Opel cars

2013 Opel Astra GTC Sport 45 Special Edition by Imscherer

Opel tuner extraordinaire, Irmscher, is celebrating its 45th anniversary this year and they’re taking to the 2013 Geneva Motor Show to show off their latest program for Opel’s sports hatch, the Astra GTC.

Considering that the model is touted as coming with a celebratory program, Irmscher is bringing a host of new modifications to the Astra GTC Sport, or as it likes to call this particular model, the Astra GTC Sport 45 Special Edition.

Irmscher’s customization was created with the objective of giving the sporty Astra GTC a performance upgrade while adding aesthetic touches to make the car more distinctive than most of its brethren. Thanks to an improved and tweaked 1.6-liter Turbo engine, Irmscher was able to improve the Astra GTC’s output to 200 horsepower, a noticeable bump from the 180-horsepower output of the standard model.

In addition, the model is also fitted with plenty of aesthetic and aero upgrades that clearly emphasize the aggressive work done by Irmscher on the Astra GTC. The radiator grille, for one, now comes with an Irmscher Carbon bar, replacing the somewhat bland chrome bar on the standard model. The integrated front spoiler and the 20-inch Evo Star alloy wheels play their roles in enhancing the car’s track width while also providing a more dramatic visual stance that exudes the kind of sporty aggressiveness Irmscher aims to accomplish.

From the rear, you’ll also notice the same intentions with the presence of a roof spoiler, a diffuser insert and the left and right ellipsoidal tailpipes. And don’t forget the “Sport 45″ signature, which was put in to remind everyone the special edition tag of this model.

Inside, there are more upgrades, highlighted by original Irmscher seats, as well as leather-trimmed door panels and center armrest with matching yellow stitching and aluminum pedals. Rounding out everything are floor mats with an Irmscher logo and that same "Sport 45" signature.

Only 45 units will be made so if you’re interested to get one, you had better get to it and let Irmscher know your intentions.

2013 Opel Adam Rallye R2

At the 2013 Geneva Motor Show, Opel will be unveiling not one, but two Adam concept cars. We already showed you the Adam Rocks Concept; now it’s time for the Adam Rallye R2 to have its face time.

Built in compliance with FIA R2 regulations, the Adam Rallye R2 comes with a number of special body components Opel picked from its OPC product line. The most notable, at least when you look at the rally car closely, are the quick-release catches on the hood and tailgate and the under-ride guards on the front and rear.

Inside, you can expect a host of rally-spec interior components, including an integrated safety structure, HANS-compatible SPARCO Competition racing seats, a cockpit with an LCD gear indicator, control light and MONIT trip computer, a central control panel, a map reading light and an electric fire extinguisher.

As far as the engine is concerned, the Adam Rallye R2 is powered by a 1.6-liter ECOTEC 16V engine with variable camshaft phasing that produces 185 horsepower and 140 pound-feet of torque when adjusted to its racing configurations. In addition, the rally car also carries an adjustable chassis setup with asphalt and gravel settings, providing the kind of traction and handling needed for a rally car. The car’s brakes are taken care of by a hydraulic ‘fly-off’ handbrake to go with Brembo four-piston front brake calipers.

Full details of the Opel Adam Rallye R2 will be unveiled at the 2013 Geneva Motor Show.

Spy shots: Opel Insignia SportsTourer Caught in the Cold

Along with the other Insignia models: standard sedan and OPC version->standard sedan, we will also see a facelift applied to the Sports Tourer (station wagon). Our spy photographers caught the car testing again, but this time during extreme winter testing.

As you can see, the station wagon version, just like the sedan, is camouflaged only in the parts that are going to be updated: front and rear. The front fascia will be updated with a modified set of headlghts, more elegant lines on the hood, plus new bumpers. Same treatment will also be applied to the rear, where the taillights will be redesigned. For the interior, Opel prepared some new materials and improved technology.

As for the engine lineup, rumors suggest we will see some upgrades in order to lower CO2 emissions.

Expect the revised Insignia to be unveiled at a major show this year.

2013 Opel Adam Rocks Concept

Opel has unveiled the first teaser images for its new Adam concept car set to be unveiled at the 2013 Geneva Motor Show. The new Adam Rocks is an urban mini-crossover study that measures 3.7 meters (145.66 inches) long and offered in a three-door configuration.

The new Adam Rocks combines muscular proportions, with fierce design and open-air capability. When compared to a standard Adam, the new Rocks version is higher, wider, tougher and more compact. The concept features a fabric roof extending across the entire width and length of the roof, right back to the C-pillars.

The concept has been specially designed for those who want to combine the practically of urban driving with off-road capabilities.

If put into production, the new Adam Rocks will launch a new segment onto the market: open-top compact crossovers. Full details will be unveiled during the concept’s official debut at the 2013 Geneva Auto Show.

Spy shots: 2013 Opel Insignia Spied in the Cold

It’s been a while since we brought you any details on the revised version of the Opel Insignia, but today the car has been caught testing again — this time during cold weather testing. When compared to the previous prototypes, the new one features its correct lights for the very first time. Also, if you take a closer look, you will notice the rear lights feature a chrome strip from side to side, just like on the new Cascada Convertible.

Other updates to the exterior include redesigned bumpers, a revised grille and a new hood. The interior will also be updated with a bigger satnav/info screen, as well as newly shaped air outlets on the dash. Under the hood, we expect to see new engines with improved fuel mileage.

Expect the new Opel Insignia to be unveiled at the Geneva Motor Show, which kicks off on March 7th and runs through the 17th.

2013 Opel Corsa

The current-generation Opel Corsa received its first update back in 2010 and it looks like the company is now preparing a second one, mainly because we won’t see a fifth-generation Corsa anytime soon. The announcement was made by Opel, who said the company has no money to develop an all new car.

Even though it’s still camouflaged, the facelifted Corsa will borrow a lot of its front-end design from the recently released Opel Adam, including a wide front grille, a new wing-shaped chrome bar with the embossed Opel emblem and headlamps with wing-shaped daytime running lights. Additionally, our spy photographers caught a few snapshots of the interior and it looks like it has also been influenced by the Adam city car.

Expect to see the facelifted version of the Opel Corsa at the Frankfurt Car Show in September. Full details will be unveiled in the upcoming months.

2013 Opel Adam Cup Rally Car

Opel’s offering to the city car segment, the Adam, is getting a race-spec version in the form of the Adam Cup Rally Car.

In announcing their return of to the motorsport world, Opel’s Adam Cup Rally Car will compete in the ADAC Opel Rally Cup as part of the ADAC Rally Masters race. It’s hardly the WRC, the highest level of rally racing in the world, but for a company that’s only returning to the rally scene after a prolonged sabbatical, the Adam Cup Rally Car is being prepared for great things.

Full race-spec details of the Adam Cup Rally Car have yet to be announced, but we do know that the car will get the full complement of aerodynamic racing components. There’s the full-on livery dress-up and a new set of wheels and tires on the body and an interior that carries a full roll cage, sport bucket seats with six-point harnesses, and a new steering wheel.

Keep an eye out on the Opel Adam Cup Rally Car next season when it officially enters competitive racing again. As a race-spec machine, the race car was built to adhere to FIA R2 regulations.

UPDATE 02/04/13: Speaking of being updated, the Opel Adam Cup Rally Car will be on hand at the Geneva Motor Show. Be sure to keep an eye out on it when it hits the stands in Geneva.

2013 Opel Astra OPC Cup

The last time Opel achieved success in motorsports was 2003 when the Astra V8 Coupe conquered the 24 Hours of Nurburgring race. Since then, Opel has kept a low key profile in racing. All that, though, is set to change when the new Astra OPC returns to racing.

The new Opel Astra OPC has been given some racing juices, and thus, the Astra OPC Cup was born. The future race car is set to compete in the 2013 season and has been built to fully comply with "VLN Endurance Championship" standards, considered as the most popular grass roots racing series in Europe.

In addition to competing in its own brand trophy class as part of the VLN Endurance Championship series, the Astra OPC Cup will also ply its wares in the race that its predecessor once conquered: the 24 Hours of Nurburgring.

Full-spec details weren’t announced surrounding the Astra OPC Cup, but according to Dr. Thomas Sedran, Opel’s Deputy CEO, the race car being built plays into Opel’s new direction as a company. These new motorsports activities play an important role in the strategic re-alignment of the company; they are a fundamental element of our brand profile," Dr. Sedran said.

2014 Opel Astra GTC

Earlier this year, Opel added a new sedan version to its Astra lineup and now it looks like Opel is working to update the other Astra versions. Until now, we’ve only seen spy images of the standard model, but today our spy photographers have also caught a facelifted GTC out for a testing session.

As you can see only the front has been camouflaged meaning the front end is the part that Opel will work the most. The camo indicates that the GTC will feature a much larger front grille and some revisions to the lower part of its bumper.

It is believed that the bigger grille and the bigger air intakes are there to feed additional air to a new twin-turbo diesel engine with an output of about 190 horsepower.

The back will be mostly unchanged, as the only covered parts we see is the Opel and GTC badges.

Expect to see the new Astra GTC launched sometime early in 2013.

2013 Opel Cascada

Opel already features a very well-rounded lineup that ranges from compact hatchbacks to crossover SUVs. One area that Opel simply couldn’t keep pace was the premium convertible segment, as BMW, Mercedes, and Audi pretty much had that segment on lockdown. With its corporate eyes focused on expansion, Opel chose to release an all-new full-size convertible that can compete with the aforementioned premium lineups.

This Opel Cascada is the first of its kind in the storied automaker’s lineup since the 1930s and really digs deep into the automaker’s sporting roots by offering up competent performance matched with great drivability. The true test for this new convertible 2-door vehicle is how well it stacks up against its fellow European brands. Opel is claiming that the new Cascada will also pull at the hearts of prospective buyers, thanks to a lower-than-average entry-level price.

So, has Opel launched the perfect balance of full-size premium convertible with a wallet-friendly price, or has it simply stamped out a cheap Audi A5?

Click past the jump to read our full review and find out.