Vauxhall Astra GTC (2011) more official pictures

This is the Vauxhall Astra GTC, Luton's new three-door rival for the Renault Megane and VW Scirocco. It's an important car for GM, expected to take up to 20% of all Astra orders, and the UK is traditionally the biggest market in Europe for the three-door Astra. Vauxhall Astra GTC: design and packaging The Astra GTC may be related to the existing Vauxhall Astra five-door hatchback, but the GTC is a substantially different design. The only exterior features shared with the five-door are the door handles and aerial on the roof.

Golf SV Gains Five-Star Safety Rating

VOLKSWAGEN’S new Golf SV has received the top safety award of five stars from the independent Euro NCAP organisation. With its top-class package of safety features made up of robust vehicle body structure, highly effective combination of seat belts, seats and airbags, plus innovative driver assistance systems the Golf SV has been judged as one of the world's safest cars. The overall safety rating of five stars for the Golf SV is made up from the results in four categories: occupant protection for adults and children, pedestrian protection and safety assistance.

Mazda may revive the rotary as a hybrid car powerplant

Mazda Motor Corp. has given a new lease on life to its rotary engine in the form of a Mazda 2 hatchback reconfigured as an extended-range hybrid. The prototype runs as an electric vehicle, with an electric motor powering the wheels.