VAUXHALL is calling for a line to be drawn under the pricing row in the car market after announcing a range of cuts for its Vectra and Omega range. Vauxhall slashed Vectra prices by more than £1,600 in some cases in a bid to take the car pricing battle to Ford following major price cuts on the Mondeo.

Vauxhall now says the car industry has gone 'as far as it can go' in slashing prices for customers and manufacturers must be given a chance to rebuild confidence among new and used car buyers alike.

Vauxhall sales and marketing director Ian Coomber said on Monday: 'We have to draw a line under this issue now. The industry is unable to pull prices down any further.

'There have been campaigns telling people not to buy cars, or only to buy them from abroad,' Coomber said. 'It is time for these organisations to decide that enough is enough.'

However, Vauxhall will be cutting the prices of its range still further through its internet-based sales site, which on Tuesday begins offering the full Vauxhall range over the internet with discounts on current list price.

As with other Vauxhall models, price cuts have been funded through a drop in dealer margins and the removal of retail incentives, such as 0% finance. This has meant transaction prices for some Vauxhalls rising, despite falling screen prices. The firm renewed its call for any concerned fleet to contact the manufacturer.

Fleets have been waiting for Vauxhall to cut Vectra prices since Ford's announcement in October that new Mondeo would undercut Vectra prices by more than £1,000. Vauxhall's average cut of 9.2% is combined with a realignment of Vectra specification to offer a model-for-model match against the Mondeo. The Vectra LS, SRi, CD and CDX will tackle the Mondeo LX, Zetec, Ghia and GhiaX.

In a bid to move one step ahead in the price fight against Ford, Vauxhall will pitch the 2.2-litre Vectra against the 1.8-litre Mondeo. The Vectra 2.2 LS, costing £14,595, is the same price as the entry-level 1.8 LX Mondeo. A 1.8 LS Vectra costs £14,295, a drop of £1,695 from £15,990. The Vectra SRi 2.2, costing £15,595, is the same price as the Mondeo 1.8 Zetec. The Mondeo 2.0 diesel LX costs £16,095 and is undercut by the 2.2 DTi LS Vectra costing £15,595.

The 5.4 percent Omega price cut comes just a month after price cuts of £1,000 were announced throughout the range. New Omega prices start at £18,195 for the GLS 2.2-litre, down from £18,955. Some outgoing 2.0-models are still available for £250 less than the 2.2-litre equivalent. The GLS 2.0 which was £18,705 now costs £17,945.

Prices for GLS models are: 2.0 £17,954, 2.2 £18,195, 2.5V6 £18,195, 2.5TD/2.2DTI £19,195. CD models are £1,000 extra, while estates also add £1,000. The MV6 2.6 V6 costs £21,995 and £1,000 extra for the estate. Elite models range in price from £24,695 to £30,695.