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Vauxhall Astra GTC unveiled

The Vauxhall Astra GTC Concept - Paris debut Vauxhall teased the next edition of the new Astra – the three-door Astra – last month ahead of a reveal at the Paris Motor Show in a few weeks. But with just over three weeks to go to Paris we now get much more detail on the Vauxhall Astra GTC Concept. And it looks to us as if Vauxhall are going to stick with the GTC moniker for the production car, so this Concept may well be very close to the final production car.

Williams & Renault back together in F1

Williams Renault F1 - Sir Frank Williams and Renaultsport's Bernard Rey For those of us who enjoy F1 (on the whole – although races like Canada rather than Valencia, it as to be said) but are very slightly past the first flush of youth, it’s rather sad to see Williams languishing in the ranks of also-rans on this year’s grid. With one of the greatest race-brains in Sir Frank Williams, and still one of the best F1 drivers in Rubens Barrichello, it would be great to see Williams at least running with the second tier of cars. But this season so far they have amassed just 4 points.

Concept Car of the Week: Honda Kiwami (2003)

As part of Honda's exploration into new, clean-performing technologies, the Kiwami concept was created to test public acceptance of the idea of a large, fuel cell-powered luxury sedan.  Unveiled in 2003, the simple yet striking design seemed like a Japanese twist on the Renault Vel Satis concept, which shared a similar wedge profile, wide stance and minimalist approach.  However, the Kiwami found its own interpretation of modern luxury, expressed through elegantly integrated technology rather than with crystal champagne glasses.  Up front, a full-width LED strip headlamp sat flush with the flat bonnet and the rectangular bumper to create a design of primitive beauty.  Further examples of the same simple Japanese aesthetic are found around the car, including the uncluttered body panels and a full-width tail-lamp graphic that matched the front theme.  The dramatic proportions of the interior were closely related to the package of the hydrogen power plant. Unlike other manufacturers at the time, Honda engineers did not create a 'skateboard' fuel cell chassis below the cabin. Instead, a sideways H-shaped layout for the control unit, ultracapacitor, fuel cell stack, hydrogen storage and other components was used, helping to create a lower center of gravity.