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Vauxhall Astra & Astra Sports Tourer get BiTurbo diesel

Vauxhall has decided to bolt their BiTurbo diesel engine in to the Astra Hatch and the Astra Sports Tourer. Vauxhall revealed last month that the Astra GTC was getting the frugal but lively 2.0 litre CDTi BiTurbo engine, offering a tempting combination of 53mpg official economy and sub 8 second 0-62mph performance. With levels of economy unthinkable just a few years ago combined with performance a hot hatch would have been proud of, the BiTurbo Astra GTC is a clever combination.

New Subaru WRX STI heading for 2014 Detroit Auto Show

New Subaru WRX STI heading for 2014 Detroit Auto Show After a concept at the Frankfurt Motor Show in September – which looked edgy – to a production reveal at the Los Angeles Auto Show in November – which didn’t – plans for the 2014 Subaru WRX are well on track. And now we’re getting the STI version. The Subaru WRX STI will debut next week at the Detroit Auto Show and is expected to go on sale in the US by mid 2014.

Connecticut garage fire destroys Volt and homemade EV

News reports say two plug-in electric cars--a 2011 Chevrolet Volt and a home-converted Suzuki Samurai--were destroyed in a garage fire in Barkhamsted, Conn., on April 14. The destroyed Volt had just 2,000 miles on the odometer. The owner said he converted the Samurai to electric power a few years ago.