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Vauxhall unveils chunky new SUV with familiar name as company confirms it’s ditched plans to go fully electric in 2028
Vauxhall design chief Mark Adams explains the reason behind the EV-only rethink
VAUXHALL has ditched plans to go fully electric in 2028 – promising to do “what is right for the British public”.
Every model from Corsa supermini to jumbo Movano van will have a battery-powered version by the end of this year.
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So everyone has the choice.
But the decision to continue making 27810688 and diesel vans beyond 2028 will please millions of loyal owners who can’t make an EV work for them.
Right up to 2035, then? We think so.
Here’s Vauxhall design chief Mark Adams on the rethink.
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He said: “We’re not going to turn our back on the British customer.
“We want to give them what they need and what they want, as long as they need. We are part of a big group that enables us to do that.
“Who can predict what’s going to happen tomorrow? Governments change. Pledges change.
We can do what’s right for our customers. We are well positioned and we have a great portfolio.
“But we’ve got everything we need to meet all of the milestones ahead of us. We’ve got the toolbox we need now. We’ve got the future toolbox of where we need to land. And we are weaving in the right things that help us bridge that transition period.
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“We have hybrid, plug-in hybrid and fully electric. To now be fixed and say, ‘We’re going to do this’, I don’t think we need to, quite frankly, because we’ve got everything.
“We can do what’s right for our customers. We are well positioned and we have a great portfolio.”
Vauxhall launch UK’s cheapest EV & it comes with a year’s free charging at major supermarket
Which brings us nicely to the Frontera, pictured, Mark’s new baby.
It’ll come in two power types, £21k petrol hybrid and £25k pure electric. The petrol will have a seven-seat option. The electric won’t.
Now read our quickfire Q&A on the chunky family SUV.
Q&A Vauxhall design chief Mark Adams
FRONTERA is a famous old Vauxhall name. How did you settle on that for this new car?
The Frontera, back in the Nineties, was a pioneer for the compact SUV that we know today. So it was the natural fit for this car which is in the heart of the SUV market.
Size-wise, it sits between Mokka and the new, larger Grandland. Is that deliberate?
Yes. Exactly. Right in the heart of the market. It has the footprint of an Astra hatchback but the interior space of an Astra wagon. So really great packaging in this vehicle.
You look Peter Crouch-size to me?
6ft 4in and a half.
Can you fit in the back?
Yeah, of course. When the driver’s seat is set up for a normal person, I’ve still got seven to eight centimetres of leg room and the same above my head. So lots of interior space, ideal for a young family or just going out with friends.
It has all the tech you’d expect in a modern car but tell us about some of the smart everyday stuff as well?
We’ve got two 10in screens but a great balance of hard switches you can get to straight away. There’s a groove in the front seats, a bit like a high-quality bicycle seat with separate cushions, to give comfort on long journeys.
To stop your bum going numb?
Exactly. There’s lots of really nice materials that uplift the interior – and lots of little details like the flexible cup holder strap and rear seat pockets for iPhones. Just simple features people will really value.
I know you won’t say it replaces Crossland but it does the job of Crossland in terms of practicality, right? And it looks great.
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We think it does much more because it offers not just physical space but more presence. The front is much more upright with a proud, confident look and a great stance.
- Frontera will be with us early 2025. It should do well.
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