At the Frankfurt Motor...

At the Frankfurt Motor Show in September, a raft of new variants across the firm’s model range will debut – from the Corsa and Meriva to the Vectra and Signum. The newcomers will be badged ecoFLEX, and are set to feature a number of clever technologies, including low-capacity turbo engines. Each will be the cleanest, most efficient car in its respective model line-up.

Existing powerplants will be made more frugal, with small-capacity petrol and diesel units delivering low CO2 figures and superb fuel economy.

More details will be revealed in the coming months, but two new verч­sions of the 1.7-litre CDTI oil-burner, putting out 110bhp and 125bhp will be available in the Astra. Both will meet strict EuroV emissions regulations.

“The aim is to downsize engine capacities, deliver lower emissions and improve overall fuel economy, but without compromising performance,” said a spokesman for the firm.

Alternative fuels are also part of the ecoFLEX initiative. Fellow General Motors brand Saab will unveil a larger line-up of BioPower ethanol-fuelled engines at Frankfurt, too, while Cadilч­lac is set to offer an E85 ethanol-powered BLS, due on sale in 2008.

GM says that from 2010 onwards, E85 ethanol will be available in all its Vauxhall and Chevrolet models, incluч­ding the replacement for the Vectra. As part of the ecoFLEX initiative, a total of 16 new engines and 10 transmissions will be launched by 2012.