The only part of the...
The only part of the test car which remains disguised is the headlamps. Underneath the stickers, new lights and a reshaped bonnet - as we revealed in issue 840 - bring the Vectra"s shape up to date. Completing the sharper-looking nose is a new bumper, a sporty front airdam and foglamps. At the rear, the changes are more subtle, but include smoked tail-lamp lenses.
The 310bhp 2.3-litre...
The 310bhp 2.3-litre 9-5 BioPower, which went on show in Los Angeles last week, produces 50bhp more than its petrol brother. And an impressive torque output of 440Nm means that the flagship model sprints from 0-60mph in less than six seconds - a second faster.
Despite the improved performance on offer, the engine boasts low emissions, thanks to the bioethanol fuel. The firm already provides a BioPower version of its 2.0t model in the Swedish market, but according to a spokeswoman for the firm, there are no plans to put this show car into production.
The concept vehicle is designed to highlight the possibilities of the fuel, which is produced from crops and blended with a small amount of petrol in an 85 per cent to 15 per cent mixture. The only major modifications required for the engine to run on it are the use of more durable valves and valve seats, and bioethanol-compatible materials in the fuel system.