Opel cars

2013 Opel Insignia OPC

After bringing the standard Insignia facelift out for a few test runs, Opel is now testing the OPC version of the sedan in its new version. The model is expected to be launched along with the standard version, sometime at the end of 2012.

Just like the standard model, the exterior changes for the Insignia OPC version will be minimal. They will include newly designed bumpers with different air intakes, a new grille, a new rear bumper, and new tail-lamps.

The interior will also be redesigned and will get a larger satnav/info screen with new buttons placed on top of the screen. The air outlets are newly shaped with a chrome strip around them, while the dashboard will receive more chrome in order to make it look more exclusive.

Under the hood, Opel will mostly focus on improving the car’s fuel economy, even though it is very possible to see some improvements for the 325 HP 2.6 Liter V6 engine.

Spy Shots: Opel Astra Convertible loses some camouflage and shows off its soft top

The Volkswagen Golf Cabriolet is getting a new competitor in the near future and these spy shots reveal more of the goodies ready to do battle. Our spy photographers were able to capture a few more images of the future Opel Astra Convertible as it strips down its camouflage and reveals its new soft top roof. This new roof replaces the folding hard top featured on the current Astra, which should bring down the price of the vehicle.

The soft top will pretty much be the only difference we’ll see when the new Astra debuts. The rest of the vehicle will remain largely unchanged, including the technology and the engine line-up. This means that the next Astra Convertible will feature a choice of eight different engines mated to a six speed transmission. The diesel options will range from 1.3 to 2.0 Liters producing anywhere from 95 HP up to 160 HP. The petrol engine will range from 1.4 to 1.6 Liters and will pump out anywhere from 100 HP to 180 HP. The suspension will be borrowed from the Astra GTC.

The new Opel Astra Convertible will be launched by the end of 2012, so stay tuned!

2013 Opel Adam

With just weeks left before the Adam’s official debut at the 2012 Paris Auto Show, Opel has decided to release the official details on the small city car which will hit the showrooms in January 2013. The new Adam measures just 3.70 meters in length, yet is agile enough to make for the perfect car in crowded cities.

At its official launch, the new Adam will be offered with three efficient gasoline engines with power ranging from 74 to 100 HP. All of the engines will be available with an ecoFLEX technology pack including fuel-saving Start/Stop technology.

"The new Opel Adam offers lots of growth potential for our brand. We are very proud that our fashionable small car brings German engineering excellence to its segment," says Opel CEO Karl-Friedrich Stracke. "In fact, the ADAM is the only A-segment car that will be exclusively built in Germany. We are sure that it will get a fantastic reception in Paris at its world premiere in September."

UPDATE 07/11/2012: This review has been updated with the official details and images of the Opel Adam.

Hit the jump for more details on the 2013 Opel Adam.

Spy Shots: New Opel Adam caught during photoshoot in Spain

Since an official debut for the Adam will be made in September at the 2012 Paris Auto Show, Opel is rounding out testing for their new small hatchback and prepping it for its media release. This is no more evident than in these images taken of the unclothed Adam during a photoshoot in Spain.

The spy shots reveal the car in four exterior colors and editions, but most likely, the options list will be much longer than even that. As previously reported, the next Adam will be about 3.7 meters long and will only be offered in a three-door variant.

The small hatchback will use a small engine family of three- and four-cylinder units co-developed with Opel’s China partner, SAIC. Customers will have the option of choosing between engines with displacements from 1.0 liters to 1.4 liters with direct injection and turbocharging capabilities. The top version will get a 1.6-liter diesel and a 1.6-liter turbocharged gasoline unit.

Photo-credit: J.Revuelta / Autofacil.es

Spy shots: Opel Insignia goes testing again

Back in April the facelift version of the Opel Insignia has been caught testing for the first time and it looks like Opel took it out again, this time during some hot weather testing in Southern Europe. This could be one of the latest testings for the new Insignia considering the car is expected to be unveiled in September at the Paris Auto Show.

This time our spy photographers have caught testing both the sedan and the Sports tourer versions. As you can see from these spy shots, the changes are focused on re-designed bumpers, front head lights, grille and rear lights. The rear lights on these prototypes are just build for test purpose without giving away the finished version that are likely to be LEDs.

Rumors say that Opel will also be offering a few changes under the hood where the engine line-up will receive some upgrades in order to reduce the fuel economy.

2013 Opel Meriva

After debuting the second generation Meriva two years ago, Opel is now working on a facelift version of the minivan that will most likely receive the same treatment already present in the recently announced Opel Astra facelift. Expect to see the new Meriva facelift launched at the end of 2012 with sales beginning in early 2013.

As you can see from these spy shots, only the car’s front end has been camouflaged meaning that this is the only part of the vehicle that will be updated. The front end will likely receive a redesigned front bumper and new headlamps, while the rear end looks to be completely unchanged although some minor adjustments may be made before it debuts.

Under the hood, Opel will keep the same engine line-up, meaning that the new Meriva will be offered with engines producing a range from a very economical 75 HP up to 140 HP, with an ecoFLEX version to be offered as well.

Spy Shots: Opel Astra Convertible Flips its Top

The upcoming Opel Astra Convertible was caught testing for the first time back in March when it endured the cold weather to get results. Now, it has been taken for a new round of testing, and the warmer weather has allowed the drivers to completely remove the fake roof it was sporting. Of course, that doesn’t tell us too much because the vehicle seen in these images is just a prototype and features none of the vast changes expected on the production model, such as the new frameless doors and a soft top roof that is non-existent at this point (right now Opel has an army tent to serve as the roof).

Under the hood, Opel will place the same engine line-up found in the sedan version: a choice of eight different engines mated to a six speed transmission. The suspension system will be borrowed from the GTC version.

The date for the next Astra Convertible’s official debut is still up in the air. Some say it will be in September at the 2012 Paris Auto Show and some say it will be in March at the 2013 Geneva Motor Show.

Spy shots: 2013 Opel Astra Sedan caught testing one more time

Inspired most likely by the huge success the Opel Insignia sedan is enjoying on the market, Opel is preparing a sedan version for the most successful model in their line-up: Astra. An official debut will be made later this year at the Paris Auto Show, but until then we have a series of new spy shots for you.

As usual the car comes only with the rear camouflaged, because this will be the only difference between the hatchback and the sedan. But even if Opel is trying to keep it a secret anyone knows that the new Astra sedan rear will be similar to the one found in the Insignia.

The engine line-up for the Astra sedan will be carried over from the hatchback, meaning a choice of eight different engines mated to a six speed transmission and with power ranging from a standard 95 Hp to 180 HP for the top versions.

Spy Shots: 2013 Opel Adam goes testing around the Nurburgring

Opel has been testing their new "Junior" model for quite some time and now the company has set out to the Nurburgring to put in a little extra track time before its debut. Next to the series of spy shots, we can also bring in another noteworthy detail: rumors state that the future "Junior" will actually be called the "Adam" and will be officially announced on May 8th, 2012.

The future Adam will be based on a shortened version of the new platform that will also underpin the next generation Corsa. The compact car will measure about 3.70 meters long - about 15 centimeters longer than the Volkswagen Up - one of its biggest competitors next to the Fiat 500. Opel is developing a new family of engines for the Adam, engines that we will probably also see in the next generation Opel Corsa.

The new Opel Adam will go on sale in the spring of 2013, with prices on the European market starting from about 10,000 euro, or about $13,000 at the current exchange rates.

2013 Opel Insignia

Shortly after its official launch, the Insignia became one of the most successful models in Opel’s line-up. And even if the car has only been on sale for just three years, the company is already preparing a small facelift for the car to keep it fresh enough to maintain customers’ interest. Our spy photographers have caught the car testing for the first time somewhere in Europe.

As you can see from the spy shots, only the car’s front and rear ends have been hidden, meaning that only these parts of the vehicle will get some changes for the facelift. The new Insignia will receive a completely modified set of headlamps and new bumpers, while the interior will also get modified with some new materials and improved technology. It has also been rumored that the engine line-up will receive some upgrades in order to lower CO2 emissions.

Expect to see the facelift Opel Insignia launched by the end of 2012.

Updated 07/04/2012: The upcoming Insignia facelift has been caught testing again, this time during some hot weather testing in Southern Europe.

Updated 01/25/2013: The upcoming Insignia facelift has been caught testing again, this time during some cold weather testing.