Sea-doo 1991-2000 Gts Aqua Performance Passenger Handles "aqua Handles" on 2040-parts.com

Driven: Vauxhall Astra GTC

Ford, Opel/Vauxhall and VW are in perpetual battle for the C-segment title, the toughest European segment to compete in. Visual differentiation is key, but so is practicality and performance – all attributes that the respective offering must possess. And so the fight continues, heating up with the arrival of the latest contender, the Vauxhall Astra GTC.

Audi shifts to eight-speeds for most models

A formal press conference probably won't happen until this summer, but we hear that Audi dealers have received their 2011 order guides, and it looks as though the company will be going from 0 to about 70 percent of U.S. sales being eight-speed automatic transmissions. Beginning this fall, the eight-speed will replace today's six-speed automatic in the A4 2.0-liter turbo sedan and wagon, the A5 2.0-liter turbo coupe and cabriolet, the Q5 2.0-liter turbo, the Q7 3.0-liter turbo, the Q7 diesel, the Q7 with the 3.0-liter supercharged V6 and the all-new A8 and A8L with the 4.2-liter V8.

Shopautoweek.com iPad app takes car shopping mobile

If you've been reading Autoweek for the past year or so, you've no doubt heard us talking about our shopping site shopautoweek.com. It's designed to let enthusiasts like us (and most likely you) share car knowledge with regular car buyers, helping connect them with the best new car for their needs. Shopautoweek.com is already a great Web site; now it's a great iPad app.