THE challenge to market more affordable full electric models is being met head-on by Vauxhall which has revealed a new special edition version of the Astra Electric which shaves £2,800 off the cost of the previous entry-level EV model.

And on top of that the new special edition Griffin trim - which is available in Hatch and Sports Tourer guises - offers a higher spec than the previous entry-level Design model adding heated seats, an ergonomic driver's seat, heated steering wheel and enhanced interior tech including wireless smartphone charging and a rear view 180 camera to complement the front and rear parking sensors.

Available in electric and petrol variants, the Griffin specials follow on from other recent Vauxhall special edition versions, including the Mokka Electric Griffin, to make the move to electric as attainable as possible and offer a new entry point to each model line-up, says the company.

The Astra Griffin models offer a range of connectivity features as standard. Vauxhall's Multimedia Pure Panel infotainment system comes with a ten-inch colour touchscreen, compatible with Wireless Apple CarPlay™ and Android Auto™, and a ten-inch digital instrument cluster. Benefitting from Vauxhall Connect, Astra Electric Griffin customers are able to remotely schedule charging and pre-condition the vehicle's cabin temperature.

Completing the offering, Griffin models feature LED headlights, tail-lights and daytime running lights with high beam assist, plus an array of driver-assistance tech including adaptive cruise control, lane departure warning with lane keep assist, traffic and speed sign recognition, and automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection.

The Astra Electric Griffin is powered by a 54kWh lithium-ion battery providing a range of up to 258 miles, paired with an electric motor producing 154bhp and 270Nm of torque. A 20-80 per cent charge takes just 26 minutes on a 100kW rapid DC charger while a fitted-as-standard 11kW on-board charger enables a full charge in 5 hours 45 minutes from an 11kW public charger. Or eight hours via a domestic 7kW wall-box.

The significant price cut means that the Astra EV range now starts at £34,995 for the Astra Griffin Electric hatchback with the Sports Tourer Grifin - which benefits from the addition of roof rails -costing £37,195.

For buyers not yet ready to go electric, the Griffin spec is also available with a 1.2-litre three-cylinder turbo petrol unit, producing 128bhp and 230Nm of torque and paired with a six-speed manual gearbox.Starting at £24,795, the petrol-powered Griffin reduces the entry point to the Astra range by £2,775, while also offering additional features compared with Design trim.

Orders for the special-edition Astra Griffin, Astra Electric Griffin and Astra Sports Tourer Electric Griffin are open now, with first deliveries of electric models due in August and the petrol variant following in November.