New Vauxhall VXR8 revealed

Vauxhall is promising improvements to refinement and performance with the next-generation VXR8, revealed this week ahead of its arrival in UK dealers next March.The Holden Special Vehicles-built super-saloon now takes the Aussie firm’s GTS model as its base, instead of the more lowly Clubsport R8 that was used for the first VXR8.See the official pics of the new Vauxhall VXR8 :So while Vauxhall’s

New Daihatsu Move launched

Toyota’s subsidiary company, Daihatsu, has unveiled its new Move in Japan.Power comes courtesy of a 0.66-litre petrol unit - featuring stop-start - and produces 51bhp and 44lb ft of torque.Shorter in length than Fiat’s 500, the Move is available with either front or four-wheel drive and is said to be the most efficient petrol car in Japan, the company claims.Compared with its predecessor, the new

Jeep Compass facelift unveiled

Jeep has officially revealed its revised Compass off-roader model for 2011.The facelifted model features include a new bonnet with "a subtle power bulge", a revised front grille and headlights and plastic body cladding "to fend off debris when driving in challenging weather conditions". The changes give the car the look of Jeep’s larger Grand Cherokee.See the official pics of the new Jeep Compass

Evoque by Cosworth planned

British tuning company Project Kahn will equip Land Rover’s new Range Rover Evoque five-door with Cosworth power.The Kahn Range Rover Evoque powered by Cosworth has been confirmed on the firm's website alongside a solitary teaser image, with no further details revealed by the company. The most likely power source for the Evoque Cosworth would be Ford's 237bhp, turbocharged 2.0-litre Ecoboost

Chevrolet Orlando 2.0 VCDi 163 LT

Chevrolet’s entry into the hard-fought European market for compact seven-seat MPVsIts engine is refined, punchy and smooth and well matched to the slick six-speed manualChevy’s ‘5-year Promise’ gives you five years’ warranty, servicing and roadside assistanceThe Orlando feels robustly and honestly constructedThe range-topper diesel gets sat-nav, leather and heated seatsInside it has seatbelts for

New production starts

Full volume production of the new Ford Focus has begun at the firm's Saarlouis assembly plant.The German plant will cater for the Western European market, building the four-door, five-door and estate Focus variants. Production of the Focus ST will be added in 2012.Read more on the Ford Focus STThe Saarlouis facility now produces both the Focus and Kuga line-up and is capable of producing up to

New Kia Picanto - first pics

These are the first official sketches of Kia's all-new Picanto, released ahead of its official debut at the Geneva motor show next March.The new car is instantly more recognisable than its predecessor, sporting more masculine styling and the now familiar 'tiger’ face, penned by the firm's design chief Peter Schreyer, and seen most recently on the firm's striking 'Pop' Paris motor show concept.See

Vauxhall Ampera range to expand

The forthcoming Vauxhall Ampera will be replaced by a family of three extended-range electric vehicles within five years — and all three of them could potentially be made at General Motors’ Ellesmere Port factory in the UK.GM Europe president Nick Reilly confirmed that the first-generation Volt/Ampera will be built in Detroit until 2015, when the second-generation version — which GM is already

GMC Granite CPU Concept

The true surprise came not from Cadillac, but GMC. Designers expounded upon the Granite concept shown earlier this year to create a stylish, compact pickup truck. The micro-ute features only a four-foot bed, but a trick split tailgate design allows the cargo space to securely haul items up to six feet in length. At this stage, the Granite truck is merely a design exercise, but it shows GM (a. is

Kia Optima 2.4 GDi US spec

The Kia Optima is designed by ex-Audi design chief, Peter SchreyerPark this next to a BMW 5-series, and many would think the Optima is the better looking carEngine is barely audible most of the time and the transmission smoothBig seller will doubtless be the top-spec model, equipped with niceties like touch-screen navigationHigh quality interior matches its rivals with easeLeather upholstered

Seat Alhambra 2.0 TDI 170 SE

Having tested two versions of the new Alhambra on the international launch, this is a chance to try both the car in the UK, and the third and final engine in the initial line-up.The question is, though, do you need the higher-powered diesel? It adds 30bhp and 22lb ft of torque over the 2.0 TDI 140, but it costs £1230 and pushes emissions up to 154g/km and the benefit-in-kind tax up by one