The smallest model Opel is currently selling is the Corsa, but its biggest competitor on the European market, Volkswagen, has unveiled the tiny Up! in both three and five-door variations. Now, Opel has no other choice than to work on a new model to tackle the same market. The Opel "Junior" will be placed under the current Corsa and will take on the Volkswagen Up! like it’s going out of style, which Opel hopes it does. Opel also has models like the Mini and the Fiat 500 to contend with, but those are a bit more upmarket, which may or may not be a market Opel can enter just yet.
The model is currently known as the Opel Junior, but it is believed to get the Allegra name when it is launched sometime in 2013. It will be around 146 inches long and will be sold as a 3 door version only.
It is believed that the exterior design will be inspired by the 2004 Trixx Concept, but with a more modern interpretation. For power, Opel is preparing a new range of engines that will also be used in the next generation Opel Corsa.
The battle in the high-performance hatchback market is pretty intense. There’s the Volkswagen Golf R, the Mazda Mazdaspeed3, and Ford’s recently announced Focus ST heating up the playing field. Not one to let competition sweep them away, Opel has announced details on the OPC version of their most successful hatchback, the Astra.
Until now, the most powerful Astra was the GTC, but the introduction of the OPC has changed that. The new OPC will be distinguished by a sportier and more aggressive presence on the road, a more powerful engine, and a chassis designed to deliver power. The exterior will be distinguished by specially sculpted front and rear bumpers, side skirts, an aerodynamic roof spoiler, and a new exhaust system with two exhaust tail pipes in a trapezoidal shape. The interior is also the expression of the highest level of sportiness. In it, there are performance seats, a flat OPC sports leather steering wheel, and special instruments.
The Astra OPC is powered by a 2.0 liter direct injection turbo gasoline engine with an output of 280 HP and 295 lb-ft of torque. It can hit a top speed of 155 mph - making it the fastest Astra ever. Next to a very powerful engine, the OPC will also be equipped with a front-wheel suspension, HiPerStrut (High Performance Strut), fully-adaptive FlexRide chassis control system, and a limited slip differential on the front axle. All of the tests done at the Nurburgring race track proved that the OPC is ready for any extreme driving.
UPDATE 11/04/2011: This review has been updated with official images and details.
It is no longer a secret that Opel has been working on a new model to be placed under the current Corsa. At this point, the new vehicle is being called the "Opel Junior," but it is believed that the future model will be called Allegra and that it will debut in 2013 as a competitor for models like the Volkswagen Up and the Fiat 500.
Be it Opel Junior or Allegra, the new model has been caught testing for the first time outside a test facility while driving on public roads. The model will be about 3.7 meters long and will only be offered in a three-door variant.
As far as power is concerned, Opel has yet to officially announce the engine lineup for the Junior/Allegra. However, it is believed that it will be powered by a new family of engines, which we may also be seeing in the next generation Opel Corsa. Considering the fact that Opel is already preparing an electric powertrain for the Rak, expect to see an electric version of the Junior as well.
Updated 01/25/2012: The new Opel Allegra/Junior has been caught testing again, this time in winter conditions.
There appears to be some sort of arms race going on with automakers these days with regards to futuristic urban cars. Audi and Volkswagen have already shown their models and now it’s Opel’s turn to have some fun.
The French automaker’s concept is called the RAK e, which was derived from the rocket-powered RAK 2 that Adam Opel, the man who founded brand, raced back in 1928 at a then insane speed of 140 mph.
As far as the RAK e Concept is concerned, Opel built the city car with a steel space-frame chassis made from synthetic materials. The interior comes with a two-seater cockpit and covered with a canopy, similar to the Audi E-Tron Urban Concept. Opel even used a few spare parts from motorcycles in building the concept, which isn’t all that surprising given that three-wheeled chassis’ are pretty much motorbikes themselves. Inside, Opel designed the RAK e to feature with a front seat, steering column, and armrests that tilt forwards to provide easier access for both the driver and the passenger.
Powering this futuristic concept includes an electric motor that offers a peak output of 49 horsepower and a 5kWh battery that comes with a range of up to 60 miles. Needless to say, the powertrain isn’t what you’d call overwhelming, especially considering that it’s got a 0-60 mph time of 13 seconds and a top speed of 75 mph.
But power and speed isn’t what the Rak e Concept is all about. Whereas other cars tout those things, the concept city car puts a premium on zero emissions and urban mobility. That’s where the Rak e Concept has the bull by its proverbial horns.
The countdown to the Frankfurt Motor Show is beginning to heat up with each passing day as more and more auto brands and tuning companies are coming out with their offerings for this year’s event.
The latest tuning firm to introduce their Frankfurt-bound project is German tuner, Irmscher. Having established a reputation as one of the best aftermarket companies for Opel vehicles, Irmscher will be bringing their new customization project for Opel’s resident hot hatch, the all-new 2012 Astra GTC.
To begin with, Irmscher’s new Astra GTC program features styling cues that include a new front apron, redesigned upper and lower grilles, new side sills, a large roof spoiler, a new rear diffuser, and a choice of several alloy wheels that measure up to 21". The car’s interior also gets a few minor improvements, including a fresh leather upholstery and aluminum trim and pedals.
Irmscher made sure to improve the Astra GTC’s handling by adding a new sport suspension that offers a lowered ride height of 30 mm. Then there’s the performance modifications, which are pretty much the meat and bones of the tuning firm’s program for the Astra GTC. Thanks to a Stage 1 performance kit on the car’s 1.6-liter turbocharged gas engine and a new stainless-steel exhaust system with quad exhaust tips, Irmscher was able to spike the hot hatch’s output from 180 horsepower and 170 lb/ft of torque all the way up to 212 horsepower and 202 lb/ft of torque.
