“You
are Number Six. I am not a number; I am a free man!
Recognise
those phrases?
If you do, you’re
in my good books
because you’re
probably a fan
of the hit Sixties cult TV series, The Prisoner...”
A LANDMARK TV SERIES first shown in the UK in the late-Sixties, The Prisoner
changed the history of television and has inspired many other dramas up to the
present day. It starred Patrick McGoohan as 'Number Six', the
undercover operative sent to 'The Village' (actually Portmeirion
in Wales) to find out why he resigned from his secret government post.
So what, exactly, has the all-new Vauxhall Astra got to do with a hit TV series.
Well, I'm about to recreate my own episode of The Prisoner. But instead
of the rorty Lotus 7 that McGoohan drove back in the 60s, I have one of the
new Vauxhall Astras. And I'm being sent to The Village: escaping from Vauxhall's
factory at Ellesmere Port, near Liverpool, in the new Astra, I'll be discovering
my destiny on some epic roads in north Wales, ending up at Portmeirion on the
west coast.
Coincidentally, the new Astra is indeed 'Number Six' — it's the sixth generation
version of Vauxhall's mid-size hatchback. It's an all-new model that has grown
slightly, has a new range of engines (eight of them at launch) and which for
now is only available as a five-door hatch.
Apart from the current Mk5 three-door Astra (which remains in production), Astras
have never been very adventurous in their design, and that remains the case
with the new car. Did a single head turn during my drive? No. Vauxhall says
it has used design language from its larger Insignia model, which you can discern
I guess, although to my eyes the new Astra looks like the new Mégane... which
looks like the new Focus... which looks like the Citroen C4… you get the picture.
The Mk6 Astra is longer by 17cm, about half of which is in the wheelbase, meaning
that there's more space for rear passengers — one of the new Astra's best
features. Vauxhall claims that there are twenty spaces for popular items like
1.5-litre drinks bottles and iPods — I didn't count them all, but I'm sure
they're there.
Interior quality is a definite step-up over the last generation, with some excellent
materials in evidence. The front seats are also first class, with lots of adjustment
and plenty of support but the rear seats aren't quite so comfortable.
Of the eight engines in the launch line-up, I sampled two of them: the 1.4 Turbo
petrol and the top-spec 1.6i Turbo.
The 140bhp 1.4 Turbo is a completely fresh engine — and rather impressive
it is, too. It does 0-60mph in 9 seconds and really comes into its own in the
low-down torque stakes. It's also pretty economical (at 47.9mpg) and is a relatively
refined powerplant.
In order to get to Portmeirion as quickly as possible, though, I've chosen to
take 'Number 1.6' — a SRi-specced model with the 180bhp turboed 1.6-litre
engine and FlexRide chassis package. The engine's certainly got decent power
(0-60mph in 7.8 seconds) and delivers strong and consistent pull from low revs.
It, too, is also relatively refined.
Vauxhall's FlexRide is a switchable adaptive damping system offering he driver
the ability to select between a sporty (Sport) or comfortable (Tour) chassis.
The roads around Snowdon, which can be seen clearly beckoning from Portmeirion,
provide the perfect opportunity to try the Sport setting. Pressing the button
on the dash does stiffen the ride and make what is essentially a very solid
chassis just that little bit more responsive. In contrast, in Tour mode, the
ride is admirably cosseting.
The SRi, however, is not a terribly convincing hot hatch. It doesn't have the
incisiveness of a Renaultsport Mégane or the sheer pace of a Focus ST, even
though it's about the same price (£20,555). If the floating white ball (known
as 'Rover') from The Prisoner TV series was unleashed in hot pursuit,
I think it might just catch this Astra.
The whole Astra launch took place against a backdrop that felt like some Prisoner-style
conspiracy. Vauxhall was smack bang in the middle of negotiations about the
future of its two UK plants, in Luton and Ellesmere. The PR 'Number One' declared
at the start that there would be no questions on this topic — only about
the product. As we now know, the UK factory story has a happy ending: both plants
are to remain open.
But what of the Astra? Does 'Number Six' have a strong future? I think there's
no question that its appeal is much improved, particularly in the quality department.
However, it is not an exciting car and a far cry from a McGoohan-style 'free
spirit'.
But it knows what it's about: practical, dependable transport with as wide a
popular appeal as possible. As they escape from the factory en masse (just like
in the final episode of The Prisoner), expect to see thousands of Vauxhall's
Number Six on a road soon near you. — Chris Rees
“You
are Number Six.