Opel added several engines in the Insignia range (known as the Buick Regal in the U.S.) for better economy and CO2 emissions. In the five-door liftback and four-door sedan ecoFLEX models, emissions have now dropped from 136g/km to 129g/km, with a corresponding improvement in fuel consumption from 54.3mpg UK [5.2lt/100km] combined, to 57.6mpg UK [4.9lt/100km]. As a result of the lower emissions, UK customers won’t have to pay VED for the first year.

In the Insignia Sports Tourer ecoFLEX version, C02 emission drop to 134g/km while delivering an improved fuel consumption of 55.4mpg UK, up from 53.3mpg UK.

The 2.0 CDTi 160HP versions benefit from C02 emissions of 144g/km (down from 154g/km), along with a 6.5 per cent lower fuel consumption, while the 2.0 CDTi 130HP engine emits 136g/km of CO2, an 11.5 per cent reduction

The Opel added that all 2.0 CDTi engines also benefit from a raft of changes to reduce noise and vibrations. At least in the UK, road prices for the diesel-powered Insignias remains the same.

See above at the new estate version of the new Opel / Vauxhall Astra which has been spotted in testing at the Nurburgring.

The new Opel Astra Sports Tourer will be shown this summer with a Paris Motor Show debut to follow in autumn 2010. The Astra Sports Tourer looks like a smaller version of the Opel Insignia station wagon boasting a more raked roofline and a less boxy / conservative shape than the current model.

Engine options for the Astra’s station wagon model will mirror those offered on the five door Astra, so expect a petrol range stretching from a 1.4-liter naturally aspirated four-pot up to a 180 horsepower 1.6-liter turbo, and a comprehensive diesel lineup topping out with a 160HP 2.0-liter CDTi.

The Opel Astra Sports Tourer will be the second model to be added to the new Astra’s range. It will be followed by a sportier-looking three-door hatchback, a coupe convertible and a four-sedan model that will also be sold in the States as a Buick.

Look at the Vauxhall’s set of England flag decals for the three-door Corsa. The new kit, which includes the same style decals that flow from the Corsa’s headlamps right the way along its sides with a pair of matching mirror caps as the German-market model, is available from Vauxhall retailers for £149 fully fitted and including VAT.

Look at the first spy shots of the new Opel Corsa OPC Nürburgring Edition special.

The new Opel Corsa OPC, based on the standard OPC, should basically be the version of the Astra-based 2008 Nürburgring Edition model. That means it’ll most likely come with the standard Corsa OPC’s 192-horsepower (141 kW) / 170 lb-ft (230 Nm) turbocharged 1.6 liter mill and extra add-ons.

Other baubles to expect are upgraded Brembo brakes, Recaro leather seating, carbon-look decor for the interior, unique lightweight wheels, and maybe even a tuned suspension.

The front appears to get a new lip spoiler and the rear valence some big exhaust tips pushed to the sides.

Vauxhall has adding to the allure of the current version of the Astra VXR with the presentation of a limited production model called “Arctic Edition”.

Only 500 units of the Astra’s Arctic Edition are offered in the UK with prices set at £23, 595 on the road.

All are painted in Olympic White with a contrasting black painted roof, mirror covers, front V-grille and tailgate trim. Each Arctic Edition also gets £1965 worth of options including heated leather Recaro front seats, tinted glass and Black 19-inch multi-spoke alloy wheels.

In addition, for the first time on a VXR product, customers can also specify their Arctic Edition with the Panoramic Windscreen that costs £920.

There are no changes under the hood with the Astra VXR Arctic Edition featuring a 240HP 2.0-liter turbo engine that propels the hot hatch from 0-60mph (96km/h) in 6.2 seconds and on to a top speed of 152mph or 244 km/h.

The 2010 Meriva MPV will have its world premiere at the Geneva Salon in March

The Insignia is now offered with an Adaptive 4×4 system as an option on the 220HP 2.0-liter and standard on the 2.8 V6 Turbo and OPC models.

The GM’s UK arm Vauxhall, and Opel in continental Europe, has unveiled the all-new Meriva mini-MPV. The new Opel Meriva mini-MPV is the first Opel to feature GM’s FlexDoor technology, showcased on the 2008 Meriva concept model.

And by FlexDoors we mean the rear-hinged back doors that swing open towards the back of the car at an angle of nearly 90 degree. Even though the Meriva still uses a central B-pillar, the company said that the Flexdoors “vastly improve the ease with which occupants enter and leave the cabin”.

The interesting fact that, unlike other suicide-door cars like a Mazda RX-8 and Rolls Royce Phantom and Ghost, the Meriva’s front and rear doors can open independently.

Opel did not release any pictures of the interior, but hi said that the cabin will be heavily influenced by the Insignia and Astra both in terms of styling and perceived quality of the materials.

The Meriva’s interior versatility will be boosted by the improved FlexSpace system that allows easier fold-down of the three individual rear seats that can also be mounted back independently to create more boot, leg or shoulder room.

A new feature for the 2010 Meriva is the FlexRail system that incorporates a dual-rail base on the lower center console allowing owners to attach a variety of modular storage bins.

The second-generation model of Opel’s mini-MPV rides on a new platform with a longer wheelbase and wider front and rear tracks, thus promising to improve the car’s ride and handling qualities.

2010 Opel Meriva will get a lineup of six turbocharged diesel and gasoline engines with outputs ranging from 75 to 140PS.

The new 2010 Meriva, which will compete against other mini-MPVs like the Citroen C3 Picasso, the Kia Venga as well as the Honda Jazz (Fit in the States), will make its world debut at the Geneva Motor Show next March.

GM’ british arm Vauxhall is celebrating the retail launch of the all-new 2010 Vauxhall Astra. The first customers today received the keys to their cars.

In Great Britain, the new Astra hatchback is available with five petrol engines ranging from an 87 h.p. 1.4-litre to a 1.6-litre turbocharged unit, while diesels span from 1.7 CDTi to 2.0 CDTi form. Prices will start from £15,675.

The Vauxhall said that British plant will build the new Astra for all European markets.

British Vauxhall sold more than 900 police Astras in the UK last year. Police departments throughout the UK will be able choose from three ‘high visibility’ livery options -half, three-quarter or full. The police-spec Astras are equipped with LED lightbars that available in three different widths, while all PTT (Push-to-talk) 999 and at-scene functions have been incorporated into the steering wheel.

The police Astra can be ordered with all communication equipment already installed along with a large 8.4-inch mobile data terminal screen incorporated into the dashboard.