Vauxhall Antara (2011)

The new Vauxhall Antara's speed-related rack and pinion power steering system features a modified steering gear link and a reinforced intermediate shaft with a ball guide. As a result, the system has increased rigidity, better feedback to the driver and minimal effort during manoeuvering.

Large, ventilated disc brakes front and rear are allied to a four-channel ABS system and brake assist function to ensure confidence-inspiring deceleration at all times and in all road conditions.

A wide range of leading-edge assist systems further enhance active safety. They include:

• Electronic Stability Control (ESC) including ARP (Active Rollover Protection) and CBC (Cornering Brake Control)
• HSA (Hill Start Assist) to eliminate roll-back on gradients
• DCS (Descent Control System), which keeps the car at a maximum crawl speed of 10 km/h by braking the front wheels without any intervention by the driver when driving down steep slopes
• Electronic yaw control AOD (Active on Demand), which helps to minimise understeer or oversteer by modulating drive torque between the front and rear axles
• TPMS (Tyre Pressure Monitoring System) monitors pressure with the aid of sensors integrated in the wheels and activates an individual wheel warning in the driver display if pressure losses exceed 0.3 bar
• EDC (Engine Drag Control) increases engine torque if there is any danger of the wheels locking (triggered by high engine-speed leaps when downshifting or quickly releasing the clutch during low traction)

Standard equipment on all-wheel drive variants includes automatic vehicle-level control, which maintains a constant ground clearance when loaded or pulling a trailer.

And the Antara has a lot more to offer in terms of utility. All-wheel drive variants can tow loads of up to 2,000 kilograms (front-wheel drive: 1,500kgs) and the trailer stability program (TSP) also ensures any swaying tendencies of the car-trailer combination are recognised by a yaw sensor and effectively prevented by a reduction of engine power and controlled braking.

In addition to enhanced handling characteristics on the road, all-wheel drive Antaras also offer impressive off-road capability, aided by: electronically controlled variable front/rear power distribution, a 176 mm ground clearance, a 450 mm wading depth, an overhang angle of 20 and 24 degrees front and rear, as well as a ramp angle of 18 degrees.

Depending on specification, the Vauxhall Antara is fitted as standard with 17- or 18-inch alloy wheels (tyre size: 235/65 R 17 and 235/55 R 18). A new, eye-catching 8 x 19-inch wheel is available as an option with 235/50 R 19 tyres.

BODY, PACKAGING & PASSIVE SAFETY

Taking up no more space than a normal mid-size car, the new Antara measures just 4,596mm x 1,850mm, making it an ideal vehicle for either urban or off-road driving. The elevated seating position (vehicle height: 1,717 mm) offer an unrestricted all-round view of the road, while the excellent powertrain characteristics and precise handling ensure agility, lively performance and trouble-free manoeuvering.

The interior features ample room for occupants front and rear, while the rear passenger compartment features tiltable backrests and legroom of 946mm, which is among the most generous in the segment.

The Vauxhall Antara's luggage compartment holds up to 402 litres of cargo with its rear seats up; this grows to 795 litres when the back seat is folded down and up to 1,391 litres when loaded to the roof. The rear backrest (split 60:40) and the front passenger backrest can be folded down to accommodate objects up to 2.63 metres in length.

Redesigned interior with high-quality ambience

The upgraded Antara's interior features a standard electric parking brake operated by the push of a button. As well as making the car easier to use, especially during town driving, it also liberates more space, which has allowed designers to integrate a larger stowage area for everyday items. The well thought-out storage system is rounded off by a pull-out compartment under the front passenger seat, a holder for sunglasses in the roof lining, nets on the front seat backs and a parking ticket holder in the dashboard. The rear passenger cabin also offers practical storage spaces which can be expanded with a multifunctional centre armrest (optional).

An under-floor compartment beneath the cargo area helps keep things tidy, while the optional FlexOrganiser system includes two standard rails on both of the rear side walls into which various (optional) elements such as nets, partitions, rods or hooks can be clipped. This means that the luggage compartment can be divided into sections that secure the load and keep it from shifting.

Acoustic comfort improved

Vauxhall's engineers have paid special attention to the new Antara's NVH (Noise, Vibration, Harshness) qualities, and have devised a raft of measures to improve cabin refinement, such as:

• Hydraulic engine bearings (engine movement, idling vibrations)
• Linkage of all-wheel drive components (noise transmission)
• Electronic all-wheel drive control (transmission noise)
• Chassis (road noise transmission)
• Front frame structure (modified anchor points)
• Front splash wall (insulation from engine noise)
• Air intake and exhaust systems (flow noise)
• Upper body structure (low-frequency rumbling noise)
• Windscreen with additional lamination (engine and wind noise)
• Rubber door seals (engine and wind noise)
• Body seals (wind noise)
• Body water repellent (wind noise)
• Rear body area (noise insulation from cargo area)

Other areas benefiting from NVH improvements are on the front console, the C and D pillars, the wheelarch liners, steering column, gearshift and door trim. The efforts made by the acoustic specialists lead to a convincing result: the perceptible noise level in the Antara's cabin was reduced by over 3dB (A) and thus more than halved.

The performance features of the on-board electronics were also enhanced. They now include systems for efficient control of the electrical on-board system and battery charge status ("RVC", Regulated Voltage Control) as well as for optimisation of noise insulation and energy efficiency of the engine fan in the diesel versions.

High levels of passive safety

Complementing the chassis and assist systems' active safety gains, the Vauxhall Antara also offers extensive passive safety features. They are based on a rigid bodyshell structure made up of 37 percent high-strength steel.

The side beam, cross bar and front axle distribute energy from a frontal collision along optimised load paths, thus helping to prevent deformation of the passenger compartment. B-pillars constructed of tailored blank metal sheets with varying thickness ensure safety in the event of a side-impact collision. A reinforced rear structure with large longitudinal beams and a fuel tank positioned in front of the rear axle round off the body safety measures.

In the event of minor accidents at low speed, special crash boxes at the front and rear absorb the collision energy and thus limit potential repair costs. Vauxhall has also taken precautions in terms of long-term quality: all of the corrosion-prone areas of the body are galvanized on both sides.

The Vauxhall Antara's passive safety is further enhanced by extensive restraint and add-on systems including:

• Front airbags
• Side airbags for driver and front passenger
• Head curtain airbags in front and rear/outer seats
• Three-point safety belts on all five seats
• Seat belt pre-tensioners and belt force limiters in front
• Height-adjustable headrests on all five seats
• Belt warning for driver and front passenger seat
• ISOFIX mountings on outer rear seats to secure child safety seats
• Seat occupation recognition with front passenger-side deactivation of front and side airbag to mount a child seat

ENGINES & TRANSMISSIONS

The updated engine line-up for the refreshed Vauxhall Antara combines strong performance with low fuel consumption and emissions. Both powertrain variants of the Vauxhall Antara meet Euro 5 emissions standards. Two newly-developed six-speed transmissions - one manual and one automatic - further improve the Antara's efficiency.

2.2 CDTI diesel engine: one of the most efficient in its class

The 2.2 CDTi engine is available with a choice of power outputs: a 163PS version, which can be combined with front or all-wheel drive as well as with manual or automatic transmission, and a 184PS unit, also available with both transmission types, as well as standard all-wheel drive.

With maximum torque of 350Nm from 2000rpm and combined fuel consumption/emissions of 44.8mpg/167g CO2, the 163PS unit is an attractive entry-level engine for the Vauxhall Antara range. Zero to 60mph acceleration of 9.9 seconds and a top speed of 117mph ensure that drivers aren't short-changed on the performance front, either.

The 184PS top-of-the-line diesel combined with all-wheel drive produces maximum torque of 400Nm at just 2000rpm. In this form, the Antara achieves a 0-60mph time of 9.6 seconds and top speed of 124mph, combined with fuel consumption of 42.8mpg and emissions of 175g/km.

This new diesel unit is among the most efficient engines in its capacity class. Its high specific power output, low emissions and reduced NVH are achieved by use of:

• Engine block with high structural rigidity (reduced noise and vibration)
• Engine block cooling jacket with horizontal cooling-fin design (optimised cooling)
• Dual-mass flywheel (reduced drivetrain vibration)
• Oil-pump integrated balance shaft module (compactness, reduced engine vibration)
• New DOHC aluminium cylinder head with variable swirl control (flow and swirl properties)
• Watercooled turbocharger with charge air cooling and variable turbine geometry (cylinder charging and driveability)
• Maintenance-free camshaft chain drive with automatic chain tensioner
• Fuel injection pressure up to 1,800 bar (mixture preparation)
• Compression ratio reduced to 16.3:1 (increased power, reduced emissions and combustion noise)
• Optimised pre-heating system (improved cold-weather starting)
• Exhaust gas recirculation with highly efficient cooling system (emissions reduction)
• Maintenance-free close-coupled diesel particulate filter (DPF)
• Pistons with oil-spray cooling

Optional manual or automatic transmission

Two new six-speed transmission systems, one manually-operated and one automatic, combine efficiency with ease of operation. High-tech details like precision-designed "Monoblock" gear wheels and upgraded bearing elements in the manual gearbox ensure fluent gear changes and minimise friction and vibration.

A widely-spaced final drive ratio allows excellent response in first gear combined with a relaxed cruising gait in top gear. In addition, drivers have two programs available at the push of a button, depending on whether they want to "cruise" or drive more enthusiastically. The transmission also includes an automatic stage-by-stage braking system, which prevents unwanted up-shifts while the vehicle is coasting downhill.

Optional front-wheel or all-wheel drive

Depending on their needs, Antara buyers can specify their Antara with either front- or variable all-wheel drive. The latter combines the advantages of front-wheel drive - such as low fuel consumption - with additional power, grip and safety.

The all-wheel drive Vauxhall Antara uses a system called ITCC (Intelligent Torque Controlled Coupling) which uses an electromagnetic pilot coupling and hydraulic multi-plate wet clutch housed in a single rear axle module unit. This combination ensures an ultra-quick response to changing road conditions, while also making the unit compact, lightweight and maintenance-free.

Working together, the ITCC and electronic stability control (ESC) continually compare wheel-speed, steering angles and accelerator position, and if traction is poor across the front axle, the system reacts within 0.1 seconds to seamlessly re-distribute power as required. Depending on driving conditions, the torque distribution range spans from 100 per cent front-wheel drive to 50 per cent across each axle, and all variations in between.