Vauxhall has confirmed the fully electric Astra hatchback has a P11d price of £39,940 and is available to order now.

First customer deliveries are expected to commence in the summer. A Sport Tourer estate variant will launch later this year.

The new Astra Electric uses a 54kWh battery and promises a WLTP range of 258 miles per charge.

A single electric motor powers the car, producing 156PS. Vauxhall says the car can achieve an 80% charge in 30 minutes, using a 100kW rapid charger. An 11kW on-board charger offered as standard, which achieves a full charge from empty in 5hr 45mins.

The car can be specified in GS or Ultimate trim levels. GS models come with 18-inch black alloy wheels, as well as a black roof and door mirrors. LED headlights with high beam assist, a Pure Panel Pro infotainment system and Intelli-Drive 2.0 safety systems are fitted as standard.

Ultimate variants (£43,855) add IntelliLux Pixel Matrix LED headlights, a head-up display, panoramic roof, heated steering wheel and Alcantara covered heated seats.

The Astra Electric sits on an updated 'V3' version of the EMP2 platform it is based on. Compared to its 'V2' predecessor, around 50% of the parts are new, including the power-steering, shock absorbers and springs. The changes are said to improve comfort, handling and stability.

The battery is housed in the vehicle’s underbody, resulting in no compromise in passenger room or luggage space. The Astra Electric comes with 352 litres of luggage space with the rear seats up, increasing to 1,268 litres when folded – this is identical to Plug-in Hybrid variants of the vehicle.

With 156PS, the car can accelerate from 0-62mph in 9.2 seconds and reach a top speed of 106mph.

An electric version of the Peugeot 308, using the same platform and powertrain, will also launch this year..

Vauxhall’s new Intelli-Drive 2.0 driver technology suite features Advanced Intelligent Speed Adaptation, which monitors both road signs and weather conditions to adjust the vehicle speed, and Semi Automated Lane Change Assist, which works at speeds between 45mph and 70mph and enables the driver to instruct the vehicle to change lanes.

The arrival of the All-New Astra Electric and Astra Sports Tourer Electric will also increase the number of fully electric Vauxhall passenger vehicles on sale to six. By 2028, Vauxhall has committed to being an electric-only manufacturer – a timeline that is seven years ahead of the UK Government target of 2035.

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