VAUXHALL'S heavily revised Vectra enters UK showrooms in March next year in a bid to keep the Luton-based manufacturer's end-of-year sales performance above expectations in 1999. There are about 1,800 part number changes, with many of them under the skin.

Vectra is Vauxhall's best-selling fleet car and with the Vauxhall Astra, the two models have led the UK best-selling models' list for the last three months and helped give Vauxhall a 14%-plus market share when the average through the year has been about 13%.

Changes to Vectra three years after its launch give the upper medium sector model a more muscular and aggressive look on the road. The revised model, which has undergone significant chassis, suspension and steering changes to improve ride and handling, stands lower on the road and has a wider rear end profile. 15in wheels and tyres replace 14in versions.

Under the bonnet significant effort has been made to improve fuel economy with the 1.6 16v and 1.8 16v engines undergoing revisions designed to boost fuel economy by about 10%. All models with 2.0-litre 16v engines - which account for 30% of Vectra sales - now have balancer shafts for quieter, smoother performance and have the tighter suspension package of the 2.5-litre V6. A revised Omega is due to be launched in September.