vauxhall is determined to ensure that the UK builders end up in the ditch, which they will in the updated Maloo.

• New Maloo LSA gets power-boost with VXR8 GTS-based, supercharged engine
• Hilarious prospect of 0-62mph in 4.6 secs from a CV capable of hauling half a tonne
• Over 100PS and 100Nm power/torque increase versus outgoing model
• Design revisions and additional colours for VXR8 GTS saloon

Vauxhall only sells one pick up vehicle these days, and while our rivals will wow you with improvements in emissions and fuel economy in a CV’s new model year, our offering – the new Maloo LSA – is more likely to impress with the arrival of its all-new, supercharged 6.2-litre, 536PS V8 engine.

So while it’s possibly not a contender for next year’s MPG Marathon, the Vauxhall Maloo LSA will haul… well, up to 540kgs from standstill to sixty in an unfeasibly short space of time, and do so with the utmost composure, despite the fact that it’s classed as a commercial vehicle (business users can even claim the VAT back from its very reasonable £54,500 on-the-road price).

For 2016, the new LSA engine brings maximum power up from 431PS for the outgoing LS3 V8 to 536PS, and an increase in torque from 570Nm to 671Nm. First seen in the current VXR8 GTS launched last year, the LSA is essentially the same unit fitted to the Camaro ZL1, albeit in a slightly re-tuned form. An Eaton 4-lobe supercharger, stand-alone water-to-air charge-air cooling system and high-flow exhaust system with bi-modal exhaust function turn the Maloo into the fastest production ‘ute’ manufactured in Australia, and the fastest CV available in the UK.

To cater for the extra 105PS of power and 101Nm of torque compared with the outgoing Maloo, modifications have been made to the vehicle’s chassis. Spring and damper rates have been stiffened to reduce body-roll and further improve turn-in, while the unique rear suspension module delivers improved rear stiffness and rear braking efficiency.

Also now standard on the Maloo LSA are Launch Control (manual models only), a limited slip differential, sat-nav, Bluetooth, Onyx Leather trim, and EDI (Enhanced Driver Interface).

In addition to more power and standard equipment, the 2016 Maloo also benefits from a raft of exterior styling upgrades. The front end features a re-designed fascia incorporating a subtle splitter, while the addition of pitch-black bonnet air vents help deliver an even more aggressive look.

The pitch-black theme is carried through to the mirror-backs and wing-vents, with a new 20-inch, five-spoke alloy wheel design completing the styling package. Two new colours – Slipstream (vibrant blue) and Some Like it Hot (metallic red) - complement the Maloo’s fresh new look.

Vauxhall’s VXR8 GTS, the other model in Vauxhall’s V8, rear-wheel-drive range, also has some subtle changes for 2016. While power remains unchanged at 585PS, and torque at 740Nm, the five-seat, four door saloon receives new bonnet vents, bumper grilles and side sills, as well as a new centre-stack arrangement inside the cabin and two new exterior colours. On the road price for the 2016 VXR8 is £55,500 with six-speed manual transmission and £57,200 with the six-speed auto, with oil cooler.

General Motors reports strong earnings in Q2 compared to a year ago.

• EPS of $0.67; EPS adjusted for special items of $1.29 up 122 percent
• North America achieves quarterly records for EBIT-adjusted of $2.8 billion and
  EBIT-adjusted margin of 10.5 percent
• Company reaffirms 2015 outlook for improved EBIT-adjusted and EBIT-adjusted margin, compared to 2014

General Motors Co. (NYSE: GM) today reported strong earnings growth for the second quarter with net income attributable to common stockholders of $1.1 billion, or $0.67 per diluted share, which included a $1.1 billion loss from special items before tax, or $(0.62) per diluted share. 

Earnings before interest and taxes (EBIT) adjusted increased to $2.9 billion and EBIT-adjusted margin grew to 7.5 percent.

“The first two quarters of the year were strong as we fully capitalized on a robust North American industry and maintained our strength in China, despite the challenging conditions in that market,” said GM CEO Mary Barra. “We said our goal was to improve our earnings and margins this year, and we are on-plan. Consistent with that, we believe our results in the second half of the year will be even better than the first half, and we’re confident we will meet our 2016 targets.”

Special items before tax in the quarter included $0.6 billion related to a previously announced currency devaluation in Venezuela, $0.4 billion for asset impairments primarily for GM Thailand, and $0.1 billion for an adjustment to the estimated cost of the ignition switch compensation program.

Net revenue in the second quarter of 2015 was $38.2 billion, compared to $39.6 billion in the second quarter of 2014. 

The change in revenue is more than attributed to a negative net foreign currency exchange impact. Holding exchange rates constant, net revenue was $0.9 billion higher than the second quarter of 2014.

“Our plan is generating results and giving us momentum,” said Chuck Stevens, executive vice president and chief financial officer. 

“Record margins in North America and strong margins in China produced a second quarter that demonstrates the earnings power of this company. We expect continued strong performance in these key markets.”

GM Results Overview (in billions except for per share amounts and percentages)

	Q2 2015	Q2 2014
Revenue	$38.2	$39.6
Net income attributable to common stockholders	$1.1	$0.2
Earnings per share (EPS) diluted	$0.67	$0.11
Impact of special items on EPS diluted	$(0.62)	$(0.47)
EPS diluted – adjusted	$1.29	$0.58
EBIT-adjusted	$2.9	$1.4
% EBIT-adjusted margin	7.5	3.4
Automotive net cash flow from operating activities	$5.1	$3.6
Adjusted automotive free cash flow	$3.3	$1.9
% Return on Invested Capital (ROIC)	23.4	14.7

Segment EBIT-adjusted Results

• GM North America reported EBIT-adjusted of $2.8 billion with an EBIT-adjusted margin of 10.5 percent. These results included the impact of $0.2 billion for restructuring costs. This compared with EBIT-adjusted of $1.4 billion in the second quarter of 2014, which included the impact of recall-related costs of $1.0 billion.
• GM Europe reported EBIT-adjusted of $(0.0) billion. This compares with EBIT-adjusted of $(0.3) billion in the second quarter of 2014, which included $0.2 billion for restructuring costs. 
• GM International Operations reported EBIT-adjusted of $0.3 billion, compared to $0.3 billion in the second quarter of 2014. Results included China equity income of $0.5 billion, which generated a 10.2 percent net income margin.  
• GM South America reported EBIT-adjusted of $(0.1) billion, compared with EBIT-adjusted of $(0.1) billion in the second quarter of 2014.  
• GM Financial earnings before tax was $0.2 billion for the quarter, compared to $0.3 billion in the second quarter of 2014. 

Cash Flow, Capital Return, Liquidity

Second quarter automotive cash flow from operating activities of $5.1 billion and adjusted automotive free cash flow of $3.3 billion, were up from $3.6 billion and $1.9 billion a year ago, respectively.

Year-to-date through July 21, GM has returned more than $3.1 billion of cash to shareholders through share repurchases of $2.1 billion and dividends of $1.1 billion.

GM ended the quarter with strong total automotive liquidity of $34.9 billion.  Automotive cash and marketable securities was $22.8 billion compared with $25.2 billion at year-end 2014.

GERMANY - Opel is investing in the engines of the future.

• A seven-story building dedicated to the design, development and testing of the engines of the future
• The investment of 210 million euros in Rüsselsheim on schedule
• Dan Nicholson, one of the top executives of GM in the area of ​​engine development, highlights the global responsibility of Opel

Opel is investing in the engines of the future. 210 million euros have been allocated for the construction of the new and ultra-modern power units currently under construction center in Rüsselsheim, where it will be developed and tested efficient drive systems. 

The construction of the center proceeds within the timescale envisaged: the ceremony for the completion of the roof took place today, and the center will be inaugurated in 2017.

The Group CEO Opel, Karl-Thomas Neumann, and the head of the Opel works council, Wolfgang Schäfer-Klug, he joined during the official ceremony Dan Nicholson, chief expert of engine development and vice president of GM Powertrain Division World . 

It was present among the guests also the Mayor of Rüsselsheim, Patrick Burghardt, when Sascha Göbel, representative of the construction company in charge, gave the traditional speech that usually accompanies such occasions.

Karl-Thomas Neumann stressed the importance of this investment for the future of the brand. "We take very seriously our responsibility to the climate and the environment and we are on track to meet the target set for 2020 for emissions of CO2. 

The new center Thrusters make our work more efficient. Not only strengthen Rüsselsheim, but also the entire network of development of GM, Opel ensuring a leading role in the scope of the propulsion with low environmental impact. "

"The Centre Thrusters is a strategic investment of extreme importance for the company. GM has decided to create this structure in Rüsselsheim for a very good reason, because here is concentrated the development of gasoline engines for small and medium size. 

GM recognizes therefore the skills and expertise of highly qualified engineers to Opel, "said Dan Nicholson.

This is the comment of the head of the Opel works council, Wolfgang Schäfer-Klug: "The negotiations on the collective agreement of Opel formed the basis for the decision to invest in a new center Thrusters here in Rüsselsheim. 

This will ensure and broaden the employment opportunities in the center of development. I am therefore particularly pleased to participate today in the ceremony of the roof of the building. "

"The new center will further enhance the Thrusters primary role of the International Center of Technological Development of the plant in Rüsselsheim and the considerable expertise of Opel in R & D. 

Beyond that, Rüsselsheim remains synonymous with innovative technology and pioneering projects, "concluded Patrick Burghardt, mayor of Rüsselsheim.

In addition to the workshop and area dedicated to offices, the new complex will include three wings with test benches and a technical center. 

The complex will cover a total area of ​​about 36,000 square meters. Among other things, the new center will also host 43 test benches of the latest generation to measure the performance of the engines.

The ceremonial start of work was held last summer and since then construction activities continued without incident for a total of 180,000 hours worked.

The new complex is part of a series of investments of total value of 230 million euros for the construction of new facilities development and testing at the International Center of Technological Development and testing center of Rodgau-Dudenhofen. 

Most of the amount allocated, or 210 million euros, will be invested in the site in Rüsselsheim. The complex will cover an area of ​​about 13,000 square meters to the south of the railway line and west of Gate 45 of Rüsselsheim, parallel to Rugbyring. 

This is the largest investment made in the construction of the new opening Rüsselsheim

production plant, in 2002.

The site is integrated into the global network engineering of GM Powertrain. The international synchronization of software and test methods, therefore, allows to analyze the results and implement the solutions optimally.