Vauxhall and its European namesake Opel are changing all of their four cylinder petrol and diesel engines over the next year thanks to a huge amount of investment in some of the most unsurprising news of the week. Since Ford announced its highly praised 1.0 Turbo and its promise to have versions up to 177BHP, Vauxhall have been left in the shadows PR wise, despite them having some pretty nifty engines themselves currently in production.

Although nothing is confirmed so far, expect extensions to the 1.4T and the 1.6T currently used in Astras, Insignias and Corsa. However to follow Ford a 1.0T or similar should also be expected. Diesels will be 1.6, however no word on a replacement for the popular Fiat made 1.3.

The other point of note is that all engines will be hybrid ready. Seeing as Peugeot has a hybrid diesel already on the market may we see such an engine in an Insignia / Zafira? Due to hybrid popularity in the USA this may signal the future of engines in Buick’s which currently have the Insignia re badged over there.

Personally I can not wait for the near 280BHP Astra VXR which will be out soon.