The Astra MK IV was the car that signalled that Vauxhall (and European sister Opel) was once again serious about car building. The MK III was a disappointment: the engineering was mediocre, the suspension was soggy and the car simply didn’t suit pot-holed, bumpy UK roads. And by the mid-nineties its styling looked dated. Lotus helped tune the suspension and chassis and turned it into more of a driver’s car; the styling was far sharper and safety was – at the time – among the best in class.