The success of the Infiniti...
The success of the Infiniti M is a virtual certainty! In a world first, Nissan"s luxury arm unveiled it"s all-new BMW 5-series, Mercedes E-Class and Audi A6 rival at Pebble Beach, without the car actually being there. A 3-D holographic representation revealed the sports saloon in all its glory, while the first official photos of the newcomer were released to the press simultaneously.
This is the replacement...
This is the replacement for the Corsa, Britain"s second-favourite new car for the past three years - and mag"s images show how close it is to production.
Despite the manufacturer"s attempts to disguise it as a Fiat by using taillights from a Punto and a drawn-in window line, the shape of the newcomer is obvious. Also, it"s clear to see the resemblance to the Astra - a more angular bonnet and larger headlights give the car Vauxhall"s latest family look. At the rear, the tall roofline and more vertical tailgate suggest that interior space is high on the development team"s list of priorities.
The mag"s spy shots show a three-door model, which will have a sleeker, sportier look than the five-door. As with the Astra, the rear bodywork of both versions will vary significantly, in a bid to make them appeal to different types of customer. The five-door car is expected to have a longer wheelbase, which will also go on to underpin the next-generation Meriva, scheduled to arrive in 2008. Spin-offs from the three-door platform will include the eventual replacement for the Tigra, although this is not expected to appear until 2010.
The new Corsa is set to debut at next year"s Geneva Motor Show, and will hit British forecourts in around 18 months" time. It will share many of its mechanical components with the new Fiat Punto, which is going to be built on the same platform when it begins production at the end of this year. Other shared parts are likely to include the suspension systems, steering and braking components, as well as the much lauded 1.3-litre Multijet diesel engine, which already appears in the current generations of both cars.
Vauxhall"s petrol units will differ from Fiat"s, though, and will start with an updated version of the 1.0-litre three-cylinder engine fitted to today"s entry-level Corsas. Other options will include the 1.2-litre and 1.4-litre Twinport units, along with an updated version of the 1.7 CDTI diesel from the Astra. All motors will be compliant with Euro IV emissions rules. Vauxhall also hopes to make the Corsa one of the safest superminis in its class, with airbags all-round, electronic brake-force distribution and other driver aids.
These improvements will come at a cost, however, as the newcomer is expected to be slightly more expensive than the model it replaces.
But before it appears, Vauxhall is ensuring the current range goes out with a bang by creating a special run-out VXR variant. In a dramatic U-turn, the firm has now suggested the current Corsa will join the sporty line-up, with the hot version appearing early next year, in time for the current car"s final sales push.
Previously, bosses had planned to hold off making a VXR model until the all-new Corsa had gone on sale. But it now appears a turbo version, based on the mainland Europe-only GSi, will reach British showrooms after all.
As with the Astra VXR, it will look substantially different from other models in the line-up, with fat wheelarches, side skirts, a deep front bumper and twin tailpipes, along with exclusive 18-inch wheels. Power will come from a 1.6-litre 170bhp turbocharged engine, which will also feature in a VXR version of the Meriva. The hot newcomer is expected to cost around í‚á£14,995, in a bid to undercut the MINI Cooper S.