VAUXHALL is to return to the upper medium estate sector in October with the new Vectra Estate. There will be a choice of 1.8, 2.0 and 2.5 petrol-engined versions and a 1.7 turbo diesel engine twinned with LS, GLS, SRi and CDX specification levels and an entry-level Envoy.

The new Estate, which will be built at Vauxhall's Luton plant, marks the manufacturer's return to the segment following the demise of the Cavalier estate in the late 1980s. Last year, about 60,000 upper-medium sector estates were sold of which 20,000 were Ford Mondeo Estates. Vauxhall expects to sell about 10,000 Vectra Estates, of which 80-85% are expected to be business users.

Redesigned from the B-pillar back, the car will be positioned as a fleet workhorse vehicle, but also as a 'lifestyle' retail car. Vauxhall says with a load area 965mm wide and 721mm high it has a best-in-class 'box' space, although admits that with a 1,600 litre seatdown capacity it is less than the Mondeo and the Renault Laguna, which has a class-leading 1,780 litres of space.

Fleets are expected to have their first chance to drive the Vectra Estate in September. Prices are a closely-guarded secret, but are expected to be in line with the Mondeo Estate, which means a £1,000 premium over four and five-door Vectra models.