Cars such as Mini, VW Golf and Vauxhall Astra have all doubled in weight since first launched
BRITAIN’S favourite cars have piled on the pounds.
Some of the best selling motors have nearly doubled in weight since they were launched years ago.
Once slim models which are now heavyweights include the Mini, VW Golf, Vauxhall Astra and Fiat 500.
While dimensions like width and length have changed only by small amounts, some models have put on more than half a TON in weight.
Safety features like airbags, strengthened body shells and bigger tyres have all contributed to the weight gain.
Cars from the VW Beetle to the Range Rover and Porsche 911 have bulged in weight the most, putting on about 1,600 lbs each.
According to research by Auto Express magazine, the popular BMW 3-series weighed 2,222lbs when it was launched in 1975. It now weighs a bumper 3,389lbs, up 1,067lbs.
The revolutionary Mini weighed just 1,399lbs at launch in 1966, but has ballooned to 2,552lbs in its current guise, a rise of 1,153lbs.
Volkswagen’s Golf runaround was 1,771lbs at launch 42 years ago, but now weighs 3,069lbs, up a staggering 1,298lbs.
The Vauxhall Astra was a lightweight 1,837lbs at launch in 1980, but now tops the scales at 2,801lbs, an increase of 964lbs.
The trendy Fiat 500 was a lightweight 1,034lbs at its launch in 1957, but has expanded by half a ton to 2,156lbs.
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Volkswagen’s Beetle was launched way back in 1938 as a ‘car for the people’ and weighed just 1,760lbs. Since being re-launched it now weighs 3,456lbs, up 1696lbs.
The Range Rover set a new trend for 4x4 motoring in 1970 and weighed a relatively heavy 3,792lbs. However, it has increaed in weight by more than 40 per cent to 5,396lbs.
Even a sporty Porsche 911 has suffered middle-age spread, up from 2,266lbs in 1963 to 3,850lbs now, a rise of 1,584lbs.
While weight gain has been dramatic in many models, they have increased only slightly in other dimensions.
A new Vauxhall Astra is a foot longer than its 1980 predecessor.
And a BMW 3-series has gained in width by just nine inches.
A VW Golf has gained less than three inches in height since it was launched in 1974.
Motoring experts say advances in driver comfort, sound proofing, equipment such as air conditioning, adjustable seats, air bags, improved braking and safety crumple zones have all caused cars to put on the pounds.
Additionally, manufacturers have concentrated on better performance from bigger engines, while advances in materials technology and construction techniques have lagged behind.
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