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Vauxhall Astra VXR (2012) gets 282bhp + new GTC photos

Astra GTC Concept Paris Vauxhall sneaked us a peek at the 2012 Vauxhall Astra VXR a couple of weeks ago – slightly titivated and called the Astra GTC Concept admittedly – but the 2012 Vauxhall Astra VXR none the less. And we ran the story, even though there was precious little to say beyond they’d turned the ‘blades’ round on the doors to make it look more butch and that it’d turn up when the 3 door Astra does in a years time. But Vauxhall has decided to throw a little more out there, so we get images of the interior and some firm (ish) news on the oily bits.

Hyundai i30

Though CDN was invited to attend a preview of the all-new Hyundai i30 ahead of its official unveiling at the 2011 Frankfurt motor show, these are the only images we're able to show you of the Korean automaker's C-segment hatchback until next week. "Through the profile of the new generation i30, a strong character line runs over the front and rear wheelarches all the way to the tail lamps," says Thomas Bürkle, Chief Designer at Hyundai Motor Europe. "A softer, lower character line rises up the car's flank creating a play of light and shadow - a fundamental feature of fluidic sculpture." The next evolution of the current i30 will be shown alongside the new i40 saloon and the new 1+2 door Veloster coupe on the company's Frankfurt show stand, which is claimed to reflect Hyundai's new brand direction - 'New Thinking, New Possibilities'.

New BMW X5 meets its E53 & E70 X5 ancestors (video)

The three generations of the BMW X5 meet The new BMW X5 has just been revealed, and it follows the formula of its predecessors to deliver a new X5 that has more of everything previous X5s offered – performance, economy, space, practicality and luxury. BMW like to call the X5 an ‘SAV’ (Sports Activity vehicle) to differentiate it from real SUVs; although the X5 has four-wheel drive it’s not really a mud-plugger like a Land Rover, but more a 5-Series on stilts. But it’s a successful formula that started with the first generation X5 (E53) in 1999.