Nother CarGuy

This is the all-new 2022 Opel Astra and to say it is a radical departure from its predecessor would be an understatement. The new Astra, also sold as a Vauxhall in the UK, shares its EMP2 platform with other Stellantis models including the Peugeot 308. Opel / Vauxhall will sell the new Astra with a handful of different petrol, diesel, and PHEV powertrains. Sitting at the base of the range is a 1.2-liter turbocharged three-cylinder petrol available in 108 hp and 128 hp configurations. A turbocharged four-cylinder diesel with 128 hp is also offered. These petrol engines all come standard with a six-speed manual transmission but customers can spec out an eight-speed automatic. As for the plug-in hybrids (PHEV), the entry-level variant combines a 1.6-liter turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine delivering 148 hp with a 109 hp electric motor, creating a combined 178 hp. The flagship PHEV model pairs this same 109 hp electric motor with a 178 hp version of the 1.6-liter turbo-four, produci...

The 2022 Honda Civic lineup is expanding as the company has introduced the new hatchback variant. The model unsurprisingly follows in the footsteps of the redesigned sedan and adopts a more mature, if boring for some, design. Of course, it’s not an exact copy as the hatchback is distinguished by an angular liftgate and a unique rear end with an integrated spoiler. The five-door model also features sleeker taillights, which are connected by a thin strip that follows the contours of the spoiler. The rest of the car largely echoes the sedan and there’s a familiar interior with a modern design. Drivers sit behind a 7- or 10.2-inch digital instrument cluster and will find a freestanding 7- or 9-inch infotainment system off to the side.  The latter sports wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay compatibility, and the display resides above stylish honeycomb mesh trim. More importantly, the hatchback is more practical than the sedan as there are 60/40 split folding rear seats that allow fo...

Lexus is embarking on a major product push, which will see the brand launch 20 new or updated vehicles by 2025. That offensive is kicking into high gear with the unveiling of the 2022 NX. Redesigned from the ground up, the 2022 Lexus NX looks like a crossover-ified version of the IS sport sedan. It features an all-new front fascia with a revised spindle grille that has “tall U-shaped blocks” for a more three-dimensional appearance. The grille is flanked by vertical air intakes and redesigned headlights with integrated daytime running lights. This is a notable change as it means the NX no longer resembles a rolling Nike advertisement. Continuing down the sides, we can see evolutionary bodywork and a distinctive shoulder line. The rear end is also familiar, but it adopts full-width taillights and “Lexus” lettering that replaces the circular “L” emblem. Moving inside, the cabin has been completely reimagined with higher quality materials and a modern design. The stars of the show are a 7-...

BMW has just unveiled the second-generation 4-Series Gran Coupe prior to its U.S. launch in August. Compared to its predecessor, the new 4-Series Gran Coupe is 5.9-inches longer, 1-inch wider, and 2.1-inches taller. The track has also grown by 1.6-inches in the front and 0.7 inches in the rear while the wheelbase is 1.8-inches longer than before. Those in the U.S. will be able to buy it in 430i Gran Coupe and M440i xDrive Gran Coupe variants. Power for the 430i Gran Coupe comes courtesy of a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder that is rated at 255 hp and 296 lb-ft of torque, allowing the car to hit 60 mph (96 km/h) in 5.8 seconds. The M440i xDrive Gran Coupe offers up much more performance than this thanks to the use of a 3.0-liter turbocharged six-cylinder that works alongside a 48-volt starter-generator. It produces a combined 382 hp and 369 lb-ft and sends this flagship model to 60 mph in 4.4 seconds. Fitted as standard to the M440i is an M Sport exhaust system. Both variants utili...

BMW took the wraps off the sporty i4 M50 today. The marriage of the i and M subbrands, the car will be the first electric M car ever produced. Well, at least according to the German automaker, as to our ears it sounds more like an M Performance recipe than a thoroughbred M model. Finished in Frozen Portimao Blue and featuring blacked-out trim and carbon fiber add ons, the 2022 BMW i4 M50 promises to bring the visual flair and aggression of the M brand into the brand’s electric future. To ensure it can keep up with the rest of the M lineup, it will offer a combined output of 536 horsepower (544 PS) and 586 lb-ft of torque from its two electric motors, including a 255hp front and 308hp rear motor, controlled by a single speed transmission. However, note that those peak figures are achieved momentarily through a Sport Boost function that increases the system’s combined drive power by 67 hp and torque by 48 lb-ft for a little over 10 seconds. Otherwise, combined output is reduced to 469 hp...

Seat’s standalone sporty brand, Cupra, has revealed the full details of its first EV. Called Born, the electric hatchback is built on the same Volkswagen Group MEB platform found under the VW ID.3 hatch and the ID.4 and Audi Q4 e-tron SUVs. In fact, it’s essentially a tweaked ID.3. But playing up to Cupra’s positioning as the everyman’s Lamborghini in the Volskwagen Group’s empire, the Born piles on the visual aggression and delivers more power than its VW cousin. The recent ID.3-based ID.X concept showed that it’s possible to dial in some more street presence to the ID.3 with a few modest upgrades. But right out of the box the Born looks much more dynamic. If it looks familiar, and we don’t mean because you saw last week’s teaser, it’s probably because it’s almost identical to 2020’s El-Born concept. The basic body structure is shared with the ID.3, and unless we’re mistaken, even the doors are the same, though some clever visual trickery giving the impression of a fashionable floatin...

Honda has just unveiled the brand new 11th-generation Civic Sedan. Packed full of fresh tech, like a digital instrument panel, Bose sound system, and revised looks inside and out, the new Civic will look to continue its record as one of the best-selling cars in America over the last 48 years. Honda has tried to simplify the appearance of the Civic inside and out. To do that, it returned to the original design philosophy that made the Civics of the ’70s such a success: Man Maximum/Machine Minimum. The M/M maxim has led to a “thin and light” body design according to Honda. They worked hard to simplify the car, which has few design lines, while also making it look more premium. To do that, they did things like move the bottom of the windshield pillars back two inches. That makes the hood look longer, giving it more classic proportions. Where the team kept design lines, they did so intentionally. The sharp character line that cuts across the Civic’s bodywork connects the front and the back...

The wraps are officially off Peugeot’s brand new family hatchback, the 308, that’s set to go on sale in Europe and other international markets (but not the U.S. after Stellantis decided to focus on Alfa Romeo instead) later this year. Beyond the sporty styling the other big news about the VW Golf challenger is the availability with electrified powertrains from the get-go. Underpinning the car is the third-generation of Stellantis’s EMP2 platform that has seen the 308’s wheelbase grow by 55 mm. In redesigning the car, Peugeot has also dropped its height by 20 mm to create a sleeker silhouette. Found at the front is the all-new roaring lion’s head logo of the brand. All variants of the 2021 308 come standard with LED headlights that complement vertical LED daytime running lights. These headlights feature Peugeot Matrix LED Technology on GT and GT Premium variants of the 308. Located at the rear are LED taillights with the company’s three claw rear light signature. Buyers will be able to ...

Mercedes-Benz has just unveiled their latest interpretation of the C-Class. One of the company’s most valued models, the C-Class, has long been the junior-executive class’s champion, with 10.5 million units sold since 1982. For several years, it was the entry-point to Mercedes-Benz ownership, to which many aspired. Nowadays, with multiple “A” and “B” models, the C-Class is no longer an entry-level product. However, it remains a pillar of Mercedes’ brand strategy, along with other legacy nameplates such as the E-Class and S-Class. The new C-Class Sedan brings with it some noticeable changes to the C philosophy. The concept of downsizing has been embraced, with all six-cylinder and V8 power plants shown the door. For the first time, all C-Classes will feature electrified four-cylinder drivetrains. The exterior design is kept relatively conventional, but the interior design has received heavy influence from the S-Class, albeit with a few tweaks to make it feel unique. Other markets will h...