New Astra Sports Tourer hits the road

CAR maker Vauxhall will today launch the latest model of the Astra.

The Sports Tourer, an estate version of the Astra, which was launched last year, will go on sale to the public at the end of this month.

The model is built at Vauxhall’s Ellesmere Port factory, and will be exported to the whole of Europe.

Owned by General Motors, the Ellesmere Port plant has more than 2,000 employees and is one of the company’s most productive and efficient.

Hopes are high that the success of the Astra – which was designed and built there – will earn the plant the production of the new generation electric-powered car, The Ampera.

Chief designer Andew Dyson and plant director Tony Francavilla will showcase the new model to guests at a Chester hotel and then host a site tour.

Since launching last autumn the Astra hatchback has been a big hit with consumers and has topped the UK sales charts several times this year.