Vauxhall Astra Twin Port
If you can't bring yourself to switch to diesel, then all is not lost. Vauxhall has also developed a new system for its small petrol engines which increases efficiency and enhances economy by up to six per cent with no loss of performance
With no loss of performance or refinement, most Vauxhall buyers won't even know the Twin Port system has been added to their new car. But they'll find the fuel savings soon stack up - and that's good for the budget and the environment.
If you can't bring yourself to switch to diesel, then all is not lost. Vauxhall has also developed a new system for its small petrol engines which increases efficiency and enhances economy by up to six per cent with no loss of performance. We sampled the Twin Port technology in a prototype Astra ahead of its spring debut. The test model had the same 100bhp 1.6-litre credentials as the existing car, but its separate valves open and shut independently according to throttle load. This creates more efficient combustion, as with petrol direct injection, but is cheaper than these expensive and complex systems.
The engine seems to work perfectly normally, accelerating from 700rpm up to at least 6,000rpm, and the car does not feel any slower than the current one. This isn't only good news for Astra drivers - the system is set to be used on all small petrol engines across the Agila and Corsa ranges, too.
