(Thu 28 Aug 08)

The latest tax-busting car to hit the market with a CO2 figure of under 120g/km - putting it in the £35 per year Band B for VED - is the Vauxhall Astra ecoFLEX.

The ecoFLEX uses the 1.7-litre CDTi turbo diesel engine which has actually been tuned to produce more power than standard, with a maximum of 108bhp rather than the normal 99bhp. The improvements in fuel economy and CO2 emissions come from a range of modifications including higher gearing, a remapped ECU, reduced ride height, lower idle speeds for the engine and power steering pump, low-resistance tyres and improved aerodynamics.

Five-door hatchback versions are available to order now at prices starting from £16,340 for the Life, or just £295 more than you'd pay for the non-ecoFLEX equivalent. Sport Hatch and estate models will be introduced in the near future.

Vauxhall will be introducing ecoFLEX versions of the Corsa and the new Insignia during 2009.

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