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2015 Vauxhall Astra means new UK jobs

Vauxhall has announced that it will take on 300 new staff at its Ellesmere Port plant, ready for production of the new Astra in 2015. It follows the plant’s successful bid to build the 2015 Astra, which secured investment of £125 million for the UK factory in 2012. 20 reasons why Britain’s car industry is booming Read a Vauxhall new car review Meanwhile, in 2011, Vauxhall’s Luton plant received a £185 million investment to build the new Vivaro van – and now the Bedfordshire base is planning to create a further 250 jobs.

Porsche 911 (2011) the first official video of the 991

Prototypes of Porsche’s new 991-spec 911 haven’t been snapped out on test by our spies this week, so just in case you’ve been having withdrawal symptoms, Stuttgart’s most famous sports car manufacturer has released its own video of its iconic car. What does Porsche’s official video of the new 911 reveal?  Shot in South Africa during the 991’s final validation and testing phase, the video is our best look yet at the new 911 on the move. We finally get to hear the flat six engines, and get glimpses under the bonnet and inside its Panamera-inspired interior – look closely and you can spy the seven forward speeds etched onto the gearknob for the manual ‘box.  Beyond that there’s little more to see, as Porsche won’t reveal the new 911 until the 2011 Frankfurt motor show this September.

Lotus announces 100 new jobs

Lotus Lotus is on a recruitment drive - prompting confidence that the iconic British sportscar firm’s future looks brighter than it has for years. The company has suffered a rollercoaster ride since relaunching in 2010 with a bold promise to build five new sportscars and a supermini. But the architect of that plan, CEO Dany Bahar, was fired by the company's Malaysian owners and the expansion has since been wound down.