After teasing their fans, the German Automaker Opel has just revealed official details about the new Astra, a vehicle that will make its world debut at the upcoming Frankfurt Motor Show. The car’s exterior is easily identifiable as an Opel, while the interior features the latest in technology.
The new Astra line-up will be full of options. There will be 8 different engine choices, all of which are shifted by six speed transmissions. The diesel options range from 1.3 to 2.0 Liters making anywhere from 95 HP up to 160 HP. While gas burners will displace from 1.4 to 1.6 Liters pumping out from 100 HP to 180 HP.
The new generation Astra is built on a whole new platform, featuring a longer wheelbase, wider track and a reengineered rear axle. Like the Insignia it comes with the fuel saving Opel FlexRide electronic aide that offers the driver the option to drive in Standard, Sport and Touring mode.
Press release after the jump.
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We were already envious of the European countries that got the Opel/Vauxhall Insignia, now with the OPC makeover, we’re down right jealous as the sleek sedan gets go-fast looks and a new turbocharger. For those not familiar: BMW has M and Mercedes has AMG, so Opel has OPC (Opel Performance Center).
The heart of the Insigina OPC takes the 2.6-liter V6 engine already used in the sedan, and then adds a turbo and a new exhaust system. This jumps the output from 260 hp to 325 hp. The sedan now has a 0 to 60 mph time of about six seconds, and top speed is limited (at least in Germany) to 155 mph.
What is seen on the OPC package is the new front bumper and body kit, as well as 19-inch or optional lightweight 20- inch wheels. Working behind the scenes on this Insignia is the Adaptive 4x4 system, electronic rear limited slip differential (eLSD), new front axle, and Brembo brakes. The suspension is adjustable for three modes: Normal, Sport and OPC.
Press release after the jump
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The German variant of General Motors, Opel, has already released a green version of their popular four door Insignia model wearing the ecoFLEX badge, but that was it. Well now there is good news for fans of environmentally friendly wagons and estates, because Opel has just announced that their ecoFLEX Insignia will soon be available as a Sports Tourer.
The green five door is powered by a 2.0 Liter CDTI engine with the Clean Tech System producing 160 HP and an impressive 280 lb-ft of torque. The fuel efficient diesel burning drive train is complimented by a six speed manual transmission, complete with a higher final drive to allow highway cruising at lower engine speeds. The result is a Sports Tourer that can go from 0 to 60 MPH in 9.9 seconds and hit a top speed of 133.5 MPH, if those numbers don’t seem too impressive, than consider the vehicle’s fuel mileage of 44 MPG.
If only drivers here in the U.S. could learn to appreciate different things like sports wagons and diesel burning power plants. If we hadn’t attached such a lasting stigma to either of those two items then maybe we could enjoy a spirited ride in an ecoFLEX Insignia Sports Tourer, try getting that kind of performance and economy from a gasoline powered vehicle.
Press release after the jump.
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The German automaker, Opel, has just revealed their latest special edition tuner creation, the Corsa Color Edition. Starting at 14,995 euros, the sporty Corsa is the perfect platform for entry level automotive enthusiasts to start with, and then make of it what they will.
The new Corsa Color Edition features big black 17 inch alloy wheels that are also available in silver, dark tinted rear taillights, a blacked out grill and chromed exhaust tips. Under the hood there is a 1.2 Liter version of GM’s ECOTEC four cylinder engine that makes a reasonable 80 HP.
However, the most attractive feature of the special edition Opel is the roof, the contrast between the all white body and the blacked out roof is one of those touches more often reserved for high priced vehicles like Audis and Mercedes Benzs. Either way, the Corsa Color Edition would make a great tuner car.
Most automakers are putting their high performance machines up against the clock, using Nurburgring lap times as a way to promote their vehicle. Opel just wanted to prove that their car was up to the test. After unveiling the Insignia OPC sedan, Opel decided to bring the same level of style and performance into their larger variant, and thus have created the Insignia OPC Sports Tourer, and is set to go on sale later on this year.
The Sport Tourer wears similar bodywork to the hot rod sedan and even rides on the same 20 inch rims as the four door. Under the hood Opel has massaged the 2.8 Liter turbocharged V6 to make 325 HP. The new performance parts like the turbo and exhaust means that the factory tuned wagon can go from 0 to 60 MPH in 6.3 seconds, and will hit an electronically limited top speed of 155 MPH. The OPC version is built on a lower, reworked mechatronic chassis with FlexRide, the German automaker’s adaptive 4x4 transmission that also features an electronic rear limited slip differential (eLSD). Running gear is finished off with a set of purpose-built Brembo brakes.
This is definitely one sport wagon that you should think twice about messing with when sitting side by side at a red light.
Press release after the jump.
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Opel is introducing its third body type to the 2009 Insigna line-up, a wagon. Known as the Opel Insignia Sports Tourer, this wagon is an important car for Opel considering the popularity of wagons in Europe. While this will be considered a lager family car in Europe, it would be consider a mid-sized wagon in the U.S. There is no confirmation yet that this model will also make the trip to these shores when its sedan sibling replaces the Saturn Aura possibly in 2010.
There are nine total engines expected for the Insigna family. Choices include five gasoline — naturally aspired and turbo charged four cylinders as well as naturally aspired V6s. Also expected are four turbo-diesels. Power over the entire range should be from 110 to 260 hp. The wagon will also get the same optional all-wheel drive system as the rest of the Insignia line.
The Sports Tourer is expected to make its official debut at the Paris Auto Show in October, and it should be in European showrooms along the sedan and hatchback variations by early 2009.
Press release after the jump.
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Does something look familiar? Do these pictures look a lot like something we saw in September?
Opel and Vauxhall get their own versions of the Chevrolet Volt called the Ampera. Usually when cars are developed for other markets and other countries, there are some major changes, but that not the case with the Ampera. The electric car with a gas backing powertrain from the Volt (now called Voltec) was developed to recharge on 110V (standard U.S.) or 230V (standard Europe).
All the other major components of the Volt/Ampera, including the 1.4-liter gas engine, are also utilized in the Chevrolet Cruze, which was designed to be sold around the world. The most notable changes on the Ampera are the visual touches on the front fascia to give the car a family resemblance to GM’s other European offerings.
For journeys up to 60 km, the five-door, four-seat hatchback runs on electricity stored in the 16-kWh, lithium-ion battery, and emits zero CO2. When the battery’s energy is depleted, the gasoline engine will then be used to recharge the battery, and extend the Ampera’s range to more than 500 km. We didn’t bother to convert these figures because we wanted to give our metric-loving friends a break, and they are the same as already reported on the Volt.
Press release after the jump.
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The 2009 Insignia made its world debut in July 2008 at the London Motor Show. The Insignia offers three centimeters more kneeroom than the Vectra. The car also proves to be particularly efficientaerodynamically with a spectacular Cd of 0.27 which positively influences theeconomic, dynamic and acoustic qualities of the car. Both body variants haveidentical 4.830 mm length and share the same wheelbase of 2,737 mm.
The Insignia is offered from the start with front-wheel and all-wheel drive. The “Adaptive 4X4” system’s proactive, instantaneous torque distribution not only ensures optimal traction but also enhances driving stability and dynamic handling performance. In the all-wheel drive Insignia, the FlexRide mechatronic chassis system with its Adaptive Stability Technology helps the car adjust to prevailing driving conditions and allows the driver to select settings to match his mood. FlexRide is also available in the front-wheel version.
The Insignia will launch with an exceptionally broad range of seven engines. All meet Euro 5 emissions standards and come with either manual or automatic six-speed transmissions. The four gasoline engines range from a four-cylinder 115 hp unit to a V6 with 260 hp. The three new direct-injection diesels feature a displacement of 2.0 liter and outputs spanning from 110 to 160 hp. Subsequently the Insignia engine line-up will be expanded with an EcoFLEX version offering very low CO2 emissions in addition to other, more powerful variants.
The entry-level model – the four-door sedan with the 115 hp 1.6 ECOTEC gasoline engine – costs just 22,700 euros. Compared to the competition, pricing for the diesels is also extremely reasonable in Germany, with the 110 hp 2.0 CDTI starting at 24,300 euros. Standard equipment is extensive, with the entry-level models boasting air conditioning, CD-radio, on-board computer, electric height adjustment for the driver’s seat, as well as ESP and traction control.
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Opel unveiled at the Paris Auto Show the Insignia ecoFLEX, a model powered by a powerful single turbo diesel with 2.0-liter displacement and output of 160 hp.
The Insignia ecoFLEX sprints from zero to 100 km/h in 9.5 seconds and reaches a top speed of up to 218 km/h. Ensuring excellent pulling power even at low rpm, the maximum torque of 350 Nm is available from 1750 rpm, and can be temporarily increased for 15 seconds to 380 Nm via an ‘overboost’ function.
The Insignia ecoFLEX is fitted with highly fuel-efficient Primacy HP tires from Michelin specially developed for the car. Like all Insignia models, the new ecoFLEX variant is Euro 5 certified and will be available as a hatchback and notchback during the course of 2009.
Press release after the jump.
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Opel revealed today two new models to its line-up: the ecoFlex version for the Corsa and Astra. With a CO2 emissions of just 109 (Corsa 1.3 CDTI ecoFLEX) and 119 g/km (Astra 1.7 CDTI ecoFLEX), the two models require just 4.1 and 4.5 liters of diesel, respectively, per 100 km (that is about 58 mpg for the Corsa and 52 mpg for the Astra).
While these figures are impressive, they still do not beat Volkswagen’s Bluemotion diesel technology. But for Opel this is a step in the right direction for the European car buyer. Also if high millage diesels gain traction in the U.S., Opel may end up sharing the technology with some of its other General Motors cousins.
Press release after the jump.
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