While it may not be the redesign Chevrolet fans were hoping for, nevertheless, five years after the introduction of the current Impala onto the market in 2006, General Motors is updating its full size sedan with some barely noticeable cosmetic changes and a new standard engine for the 2012 model year.

The most significant change is of course the adoption of General Motor’s latest 3.6-liter V6 engine with direct-injection technology and E85 Flex-fuel capability, linked to a standard six-speed automatic transmission. The preliminary spec-sheet does not refer to performance numbers, but it has been reported that the V6 should be good for around 302-horsepower.

The mechanical updates are complemented by some minor styling changes up front, namely the new mesh grille and fog light surrounds, and at the rear, along with a new set of 16-inch alloy wheels and changes to the available equipment packages.

With the 2012 model year update, GM hopes to keep interest up on the Impala as a brand new replacement isn’t due for another two to three years.

Source: GM via GM Inside News

It’s model-year changeover over time for the Vauxhall Insignia with the British company announcing the addition of a low emissions ecoFLEX diesel model and a new-to-the-range 1.4 Turbo petrol engine.

Beginning with the petrol model, the 1.4-liter turbocharged unit, which is also offered in the Astra, delivers 140-horsepower and 200Nn of peak torque, while returning 51.4mpg UK (5.5 lt/100km) in the hatchback and saloon models and emitting 129g/km of CO2. In the UK, the Insignia 1.4 Turbo is priced from £18,680 for the ES Hatchback up to £27,110 for the SRi Nav Vx Line Red Sports Tourer.

For the new model year, GM’s Vauxhall unit updated the Euro 5 compliant 2.0 CDTi diesel engines in the Insignia ecoFLEX model. The four-cylinder unit is available with 130PS or 160PS power outputs, and for the first time, is offered with Start/Stop technology. The underbody aerodynamic measures and low rolling resistance tires help to improve fuel consumption and CO2 emissions.

When equipped with the 130-horsepower version, the Insignia ecoFLEX achieves a top speed of 129mph (209 km/h), with 0-60mph (96 km/h) taking 10.4 seconds. The 160HP model records a 137mph (220 km/h) top speed and a 0-60mph sprint time of 8.9 seconds. Compared to the outgoing ecoFLEX diesel, CO2 emission have dropped by 10 percent, from 129g/CO2 to 115g/CO2.

Prices for the Insignia ecoFLEX diesel models start from £20,345 for the ES 2.0 CDTi 130PS Start/Stop Hatchback and go up to £29,385 for the top-of-the-range SRi Nav Vx Line Red Sports Tourer 160HP.

It may not be anywhere close to being a historic model for Cadillac, but for some, the outgoing DTS has a special place in their wish list. In fact so special that Nicola Bulgari of the renowned Italian jewelry, perfume and more recently hotel chain family, decided to add the last DTS to roll off the production line to his personal car collection.

“Is it important?” Nicola Bulgari asked. “Is it the number or the quality that matters? It’s the quality. I like the DTS because it’s a great sedan,” said Bulgari. “It’s the last of an era. I thought it would be wonderful to own the last Northstar in a DTS. It’s one of the best engines ever designed – reliable and a performer.”

The full-size sedan that is more widely known around the world for being the U.S. presidential car will join an impressive range of vintage American models in Bulgari’s collection housed at facilities in Rome, Italy and Allentown, Pa. The grandson of a Greek silversmith who opened a jewelry shop in Rome in 1884 owns several other Cadillac and LaSalle cars, the latter of which was a sister brand to Cadillac from 1927 to 1940, his first being a 1938 Cadillac V-16 Town Car that he bought when he was 25 years-old.

“It was quite an experience to drive that car because the quality was second to none,” Bulgari said about the V-16 Town Car. “The suspension design, the power, the engine… Everything was built with extraordinary quality.”

Bulgari’s collection of Cadillac and LeSalle models include:

• 1932 Cadillac 355B V-12 Fleetwood Limousine
• 1934 Cadillac Model 355B Series 20 Sedan
• 1934 LaSalle Coupe
• 1940 LaSalle Convertible Coupe
• 1940 Cadillac Series 62 Convertible Sedan
• 1941 Cadillac Series 61 Sedanette
• 1947 Cadillac Model 7533 Limousine
• 1949 Cadillac Model 7533 Limousine
• 1949 Cadillac Convertible Coupe
• 1954 Cadillac Series 54-62 Fleetwood Sedan
• 1970 Cadillac Coupe DeVille

The Roman-born vice chairman of the Bulgari Group and honorary president of the Italian Government Tourist Board is also the owner of three recent Cadillac models including the 2009 XLR-V Coupe equipped with a special Bulgari speedometer, a 2010 CTS Wagon and 2009 CTS-V Sedan.

“Of the three, the Sedan, Coupe and Wagon, the Wagon stands out in front of all the competition,” Bulgari said. “It makes the competition look ludicrous.” Talking about the CTS-V, Bulgari added: “I have news for you with a V. I want to see some Ferrari or Lamborghini on the road and I will give him a lesson. They’ll never expect it.”

It seems the success of the Buick Regal, which is essentially a rebadged Opel Insignia, has determined GM management to consider bringing another Opel to the U.S., the Astra GTC hatch. Buick will soon have a compact sedan in its range, the Astra-based Verano due to be launched this fall, but it also wants a sporty hatchback with enough power and fine handling to lure young buyers.

According to a report from Car & Driver, the Opel Astra GTC is almost certain to come to the U.S. The model will be launched in Europe at the Frankfurt auto show this September and will go on sale shortly after with four-cylinder engines ranging from around 100 horsepower to more than 250 horsepower in the OPC high-performance model.

In the U.S. however, the car is expected to be offered with the same engines found in the Verano, which uses GM’s Delta platform that forms the base for the Astra and the Chevy Cruze: a 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine with 177 horsepower and a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder with around 220 horsepower. Both engines will be mated to six-speed automatic and manual transmissions. The name that will be used by Buick's version of the Astra GTC is yet unknown.

Aside from the Astra GTC, Buick might also adopt another Opel model that is currently under development, the replacement for the Astra Twin Top coupe-cabriolet. The new convertible will compete against the recently launched VW Golf Cabriolet. If Buick decides to offer the Opel convertible it will become the first Buick droptop since the Reatta

By Dan Mihalascu