Vauxhall Vectra

Insiders close to the top-secret project have revealed the facelifted Vectra will go on sale early next year. As the mag's picture shows, stylists at the company's German-based design studio have axed the square headlamps and wide-mouth grille on the existing car for a more dynamic look. Inspired by the new Astra, it features a more shapely grille that plunges down into a new front bumper. Designers have also rethought the headlamps, which now wrap around the corners of the car.

From the side, the new Vauxhall won't change a great deal - although expect new alloy wheel designs and a different side rubbing strip. At the back, the rear light clusters remain pretty much unchanged, although the smoked finish will be dropped for a look similar to that first seen on the Opel Performance Centre-tuned version. It's also thought that the shiny trim strip will disappear from the bottom edge of the bootlid. Inside, seat fabrics and trim colours will be revised and there will be different audio equipment and switchgear.

Meanwhile, other important changes will be introduced on the current Vectra (image, top right) towards the middle of this year. The biggest boost to sales should come from adopting Alfa Romeo's JTD diesel engines. These are renowned for their smooth running and feisty turn of speed, and Vauxhall will use two 1.9-litre powerplants, one with 120bhp, the other with 150bhp. The firm is also considering employing the bigger 2.3-litre five-cylinder JTD unit to take on derv-powered performance rivals from VW, but not before next year.

A four-wheel-drive version of the Vectra, which we featured in issue789 and is currently under evaluation by company engineers, would also become part of the facelifted range if it gets given the green light from bosses. Another boost for the manufacturer has come with confirmation Vauxhall will launch its new VXR performance brand at May's British Motor Show at the NEC in Birmingham.

The Luton-based company's sister brand, Opel, is hoping the Vectra's im-provements will give it a much needed shot in the arm, too. It has struggled to sell cars on the Continent, and Opel and GM Europe chairman Michael Burns recently quit after just over four years in the top job. In fact, last year marked a critical turning point for Opel. For the first time, more Vauxhall-badged cars were sold in the UK than Opel-badged ones were shifted in Germany.