Vauxhall tows away top caravan gong

The British-built Vauxhall Astra Sports Tourer 1.7 CDTi (125PS) SE ecoFLEX has scooped the Green Award at the prestigious Practical Caravan Towcar of the Year awards 2011.
 
The judges said, ‘The Astra Sports Tourer impressed everyone who drove it.  In spite of having just 123bhp to call on, it took a respectable 19.2 seconds to tow from 30-60mph.  The Astra Sports Tourer is an excellent small estate with impressive economy and low emissions.’
 
The Practical Caravan awards, backed by What Car? magazine and The Camping and Caravanning Club, are based on a vigorous and thorough towcar assessment.  Each car is tested by a panel of six judges for its towing ability, buying and owning costs, drive quality when not towing and practicality.
 
“We’re delighted to win the Green Award at the Towcar Awards 2010,” said Peter Hope, Vauxhall’s Marketing Director.  “The Towcar of the Year awards are an industry standard and by far the most prestigious event in the caravanning calendar.”
 
The Astra Sports Tourer is built exclusively at Vauxhall’s Ellesmere Port plant for all European markets.  High demand has recently seen the facility laying on additional shifts to keep up with orders, with over 57,000 rolling off the production line so far in 2011.  The Astra Sports Tourer is comfortably top of its segment with sales of 4,468 cars year-to-date, trouncing its nearest rival by over 2,000 units.