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Friday, April 15, 2011

New Opel Insignia OPC Unlimited Edition Ditches Speed Limiter topping out at 270km/h

6:35 AM sport sedan No comments

More and more carmakers are quietly abandoning their gentleman’s agreement of limiting top speed of their production models to 250 km/h (155 mph), despite the fact that the only place in Europe to legally drive that fast is on certain sections of the German autobahn. The latest company to do so is Opel which has released a new version of its high-performance Insignia OPC called ‘Unlimited’ without an electronically-restricted top speed.

“We are responding to frequently expressed customer wishes,” says Alain Visser, Vice President Sales, Marketing and Aftersales at Adam Opel AG. “Insignia OPC buyers are generally experienced and responsible drivers who want to enjoy the full technical possibilities of their car.”

BMW Invests More in its 'i' Project, Snatches Chevy Volt’s Lead Engineer from GM

10:54 AM sport sedan No comments

BMW recently acquired Frank Weber, formerly head of Opel/Vauxhall's product planning division and lead engineer on Chevrolet's Volt. Automotive News Europe reports that he will become head of BMW's vehicle architecture and integration division.

Weber will be in control of EfficientDynamics (the green stuff), driver safety/assistance tech, and "full vehicle concepts and architecture", as well as bringing a whole bunch of electrical wizardry and know-how to BMW's nascent electric future.

Opel Astra 2.0 CDTI 2011

1:16 PM sport sedan No comments

A new, more fuel efficient model has been added to the Opel Astra’s European lineup. The Astra 2.0 CDTI 160HP comes equipped the ecoFLEX package, which includes Start/Stop functionality. Already available for the Astra 1.3 CDTI, the package is offered as an optional extra for the 2.0-liter diesel hatchback and Sports Tourer models in combination with the six-speed manual transmission.

The ecoFLEX technology lowers fuel consumption and CO2 emissions, especially in city traffic, where the Astra 2.0 CDTI hatchback can save up to 0.8 liters per 100 kilometers, equal to a 13 percent reduction over the standard model without the package.

In the combined cycle, the Astra 2.0 CDTI hatch has a rating of 4.5 liters/100 km (52.26 mpg US), 0.4 liters less than the “normal” model. CO2 emissions are also down from 129 to 119 grams per kilometer. When fitted to an Astra Sports Tourer, the ecoFLEX package lowers average fuel consumption by 0.4 liters/100 km to 4.7 liters/100 km, while also reducing CO2 emissions from 134 to 124 g/km.

Other than the Start/Stop system, the package includes the CleanTech Combustion Technology for the 2.0 CDTI unit, which promises clean combustion while also reducing engine noise by means of adjusting fuel injection to the combustion process in real time. As with the 1.3-liter ecoFLEX model, the 2.0-liter version sports an active aero shutter incorporated in the front grille and refined underbody aerodynamics.

Opel also announced that all Astra model equipped with a manual-transmission will be fitted from now on with a shift indicator showing the driver the ideal moment to change gear in order to improve fuel economy.

The ecoFLEX Technology Package for the Astra 2.0 CDTI adds €300 ($425) to the standard car's price in Germany. By spring 2012, Opel wants to offer 34 car/engine combinations with the ecoFLEX technology, including all Astra diesel and petrol models with manual transmission.

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New Opel Astra GTC Sport

12:52 PM sport sedan No comments

The production version of Opel’s stunning Astra GTC Concept from last year’s Paris Motor Show is scheduled to appear this summer with its public debut to take place at the 2011 Frankfurt motor show in September. However, thanks to Carscoop reader Javier who has a knack for finding future Opel models, we can give you a sneak peak of the production GTC. Javier discovered the picture of the completely undisguised Astra GTC on Opel’s official Facebook page earlier today.

As far as we can tell, the only visible changes over the Paris Concept are the lack of aero parts and the slightly different tail lamp design. However, the aggressive body kit and the larger alloy wheels of the concept study should make their way on the OPC version of the Astra GTC that will follow after the presentation of the standard models.

The sporty looking three-door version will be available with a similar engine lineup to the rest of the Astra models, offering buyers a variety of turbocharged gasoline and diesel units.

New Opel Astra GTC Sport Hatch Appears on Facebook Completely Undisguised

9:34 AM sport sedan No comments

New Opel Astra 2.0 CDTI with EcoFLEX Package Delivers 4.5lt/100km or 52.26 MPG

8:06 AM sport sedan No comments

GM Reportedly Readying Buick Version of Opel Ampera

8:49 AM sport sedan No comments

Sure, the Opel Ampera is nothing more than a Chevrolet Volt with some extremely mild cosmetic changes, but doppelgangers have always had a very special place in the wonderful world of General Motors. If Bloomberg’s inside sources are right, GM is currently looking into the development of a Buick-badged version of the plug-in hybrid Opel Ampera. According to people familiar with the project, the Buick model could go on sale in 2013, if the plans goes ahead.

Given that the styling changes over the Chevrolet Volt would be limited to a Buick-specific grille and bumper designs, one of the most significant problems GM faces is how to justify the car and its higher price tag which would be in excess of the Volt’s base MSRP of US$41,000 not including a $7,500 federal tax credit.

Watch This Space: High Performance Holden Cruze SS said to be in the Works

11:40 AM sport sedan No comments

In Australia, the SS badge has a special meaning to Holden owners. Its most frequently associated with the Commodore large car and to a lesser extent, the ultra-rare Torana SS of the 1970s. It’s all about big Aussie V8’s and rear-wheel-drive. It’s as Australian as Fosters beer and Four’N Twenty pies.

So now, there’s talk of a performance version of the Cruze small car in the works - and insidious rumors this front-wheel-drive econobox may carry the prestigious double ‘S’ moniker previously reserved only for V8 models. “Sacrilege!” you scream, and I’m more than willing to agree. Nevertheless, let’s push on and see what the Australian rumor mill has in store for us.

It’s possible a high performance version of the Cruze would use the same 132 kW, / 180HP and 230 Nm 1.6-liter turbo four from the European Vauxhall / Opel Astra as there drivetrains are readily interchangeable thanks to both using the GM’s Delta II architecture.

Opel Launches Meriva Color Edition Special in Germany

9:59 AM sport sedan No comments

One year and some 120,000 European sales after the introduction of the second generation Meriva onto the market, Opel is enhancing the small MPV’s range with the presentation of a new special edition model. Read more »

VIDEO: Le Casse, A Mad Cap Car Chase through the Streets Of 1970’s Athens

5:34 PM sport sedan No comments

Ah, the ‘70s. We had the Oil Crisis and Watergate, microwave ovens and VCRs, Maggie Thatcher and Jimmy Carter. As for cars, well: there were the greats like the Lamborghini Countach, Datsun 240Z and the Dodge Charger. Then there were the not-so-greats like the AMC Pacer, Chevy Chevette and the Ford Mustang Cobra II.

It was the decade that brought us The French Connection, Gone in 60 Seconds and Smokey and the Bandit. It also brought us a relatively unknown (well, to my –ahem- clearly sophisticated tastes) French film called Le Casse (The Burglars).

Oh sure, Bullitt had Steve McQueen in a Mustang and Goldfinger had Sean Connery in a DB5, but you ain’t ever seen a film so brazen to put Omar Sharif behind the wheel of...an Opel Rekord. Well, he is the villain. Surely our hero, Jean-Paul Belmondo, will get to drive something a bit smarter.

SCOOP: Production Version of Opel Zafira Tourer Concept getting Ready for Frankfurt Show Debut

4:59 PM sport sedan No comments

At this month’s Geneva Motor Show, Opel previewed the next generation of its 7-seater MPV model through the Zafira Tourer Concept. Now, our spies have snagged some new photos of the production version rolling around in Germany as Opel puts the final touches on the compact minivan before its world premiere at the upcoming Frankfurt Motor Show this fall.

Being that that Geneva show Zafira was more of a pre-production model than a pure concept, few things appear to have changed on the outside. These include the smaller size and less snazzy alloy wheels, the larger but obviously more practical for everyday use exterior mirrors, the redesigned tail lamps and the more mundane tail pipe designs.

New Opel Astra Sports Tourer gets the Steinmetz Treatment

7:59 AM sport sedan No comments

Opel tuning specialist Steinmentz has revealed a bevy of parts for the new Astra Sports Tourer. The German firm’s offerings include aerodynamic components, a lowering kit, alloy wheels and styling elements.

Chevrolet to Sell Volt in Europe, Priced from €41,950 or €1,000 Less than the Opel Ampera

8:58 AM sport sedan No comments

Chevrolet announced at the Geneva Motor Show that it will sell the Volt in Europe, with prices in Germany starting from €41,950 (US$58,560). It will be similarly priced in other European markets, where it will arrive in November 2011.

The Volt's sister car, the Opel Ampera, will also go on sale this year in Europe, at a slightly higher starting price. Unveiled in final production form at the Geneva Show, the Ampera will cost €42,900 ($59,885), but prices can vary in different countries depending on the standard equipment.

Chevrolet said the Volt would be fully equipped with all the usual safety and convenience features, plus leather seats. As in the US, European buyers will have an 8-year/160,000 km warranty (100,000 miles) on the powertrain and the lithium-ion battery.

2013 Opel Astra Cabrio

2:11 AM sport sedan No comments

Opel/Vauxhall continues its portfolio expansion as the addition of a new Convertible has been confirmed today. The new Cabrio is part of the company’s EUR 11 billion investment pledge announced approximately one year ago as part of its plan for the future. It comes on the heels of successful products such as the Insignia, 2009 Car of the Year, the Astra, winner of a 2009 Golden Steering Wheel, the Meriva with its innovative and highly-acclaimed FlexDoors system, the upcoming new generation Zafira, and the revolutionary Ampera electric vehicle.
The new Convertible will be based on Opel/Vauxhall’s compact vehicle architecture which is also the basis for the current Astra, the Astra SportsTourer and the upcoming Astra GTC. It will hit the market in 2013 –the same year that Opel/Vauxhall will also launch its chic and stylish small car meeting the growing demand for vehicles in line with a young and urban lifestyle.
Subsequent to a joint agreement between management and employee representatives during the restructuring at the Opel plant in Gliwice, Poland, the decision has been made to build the Cabrio at the highly-efficient Gliwice plant alongside other Astra models.
“The new Convertible will be a great addition to our product lineup,”said Opel/Vauxhall CEO Nick Reilly. “It follows the long-standing tradition of highly emotional and legendary Opel/Vauxhall Cabrios that provided important halo effects on our brand. With its sleek and elegantdesign, our new Convertible will fully deliver on that same promise.”
Further details, such as vehicle naming, pricing and equipment, will be announced closer to the launch timing.

Opel Sleek Zafira Tourer Concept

2:05 AM sport sedan No comments

After we got a first glimpse of the Zafira study by means of an iPad hologram, Opel released the full details of the concept which previews the next-generation Zafira MPV. Described by Opel as a “lounge on wheels”, the design study uses the same style language as seen on the Insignia and Astra models.

The front is the most eye-catching part of the Zafira's sleek bodywork, with the headlights, LED running lights and the fog lights being united in a boomerang-shaped structure, inspired by the Ampera EV's fascia. Unlike the Meriva, the Zafira sports conventional doors and has a dynamic look due to the ascendent midline and the 20-inch rims.
The rear end is also sporty, dominated by the high-sitting taillights and the two large exhaust pipes integrated into the rear apron.
“We have transferred the idea of a relaxing lounge to a vehicle and created an automobile wellness oasis, a place to relax and enjoy. Passengers can retreat in the lounge. It is a comfortable, roomy space where you really want to be – regardless if it’s for a business trip or to relax for a long journey,” says Mark Adams, Vice President of Design at Opel.
One of the Zafira's main features is the panorama windshield, which is continued by a glass roof covering the entire length of the roof offering an airy interior. Inside, there's room for seven passengers with the concept building on Opel's Flex7 seating concept pioneered by the first Zafira. There are many available configurations, including a lounge mode that offers four spacious business-class seats.
The Zafira Tourer Concept is powered by a new version of the Opel's 1.4-liter gasoline turbo engine featuring Start/Stop technology.
We'll have more on Opel's new concept model from the Geneva motor show floors next week.

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