Vauxhall VXR8, 2007

Vauxhall VXR8, 2007

Motoring enthusiasts across Britain mourned the passing of the Monaro. The only Australian-built car to be sold in the UK offered raw and exciting performance thanks to its 6.0-litre V8 and rear-wheel drive set up.

But the thunder from down under hasn't stopped yet - in fact it's only going to get louder. Vauxhall has announced the arrival of a new Aussie musclecar - the VXR8 - and it's more powerful and exciting than even the legendary Monaro.

The dramatic-looking new saloon is powered by the same 6.0-litre V8 as the outgoing Monaro VXR, but revisions to the engine have made it even more efficient. It now develops a massive 420PS and 550Nm of torque, giving it enough grunt to sprint from 0-60mph in just 4.9 seconds. No other supercar offers this sort of power for anywhere near the VXR8's price.

Yet the VXR8, based on Australia's Holden HSV Clubsport R8, offers more in the way of practicality than the outgoing Monaro, with four doors and space for all the family.

Though practical, with a spacious boot, comfortable, long-legged cruising ability and luxuries such as climate control and leather trim, the VXR8 is certainly no softie. Driver aids such as the stability system and traction control can be turned off at the flick of a switch - perfect for drivers who want to hone their skills on a track day!

VXR8 goes as well as it stops, too, with powerful 365mm front disc brakes that slow the car down from 60mph to a standstill faster than a Lamborghini Murcielago or BMW M5.

In response to customer demand, the VXR8 will also be the first VXR model to be offered with an automatic gearbox. In order to maintain the control which VXR buyers require, the optional �1,400 self-shifter has a manual override and a sport setting which ensure the performance isn't blunted - in fact the auto is only half a second slower to 60mph than the manual!

Satellite navigation and 20-inch wheels will be offered as options for those who want to make their VXR8 look more distinctive and help find their way to the best driving roads. Even with all the option boxes ticked however, the VXR8 is still around half the price of other cars with comparable performance.

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Vauxhall Corsa 5-door, 2007

Vauxhall Corsa 5-door, 2007

Vauxhall Corsa 5-door, 2007

The new version of the Gamma platform has been codeveloped by Fiat and Opel. It will be used by the 2006 Fiat Grande Punto (a stretched version of the Fiat Punto), 2007 Opel Corsa and future versions of Lancia Ypsilon and Fiat Idea. GM Daewoo will take responsibility for future development of the Gamma platform, so the production of the future Corsa might be outsourced to South Korea as well.
The first official pictures of the 2007 Corsa were released by Opel in May 2006. Based on the photos of the Corsa, it is very likely that the 3-door and 5-door versions will remain. This car will also be sold as a Vauxhall in the UK.

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Vauxhall Corsa 3-door, 2007

Vauxhall Corsa 3-door, 2007

A new version of the Gamma platform has been codeveloped by Fiat and Opel. It will be used by the 2006 Fiat Grande Punto (a stretched version of the Fiat Punto), 2007 Opel Corsa and future versions of Lancia Ypsilon and Fiat Idea.
GM Daewoo will take responsibility for future development of the Gamma platform, so the production of the future Corsa might be outsourced to South Korea as well. The first official pictures of the 2007 Corsa were released by Opel in May 2006. Based on the photos of the Corsa, it is very likely that the 3-door and 5-door versions will remain.
This car will also be sold as a Vauxhall in the UK.

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Vauxhall Antara, 2007

Vauxhall Antara, 2007

The Opel Antara is a mid-size crossover SUV, which is based on General Motors' Theta platform. It is closely related to the Chevrolet Captiva (made in Korea by GM Daewoo, also sold as the Daewoo Winstorm), and shares the engine lineup with it, but has a different exterior and interior, as well as different exterior dimensions. The Antara is scheduled to be launched towards the end of 2006. In the UK, the model will be sold as Vauxhall Antara.

Engines
* 2.0 L turbodiesel I4, 150 hp (112 kW) (developed with VM Motori) - 5-speed manual
* 2.4 L Ecotec I4, 142 hp (106 kW) (from Holden) - 5-speed manual
* 3.2 L Alloytec V6, 225 hp (168 kW) (from Holden) - ActiveSelect automatic

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.Alfa Romeo Giulietta hits the European market

Ladies and Gents, say hello to the new Alfa Romeo Giulietta. Then say goodbye. Because although Alfa Romeo says this car is slated to reach "all major markets," apparently that doesn't include North America.

Following its public unveiling at the Geneva Motor Show last month, Alfa has finally released full details and a whole slew of photos of the new five-door sport-hatch. And whether it makes it Stateside or not, this stands to be a pivotal, make-it or break-it product for the stoic Italian marque that celebrates its centenary this year.

Aside from this being a new Alfa � which is reason enough for many to sit up and pay attention � what you're looking at here is Italy's chief contender for the coveted Ford Focus/Volkswagen Golf segment. And quite a contender it is, from the looks of things.


The Giulietta is the second new vehicle Alfa has introduced to replace the long-serving 147 hatchback, joining the three-door MiTo in anchoring the brand's range while reviving a classic nameplate for the marque. Stylistically, it's also the third model to follow the company's newest design direction, following the lead set by the flagship 8C Competizione and the aforementioned MiTo. And while the styling may have lost some fans in its transition from supercar to supermini, it appears to translate better to the Giulietta's longer frame better.

The interior likewise draws its inspiration from the 8C Competizione, particularly around the dashboard. Despite the relatively high belt-line � especially in the back � the cabin has a much airier look and feel than the more cocooning MiTo, thanks in part to the expansive optional sunroof. It's also packed with all the features you'd expect of a new product from a major automaker, topped by an options list that includes Bose sound, TomTom nav and the Blue&Me connectivity system developed with Microsoft.

The tech isn't limited to the cabin, however. At launch, Alfa is offering the Giulietta with four engine options: gasoline-burning 1.4-liter turbo fours with 120 or 170 horsepower (the latter assisted by Fiat's MultiAir variable valve technology) and a pair of turbo-diesel, displacing 1.6 and 2 liters and producing 105 and 170 hp, respectively. The Quadrifoglio Verde � bearing Alfa's legendary cloverleaf badge � will follow, packing a 1.8-liter, direct-injection turbo four with 235 horsepower on tap, as will a new dual-clutch transmission. In the meantime a six-speed manual serves all four engine options.

Market-wise, the Giulietta presents a compelling case. Although its upscale stature, coveted badge and equipment list puts it squarely in league with premium hatchbacks like the Audi A3 and BMW 1 Series, its pricing comes closer to a Golf or Focus, giving Alfa a serious contender against models in both segments.

You can read more details about the Giulietta in the press release below, and view all the high-resolution photos in the gallery. But as important a product as the new Giulietta is for Alfa Romeo and its parent company Fiat, it's also the harbinger of things to come for the brand and the rapidly expanding auto giant. The new Giulia is slated to be based on a modified version of the same platform, replacing the stylistically brilliant but dynamically flawed 159 sedan and sportwagon, to say nothing of the successor to the Brera and Spider models. Sources also expect a slew of new Chrysler models to borrow the same architecture. So whether or not the Giulietta as we see it here makes it to American shores, its platform, engines and other features almost certainly will.

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