Vauxhall Astra GTC gets new 1.6 litre ‘Whisper’ diesel – price from £22,260

The Vauxhall Astra GTC gets the new 1.6 litre CDTi Just like all major motor manufacturers, Vauxhall are busy improving their engine range with new, more efficient and more powerful lumps. One of Vauxhall’s major engine projects has been to get the old 1.7 litre CDTi out of its cars and replace it with their new ‘Whisper’ 1.6 litre CDTi. The first Vauxhall to get the new 1.6 CDTi was the Zafira Tourer in early 2013, and the latest is the Astra GTC.

Mazda MX-5 Superlight at Frankfurt

Mazda has created a stripped-down MX-5 for the Frankfurt Motor Show - The Mazda MX-5 Superlight And it’s achieved its success by being faithful to its origins. It has stayed a small, light, nimble and fun little car. It hasn’t got big and bloated and been boosted by endless power upgrades or sullied by the latest high-tech.

Volkswagen Beetle (2011) first official pictures

After 11 long years on sale the New Beetle is dead – its successor is this, The Beetle. We'll just call it the new 2011 VW Beetle. 2011 VW Beetle: trading flower-power for outlaw rodder Wider, lower and longer, the 2011 Beetle abandons its predecessors three semi-circle styling for the flat-roof look of 2005’s hot rod-inspired Ragster concept. At the front, the Beetle adopts the corporate horizontal intake styling and a more angular front bumper melded with a less curvaceous evolution of the 1998 New Beetle styling template.