GM Says Opel Astra Convertible's Replacement to be a Standalone Model Like the VW Eos

Earlier this year, General Motors European arm laid out its plans for the replacement of the Opel / Vauxhall Astra Convertible with a new model that will enter production in 2013 at the Gliwice plant in Poland alongside the new Astra models.

And while we know that the open-top model will be based on the new generation of the Astra compact, what the General didn't say is whether or not it will carry the Astra nameplate.

Up until now, that is, because in an interview with Car Magazine, the European design chief at GM, Mark Adams, said the new convertible will be a separate, standalone model in the likes of the Volkswagen Eos hardtop cabrio.

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Massive Sports Car Crash on the Nordschleife, BMW's M3 'Ring Taxi Involved

A fun track day at the notorious Nürburgring Nordschleife circuit turned into a nightmare for eight drivers this past Sunday.

The vehicles involved in the crash included a BMW E30 3-Series, a BMW E36 3-Series, a BMW E92 M3, a Chevrolet Corvette Z06, a pair of Vauxhall VX220 / Opel Speedster roadsters, a Porsche 911 (964 series) and the official BMW M3 'Ring Taxi.

According to a police report, the drivers came from several European countries, while the accident apparently took place in two phases.

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SCOOP: Opel's New Junior Mini Spotted Out in the Wild a Year Before Launch

It has been known for a while now that General Motor's European subsidiary Opel, is preparing to enter the increasingly popular mini car category with a new model currently codenamed Junior.

Taken during testing on public roads in Germany, these are some of the best spy shots we have of the upcoming Opel / Vauxhall Junior that will launch as a three-door hatchback.

The baby Opel model will slot beneath the Corsa supermini and is expected to measure around 3,700mm, meaning that it will be slightly longer than the Fiat 500 (3,546mm) which is believed to be one of its closest rivals.

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Report: New Opel Astra GTC May Make it to the States as a Buick

The sporty-looking Opel Astra GTC was only just introduced in Frankfurt last week, but there are already reports suggesting that it could be one of the compact cars General Motors said it would build at an unspecified plant in the U.S. under the details released Tuesday of its tentative pact with the United Auto Workers (UAW).

According to Auto Observer, in a meeting with journalists and analysts at Opel’s Rüsselsheim headquarters in Germany, the firm's CEO, Karl-Friedrich Stracke, said "I could easily see it as a Buick" referring to the Astra GTC.

It would make sense from a marketing standpoint since Buick would automatically gain a new contender in the small sports car segment against the likes of the Hyundai Veloster, while also widening the reach of the brand to a younger audience.

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IAA 2011: Opel Envisions an Affordable Urban Commuter with the RAK e Concept

Not to be outdone by its German counterparts, Opel displayed its vision for a low-cost urban commuter with the two-seater RAK e concept car. According to GM's German subsidiary, the study has "production potential".

The battery-operated vehicle with the exposed wheels is based on a steel space-frame structure beneath a skin of conventional synthetic material.

The reason why Opel avoided the use of exotic materials is to keep the RAK e as affordable as possible. Nevertheless, Opel managed to keep the weight down to just 380kg (837 lbs) or about 80kg (176 lbs) less than VW's NILS concept.

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IAA 2011: New Opel Astra GTC Takes the Stage in Frankfurt

We've already given you the full scoop on the all-new Astra GTC, but in Frankfurt, Opel held the world premiere of its latest C-segment model that blurs the line between three-door hatchbacks and coupes.

Based on the five-door Astra, the low-slung GTC sports a unique body shell as well as different platform dimensions as it has a 10mm longer wheelbase and wider tracks (+40mm up front and +30mm at the rear).

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Chrysler to Sell Fiat Doblo in the U.S. and Canada under the Ram Brand

In a move that perhaps shows more than anything else how intertwined the automotive industry is today, the Fiat and Chrysler Alliance announced today plans to sell the Fiat Doblo van in the U.S. and Canadian markets under the Ram brand.

You may recall that GM's European division Opel, will debut its own rebadged version of the Fiat Doblo called the Combo at next week's Frankfurt Motor Show .

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Opel RAK E Concept

Uma das atrações da Opel para o Salão de Frankfurt, que inicia na próxima semana, é o carro conceito “RAK e”.

O RAK e é um compacto de dois lugares, porem os ocupantes ficam posicionados um atrás do outro. Ele é equipado com motor 100% elétrico, com autonomia de 100 km e chagando a velocidade máxima de 120 km/h.

Nova Opel Meriva agora em vídeo

Mais fotos da nova Opel Meriva

A Opel divulgou divulgou mais fotos da segunda geração da minivan Meriva.

A nova Mariva terá seis opções de motores para os europeus. Com potências entre 75 cv e 140 cv com transmissões manual de 5 ou 6 marchas ou automática de 6 velocidades.

2007 Opel Astra facelift � New 180Hp 1.6 Turbo

European Turbo-engine frenzy consumers will surely get a kick out of Opel�s 2007 Astra as it receives a new 180Hp 1.6T motor (derived from the Meriva OPC). This engine replaces the former 175Hp 2.0 Turbo is Opel�s answer to VW Group�s new 1.4 TSI (available in 140 & 170Hp versions). In the near future it will also find it�s way into other models such as the Zafira MPV, Corsa OPC (with 200Hp) and the Vectra.

Back to the Astra, the 1.6T needs 8,2 sec for the 0 to 100 km/h (62 mph) sprint and reaches a top speed of 223 km/h (139 mph). It comes equipped with a six-speed transmission and compared with the 175Hp 2.0T, total consumption is reduced by more than 13 percent to 7.7 liters per 100 km.

Apart from the 1.6T, the 2007 Astra range is expanded with a new 115Hp 1.6 gasoline engine and two 1.7 CDTI common-rail turbo-diesel units (with 110 and 125 Hp). As for aesthetic changes they are limited. The 5door and station wagon variants have a broader chrome crossbar with integrated Opel logo and 3-D design tail lights while the GTC now boasts a honeycomb grille. The interior features additional chrome rings around the AC and radio controls, as well as new decorative trim on the instrument panel and doors.

The new Astra will make its world premiere at the Bologna Motor Show (December 7-17, 2006) and it will be available throughout Europe from February 2007.

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Opel unveils the Astra Sedan

Following the five-door hatch, station wagon, three-door GTC and cabrio-coupe TwinTop variants, Opel unveiled the Astra Sedan which will make its world debut at the upcoming Turkish Motor Show in Constantinople (3 -12 November) with sales starting in autumn 2007.

Aimed to serve the Central and Eastern European markets as according to Opel (and we have no reason at all to question them), notchback sedans are highly sought after in these markets. 67 percent of Turkish customers who purchase a compact class car, for example, choose a notchback model. In Russia, this figure is 65 percent and in Poland and South-East Europe the total is around 15 percent. With a share of approximately five percent, this body variant plays a less significant role in the compact class in Western Europe.

The Astra Sedan, which will be produced in Opel's Gliwice plant in Poland is based on the long wheelbase Astra station wagon (2703 mm) boasting a 500 litre luggage compartment and it will feature a range of two gasoline and two diesel engines with output between 90 and 140 hp.

Leaving aside the fact that like all C-segment Sedans, the Astra's looks are shall we say, for your granddad's eyes only, according to Opel's press release the Sedan is 4.618 mm long (width/height: 1754/1458 mm) which makes it longer than it's D-Segment brother, the Vectra (4.611 mm ) !

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Power to the People: 2007 Opel Vectra OPC, Vauxhall Vectra VXR with 280Hp and 500Hp Monaro VXR500

Starting with the 2007 Vectra OPC (Vauxhall Vectra VXR in the UK), thanks to a redesigned induction system, modified engine components and retuned electronic engine control software, the 2.8 litre V6 Turbo engine now produces 280 Hp (from 250 Hp). These revisions knock four-tenths of a second off the 0-60mph sprint time, taking it down to just 6.1 seconds for the hatchback and 6.3 seconds for the estate.

To match the engine's extra power, Vauxhall's engineers have also tweaked the chassis to give more dynamic handling. Modified spring and shock absorber settings and correspondingly retuned IDS Plus2 chassis control software is said to optimise the pitch, roll and turn-in characteristics. The difference between the normal chassis setting and the Sport setting, which is activated by the dashboard-mounted Sport Switch, has been further increased too, making sure that the Vectra's handling can cope with the most enthusiastic driver's demands. The revised 2007 Opel Vectra OPC will make it's world premiere at the Paris Show.

2007 Vauxhall Monaro VXR500: The Auzzie derived Monaro Coupe has had an even more dramatic power boost, thanks to a supercharger. Called VXR500, the limited-edition Monaro uses the standard 6.0-litre engine, but thanks to forced induction power goes up from 403 to 500 Hp and torque up from 530 Nm to a massive 677Nm.

In addition the conversion also includes an upgraded fuel system, clutch revisions and bespoke engine tune. Vauxhall expects that the VXR500 will have a sub five second 0-60 mph time and a top speed in excess of 180 mph. According to Vauxhall, the limited edition Monaro VXR500 will be available for �35,995 in the UK

Technorati Tags: Opel+Vectra+OPC, Vauxhall+Vectra+VXR, Vauxhall+Monaro+VXR500, 2007, Paris+International+Motor+Show, 2006, tuning+news, tune, auto+news, automobile, cars, automotive, vehicles, press+release

Opel models come to life by Pixar�s Cars

And the promoting of Pixar�s �Cars Movie� just continues to go on and on. This time, its Europe�s turn as GM�s German subsidiary, Opel, has undertook the role of promoting the animated car movie. If you visit Opel�s site you�ll see a funny animated versions of Astra GTC OPC, Zafira and Meriva. Also you will be able to download various desktop wallpapers, a screensaver, behind-the-scenes podcasts, and a PDF coloring book. Read more at www.opel.com/brand_site...

Via: Autoblog

Technorati Tags: Cars, Movie, Opel, Pixar, Disney, Zafira, Meriva, Astra+OPC+GTC, autos, auto+news, automobile, cars, automotive, images, pictures