Vauxhall this week unveiled more firsts in the dualfuel field at the Drive 2002 show.

The new Vectra 1.8, Astra Coup 1.8, Astra 1.8 litre and Zafira 1.8, all dualfuel versions, were revealed at the important alternative fuel show.

The popular 1.8-litre engine Euro 4 compliant and fitted with gas sequential injection is the latest to join power choices for the alternative fuel models. Alongside the new 1.8-litre power unit, two 1.6-litre variants feature in Astra models.

Due to the substantially lower retail price of LPG compared to petrol or diesel, it is possible to travel 50 per cent further for the same fuel cost when running a dualfuel model.

With about 1,200 LPG stations across the country drivers are rarely far away from a refuelling site.

Paul Adler, sales operations development manager at Vauxhall said: "The dualfuel market is gathering momentum.

"London's £5-a-day congestion charging, avoided in dualfuel vehicles, coupled with major running cost savings, is among the catalysts. Another is the increasing awareness of the environmental friendliness of liquefied petroleum gas."

Early next year a Dualfuel 1.2 litre Corsa and a Corsavan with the same engine will be unveiled.