Opel
Opel facelifts the Corsa, add new EcoFlex engine
After giving us the facelifted Antara, Opel has revealed the facelifted Corsa the very next day. The super mini has been updated with a sharper front incorporating a new grille and front bumper along with new fog lights housings. Talking about the front, don’t you think there are similarities with the Mazda2? Moving on, the exterior update is also complemented by new wheels (six of them) as well as a larger Opel Blitz logo on the tailgate.
The interior now has a more textured dashboard and the trim levels have been upgraded with new fabric and decor options. Opel has also introduced a new trim level for the European market called Color Line Series. This trim level can be equipped with an optional Linea package which adds two racing stripes and matching 17-inch wheels and door mirror caps.
There is also a new navigation option called Touch & Connect with a five-inch touch screen display which can propose alternative routes in case there are traffic problems. It is also Bluetooth, iPod as well as USB compatible too.
There is also a change under the hood, an addition to be more precise. The new Corsa now comes with a new diesel engine called the EcoFlex 1.3 CDTI featuring an engine start/stop system as standard. This engine makes a decent 95hp and allows the Corsa to offer a combined fuel economy reading of 3.6 liters per 100 kilometers and emits only 95 grams of CO2 per kilometer.
The 3-door variant with this engine only uses 3.5 liters per 100 kilometers while emitting 94 grams of CO2 per kilometer. The new Opel Corsa which is also sold as the Vauxhall Corsa in the UK is set to go on sale next January. Continue reading to view an image gallery. Read the rest of this entry.
Opel facelifts the Antara, new engines revealed
Pictured above is the 2011 Antara by General Motors-owned Opel. The refreshed model gets a new front grille with a smaller Opel logo, modified front bumper along with new fog lights, new taillights as well as optional 19-inch light-metal wheels. The interior has been updated too with a new centre console with improved storage, new colour options and new materials. The highlight of the updates, if you ask me, would be the new engine line-up.
All engines are compliant to Euro-5 specifications and they start with a base 2.2 CDTI turbo diesel. This engine has two states of tune, including a 163hp version and a 184hp version. Both engines are 34hp and 36hp more than their respectively predecessors.
The former can be opted with either a front wheel drive configuration or all wheel drive. There are both manual and 6-speed automatic transmissions to choose from. The more potent model is offered exclusively with an all wheel drive setup but can choose between a manual or an automatic.
The petrol front is made up by a 2.4 liter 4-potter which makes 170hp, 30hp more power than the unit it replaces. The drivetrain options are similar to the 163hp diesel model. Continue reading to view the above images in high-res fashion. Read the rest of this entry.
Paris 2010 – Opel shows off the GTC Paris concept
Opel has unveiled the GTC Paris concept. Measuring 4.46 meters long, the 5-seater GTC Paris concept is motivated by a 290hp 2.0 liter turbocharged four potter with direct injection. The engine is linked to an engine start/stop function and a 6-speed manual transmission.
Other goodies include an adaptive mechatronic FlexRide suspension and a limited slip differential up front. It also uses a Watt’s link in the rear suspension, which is basically a type of torsion beam. The concept which sits on large 21-inch wheels is finished with charcoal black contrasted with red stitching.
The Opel GTC Paris concept will likely become the Astra OPC or VXR. More images of the aggressive-looking hatchback can be found after the jump.
Near-production Opel GTC Paris concept revealed
This is the Opel GTC Paris concept which will be making a stop at the Paris Motor Show later this month. From the looks of it, this is a near-production concept hence the final product is likely to arrive soon and most importantly, it would look pretty much like this. Penned as a Volkswagen Scirocco fighter, the Astra GTC will be a compact 3-door hatch with a seating capacity of five.
The 4.46 meter-long concept features LED daytime running lights and rides on large 21-inch wheels. This sexy looking hatch is powered by a force-inducted 2.0 liter 4-cylinder engine, linked to a 6-speed manual transmission and features an engine start/stop system and a limited-slip differential. The production would be offered with a variety of gasoline and diesel engines while a high-performance GSi model with about 200hp is rumored to join the line-up as well. Read the rest of this entry.
Opel to showcase GTC Paris concept at Paris Motor Show
Opel will head to the upcoming Paris Motor Show in September with a brand new concept vehicle called the GTC Paris. The concept is likely to preview the Opel Astra GTC 3-door which is expected to hit European showrooms by the first half of next year. Details are of course scarce at the moment and the company only said that it is “an expressive, sporty compact hatch with dramatic proportions and sculptural surfaces typical of Opel’s design language.”
Along with the announcement Opel also released a teaser image which depicts the upholstery of the concept that is laser cut with the statement “and the speed was pure beauty”. The statement was taken from Richard Bach’s famous novel, Jonathan Livingston Seagull which apparently inspires the concept.
The final production vehicle will most probably feature a coupe-like roofline with more aggressive demeanor. The GTC Paris concept will also be joined by the new Astra Sports Tourer as well as the Meriva with new engine options.
Image of Opel Astra Sports Tourer leaked!
What you see above is believed to be a leaked image that depicts the Opel Astra Sports Tourer which is set to make its debut at the Paris Motor Show in October. It looks as though this image was taken during a dealer conference or something and it shows the rear right quarter of the sporty ‘estate’ that was inspired by the larger Insignia Sports Tourer.
We don’t have more information to share with you at the moment but you can safely expect the Sports Tourer to feature the same engines found in the Astra, such as a 180hp turbocharged 1.6 liter gasoline and a 160hp 2.0 liter diesel. Continue reading to check out a high-res version of the image.
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Opel announces 8,000 job cuts across Europe
We all know that Opel is not having a great time when it comes its finances hence job cuts are pretty much expected. The General Motors-owned brand has announced 8,000 job cuts across the European region which is part of a major restructuring.
The job cuts are in addition to about 265 million Euros in annual labor savings as 176 million Euros comes from Opel’s largest manufacturing plants in Germany. Our source revealed that General Motors plans to inject about 1.9 billion Euros in Opel while European countries where Opel factories are located asked for up to 1.8 billion Euros in loan guarantees.
Opel is also requesting 1.5 billion Euros in loan guarantees from the German government for the restructuring plan. The company also said that it may be converted into a German stock corporation (AG or limited company).
For those of you who are not interested in such business news, you would be glad to know that Opel’s CEO Nick Reilly confirmed that the company will launch a new convertible that will sit below the Corsa. There will also be a new combo van. At the moment we don’t have more details about the two models.
