n the beginning we wanted to write about the new Chilean market Chevrolet Vectra but for no particular reason we decided to spend some time looking into GM’s global crate of nameplates. Now, pay attention because you may get lost in translation: in Europe, GM’s execs scraped the Vectra name as it was considered synonymous with “boring” in favor for the more snazzy “Insignia”. In Chili, the current Chevy Vectra which is the same car as the outgoing European Opel / Vauxhall Vectra will be physically replaced by the Insignia but for some reason, the new mid-size sedan will retain the same name as before. Continued

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Here in the U.S. market, the name Electra was used on big Buick sedans for more than four decades but it hasn’t appeared in a new car showroom since 1990. It looks like the Electra could be be making a comeback soon, but not in America. It turns out that Vauxhall, the brand that GM uses to sell right-hand drive Opels in the UK, filed a trademark application back in June for the Vauxhall Electra. GM officials have acknowledged previously that both the Chevy Volt and an Opel badged E-Flex vehicle would be offered in Europe. The Opel/Vauxhall vehicle will likely be based on the Flextreme concept that was shown at last year’s Frankfurt Motor Show. The Electra (if that’s what it’s called) will likely debut sometime in 2011. Saturn is also expected to get a version of the Flextreme here in the U.S., and it will be interesting to see if it revives the Electra name here. Continued

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 Now that British Prime Minister Gordon Brown has pledged some £90 million for the development of clean vehicles in the U.K., General Motors is seeing plenty to like about the European market for its E-Flex vehicles. The automaker has already reversed its stance on building the electric cars in America and shipping them overseas, with the Ellesmere Port plant now being considered for Opel and Vauxhall EVs. Just how many electric cars could GM sell in Europe? According to Bob Lutz, plenty. In fact, GM believes it could move as many as 30,000 units in the first year of availability, with the worldwide figure of one million by 2020.

While those sales targets are pretty ambitious, so are the goals of Gordon Brown. If the Prime Minister has things his way, all new cars sold in Britain by 2020 will be electric. Oh, and built in the U.K. (editor’s note: FAT CHANCE!), which could become a small step closer to reality if GM decides to go with the Ellesmere Port factory.

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At the forthcoming British International Motor Show on July 22, Vauxhall will reveal a limited edition version of the Corsa VXR -known as the Opel Corsa OPC in continental Europe. Only 500 Corsa VXR Arctic Editions will be sold in the UK, and each will sport unique Glacier White paintwork combined with dark tinted rear windows and a black-painted roof and door mirrors, new black 18-inch V-spoke alloy wheels wrapped in ultra-low profile 225/35 tires and a Remus Sports exhaust.

Thanks to the Arctic Edition’s Remus Sports exhaust, the VXR’s 1.6-liter turbocharged engine’s output is raised to 207Hp, up by 15Hp compared to the basic version. Vauxhall hasn’t announced performance figures, but don’t expect any significant differences to the stock VXR’s 0-60mph (96km/h) time of 6.8 sec and 140mph (225km/h) top speed. The VXR Artic Edition is priced at £16,995 ($34,000), or £995 more than the standard Corsa VXR.

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