Vauxhall's line-up for the 2012 Geneva Motor Show
It’s interesting to get the heads-up on new models ahead of their actual public debut, but that can take away the impact for new cars. Which is just what Vauxhall’s stand at Geneva will suffer.
The headline act is probably the Vauxhall Mokka, the compact SUV from GM Europe designed to take on the Ford EcoSport and Nissan Juke. And it looks a credible effort. But we’ve seen most of what there is to see with the launch of the US version – the Buick Encore.
Vauxhall’s second debut at Geneva is the Astra VXR, which Vauxhall revealed in November. Based on the Astra GTC, which means three doors, a longer wheelbase and wider track than the Astra. Vauxhall has fettled the VXR so the 2.0 litre turbo delivers 277bhp and added a mechanical limited slip diff and HiPerStrut to tame all those horses through the front wheels.
The final ‘real’ public debut it the Vauxhall Insignia BiTurbo Diesel. This is Vauxhall’s most powerful diesel to date, and it gives the Insignia 192bhp and 292lb/ft of torque. That means an improvement of a second in the 0-60mph over the single turbo diesel, and the potential to average 57.6mpg. The BiTurbo even manages to cut emissions to 129g/km – less than the single turbo version.
The only new offering on the Vauxhall stand will be the Vauxhall RAD-e Concept, which Vauxhall say is an e-bike built round an automotive construction:
The RAD e – the first e-bike to be built around automotive construction and production principles – carries much of Vauxhall/Opel’s typical design language such as the boomerang shaped features associated with the Ampera and the RAK e concept car. Its pedelec technology, with a 250 watt motor, gives the rider motorised support when pedaling and achieves a range of between 37 and 90 mph.
Vauxhall also say they believe the RAD-e is on the Zeitgeist as e-Bikes are expected to play a key role in future urban transport.
Really?
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