Car Throttle

If you've been reading my posts, you know doubt know that i have a soft spot for: A) The Opel Insignia VXR, and B) Station Wagons. All of my hopes, prayers, and dreams (except one!) were fulfilled today with the official debut of the Insignia VXR/OPC Sports Tourer, which is marketing double-speak for "station wagon" - since apparently calling a spade a spade is just not done any more. The Sports Tourer is just like the regular OPC/VXR, only more useful and better looking.  Ok, I'm biased with the two-box shapes, but I think the proportions just make a lot more sense on the wagon.  It's up for debate, as the taillights are a bit strange looking, but in my eyes this is one seriously attractive

There are a lot of things you can say about GM.  They've been around for a long, long time and made a whole lot of cars. Like any big prominent brand, they've accumulated a set of sayings attached to their reputation.  One is "A GM car runs poorly longer than most cars run at all."  Everyone still driving an Oldsmobile Aurora can tell you that; I have a personal favorite, though.  "When GM does things wrong, they do them really wrong.  But when GM gets it right, GM gets it right big." There are a lot of examples of this.  For the first part of the statement, see: X-Body's like the Citation that blew up and fell apart at will.  The original Fiero.  Oldsmobile diesels.  Cadillac V-8-6-4. 

So much for those teaser shots. Today, official pictures and details on the brand-new 2010 Astra were leaked onto the interwebs by automotive leakmasters CarScoop.  The Golf-sized GM competitor has been completely recast to bring it up to speed with other rivals, and features a range of brand-new engines to boot. The Astra, as mentioned previously, is based off the new Delta II architecture, shared with the Chevy Volt/Vauxhall Ampera/Chevy Cruze.  The styling seems highly reminiscent of the recently debuted Insignia, with a hint of Mazda3 thrown in for good measure.  I like it.  Power will come from a wide range of engines, of course.  Base motors will be a 1.4L naturally aspirated gasoline mill or a 1.3L turbodiesel.  Upgrades will come in the form

Opel/Vauxhall's Golf/Focus competitor, the Astra, is due for a refresh. While the current Astra is a capable and competent if slightly dull car, it dates all the way back to 2004, which is practically ancient in compact car terms. The next-generation Astra promises to be more of a good thing, and is expected to officially debut at the 2009 Frankfurt show this fall.  For now, Opel is teasing us with a few not-too-revealing shots of the exterior to keep our interest in things. The new Astra will be based on the new Delta II architecture, which will underpin the Chevrolet Volt and it's continental twin, the Vauxhall Ampera - as well as the new Chevrolet Cruze, which is to replace the over-ripe Cobalt lineup. Power will come

GM Europe's Opel and Vauxhall divisions have just revealed the range-topping high performance version of the Insignia, and it looks like it's going to offer serious competition for Audi's new S4 sedan.  Considering I can say that unironically, let's take a closer look at these new hi-po GM sedans to see what they have to offer. The Insignia replaced the Vectra as GM Europe's large sedan last year, and was met with largely positive reviews in the press.  It's a looker, too, especially with the Irmscher Performance Parts on it.  Now GM has stepped into the ring with the full-on OPC/VXR models, boasting lots of power, grip and poise for the discerning driver. Under the hood is a derivative of GM's "high feature" 2.8L 24v V6. 

Vauxhall's replacement for the aging Vectra, the Insignia, debuted last year. Built on GM's Epsilon II platform, the Insignia has been extremely well-reviewed by the press, even managing to grab the prestigious European Car Of The Year award in 2008. It's a big step up from the old, slightly dull (if competent) Vectra, but the standard styling leaves a little to be desired.  Enter Irmscher, a German tuning firm that has been working on Opels and Vauxhalls for going on 40 years now.  They have a few bits and pieces for the new Insignia, to increase it's curb appeal. The body modifications are blessedly tasteful.  Well-formed side skirts, a sporty front valence, a rear spoiler and a rear valance housing quad exhaust tips give the Insignia a

Consumers in the US have relatively limited choices when it comes to small, solid-feeling European hatchbacks and sedans.  For the most part, we miss out on all the cool hot hatches and subcompacts that Europe gets to enjoy.  While this is mostly due to the nature of our roads as well as the lower taxes and price of gasoline here, there are some people (read: me) who enjoy this type of car much more than, say, a Chevrolet Impala. I mean sure, we get small hatchbacks here.  But for the most part, they're all crap.  Nissan Versa?  Err, pass.  Chevrolet Aveo?  Thanks, but if I wanted a Daewoo, I probably would've bought one before they retreated from the US with their proverbial tail between their legs.  Honda