ASTRA WINS GOLDEN STEERINGWHEELpage 18

HAPPYBIRTHDAYM1page 29

MODERN BODY REPAIR COURSEpage 15

The magazine for Vauxhall staff and retailersDecember 2009

BEAR NECESSITIESEmployees dig deep for

Children in Need

CHILDRENIN NEED16

VAUXHALLCOLLECTIVE22MODERN BODY

REPAIR COURSE15

VIEW

FRO

M T

HE

TOP

THE MAGAZINE FOR VAUXHALL STAFF AND RETAILERS

NEWS GM EUROPE RESTRUCTURING GETS UNDERwAY 04 VIVARO SCORES wITH TALkSPORT 04 ASTRA wINS GOLDEN STEERING wHEEL 06 VIVARO IS ECONOMY CHAMP 07

NEWS AND VIEWS FROM AROUND VAUXHALL AND GM GLOBALNEWS AND VIEWS FROM AROUND VAUXHALL AND GM

Since I last wrote this column we have had several announcements about General Motors’ decision to retain its European operations. This is good news and puts an end to months of uncertainty.

There is, of course, lots more work to be done on our new structure, and Opel/Vauxhall’s new Acting CEO Nick Reilly has been visiting our plants to see operations for himself. GM UK Finance Director Richard Molyneux and I have continued to work closely with government and trade union officials, and Nick has also held meetings with them in the past few weeks as he seeks to finalise the European plan as quickly as possible.

While these negotiations go on behind the scenes, work carries on as usual at all our sites. All eyes are currently on the all-new Astra. Production is ramping up at Ellesmere Port as the car is launched to the market - just in time for Christmas.

The car has already been very well received by journalists and I know from talking to Retailers that it’s eagerly anticipated. We held the press launch at Ellesmere Port, where the car is being built - and it was extremely successful. Turn to page 21 to find out what the motoring journalists thought of the all-new Astra. But don’t just take their word for it - it will be in a showroom near you very soon, so take a look for yourself.

Thank you all for your hard work over the last year - it is much appreciated. Now that the uncertainty over our future ownership has ended, may I wish you and your families a very merry Christmas and a peaceful new year.

NEWS

REGULARSFEATURES14 BTCC Vauxhall bids farewell to BTCC

15 MODERN BODy REpAIR COURSE Accident repair training for bodyshop technicians

16 CHILDREN IN NEED Millbrook Proving Ground plays host to Pudsey Bear

18 ASTRA pRESS LAUNCH what the papers say about the all-new Astra

22 VAUXHALL COLLECTIVE Supporting style and design in the Uk

10 NETWORk NEWS News from around the retail network

23 DAy IN THE LIFE Martyn Quigley-Phipps, Health and Safety Manager at GMM Luton

26 TIME OUT Mountain rescue, three peaks challenge and boxing – what employees are getting up to in their spare time

30 LEISURE TIME Try our crossword and sudoku and win £25

IN THIS ISSUEBILL PARFITTCHAIRMAN & MANAGING DIRECTOR GENERAL MOTORS UK LTD

EDITORDebbie Pentelow01582 427190MANAGING EDITORJos Sharp01582 427173

If you have an idea for a story to put forward, please tell the correspondent in your area. Any events, personal or work-related achievements, people doing unusual or interesting hobbies or sports – tell your correspondents.

SITE EDITORSEllesmere Port Julie Todd 0151 350 2233WarehouseJackie Jones 01582 426 6809GMM Luton Justin Hawkins 01582 409 219

Torque is written, designed and producedby beetroot, 44 New Inn Yard, London EC2A 3EY (telephone 020 7749 0180), on behalf of General Motors UK Limited, Luton.

02 TORQUE MAGAzINE 03DECEMBER 2009

18CHERyL SLIpS INTO A kOMADo you remember Cheryl Cole wearing THAT dress on The X Factor? Well, proving she’s got her fingeron the fashion pulse, we can reveal that the dress was designed by Vauxhall Fashion Scout winner, David koma. The body-con dress featured a spiral metal-chain detail.

And if an endorsement from Cheryl wasn’t enough, Beyoncé stepped out in an almost-identical koma creation at the MTV Awards less than a week later.

NEWS

05DECEMBER 2009

Football fans across the Uk can now listen to live broadcasts of talkSPORT’s popular ‘Fan in a Van’ feature thanks to a new mobile broadcast unit supplied by Vauxhall Commercial Vehicles.

‘Fan in a Van’ forms part of the talkSPORT Saturday Match Day Live programme which provides live coverage of Barclays Premier League games.

A Vivaro Doublecab model will operate from motorway service stations along the main routes to matches and fans will be invited to come into the van to contribute their views about the game they are travelling to watch. They’ll also have the chance to win spot prizes by answering football questions.

This is the third year that Vauxhall Commercial Vehicles has sponsored the station’s live coverage of the

TOp SCORER WITHtalkSpORT

REILLy TO FOCUS ON EUROpEAN OpERATIONSGeneral Motors (GM) has dominated the business news in the last couple of months with the announcement that the company has decided to retain control of its European operations.

The news has put an end to months of uncertainty and shows the importance of Vauxhall/Opel for GM’s global strategy. It also underlines GM’s confidence in the capabilities of Opel/Vauxhall employees and Retailer Network.

Now that the future ownership of GM’s European operations is secure, acting Chief Executive Officer, Nick Reilly is leading negotiations on the restructuring of GM Europe.

Nick visited the UK on 17 November to conduct high-level discussions with Unite senior Trade Union leaders and Business Secretary Lord Mandelson. His aim was to discuss the preliminary GM restructuring plan and explore the possibility of securing Government funding to support UK operations.

Nick and his team will visit all the European locations before communicating the final business plan in mid December.

THE LIFE OF REILLyNick Reilly is the man taking charge of operations for Opel/Vauxhall in Europe. Nick, a Briton, is a GM veteran of 34 years. He is GM Executive Vice President and President of GM International Operations.

He spent 15 years at Vauxhall in the 1980s and 1990s, climbing the ladder to become Chairman and Managing Director in 1996. He has also served in senior positions in GM’s Zurich office before transferring to korea to head the company’s joint operations with Daewoo.

VIp VIpHOORAyBoth Luton and Ellesmere Port plants have hosted a long line of VIP guests recently. Hard on the heels of Prime Minister Gordon Brown’s visit to Ellesmere Port (see last issue of Torque), Luton plant got a visit from two more high-profile politicians – ken Clarke MP, and Harriet Harman, Leader of the House of Commons.

The Shadow Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills was briefed on key plant performance metrics and the business outlook for the second half of 2009 by Plant Director Paul Staes.

The following week, the plant got another VIP visitor – the Bishop of St Albans, Rt Revd Dr Alan Smith. The Bishop visited the plant as part of a tour of the local area which took in London Luton Airport, Thomson TUI and Hatfield Police Station.

The trend for high-profile visitors continued in November when Children in Need’s Pudsey Bear visited Luton plant.

Unlike previous distinguished visitors, Pudsey was not interested in business updates from plant management or talks with trade unions. Instead, Pudsey just wanted to walk the shop floor in General Assembly and the offices in AA Block where employees received hugs from the rotund yellow bear.

Marc Eden, GM Uk Brand Engagement Manager, said: “Thank you to everyone who welcomed Pudsey to the plant and gave generously to Children in Need.”

SIX AppEALProof that Vauxhall can offer vans for every building, glazing and construction industry application came from a six-strong display at Interbuild 2009 in October.

Thirsty visitors flocked to the cavernous 3.5 tonne Movano panel van which had been kitted out as a coffee bar. The Movano also featured an external glass-carrying system from Supertrucks of St Helens.

Also on show were the stylish Corsavan Sportive and Astravan Sportive SE. Both showed the superb features of the Sportive specification that adds to driver comfort and results in a van that stands out from the crowd. The features include: • Sports seats and a leather-covered sports steering wheel• Air conditioning• Alloy wheels• High output unique diesel engine• Two-coat metallic/pearlescent paint

Crew-carrying vehicles were also well represented with the inclusion of the Movano crew cab tipper, Vivaro Sportive Doublecab and a Combo crew van. Designed to carry between five and seven people in comfort, they also offer ample load space for tools and materials.

Simon Culley, Marketing Manager Commercial Vehicles, said: “The construction market is an important one for Vauxhall. We offer a wide selection of models specifically targeted at this sector, including crew cab vehicles and light tippers as well as car-derived vans and panel vans up to 3500 GVW.”

Barclays Premier League. Marketing Director Andy Gilson marked the occasion by handing the Vivaro over to Charlotte Pilkington, Sponsorship Manager at talkSPORT.

“we’re delighted to be continuing our support of talkSPORT’s coverage of Premiership games,” said Andy. “This is where the highest level of regular league football in the world is played and the coverage provided by talkSPORT is listened to by millions of fans.

“At Vauxhall we are also in the premier league for vans. with our range of five high-quality vans from the Corsavan through to the Movano, and in the customer support we provide, we always aim to offer customers the same level of professionalism, work rate and efficiency as the teams and players in the Barclays Premier League.”

04 TORQUE MAGAzINE

1089/1053AMTUNE IN TO TALkSpORT

1648kGTHE MAXIMUM pAyLOAD OF THE MOVANO DISpLAyED AT INTERBUILD

CORSA ECOFLEX HITS THE Uk MARkET 06 TECHNICAL STATUS FOR MILLBROOk 07 ISO 14001 FOR LUTON PLANT 07

Vauxhall Commercial Vehicles Brand Manager Steve Bryant, Emma Jagger from Carat Sponsorship, Vauxhall Marketing Director Andy Gilson and Charlotte pilkington, Sponsorship Manager at talkSpORT

Charlotte Boyce and peter Crawford, product Manager, Movano and Conversions, serve coffee from Movano

06 TORQUE MAGAzINE 07DECEMBER 2009

ISO 14001ISO 14001 THE INTERNATIONALLy ACCEpTED STANDARD FOR AN EFFECTIVE ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT SySTEM

NEWS

EMISSION pOSSIBLE

The most economical Vauxhall model ever will be available to order from January 2010 when the new Corsa ecoFLEX hits the UK market, boasting CO² emissions of just 98g/km and a combined fuel consumption of 76.3mpg.

Even in five-door trim, the Corsa ecoFLEX achieves 99g/km and, like the three-door, is equipped with a Diesel Particulate Filter as standard, which

GMM Luton has retained its accreditation to the ISO 14001 Environmental Management System.

Auditors Lloyds Registry were in the plant in September to review the facility’s environmental policy and check GMM Luton still complies with the ISO 14001 standard.

ISO 14001 covers items such as the monitoring and control of chimney stack emissions, landfill waste and energy consumption. Mike Carrey, Facilities Manager, said: “Maintaining ISO 14001 accreditation is an excellent achievement for GMM Luton.

“Our customers are looking to us to ensure that we are protecting the environment and meeting the international environmental standard. ISO 14001 proves we are doing this.”

dramatically reduces the most harmful emissions. As a result, Corsa ecoFLEX drivers will benefit from not only the lowest 13 per cent BIK diesel band, but full exemption from Vehicle Excise Duty.

But this hasn’t dented the Corsa’s drivability. Despite the improvement in fuel consumption and emissions, the ecoFLEX packs 21 per cent more power from its 1.3CDTi turbodiesel engine.

WHEELyGREATEuropean car buffs have handed the all-new Astra its first major trophy – the Golden Steering Wheel in the compact class. It is the most prestigious award issued by Auto Bild magazines group. This year’s election involved readers in 26 European countries representing more than 40 million readers overall.

The all-new Astra won by a comfortable margin, getting top marks in the engine, fuel consumption, chassis, braking, steering and driver assistance safety systems categories. Race drivers and technical experts ranked the Astra number one, awarding it seven out of eight points.

“This is terrific news and a feather in our cap,” said Marketing Director Andy Gilson. “Not only has the new Astra been shortlisted for the European Car of the Year, which we won last year with the Insignia, but it’s now taken an important award from an international jury of readers. And all before the car hits the showrooms on 11 December.”

Vauxhall last won the Golden Steering Wheel in 2005 with the Zafira.

The all-new Astra continues to pick up awards. On 30 November, it was awarded third place in the Car of the Year awards.

TECH THATMillbrook Proving Ground has been awarded Technical Service status by the Vehicle Certification Agency. The award allows Millbrook to carry out Individual Vehicle Approval (IVA) testing on behalf of the agency.

Millbrook is one of the first test centres in the country to be awarded the accreditation and joins a select group which have gained this accolade.

The IVA scheme is now part of the new whole Vehicle Type Approval Scheme and mainly affects imported vehicles, self-build cars and rebuilt vehicles. Its purpose is to ensure that vehicles entering into service in the United kingdom comply with the current Uk and European legislation. The Corsa

ecoFLEXVauxhall’s Vivaro has proved itself to be the out-and-out champ in terms of fuel economy by winning the commercial vehicle category of the 2009 Fleetworld/ALD MPG marathon.

The British-built van achieved an overall figure of 55.25mpg on the 360-mile drive, which took in challenging roads across the East and West Midlands over two days. This represents an improvement of 60.6 per cent over the van’s official combined economy figure of 34.4mpg, and proves that a smooth and careful approach to driving can pay huge dividends to drivers, and to fleets looking to cut their costs.

Driven by seasoned economy driver Andrew Duerden and co-driver Jim Smith, the winning van was a 2.0 CDTi 115PS SWB variant, the most popular of the Luton-built models.

“I knew that by keeping the van within its peak torque curve and by reading the road ahead we stood a good chance,” said Andrew. “But to achieve a 60 per cent improvement really shows that van drivers can achieve superb results by applying a responsible approach to their driving.”

The winning van was fitted with data-logging equipment supplied by Millbrook Proving Ground, which offers economy driver-training sessions to businesses and fleet operators alike.

It has won its category in the MPG Marathon before, but the figure of 55mpg is the best ever achieved by a Vivaro on the event, comprehensively beating rivals including Ford Transit and Mercedes Vito.

VIVARO ISECONOMy CHAMp

THE pLANT IS GREEN

WHO SAyS SIZE MATTERS?

A survey carried out by Vauxhall Commercial Vehicles shows that many prejudices about vans are disappearing and driving a large van is no longer such a daunting prospect.

Of the 1,000 people questioned, 81 per cent felt that driver safety had been well catered for with technology such as airbags, active safety systems and parking sensors. And 90 per cent are happy with comfort specifications such as air conditioning, electric windows and sat nav.

Although some respondents still felt uneasy about getting behind the wheel, the majority (51 per cent) were unconcerned about driving a van of any size and 57 per cent were comfortable with their ability to park it. Drivers in Northern Ireland and the North East were most comfortable with the manoeuvrability of the vehicles, while those in the more congested areas of the country, London and the North west, were likely to be more wary.

Steve Bryant, Brand Manager, Vauxhall Commercial Vehicles, explained: “It’s really pleasing to see that attitudes about vans are changing. we’ve always been committed to enhancing the performance, comfort and safety of our vehicles, both for our professional customers as well as the occasional driver so it’s reassuring to see the message is getting out there.”

Andrew Duerden (left) and Jim Smith with the winning Vivaro

JANUARy 2010THE DATE THE CORSA ECOFLEX HITS THE Uk MARkET

General Motors confirmed that the proposed sale of its Saab subsidiary to koenigsegg Group AB was terminated at the discretion of the buyer.

“we’re obviously very disappointed with the decision to pull out of the Saab purchase,” said GM President and CEO, Fritz Henderson. “Many have worked tirelessly over the past several months to create a sustainable plan for the future of Saab by selling the brand and its manufacturing interests to koenigsegg Group AB. Given the sudden change in direction, we will take some time to assess the situation and will advise on the next steps soon .”

pURCHASE OF SAAB TERMINATED

HUMMER SALE ANNOUNCED 08 OLYMPIC EFFORT FOR CHEVROLET 09 CHEVROLET’S SPARk OF FASHION AwARDS 09

TORQUE MAGAzINE08 DECEMBER 2009 09

NEWS

The Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games will be among the greenest yet, and Chevrolet is playing its part with the zero-emission Chevrolet Equinox fuel cell demonstration fleet.

Eight fuel cell vehicles are already operating in Vancouver and will remain there until the end of the Paralympic Games in March 2010.

The fleet will transport a wide array of people including Olympic officials, media, athletes, government representatives and everyday drivers. They will be able to experience the benefits of hydrogen fuel cells and see just how far GM’s fuel cell research has advanced.

“The only emissions are wisps of water vapour so these vehicles are a perfect match for the Olympic Committee’s sustainability goals,” said Matt Crossley, GM Canada’s Director of Engineering.

A learner driver proved that not all young drivers are reckless and inconsiderate by achieving an impressive fuel economy improvement in the annual MPG Marathon.

Seventeen-year-old Joe Durkin from Falmouth, Cornwall, achieved 59.71mpg in a Chevrolet Aveo 1.2S – an improvement of more than 16 per cent against the car’s already thrifty 51.4mpg official combined figure, putting him ahead of a number of more experienced drivers in the economy run, including a former outright winner.

The event took in a 360-mile route through the East and West Midlands, including some challenging inclines and tricky B-roads, all of which were perfect practice for the event’s youngest-ever competitor.

Joe, an apprentice marine engineer, explained: “I wanted to demonstrate that a responsible and smooth approach to driving will not only save you a packet, but is also a cool thing to do.”

Joe entered the Chevrolet Aveo 1.2S with styling kit in the event – a car perfect for younger drivers thanks to its neat looks but low running costs. “It’s a really smart car,” said Joe. “It was great to drive on this event as the controls were really light, which made it ideal for driving economically.”

General Motors has entered into a definitive agreement with Sichuan Tengzhong Heavy Industrial Machinery Co Ltd (Tengzhong) that will allow Tengzhong to acquire GM’s premium all-terrain HUMMER brand.

GM President and CEO Fritz Henderson said: “HUMMER is a strong global niche brand and this agreement signifies another important milestone in writing the next chapter for both GM and HUMMER. For HUMMER, the combination of its knowledgeable leadership team, vehicle design expertise and the capital financing of Tengzhong portend a successful future.”

Under the agreement, HUMMER would contract vehicle manufacturing, key components and business services from GM during a defined transitional time period. For example, GM’s Shreveport assembly plant would continue to assemble the H3 and H3T and AM General’s Mishawaka assembly plant will continue to assemble the H2. Both facilities will produce the specified vehicles until June 2011, with an optional one-year extension until June 2012. The deal is expected to secure more than 3,000 jobs in the US related to the sale and manufacturing of HUMMER vehicles.

HUMMER SALE ANNOUNCED

The student winners of the 2009 Young Creative Chevrolet art contest were honoured in style at Chevrolet’s Spark of Fashion lifestyle event in Berlin, Germany. But the star of the show was a customised version of the all-new Chevrolet Spark city car, created by young Berlin fashion designer Mischa woeste of Smeilinener.

BRIGHT SpARkS

ONE ‘L’ OF A RESULT

when Chevrolet US invited the public to name the distinctive external colour of the Volt extended-range, the competition proved so popular that 1,800 people responded in the first four hours.

In the first three days, a total of 6,400 entries were submitted to the public online contest.

The colour – silver with an emerald hue – was named by the three shortlisted finalists as EV-ergreen, Viridian Joule and environMINT.

The finalists will be flown to Los Angeles to compete for a chance to be among the first to test drive a pre-production Volt.

pAINT yOURWAGON

OLyMpIC EFFORTFOR CHEVROLET

Launched in 2007, the art contest supports upcoming young talent, encouraging students to look at Chevrolet from their own creative perspective. The contest has grown fast from the original 32 art schools participating in 2007 to 120 in this year’s contest.

General Motors Company announced preliminary managerial results in November, providing an initial look at the company’s financial performance since it began operations as a new company (for the period 10 July-30 September 2009). Key points include:• Accelerated plan to repay US and

Canadian taxpayers; first $1.2 billion payment in December

• Operating actions result in EBIT (earnings before interest and tax) loss before special items of $261 million and managerial net loss of $1.2 billion

• Continued progress on structural cost reductions

THE FUTURE STARTS NOW• Healthier balance sheet with

significantly lower debt • $3.3 billion positive managerial

operating cash flow favourably impacted by working capital;

• $42.6 billion third-quarter liquidity position expected to decline materially in the fourth quarter.Declaring that “a successful

GM is within our grasp,” President and CEO, Fritz Henderson, said: “We have significantly more work to do, but these results provide evidence of the solid foundation we’re building for the new GM.”

Joe with co-driver Craig Cheetham

360MILES THE ROUTE OF THE MpG MARATHON NEGOTIATED By JOE DURkIN

12 FEBRUARy 2010THE DATE THE OLyMpIC CAULDRON WILL BE LIT IN VANCOUVER

SkURRAY’S NEw SkIPPER 10 MOTABILITY AwARD FOR PERRYS BARNSLEY 11 FLYING START FOR VXR wEEkEND 11

NEWS

More than 200 high-performance Vauxhall enthusiasts braved the weather in November to attend Murketts of Cambridge’s first VXR weekend. All the latest ‘hot’ Vauxhalls were on show, with both Astra and Corsa VXR demonstrators on hand for test drives together with the new, range-topping Insignia VXR.

And to add still more spice, Vauxhall’s highly successful BTCC Vectra, driven by Fabrizio Giovanardi lined up alongside the fire-breathing VXR8 Bathurst edition in Murketts’ showroom.

ASTRA GOES TO THE SHOPS 12 BESPOkE STEERING SETTINGS FOR ALL-NEw ASTRA 12 wINTER SAFETY CHECk FOR £35 13 BTCC ROUND-UP 14

10 TORQUE MAGAzINE 11DECEMBER 2009

Would you be brave enough to take on a dealership in the middle of a recession? Nick Plevey and Nigel Harvey acquired Skurray’s in Swindon and Marlborough, in January 2009 and they are relishing the challenge.

It’s been tough, but Nick, a former Group Managing Director of Bristol Street Motors and Nigel who worked with Nick as Regional Financial Director, knew what they were letting themselves in for.

“This has been an incredibly challenging year to take on a new business but Skurrays is a good, well-controlled business so we had an excellent foundation to build on,” he said. “Skurrays has 110 years of heritage with very good customer satisfaction scores so I knew that customers believed in the business. My role was to take it to the next level.”

Neither was Nick put off by the uncertainty surrounding GM’s future. “Vauxhall has just gone through some of the toughest times in its trading history but I felt the Vauxhall franchise was still very credible and, crucially, offered good flexibility,” he said. “It certainly hasn’t been an easy ride but I have no regrets and still believe I made the right decision. One of the factors that swung it for me was the chance to renew a working relationship with Managing Director Bill Parfitt with whom I worked at Lex Retail Group. At heart, Bill is a retailer so he understands the pressure retailers are under. Although that means we can’t pull the wool over his eyes, it also means that when times get tough he will do his best to support us. Vauxhall’s reputation is well-earned and it was an important factor in my decision to be part of the business.”

Nine months down the line, Nick and Nigel are looking back on a year that

has been better than expected. “The scrappage scheme was very good for the Chevrolet brand and we also managed to benefit from the opportunities offered by the need to sell prior year stocks of Saab convertibles. In fact, we sold more of those in quarter one than all the Saab models the previous owners had sold in the preceding 12 months.”

As for the future, Nick is cautiously optimistic. “I believe next year will be harder than this year because it is unlikely there will be a scrappage scheme, and VAT is likely to increase. Add on the prospect of a General Election, and things could look very different this time next year. However, the future of Vauxhall is now much more secure and we’ve got some great products to sell. Corsa remains an excellent product, Insignia is selling well for us, and we have high hopes for the all-new Astra. There’s also the prospect of a new Meriva, Movano and Chevrolet Spark to give us a boost. There are lots of things happening and although they don’t guarantee us a better future, they certainly help. We know we will have to work harder, with more focus to meet and exceed customer expectations and to manage our cost base. But there’s no reason to believe we won’t come out of the recession in far better shape and ready for the upturn when it comes.”

SkURRAy’S NEW SkIppER

Congratulations to Gerry Barton from Perrys Barnsley, who has been awarded Top Regional Salesperson in Motability’s annual awards.

Gerry has been involved with the charity since 1979 and is one of the country’s longest-serving Motability specialists. For the past six years he has been a committed member of the Motability team at Perrys Barnsley where he advises customers on all aspects of the scheme.

“I’m delighted to have won this award,” said Gerry. “Motability is a life-changing charity. It isn’t until disability touches people personally that they realise how it can affect their freedom. To a disabled person and their carer, mobility means the ability to come and go as they please. At Perrys, it’s our aim to help people do just that.”

The award, which is solely voted for by Motability customers, is judged on all aspects of customer service. Perrys’ highly trained specialists such as Gerry are available to advise customers on topics like specific types of adaptations available, payment plans, or what type of vehicle would best suit their individual needs and requirements.

VXR WEEkEND GETS A FLyING STARTDiesel customers took the wheel of

the 1.9CDTI Astra Sports Hatch, complete with Thorney Motorsport performance upgrade. The Vauxhall tuning specialist also brought its fearsome racing Dunlop Sportmaxx Astra along with its high performance VXRR Corsa.

Murketts’ Tim Abbott was delighted with the inaugural weekend. He said: “We couldn’t believe how popular the event was. We have already sold one car, received lots of enquiries, done two tuning upgrades for customers and a lot of servicing business besides.”

pERRy’S GERRy’S VERy GOOD

DEREk’S FLyING HIGH Between the hours of 9-5, Derek Thomson is Parts Manager at Evans Halshaw, Sighthill, Edinburgh. But at weekends he becomes Squadron Leader Thomson of the RAF Air Cadets. His commitment to the Air Cadets is such that he was presented with one of only three national commendations by the RAF Commander in Chief Air Command.

Derek has been involved with the Air Cadets for the last 38 years and

has dedicated either Saturday or Sunday of almost every weekend to the Corps since then. He has devoted his spare time and energy and personally sent over 1,000 cadets on their first solo flights – the majority of them before their 17th birthday.

Commenting on his award, Derek said: “It has been a great honour to be part of the Air Cadets and to repay some of the great experiences they gave me in my youth.”

Nick plevey (right) with Regional Finance Director Nigel Harvey

Air Vice Marshall North (left) presents

Squadron Leader Thomson with his award

“ SkURRAyS HAS 110 yEARS OF HERITAGE WITH VERy GOOD CUSTOMER SATISFACTION SCORES”

Gerry Barton, Alan Green-wood, General Manager at perrys and Steven Murr, National Accounts Manager for Motability Operations at MIMI

Gemma Brooks and Joanne Lewis show Ashley Chapman, 9, the BTCC Vauxhall Vectra VXR racing car

NEWS

12 TORQUE MAGAzINE 13DECEMBER 2009

IND

USTR

Y W

ATCH

HAVE yOU GOT THE WINNING FORMULA?Michael Schumacher’s title-winning Benetton Formula One car from 1994 is up for sale on eBay.

So far, the car has attracted 184 bids and has reached more than £2.3m, although the winning bidder will have to pay an extra £9,000 for shipping.

BAD DRIVING IS NO ACCIDENTA lack of skill behind the wheel is in the genes for about one in three of us, according to scientists at the University of California.

A study found drivers with a particular gene variant performed over 20 per cent worse on a test than those without it.

App-SOLUTELy GREATComputer scientists in Germany have developed an iPhone application that turns the smartphone into a remote control for their self-constructed car.

Drivers can operate the steering, brakes and accelerator pedal with just a few strokes of the mobile’s touchscreen.

BMW ACCELERATES INTO CHINABMW and Chinese partner Brilliance are to invest five billion Chinese yuan (£440m) in the ever-expanding market in an attempt to increase production and boost sales.

China is one of the fastest-growing emerging markets in the world and last month new car sales in the country were up 75.8 per cent on 2008’s levels.

ON yOUR MARkSA trial fleet of Mini Es was launched as the car-maker also announced a deal for public electricity charging points with Marks & Spencer.

Mini claim their new model can manage up to 150 miles on an off-peak £1.50 battery charge, giving drivers 1p-a-mile motoring.

Drive an Opel Astra in continental Europe and you’ll get a different experience to the UK’s Vauxhall Astra. That’s because the engineers at GME Engineering Millbrook have created bespoke steering settings to cater for Britain’s unique road infrastructure.

Development Engineer, Benjamin Pate, explained: “UK drivers have different expectations from the rest of Europe. We like to feel more connected to the road.”

Vauxhall is helping customers get ready for winter with a safety check and top-up plus a free winter Car Care pack – all for just £35.

Andrew Curley, Aftersales CRM Manager explained: “winter safety checks are always popular with our customers and we hope this year is no exception. we all need to prepare for the winter weather and this is the ideal way for customers to get peace of mind, knowing that Vauxhall-trained technicians have given their car the care it deserves. And we’re offering a free winter Car Care pack of all those winter essentials – de-icer, scraper, screenwash and demisting pad, ensuring that Vauxhall cars will be the best on the road, whatever the weather.”

FREEZy DOES ITASTRA GOES ON TOURThe all-new Astra has been turning heads in shopping centres and Snowslopes across the country – and there’s still time to get up close and personal with Vauxhall’s latest star car.

You can still catch the Astra at Bluewater, Dartford (10-13 December), Xscape, Castleford (8-10 January), Braehead, Glasgow (15-17 January) and Xscape, Milton keynes (22-24 January) between now and the end of January.

Not only will you get the chance to see the car but there are lots of exciting interactive features, too. At Castleford, you can enter the Astra Pod, a photobooth that will take your photo and print an Astra postcard with a picture of you and your name. Enter your name and email address and you will then receive an email link taking you to the Astra and Action website where you can watch yourself in an Astra film trailer. Plus, you’ll feature in a film poster, magazine cover and even a TV news article.

Fancy something a bit more racy? Then head down to Bluewater, Glasgow or Milton keynes where you can go for a virtual test drive of the all-new Astra and feature in a stunt movie with you behind the wheel.

So take a break from the shopping and let the Astra make a star out of you.

CLEAR STEER FROM MILLBROOkThe result is a steering system that’s

responsive, connected and smooth.The Astra uses a rack mounted

electric power steering (EPS) system with speed-sensitive assistance. The big advantage is that EPS uses less energy than conventional hydraulic power steering which uses energy and fuel even if it is not working hard. “With EPS, the system will only use the power when it’s needed, leading to better fuel economy and CO² figures,” said Ben.

Motorists buying a Vauxhall Motor Insurance policy can now get £50 off servicing and repairs or £50 off genuine accessories.

The service or repair vouchers are redeemable through any participating MasterFit centre, while accessory vouchers can be redeemed at any participating Vauxhall retailer. With plenty of exclusive accessories in the range to choose from, Vauxhall owners can afford to splash out and treat themselves and their vehicle to accessories that have been built to fit perfectly.

Bernard Berman, Accident Repair Channel Manager, said: “Most motorists view car insurance

as a necessary evil and only ever appreciate the benefits once they’ve actually had the misfortune of having had a road traffic accident or incident. However, we want our customers to start enjoying one of the many benefits of purchasing a Vauxhall Motor Insurance policy straight away without the need for any drama.

“Vauxhall Motor Insurance is the only policy which guarantees that your vehicle will be repaired in a Vauxhall-approved Bodyshop using genuine parts and Vauxhall-approved repair methods every time.”

Turn to page 15 to read about the latest training for Bodyshop technicians.

TAkE COVER AND GET OFF

Above: Getting a good look inside the all-new AstraBelow: The Astra pod in action

£35THE pRICE OF A WINTER SAFETy CHECk AND TOp-Up

MODERN BODY REPAIR COURSE 15 CHILDREN IN NEED 16 ALL-NEw ASTRA PRESS LAUNCH 18

BTCC

14 TORQUE magazinE 15DECEmBER 2009

MODERN BODY REPAIR COURSE

Bodyshop technicians across the country are flocking to one of the most popular courses ever run by the gm academy, and it’s reaping benefits for Vauxhall, its customers and the technicians themselves.

The modern Body Repair course was set up by the gm academy to give technicians bespoke training on modern body repair techniques and gm approved repair methods. accident Repair Channel

Course is outof this weld

manager Bernard Berman explained: “We first ran this course in november 2008 and more than 150 technicians have already attended. Every single course has been virtually fully booked and there’s a waiting list for places into 2010.

“it’s the first time Vauxhall has run this sort of accident repair training for technicians and it’s been immensely popular. We have a duty of care as a vehicle manufacturer to

ensure our technicians are fully trained to the highest standard and have a thorough understanding of our body design features. and judging by the take-up, it seems our technicians agree.”

The course is one of the most comprehensive in the country. Held over two days, it ensures that delegates will be able to select the correct repair method and carry out repairs that comply with gm approved methods and standards.

at the end of an intensive session, participants are assessed against the course’s core objectives. if they pass, the ensuing qualification is valid for three years.

Bernard said: “We spent more than a year putting this programme together. We believe if it’s worth doing then it’s worth doing well. To have a qualification that’s recognised throughout the industry for three years is a tremendous achievement and just illustrates the calibre of the training on offer.

“Participants train on authentic body shells and related parts. Delegates will be confident and competent to repair all gm vehicles to the highest standard.”

and that’s great news for customers. no matter where they are in the country, they will receive consistent, high-quality service that’s tailored specifically to gm brands.

Phil atter, Bodyshop manager from greenhous in Shrewsbury, was one of the first people to take the training. “i thought it was superb,” he said. “Everyone should go on this course. it teaches you so much about repairing with the latest technology.

“i’m a manager now but i come from a panel beating background so it was good to get back to my roots. The best bit for me was the thorough understanding it gave me of repairing different steels.

“Customers need peace of mind to know that their vehicle is in safe hands and this course means that we not only repair to gm’s approved methods, but it is also recognised by the British Standards institute, too.” Partners and Associates are eligible

for a 20 per cent discount when purchasing a Vauxhall Motor Insurance policy and can access more information via: http://www.vauxhall.co.uk/ under the finance tab.

Phil Atter, Bodyshop manager, Greenhous, Shrewsbury

“EvERYONE ShOUlD GO ON ThIS COURSE. IT TEAChES YOU SO MUCh ABOUT REPAIRING wITh ThE lATEST TEChNOlOGY”

VX Racing bowed out of the British Touring Car Championship (BTCC) in style by winning both the manufacturers’/Constructors’ and Teams’ titles in the final outing by the Vauxhall-backed team at Brands Hatch.

VXR drivers Fabrizio giovanardi, matt neal and andrew Jordan – all racing Vectras – pushed themselves to the limits in the final three 2009 BTCC races held at the Kent racing circuit.

giovanardi took two third places on the podium and a fourth place to finish third overall in the Drivers’ Championship, neal achieved two fifths and an eighth place, finishing fourth in the Drivers’ Championship, while Jordan was fourth in the first, sixteenth in the second and retired with accident damage in the third race, finishing ninth in the Drivers’ Championship.

The first race saw giovanardi maintain his third-place position off the grid, while Jordan and neal battled each other to achieve fourth and fifth places respectively, Jordan having stormed past neal, who was fighting hard to fend off Rob Collard in a BmW. a safety car then came out, regulating everyone’s pace for two laps. The Vauxhalls retained their positions in third, fourth and fifth places, with giovanardi unable to make any gain at all on Jason Plato in a BmW ahead in second.

The second race saw the VXR drivers try to assert a lead at the tricky Paddock Hill bend, but Jordan and neal slipped into sixth and eighth place after the safety car came out again. When racing resumed, an intense battle ensued between Jordan and Colin Turkington, giovanardi’s closest rival for the Driver’s Championship. For 11 laps, Jordan kept Turkington in his mirror until his quicker BmW forged past. Jordan then sustained a puncture and ran off the track and into the gravel, before rejoining the track and finishing sixteenth. neal too was pushed off the track and finished in eighth place.

A race to the finishVauxhall bids farewell to BTCC

Vauxhall first entered the British Touring Car Championship (BTCC) in 1976. In that year, legendary driver Gerry Marshall, who previously drove Vauxhalls with Dealer Team Vauxhall, came third overall in a Vauxhall Magnum. The next year, his successor Jeff Allam finished in fourth place. Vauxhall then decided to focus on the Saloon Car Championships instead and, after a 12-year break, returned to the BTCC in 1989.

ThE STARSwINNING vAUxhAll BTCC DRIvERS 1989-20091989 John Cleland – Astra GTE class winner and overall winner, Drivers’ Championship1991 John Cleland – runner-up, Drivers’ Championship1992 James Thompson, Jeff Allam, David Leslie – Manufacturers’ title1995 John Cleland, winner, Drivers’ Championship2001 Jason Plato, winner, Drivers’ Championship, Manufacturers’ title2002 James Thompson, winner, Drivers’ Championship, Manufacturers’ title, Teams’ title2003 Yvan Muller, winner, Drivers’ Championship, Manufacturers’ title2004 James Thompson, winner, Drivers’ Championship, Manufacturers’ title2005 Yvan Muller, Colin Turkington, Gavin Smith, Manufacturers’ title2007 Fabrizio Giovanardi, winner, Drivers’ Championship, Manufacturers’ title2008 Fabrizio Giovanardi, winner, Drivers’ Championship, Manufacturers’ title, Teams’ title

meanwhile, giovanardi kept his third place throughout until Tom Chilton went wide on a corner and he overtook to gain second place on the finish line.

in the third and final race, neal took the lead from the grid and giovanardi forged ahead into third place, with Turkington in between. neal kept his position until he was pushed wide off the track and he dropped to fifth. Jordan’s final race in the Vectra ended with a clash with Herbert before the end of the first lap forcing his retirement. Front runners for the Driver’s title, giovanardi, Turkington and Plato, constantly swapped positions throughout the race, but in the end giovanardi struggled to match his rivals’ performance and finished fourth, with Turkington taking the chequered flag and receiving the BTCC Drivers’ title.

giovanardi said : “it’s been a great season, but we didn’t have enough to beat Colin. i’m disappointed that i didn’t take the title, particularly as it was Vauxhall’s last championship.”

RESUlTS DRIvERS ChAMPIONShIP1. Colin Turkington 275 points2. Jason Plato 270 points3. Fabrizio Giovanardi 266 points4. Matt Neal 170 points 9. Andrew Jordan 114 points

MANUFACTURERS’/CONSTRUCTORS’ ChAMPIONShIP1. vauxhall/vx Racing 658 points2. honda/Team Dynamics 429 points3. Ford/Team Aon 341 points

TEAMS’ ChAMPIONShIP1. vx Racing 466 points2. Team RAC 404 points3. Racing Silverline 358 points

vAUxhAll AND ThE BTCC

SPOT ThE BEAR

Millbrook Proving Ground was THE place to be on

Friday 20 November. For one night only it was the regional centre for BBC Children in

Need – and that bear knows how to party!The day began early at Griffin House when Pudsey

Bear joined GM’s undergraduates on the Children in Need battle bus for a fundraising tour of Luton and the

surrounding area. The bucket-rattling worked a treat and the bus – and

Pudsey – made its way to Millbrook for the evening’s TV extravaganza. Throughout the night, cameras returned

to Millbrook for an update on proceedings. And the good news is that the regional event raised a whopping £1.5m including £2,300, thanks to

the generosity of GM employees who baked cakes and raised money

throughout the week.

16 TORQUE magazinE 17DECEmBER 2009

ChIlDREN IN NEED

A car ballet, star cars, stunning cars, and one big

yellow bear. It could only be Children in Need at Millbrook

ThE BEDFORD BATTlE BUS wENT FROM lUTON TO MIllBROOk ON ThE PUDSEY TRAIl

The Pudsey

trailFlITwICk

DUNSTABlE

hOSPITAl

“IT wAS A GREAT DAY AND

NIGhT AND COllECTIvElY ThE GM & BBC lOOk EAST TEAM MANAGED TO RAISE

£1.5M whICh IS SECOND ONlY TO lONDON FOR ThE hIGhEST

MONIES RAISED... A FANTASTIC RESUlT!”

MARC EDEN, BRAND ENGAGEMENT MANAGER

Martin Neale gets a hug from Pudsey

Stephanie lucas gets in the fundraising mood

heritage cars line up for the big event

The GM team with a giant cheque

It was a hair-raising-and fundraising-night for Marc Eden

Pudsey meets the police

Pudsey poses with luton’s Mayor and council officials

MIllBROOk

AMPThIll

lUTON

To see more photos

from the event, go to http://www.

flickr.com/photos/gmexcite2009/

All-NEw ASTRA lAUNCh

18 TORQUE magazinE 19DECEmBER 2009

VAUXHALL MERCHANDISE AUTUMN SALEPAGE 25

it was the moment motoring journalists had been waiting for – the covers finally came off the all-new astra.

This was a car that was built in Britain at Ellesmere Port – a plant that’s extremely proud of the car’s heritage, so what better place to host the launch than the plant

let’s do launch

It was lights, camera, action as Ellesmere Port played host to the media to launch the all-new Astra

itself? and who better to introduce the car than the people who built it?

it was a first for a car launch and it proved a stroke of genius. The press got the chance to see the plant at first hand before heading out of the factory gates for a 75-mile test drive through the

Snowdonia national Park. and if anyone needed proof that the all-new astra is, in fact, all-new, the journalists could make a direct comparison between old and new by driving to the factory in the old astra before swapping to the new generation for the test drive.

Ellesmere Port may not be the most glamorous location for a new car launch, but over 100 journalists came along to the event hosted over three consecutive days in early October.

The spotlight was well and truly on Ellesmere Port but employees were so

focused on building the all-new astra that they remained unfazed by all the media attention. They know they’ve got a good product and believe it will speak for itself.

John Rooney joined the launch team when Ellesmere Port won the bid to build the global Compact Vehicle (gCV) in 2007. He has lived and breathed the all-new astra for two years and was proud to show off the plant and the car to the waiting media. “it’s a really exciting time for us,” he said. “We’ve had really positive feedback on the new car. in my opinion it will compete with any comparable car on the road at the moment and it looks as though the journalists agree. You can see this car is different. it has a much higher spec than the old astra and simply looks like a much more expensive car. The old astra has been a great car for us but this is in a class of its own. i can’t wait to see the VXR when that comes off the line. There’s also a team working on the wagon and we start Product and Process Validation in January – that’s going to be exciting, too. it’s going to be a really good-looking family when the whole line is complete.”

For John and his 2,145 colleagues at Ellesmere Port, the most important thing is the car. “We have to build it right and that’s all that really matters. The press launch was just the start of things. now we’re ramping up production and each week we change the line speed until we reach optimum efficiency.

“i’m glad the press agreed with us about the car, but it’s only what we thought anyway. Though we might be a little bit biased!”

Paul Tasker from the pilot team in general assembly was also unfazed by the media attention. But then he’s an old hand at this sort of thing. “i met Prince Charles when he came to the plant back in march this year,” he said. “You don’t get much more high-profile than that, so talking to the Financial Times was a walk in the park!”

He may be a joker, but, like John, Paul is deadly serious about the all-new astra. “it’s a really important car for Vauxhall and

the lads are really focused on producing a quality product because this is our future. Everybody wants the same result – a good-quality car that sells.”

Paul joined the pilot team back in 2007 and spent time in South Korea and Russelsheim building the prototype car on a pilot line before coming back to Ellesmere Port to work on building up the whole production process.

“it’s been really interesting to build a car from scratch,” he said. “We came back to Ellesmere Port in September last year and started the task of training operators. We took on additional team leaders with experience of the processes of the old astra so that we could balance production of both old and new. now we’ve reached SORP (start of regular production), we have phased out the old astra and we’re working 100 per cent on the new gCV.

“i think it’s a beautiful car and in my opinion this is the best astra we have ever built. But it’s not just about looks and performance – we’re also focusing on its environmental credentials. We’re really proud because the new astra is on average 13.3 per cent cleaner and more economical than its predecessor which will be really attractive to customers. in addition, the car is 85 per cent recyclable – that’s amazing when you consider the high spec of the car.”

When Dave Harrison, a Supervisor on the cockpit line, was interviewed on granada Reports, his children were at home watching their dad on TV. “They’re very young so they didn’t really understand how i came to be on the telly, but it was interesting to be interviewed. Plus, it gave me the chance to talk about the astra – it’s a great car and we’re all really proud of it. Everyone here is happy to promote it to anyone who’ll listen!

“Some of the journalists wanted to talk about the future of the plant but a decision hadn’t been reached at the time of the press launch so it’s not something we could comment on. We can’t control what happens outside Ellesmere Port so we’re all concentrating on doing the best we can inside the plant. morale here is really high

“ wE’vE hAD REAllY POSITIvE FEEDBACk ON ThE NEw CAR. IN MY OPINION IT wIll COMPETE wITh ANY COMPARABlE CAR ON ThE ROAD AT ThE MOMENT” John Rooney

Continued on page 20

20 TORQUE magazinE 21DECEmBER 2009

“ IT’S NOT JUST ABOUT lOOkS AND PERFORMANCE – wE’RE AlSO FOCUSING ON ITS ENvIRONMENTAl CREDENTIAlS”

All-NEw ASTRA lAUNCh

WH

aT T

HE

PaPE

RS S

aY Vauxhall’s engineers and designers have done an impressive job in transforming the car... It handles with competent, grippy assurance and the ride quality is excellent, smooth and pliant as it competently irons out road undulations.whAT DIESEl

We think Vauxhall has pulled off another winner... Just as it did with the Insignia, Vauxhall has reserved its greatest efforts for the areas that will have the greatest impact on the day-to-day lives of those who drive it and, under the circumstances, it’s hard to question the wisdom of that decision.AUTOCAR

The car’s pretty sexy inside – neat dashboard and the little red dot that extends the speedo has been pinched from the Insignia.SwINDON ADvERTISER

I can’t recall any car I’ve driven that has a better balanced attitude to the road than this. It’s taut and flat, yet amazingly compliant, so it’s a stable, comfortable high-speed cruiser and a fizzy, fun cornerer at the same time.CAR MAGAzINE

There can be no doubt that new Astra has thrown down the gauntlet with a clear message: Beat that. It can now certainly mix it with the Golf.lEADER ShOwROOM

It may be that Vauxhall will have the best-selling car in its market sector next year.ThE PRESS

It propels Vauxhall right to the head of the pack, a worthy rival that’ll match the big boys in just about every department and maybe edge them out in one or two. And damn it, it’s (mostly) British and for that reason alone it deserves to save Vauxhall.TOP GEAR MAGAzINE

It’s the little things that make you fall in love. I’d already had my head turned by the power and good looks, but the clincher was the demister.

We’ve all spent long minutes in a glacial car waiting while we throw the full force of the heater at the windscreen until two tiny clear patches gradually appear amid the foggy glass. So when the windscreen of the all-new Astra cleared at the touch of a button, I was smitten.

It’s a huge privilege to be one of the first people in the country to drive the all-new Astra so I was excited –

and nervous – to take the keys. It was an early start from my home in west London to Ellesmere Port and plenty of opportunity to put the all-new Astra through its paces. I’d be negotiating my way to the notorious North Circular before finally hitting the motorways for the journey north. A quick blast of the demister to start the day (just because I could) and I was off.

Most drivers worry about legroom but at 5ft 1in, I have the opposite problem – if I can reach the pedals and still see over the steering wheel, then the car’s a winner in my eyes. Thankfully for me – and everyone else on the road – this wasn’t a problem.

In fact (so the press release tells me) special emphasis has gone into the design and engineering of the Astra’s seats which have industry-leading levels of adjustment. Good news for all drivers whether you’re 5ft 1in or 6ft 1in. And the ergonomic driver’s seat really came into its own on the return journey (read on to find out why).

So I keyed Ellesmere Port into the sat nav and off I went, all set for one of the most comfortable four-hour journeys of my life. The car was a dream to drive – quiet, responsive and just as happy in first gear as it was in fifth.

When the time came to drive home, I hopped into the driver’s seat and set off down the road, naively expecting to be home within four or five hours. Of course, I reckoned without Birmingham in the rush hour and six-mile tailbacks on the M40.

As Birmingham approached, the bossy sat nav woman (who had obviously just heard about the tailbacks) kept interrupting the radio to try to change my route. Sadly, I was already sitting in the six-mile tailback before she made up her mind – too late.

But there was nothing to be done. I decided to adopt something approaching a Zen-like calm, sit back in my ergonomic seat and listen to the radio. It was going to be a long journey. But there are worse ways to spend six-and-a-half hours than in the classiest car that’s so new it’s not even in UK showrooms yet.

My verdict? The car is amazingly quiet, the seats fantastically comfy, and the take-off very smooth. Believe me, I know – I’m very familiar with first gear now! And the demister – it’s still a winner.

IT ASTRA BE lOvE

despite any uncertainties about our future.“We’re ramping up production now

and my role is to ensure that each cockpit is good enough for the customer when it leaves my area. The targets we have set ourselves are very aggressive but that’s the nature of the manufacturing industry today and we have to keep up if we want to stay in the running.

“i know we still have work to do but things are going very well so far. it was a fantastic feeling when the first car off

the production line passed all its quality tests and that happened again and again. in fact, out of the first 300 cars we only had a few issues. now we’re ramping up production and turning out 230 cars every shift so we’re testing our processes all the time.

“it’s a good-looking car and really exciting to see it roll off the end of the line. i’ll definitely be buying one as soon as it’s available.”

in the two years that gCV Production

Launch manager Lindsey Wickens has been working on the all-new astra she has changed her opinions about the car. “When i first saw the prototype i was slightly disappointed,” she said. “i was lucky enough to be involved right at the beginning, so i feel this car is my baby. The trouble is that i felt the original prototype was rather an ugly baby.”

But two years is a long time in car manufacturing and Lindsey says that ugly baby has blossomed into a beautiful

teenager. “The designers have done a fantastic job developing body lines from the insignia. The all-new astra is low-slung with a heavy back end and has a real sports feel but it’s also a family car so it’s extremely versatile. it’s got great lines and has a huge presence on the road. now we have a truly outstanding car that’s streets ahead. The old astra was a good car and it looked very modern at the time but when you put it next to the gCV it’s left in the shade.

“Ultimately, though, the only way you can truly appreciate the new car is to touch it and drive it. if you haven’t driven it, you won’t understand what a departure it is. That’s why the press launch was such an important event for us. it was our chance to show off the car and remind people that this is a British car. We gave the journalists a tour of general assembly and then gave them the chance to interview people on the shop floor.

“and it was those guys on the shop floor who sent out the message loud and clear that they are proud of Ellesmere Port and proud of the all-new astra. Some people could say this is a difficult time to launch a car but everyone here has put in a

huge amount of hard work to produce an outstanding product. They have worked extremely hard and dedicated themselves to achieving our key milestones and it has paid off. The all-new astra ensures the future of this plant.”

now that the all-new astra is coming off the production line, it’s Lindsey’s job to ensure that production ramps up to cope with anticipated demand. “We follow a stringent quality process and audit ourselves on every aspect right down to whether there is a tiny piece of dirt in our paint. Our customers can be confident that every single car leaving our plant is top quality.

“But ramping up production inevitably exposes any weaknesses in the system. it’s a system that pushes our processes to the maximum and accelerates the curve of production. We are doing very well but it’s certainly not all plain sailing – there is work to do on our quality matrix and throughput. nevertheless, we’re on time and on budget and i’m immensely proud of the work that every single person in this plant has put in. it’s so rewarding to hear people say that this is the best car we’ve ever built.”

A journalist drives one of the first cars off the production lines

BY DEBBIE PENTElOw

Check out what the journalists said about the all-new Astra

Paul Taster

22 TORQUE magazinE 23DECEmBER 2009

DAY IN THE LIFE

SAFETY FIRSTLuton plant is fast approaching 10 million hours without a lost workday accident. martyn Quigley-Phipps, Health and Safety manager at the Luton plant and Corporate sites, is counting down...4.55ami get up early so that i can spend an hour at the gym every morning before i begin work. it really helps clear my head before the start of the working day.

7.30ammy job is to ensure that nobody gets injured whilst at work and that the company meets its legal and moral obligations by offering advice, guidance and auditing. Today will cover all three.

my first port of call is the Occupational Health department to check on any accidents, incidents or concerns from the previous day. Today there’s nothing serious so i go to my office and compile the statistics for accidents and near misses from the previous day. near misses can be anything from someone slipping on a wet floor to an equipment defect – anything that could cause an accident if it’s not addressed.

7.50ammy working day starts at 8am so i allow myself 10 minutes to log on to the american classic car club i’m a member of – www.mkb.cc. i have a Chevrolet Camaro and it’s good to chat to other enthusiasts.

8.30amTime for our daily production meeting. We review the plant’s performance over the previous day. if there have been any accidents, the area manager identifies the root cause and presents a problem-solving report to ensure we address the issues.

9.00amBack to the office to go through emails and telephone messages. Then it’s time for our weekly executive safety observation tour. it’s a two-way process so we ask if people have any problems or issues that we can help to resolve.

10.00amToday’s departmental team brief. We review the plant’s performance starting with safety and talk through any company announcements. it’s a chance for the whole team to raise any concerns.

10.30amOff to a meeting in the Bodyshop to resolve a machinery safety issue.

11.00ami’m compiling a plant-wide audit of lifting equipment to identify any defects or non-compliance, agree action items and present the results to plant management.

12.15pma meeting with senior Trade Unions reps.

12.30pmLunch time. it’s important to switch off if only for a few minutes so i join a discussion on the car club website.

1.00pmi check my emails and write up this morning’s audit results, then prepare for tomorrow’s area health and safety meeting.

2.30pma meeting at griffin House to discuss some proposed contractor work. We agree a safe method of working.

3.15pmanother meeting – this time about introducing a new display screen equipment training and reporting package. We’ve just purchased an electronic system that all computer users will be able to use online.

4.00pmi update the near misses database and email the current statistics to all stakeholders.

5.00pmmy target time for leaving the office before the two-mile cycle home.

We all know that Vauxhall leads the way in car design, but did you know that the company is also storming the style stakes in contemporary art – and gaining column inches in some of the trendiest publications in the process?

Each year Vauxhall commissions some of the most hotly anticipated artists and designers to create artworks around a theme.

Last year, publications as diverse as Art Review, InStyle and Design Week got Vauxhall’s name out to a wider audience, ensuring that the company is associated with the very best in contemporary design.

This year’s theme, reinventing British classics, was chosen as it chimes well with Vauxhall’s own work reinventing the car as we know it in the form of the Ampera, its first electric car.

Four creatives – Katie Paterson, Duncan Speakman, Seba Kurtis and Studio Glithero – are interpreting the theme in their own ways.

Scottish artist Katie Paterson has taken the British seaside town as her inspiration and will create an installation named Streetlight Storm, where a series of lights along Deal pier will flicker in sync with storm patterns around the world.

Starting on the winter equinox, the shortest day of the year on 21 December, Streetlight Storm will take place throughout the darkest months of the British winter, silently conveying the weather patterns of a whole planet. The gentle flickering of the lights will unfold between dusk,

TimE OUT LUTON EMPLOYEES GAIN NVQ 26 THREE PEAKS CHALLENGE 27 GOLDEN MILESTONE FOR M1 29 THE NAKED TRUTH 29

VAUXHALL COLLECTIVE

Collective commissions to recreate classicsOnce again the Vauxhall Collective highlights Vauxhall’s commitment to supporting style and design in the UK

Above: Katie Paterson, Seba Kurtis, Duncan Speakman and Studio Glithero

“I AM INTERESTED IN THE WAY THE ORDINARY WORLD AND THE OTHER WORLDLY INTERSECT”

MARTIN QUIGLEY-PHIPPS

Above: Studio GlitheroRight: Duncan SpeakmanTop right: Seba Kurtis

darkness and dawn, reflecting on the water through the night, contrasting with the drama of the lightning strikes that spark through.

Theatre practitioner Duncan Speakman will take to the streets of three major cities in the UK with his ‘subtle mobs’. Combining cinematic style soundtracks and narrative on downloadable MP3 tracks, Duncan invites you to join him on a street near you and re-examine the everyday classic British city scene.

Photographer Seba Kurtis will examine what it is to be British, combining images of his stereotypical idea of the classic British resident from the English rose to the country gent, right through to his own modern interpretation of multicultural Britain.

Finally, design partnership Studio Glithero will create a selection of ceramic objects entitled A Brief Moment of Happiness using an innovative technique that involves impregnating the surface of the ceramics with light-sensitive chemicals to create ethereal and fleeting images of flowers.

Each of the creatives will have the use of a Vauxhall car and will travel around the UK seeking out inspiration for their commissions.

TIME OUT

DECEmBER 2009 2524 TORQUE magazinE

Log on to the Vauxhall Drivers’ Centre and enhance your driving experience. It’s exclusive to Vauxhall drivers and access couldn’t be easier – just type in your name, address and Vauxhall registration number and you’ll get access to a route planner, traffic news and the best fuel prices in your area – all at the click of a button.

And that’s not all – there are offers and prize draws for you and your Vauxhall. Did you know that Astra is 30 years old? You can join the celebrations, read blogs from Astra fans and even vote online for your favourite Astra model. You can also find out about the all-new Astra.

The site is updated frequently with news and comment, so check back regularly for the latest updates. Log on to www.vauxhalldriverscentre.co.uk to find out more.

if you’re looking for inspiration for a unique Christmas gift for yourself or someone else, why not visit the Vauxhall merchandise webshop and take a look at our exciting collections.

From funky Corsa C’mOn mobile phone socks, toys and bags to key rings and 1:43rd scale die-cast model cars, you’ll find there’s something for everyone!

and if you want to look the part too, we offer a range of Vauxhall, VXR, VXRacing and retro-style Heritage branded clothing, including jackets, baseball caps, track tops and polo shirts, all available to buy online.

With prices starting at less than £1, why not visit the webshop now - www.vauxhallmerchandise.co.uk and set-up your account?

Party politics BY HANNAH BURTON

Nerves, anticipation and excitement were all I could feel as we stepped into what was to be a whirlwind two weeks of Ministers, journalists and opinionated public – my first experience of party political conferences.

Arriving at the Conservative conference I initially felt a little unsure of myself and my knowledge of the Ampera. However I do work and learn best when I am placed feet-first into a situation; just as well, really! My first encounter was with Pat McFadden, MP for Wolverhampton South East. I was a little bewildered as to whom I was talking to but then I began to relax and settle in. I later found myself comfortable talking to anyone that was bustled towards me in a flurry of assistants and cameras.

It was not only MPs that were interested in the Ampera – journalists and public alike were keen to learn about the electric vehicle and sit in it. By the end of the two weeks my knowledge about the Ampera had ballooned. We had all discussed it so frequently that if anyone now asks me anything Ampera-related I revert to autopilot and tell them a lot more than they were asking.

During the evenings, we were not wanting for things to do, there were fringe events throughout the two weeks. But our evenings often involved

food and an early night to ensure we were able to function next day.

The attendance of UNITE at the Labour Party Conference was an experience I will never forget. The unions are very prominent and clearly deeply important to the party. I cannot refer to the unions without mentioning Richard Clifton. He definitely kept us busy and entertained at the Labour conference. His hard work representing the workforce and backing the Luton plant was legendary. Our stand was tracked down by all and sundry, from Gordon Brown to Tony Woodley, who signed a t-shirt in support of the workforce. Finally I think it is fair to say that no one throws a party quite like UNITE.

The opportunity and experience that the party conferences gave me was not something I ever expected to have the chance to be involved with. Brushing shoulders and chatting with Adam Afriyie, Boris Johnson, Ed Vaizey, Lord Adonis, Pat McFadden and many more Ministers and influential political figures is something I’ll never forget.

I had two weeks of exhaustion, amusement and the occasional tripping over words. I have only been with Vauxhall for a few months and have had the most phenomenal experiences which would not have been the same without the people I am able to work with each day I am here.

Above: Debbie Shields (left) and Hannah Burton with Adam Afriyie. Below: Hannah and Danielle Chapman with Greg Barker. Bottom: with Ed Vaizey

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THE AMPERA WAS THE STAR OF THE SHOW AT THE PARTY

POLITICAL CONFERENCES

Communications undergraduate Hannah Burton got a taste of political life when she attended the Conservative and Labour party conferences along with the electric vehicle, the Ampera

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Fifteen-year-old Daniel Wilkinson is becoming a regular at Ellesmere Port.

Daniel, who has cancer, first visited the plant in march 2008 and made a return trip in november to see the all-new astra.

His first visit came about when he told the make a Wish Foundation that he would like to visit a car factory – and Ellesmere Port was happy to help. The make a Wish Foundation grants wishes to children fighting life-threatening illnesses.

Eighteen months on, he asked to return to the plant to see the all-new astra being built.

For Julian Cantwell, the hardest day of his life began last Christmas. That’s when he decided to join his friends in the Three Peaks Challenge.

The team of four began training in earnest in May so they were fighting fit when the day dawned on 22 August – or so they thought.

Ben Nevis was the first mountain to climb and the weather was perfect – mild and sunny. But that was all about to change!

Once they reached the peak, all difficulties were forgotten. The team finished the first peak in six hours before settling into the minibus for the five-hour drive to Scafell Pike.

“There was a wave of excitement at the thought of climbing in the dark, and a definite chill in the air. Head torches on and away we went,” he said.

“About two-thirds of the way

The East anglian air ambulance dropped in to the Rufus Centre in Flitwick, Bedfordshire on Saturday 17 October – and Vauxhall was there to lend a hand.

Community Officer Cherie Denton explained: “We have donated an astravan to the charity which they use to move equipment and for fundraising. The air ambulance is a really worthwhile charity so we’re more than happy to help them raise awareness on days like this.”

Stars of the show were the yellow helicopter and a black all-new astra fresh off the production line which attracted lots of attention from the crowds.

Keeping safe on the roads was the theme of the day – visitors got the chance to look round the helicopter and see how it is equipped for its life-saving missions, while the Highways agency pressed home the point with a display on road safety.

COPTER LOAD OF THIS

EAST ANGLIAN AIR AMBULANCE EUROCOPTER BK117 IS ONE OF ONLY THREE OPERATING IN THE UK

EDUCATION, EDUCATION, EDUCATIONGMM Luton has seen its first 16 employees gain one of the most sought-after and widely-recognised qualifications in modern manufacturing: the National Vocational Qualification in Business Improvement Techniques Level 3.

With support from the Learning Skills Council’s ‘Train to Gain’, GMM Luton commissioned the training to deliver NVQs in Business Improvement Techniques at Level 2 and 3.

The courses are aligned to the manufacturing environment and combine interactive workshops and team-based projects, delivered in an engaging

SUMMIT TO SHOUT ABOUTup, the weather took a nasty turn. Donning waterproofs, we pressed on – the rain got heavier, the wind was strengthening and the mist was dropping fast. We made the summit and turned around almost immediately as the visibility was near zero.

“To everyone’s relief we made it down safely albeit with a few bruises, aches and pains. The second peak completed in just about five hours.”

So it was on to Snowdon, the last peak, where the weather just got worse. “It didn’t take long before the wet gear failed and all our boots leaked water so we were soaked through. And it didn’t help that the target 24 hours had also passed.” Julian and the team completed all three peaks in 27 hours – and in appalling weather conditions. And they raised £800 for Cancer Research UK and Kettering General

The awesome foursome: Danny Thomas, Phil Church, Julian Cantwell and Roger Moore at Ben Nevis

DISTANCE ON FOOT: 26 MILESDISTANCE DRIVING: 450 MILESHEIGHT CLIMBED: 10,000 FEET

Hospital Special Care Baby Unit. “The two charities are close to my heart,” he said. “My wife has family members who have been diagnosed with cancer, and our son’s life was saved by the special care baby unit when he was born at 37 weeks, weighing just 3lb. He’s now a fit and healthy three-year-old and we can’t thank them enough for the care they gave him in those first few weeks.”

WISHING UPON ASTRAHe was keen to see how much the

plant operations had changed and how the new car looked so he was given a tour of general assembly where he could see all the new machinery.

One of the highlights of his trip was helping to put a cockpit into one of the cars – and he made it look very easy though he said it was harder than it looked.

Daniel said: “Thanks for letting me come to see you all again. i feel really special. i hope when i pass my driving test i can have a white astra and come and see you again. Thank you to everyone at Vauxhall for making my dream come true.”

way. Importantly, the training experience is enriched with one-to-one help and support from coaches and assessors.

Paul Staes, Plant Director at GMM Luton, presenting the 16 employees with their NVQ Level 3 certificates said: “The qualifications are ideal for our employees as they are closely linked with GM’s Global Manufacturing system.”

Twenty-seven members of Vauxhall motors amateur Boxing Club are fresh back from a trip to majorca where they competed in 11 contests at the Palma arena.

Head coach Peter Phelan helped organise the trip. He said: “There were 17 competitors and 10 officials, many of whom still work for Vauxhall. The club plays a really important role in the local community with our gloves not gangs initiative. it’s all about encouraging youngsters to take up boxing instead of roaming the streets.

“The trip to majorca was really good and in true sporting fashion, the final result was five games each and one draw!

“We couldn’t have funded the trip without the help of Costco who work very closely with us on gloves not gangs and provide drinks and food for our events.”

SUN, SEA, SAND AND… SPARRING

Daniel helps out at Ellesmere Port

CORPORATE RESPONSIBILITY

Peter Phelan (centre) with Chris Snowdon and George Callaghan from Costco

THREE PEAKSIN FIGURES

Paramedic Ben Caine from the East Anglian Air Ambulance has a look at the all-new Astra

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28 TORQUE magazinE 29DECEmBER 2009

EXCITE AWARDS

October’s EXCiTE winner is andy Freeman. andy, Tactical marketing Programmes manager, has worked tirelessly to develop, implement and coordinate gm’s involvement in the scrappage programme.

The scheme was initially fraught with change and complications but andy was able to resolve these issues and present a complete and accurate analysis of the scheme.

Following this, he worked closely with

the government, retailers, legal and many others, for many hours, ensuring that retailers have as simple a process as possible in order to sell vehicles under the scheme. His work has resulted in gm receiving praise from the government as being among the best manufacturers at coordinating and integrating this programme – a fantastic result.

mick marshall, Senior Logistics analyst and mick Denman, material Operations Co-ordinator, share november’s award.

During a very difficult transition from a European nominated supplier, both micks demonstrated an enormous amount of drive and customer focus in supporting the introduction of a new carrier in France.

They also showed the same focus by spending a combined period of over a month on site in Belgium, often working 16-hour days and sacrificing their own weekends to ensure that the plants continued to be supplied with parts.

EXCITE-ING TIMES

GMM Luton paint shop worker Melvyn Taylor has hada poem he has written broadcast on BBC Three Counties Radio.

The poem, about a World War One soldier who is shot to death by a firing squad, was read on Ian Pearce’s Melting Pot programme on Remembrance Sunday.

Melvyn, who has worked at GMM Luton for 17 years, began writing poetry in his free time on down days. He said: “I was inspired by some of my favourite lyricists such as Bob Dylan and Stevie Wonder.

“After the poem was well received by some of my workmates in the Paint Shop, I decided to send it to Three Counties Radio, who were very keen to broadcast it.”

The poem is too long print in full, but here’s an extract from God Will Hold My Hand: In a hundred years from nowWill they think of us how they oughtaJust young men, led as lambs to the slaughter?A priest will comfort me, a marker on my chestOne last drag as I stand against the stand.I may be aloneBut God will hold my hand.

The m1 motorway celebrated its 50th anniversary on 2 november – and general motors was there to help with the celebrations.

in 1959, then Transport minister Ernest marples opened the first section of the motorway.

“The first 62-mile stretch of the m1 was opened close to the Luton plant so we’ve always had a strong affinity to the motorway,” said marc Eden, Brand Engagement manager. “most of our vehicles have travelled on that iconic

Vauxhall Motors commemorated the company’s war dead at a Remembrance Day service on Sunday 8 November.

At 8.15am, Brian Griffin and Mike Shaw, Vauxhall’s Workplace Chaplains, conducted a short service at the Kimpton Road Vauxhall Memorial, Luton and Alan Norman, Vauxhall’s Business Planning Manager, played the Last Post. The company laid wreaths to mark the many Vauxhall and Bedford employees who lost their lives in the two World Wars. The service also honoured servicemen and women who have died in recent conflicts.

After the ceremony, a hot breakfast was served, after which the group marched to Luton town centre to lay wreaths at the memorial outside the Town Hall.

LEST WE FORGET

motorway at one time or another. in keeping with that link to the past, we took half a dozen vehicles from the Heritage Centre to the anniversary ceremony.”

One gm employee, millbrook Engineer graham millar, had a special reason to celebrate. His grandmother Joan Shute had attended the original opening so he took her to the opening ceremony in a 50-year-old Vauxhall Pa Velox. He said. “it was great to drive to the anniversary ceremony in such style and it made it a really special event for my grandmother.”

PLANT POET IS TAYLOR-MADE

Melvyn Taylor

When Paul Smethurst volunteered for the north East Wales Search and Rescue team (nEWSaR) in January 2007, little did he realise he would spend two days in 2009 posing naked for a photoshoot that would be shown on national TV.

The reason? Channel 4’s How To Look Good Naked, contacted the search and rescue team to see if anyone would be happy to do a naked photoshoot. Thinking it would raise awareness of the charity along with much-needed funds for two new rescue vehicles, nEWSaR – and Paul – accepted the challenge.

and he was right. “Before the programme aired, our website had an average of 250 hits per month. That went up to 8,500,” said Paul, a pilot team member at Ellesmere Port plant. “We go out in some atrocious weather conditions and we need reliable equipment to do our job effectively. We desperately need new vehicles and, at the time, i thought the shoot might be fun – though it didn’t seem quite so much fun when i was sitting on a chilly hillside with only a bunch of heather to protect my modesty! needless to say, i’ve had plenty of stick from the guys at the plant ever since.”

THE NAKED TRUTH

Paul is equipment officer for nEWSaR and he can be called out any time of the day or night. “it can be hard to go into work the next morning after you’ve spent the night scouring the countryside for missing people, but that’s the nature of the role,” he said.

“Search and rescue is very demanding, but the reward is knowing that we are part of one of the best search teams in the country and we’re helping people at some of the most difficult times in their lives.”

Paul Smethurst

GOLDEN MILESTONE FOR M1

The GM team with Joan Shute (centre) celebrate the M1 anniversary.

Andy Freeman

Mick Marshall and Mick Denman

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From left to right, Glyn Morgan, Tony Eton, Ron Burnham, John Gilmour, Allan Oliver and Phil Adams

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DECEMBER CLUESACROSS 1. non-sailors (11) 9. aquatic salamander (7)10. Dried seabird manure (5)11. Sound of a funeral-bell (5)12. Keep within bounds (7)13. Die (6)15. Examine (6)18. north american reindeer (7)20. Japanese verse form (5)22. Boredom (5)23. Fish (7)24. Fruits (11)

Congratulations to nigel Reilly from Careline 641 division, Ellesmere Port, who received £25 – as will the first correct entry drawn from the hat on Thursday 7 January.SOLUTION TO OCTOBER CROSSWORD: 1. LORD 8. OF THE RINGS 9. CONTRACT 10. MONA 12. COWBOY 14. WANTON 15. ADVERB 17. CUSTOM 18. ARID 19. ABATTOIR 21. STANDSTILL 22. LISA2. OUT OF ORDER 3. DOLT 4. STEADY 5. BESTOW 6. AILMENTS 7. ASIA 11. NEOLOGISMS 13. BLEEDING 16. BRAISE 17. CRANIA 18. APSE 20. TELLSend completed entries to Torque crossword, UK1-103-340, Vauxhall Motors, Griffin House, Osborne Road, Luton LU1 3YT by 7 January.

CROSSWORD

SUDOKU

Fill in your details below and send the completed grid to Torque Sudoku, UK1-103-340, Vauxhall Motors, Griffin House, Osborne Road, Luton LU1 3YT by7 January. The first correct answer out of the hat will win £25.

Congratulations to Ben Wright, press unit ED41, who wins the £25 prize in the last issue. Solution to October’s Sodoku (right).

namE LOCaTiOn aDDRESS

30 TORQUE magazinE 31DECEmBER 2009

Fill in all the squares in the grid so that each row, each column and each 3x3 square contains all the digits from one to nine.

CONGRATULATIONS TO NIGEL REILLY AND BEN WRIGHT, WINNERS IN OUR LAST ISSUE

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