic level control ensures that the motorway is lit farther in front on low beam without dazzling other drivers”

Available as an option, IDS Plus claims to set new standards in achieving balance, ride comfort and active safety. Essentially IDS is an electronic chassis network that integrates all the individual safety systems such as the Electronic Stability Programme ESP Plus, Traction Control TC Plus, ABS plus Brake Assist, which increases the brake pressure, shortening the braking distance, and CDC (Continuous Damping Control). It is the kind of chassis technology previously seen only in higher-priced segments and, says Vauxhall, is another example of it pioneering new technology within mainstream, affordable cars. Vauxhall engineers have developed a further function that is of value in everyday situations and increases active safety. Given the name Understeer Control Logic (UCL), understeer is electronically controlled first by closing the throttle to reduce road speed, then by braking both front wheels. When the ESP “control range” is reached, braking pressure on the outer front wheel is decreased and built up in parallel at the inner rear wheel until the car is back safely on course.

In the event of an accident, the new Vauxhall Astra features a raft of safety systems to limit damage to passengers and the vehicle

A further option is adaptive forward lighting. Traditionally the preserve of executive vehicles, the technology is being viewed increasingly as an important element in active accident avoidance as the headlights effectively “see around corners” through reacting to the turn of the steering wheel, thereby making night-time journeys on country roads safer and less stressful. Meanwhile, when driving straight ahead at high speed, automatic level control ensures that the motorway is lit farther in front on low beam without dazzling other drivers. In addition, automatic lighting control activates headlights automatically in tunnels, car parks or at night, and deactivates them when sufficient brightness is sensed. In addition a “follow-me-home” light function keeps headlights on for 30 seconds after the driver leaves the car, and then shuts them off automatically.

New windscreen wiper technology means wipers have an aerodynamic shape and a tailored strip which combine to put equal pressure on every point of the windscreen, assuring clean and even wiping, even under extreme conditions or at high speeds. In addition, an optional rain sensor both engages the wipers when it has determined the amount of water on the windscreen and turns the lights on. Good tyre pressure and condition are essential to improve safety and new Astra offers two optional systems to ensure drivers know exactly what condition their tyres are in. Deflation Detection System (DDS) uses sensors on the wheels to inform the driver if tyre pressure has been lost and a dashboard warning light is triggered if the pressure loss reaches 30%. Meanwhile, Vauxhall’s Tyre Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) is the world’s first to integrate the DDS function. TPMS detects differences of up to 0.1 bar from the correct tyre pressure by using special sensors on each wheel. The current tyre pressures are then shown on the display in the cockpit. If the tyre pressures drop below a predetermined figure, the driver is warned. In the event of an accident, the new Astra features a raft of safety systems to minimise damage to both passengers and the vehicle, including larger-volume front seat and side airbags and head airbags installed from the Club trim level upwards.

“Expensive components in the engine compartment are located away from the immediate crash-damage zone”

Crash sensors measure collision impact and transmit their signals to the central control unit. The occupant restraint systems are then activated – or not – depending on the nature and severity of the impact. This prevents airbags from inflating if they would fail to provide any protection because of the nature of the accident. This system also cuts repair costs, as does the “intelligent” airbag control unit that decides on its own, according to the severity of the accident, whether the airbag needs replacement.

The Astra has lap-and-shoulder safety belts for all seats with belt tensioners and force limiters – the front safety belts also have height adjustment. Rear seat mountings for an ISOFIX child’s seat are supplied together with the child’s seat identification system.

Further measures to protect the Astra’s occupants include four standard head restraints. The risk of injury to the driver is also reduced by the safety Pedal Release System (PRS), which releases the brake and clutch pedals in the event of an impact and protects the driver’s lower legs and feet. In addition, in a crash, the car’s hazard warning flashers are switched on automatically when an airbag or seatbelt tensioner is triggered. The central locking system is released so that all the car’s doors can be opened. At the same time as extending the safety equipment specification on Astra, the design of several body components has made simple repairs easier and cheaper, helping to keep down insurance premiums.

The design of several body components on the Vauxhall Astra has made simple repairs easier and cheaper

Minor frontal or rear-end collisions are easily, and more cheaply, repaired as the front-end panels, for example, are in three sections, so that sections can be replaced or straightened at moderate cost. At the rear, the side members can also be replaced separately. Bumpers have protection trims that are available separately and can be replaced with simple clip fittings. Headlamps are another example as, after a frontal collision broken holders can be replaced by screw-on replacement parts. In addition control units and positioning motors are individually available for the optional xenon headlamps – a substantial cost advantage. Individual sections of the wiring loom can also be replaced, as can the plug housings and sensors.

In the event of fast, high-value accident repairs after a collision, bolted rather than welded joints permit repairs at moderate cost in many places. For example, the front cross-member is bolted to the body via crash boxes. Low-cost sectional repairs to the three-part front panels are also possible and bolted-on hinges simplify replacement of the bonnet. Expensive components in the engine compartment are located away from the immediate crash-damage zone. And items like the boot lid, and the rear lights are attached in such a way that they remain outside the impact zone in most rear-end collisions. Finally, there is a faster and more reliable modified replacement process for the windscreen and rear window, introduced on the new Astra, but also available immediately for other Vauxhall models with bonded-in windows.