Opel Agila Subtly Tweaked by Steinmetz

Sometimes it's better to not go overboard with your tuning proposals as not everyone wants to transform their vehicle into a wannabe race car.

For the new Opel Agila, German tuning firm and Opel specialist, Steinmetz, limited its offerings to a new set of fifteen-spoke 17-inch alloy wheels shod in 195/40 R17 tires, a suspension lowering kit that brings the mini 30mm closer to the ground, a chrome tailpipe and decorative trim for the center console plus an aluminum gear knob and a four-piece mat set.

© Source: carscoop
We need your comments below >>

Opel Astra

Opel Astra has always been a great competitor against VW Golf, but the next generation is expected to be even fiercer in its intentions, both because of the slow-selling market and for the fact Opel seems to be in a great moment (just check out how gorgeous and good the new Insignia is).

The next generation Astra was supposed to be presented in Geneva. It wasn’t, but will be, and very soon, according to these leaked images. Although they are in very low resolution, they give us a good idea of what the car has become. Pictures only give us the five door version, but you can expect a three-door, a station wagon and a convertible.

We would also bet on a minivan and a sedan, but there are no rumours in the market about these versions, unless this car was destined to emerging markets. For those models, GM’s vehicle will be Cruze, under all badges necessary (Daewoo, Chevrolet and even Buick).

© Source: eurocarblog
We need your comments below >>

2011 Opel Ampera - First Official Image

GM has released the first official photo of the 2011 Opel Ampera today ahead of the electric car's unveiling at the 2009 Geneva Motor Show later this week.

First, GM released a darkened teaser picture. Then, renderings of the car were leaked onto the internet. Really, though, we got our best look just over a week ago when intrepid spy photographers in Germany caught the car out in the open posing for its official GM photo shoot. Still, the official picture released today doesn't have any tall plants blocking the view, so take a look and see what you think.

Mechanically, the Opel Ampera is identical to its North American cousin, the Chevrolet Volt. Rather than design an entirely new car on the Voltec architecture, GM has restyled it for the European market, a move that will certainly save money for cash-strapped GM. Being mechanically identical, the Ampera will have the same 40-mile all-electric range and a range of "several hundred" miles after a gasoline-powered engine starts up and runs a generator.

© Source: motortrend
We need your comments below >>

2009 Opel Ampera

Opel is set to reveal the Ampera Electric car at this year’s Geneva Motor Show, effectively unveiling the European design for the Chevrolet Volt.The five-door, four-seat Opel Ampera uses an identical platform to the Volt, utilising GM’s Voltec electric propulsion technology.

Like its North American sibling, the Ampera is capable of short trips up to 60km on batter power alone charged via a standard household power outlet.

“With the Ampera, Opel will be the first European automobile manufacturer to provide customers several hundred kilometres of non-stop electric driving,” said Alain Visser, GM Europe Chief Marketing Officer.

Beyond this distance, an onboard small combustion engine generates electricity which in turn drives the motor and charges the battery. The Ampera is well-suited to the daily driving schedule of most European customers with around 80 per cent of German drivers travelling less than 50km daily.

© Source: caradvice
We need your comments below >>

Insignia Opel at the Ring Spied

The Opel Insignia has certainly made an impression since the staggered reveal of the sedan, hatch and wagon variants over the past few weeks.

Now the final iteration has been spotted prowling the Nurburgring during a stint of performance testing.

Whilst on paper, the Insignia may seem out of place of the world’s most infamous circuit; this is actually our first glimpse of the performance flagship OPC model.

No doubt hiding some new performance flare behind the duct tape, the OPC variant is expected to boast a new front skirt with bigger air intakes, wider sills and wheel arches, and a moulded rear lip spoiler.

Under the hood is a new turbocharged V6 power plant which should deliver over 220kW, likely mated to a performance version of the lesser model’s all-wheel drive system.

© Source: caradvice
We need your comments below >>

Opel Flextreme Concept

When the Volt concept was first unveiled, GM was not sure how to badge European versions of the E-Flex cars. Apparently, the decision has been made and the first Euro-bound EV's from GM will be badged as Opels, with a Vauxhall version coming shortly thereafter. All three models of the E-Flex chassis will be built in Detroit atop the next-gen Delta compact car platform which was designed to carry a large lithium ion battery pack along with a range-extending engine. Though the Europeans would likely favor a diesel powerplant, it seems that the first-generation of all three E-Flex vehicles will use a gasoline-powered engine for on-the-fly battery recharging.

It goes without saying that the Volt and its Euro-clones will be the most expensive vehicles built on the Delta platform, with U.S. pricing estimated to be at least $40 grand. Across the pond, the Opel and Vauxhall E-Flex's will be saddled with at least a 10,000 euro premium. The price of gasoline, which is significantly higher in Europe than in the States, along with any government assistance for purchasers of the EVs, will determine how quickly customers will recoup that added investment.

© Source: autoblog
We need your comments below >>

Opel Insignia - British Motor Show Preview

GM's European branch is planning a big debut later this month at the British Motor Show in London for one of its most important mainstream models. The new Insignia is replacing the venerable Vectra and brings with it a whole new design language. We got our first preview of the new look on last years GTC and Flextreme concepts. In London, Opel will be displaying hatchback and sedan variants of the Epsilon II-based Insignia, with the sharp edged look of the Vectra replaced with smoother flowing lines and scooped out side panels.

European drivers will have seven engines to choose from including four gas and three diesel models, all with six speed gearboxes. The four- and six-cylinder gas engines range from 115 hp to 260 hp, while the 2.0L diesel fours get 110-160 hp variants. The Insignia will also be available with a version of the Haldex torque vectoring all wheel drive system used on the Saab Turbo-X. GM plans to announce pricing for the new model on July 22 in London with sales later this fall, and don't be surprised if the Insignia makes the trip across the Atlantic and receives a Saturn badge in the process.

© Source: autoblog
We need your comments below >>

Opel Vauxhall Insignia first official interior shots

The London show is coming up and the lovely Opel Insignia, heir to the Vectra, continues its striptease: General Motors has released new official photos of the Vauxhall (which will be commercialised in the US as the Saturn Aura), including the first shots of the interior.

It seems that all the first positive impressions we had of the clean lines of the bodywork are confirmed: the interior seems tidy and welcoming, and also well made. In particular the console and intruments are lovely, with the latter changing colour from white to red when passing to ‘Sport Mode”.

© Source: eurocarblog
We need your comments below >>

Opel Insignia (Holden Vectra) revealed

Holden pulled the Vectra model from the Australian market in 2005 amid slow sales and the rising import cost, but that might all change now that Opel has come out with a new Vectra, better known as the Opel Insignia.

Not only does it look absolutely brilliant, but the new car may go a long way in helping GM’s ailing fortunes. The Insignia will be sold as the next-gen Saturn Aura in the States and there is speculation that it may even return to Australasia as the new Vectra (or possibly change name to Insignia),

Update - GM Holden would not comment about the possibility of a Vectra comeback to Australia.

The new Opel will be in European dealerships this October with five engines choices which all meet Euro 5 emissions standards. All variants are available with manual or six-speed automatic transmissions. Buyers can pick between a hatchback or saloon and the car sits five. Some of the new features include a peculiar new headlight system which works out where to point the headlights (nine different settings) under different conditions.

The entry model will be powered by a four-cylinder 104kW petrol engine, hard hitting torque will be available via 2.0-litre turbodiesels tuned to 97kW and 120kW. There is also an EcoFLEX version available which promises very low CO2 emissions. At the very top sits a V6 engine with 194kW. The new Insignia/Vectra will be on display for the first time at the London Motor Show in late July. Should Holden bring back the Vectra? Would it succeed against Ford’s gorgeous Mondeo?

© Source: seriouswheels
We need your comments below >>

Wooden Opel

I wouldn’t quite advice you to practice what this guy above has done to his Opel unless you are rich enough to posses a tree farm for otherwise the environmentalists would eat up on you. That would have taken quite a solid trunk in the making. Defying Critique, it does something which I never came across; an automotive piece-of-art which is mobile.

Can’t just think of a reason to do so lest the fact we know how useless those Opel cars are. Probably, Robert Frost would have been the best man to say something more about it for the fact that the pictures reveal an invigorating background with the usage of ‘woods’ as he normally puts it. Was it the car that could made him change the famous lines ‘I’ve miles to go before I sleep’, for it could have helped him in treading those miles quicker.

© Source: bornrich
We need your comments below >>

Opel Meriva Concept ready for Geneva

The current Opel Meriva on sale to Europeans is a rather ho-hum affair, which is why there's actual anticipation for the Meriva Concept that will debut next week at the Geneva Motor Show. Images of the Meriva Concept have already leaked out, but Opel has made the concept's existence official by releasing the good, high-res stuff and an accompanying press release. This four-door hatch concept that's guaranteed a spot on the production line is cloaked in Opel's new design language, which means clean lines and a simple face with the brand's new grille.

There are two elements of the Meriva Concept that we find interesting enough to mention again (the rest you can read in the press release after the jump), which include its rear FlexDoors and the kink in its window line. Rear suicide doors are a common feature on concept cars because they allows designers to eliminate the B-pillar, giving photographers a better view of the interior from behind the velvet ropes. The Meriva Concept, however, retains its B-pillars, suggesting the rear suicide doors have a definite shot at making it to the final production car.

We'll finally meet this car in person next week at the Geneva Motor Show, but we don't expect it to make the return trip badged as a Saturn like so many other Opel models.

© Source: autoblog
We need your comments below >>

2008 Koenigseder Opel GT'Aime

(from Koenigseder Press Release) Desire for an affair?
Kцnigseder makes his own motor show - not in Essen - but with his work on Opel GT. Women finally know what they want: 300 sleek-tuned PS.

The affair Koenigseder and Opel takes place.
With aerodynamic accents - frontspoiler and rear wing - race wins over mass and causes exactly the tension which an affair consists of. They emphasize the soft silhouette on the one hand and power the dynamic character of the car on the other hand.

A KW coilover suspension version 3 guarantees sporty driving and lap records through individual damper adjustmest - also due to the Yokohama tires.

Las Vegas: 20" Giovanna Dalar rims remind of Elvis' best times with rivet belts and match the car like chalk and cheese. Two American giants meet at Konigseder. Why not earlier?

The custom made Brembo brake system provides excellent deceleration and the 332mm brake discs with red 4 pistons calipers underline the exciting erotic style of this convertible.

The climax of the affair - naturally - takes place in the interior:
Very special: Hand made wooden car floor in black and red with GT`aime writing.

© Source: seriouswheels
We need your comments below >>

2007 Opel GT with KW Coilover Suspension V3

(from KW Automotive Press Release) Sportier appearance and better handling: KW coilover suspension V3 for Opel GT

* Racing-technology for the road
* Customised lowering of suspension up to 45 mm
* Coilover suspensions produced in stainless steel "inox-line" technology

"Only flying is more beautiful" was the old commercial slogan in the late 1960s, when the first Opel GT was presented to the public. In terms of driving dynamics there are worlds between the new generation of the Opel GT and its predecessor. And there are even more between them, if you use a KW coilover suspension V3. With it one can lower the car in a range from 20 to 40 mm at the front axle and from 20 to 45 mm at the rear. The KW coilover suspension V3 for the Opel GT is available with immediate effect.

KW coilover suspensions - 3 damping variants for every type of driver

Coilover suspension V1 with preset damper setting permits customised lowering of the suspension and creates an optimised balance of sportiness, comfort and safety. Damping variant V2 is the ideal system for sporty drivers, who also wish to make modifications in the set-up to achieve a more customised lowering of the suspension. Thanks to the adjustable rebound damping, it is possible to adapt the driving comfort to suit the driver's personal taste.
With its separately adjustable pressure and rebound damping functions, coilover suspension V3 permits an even higher degree of customisation to the suspension and provides the perfect solution for those truly technically demanding drivers.

All KW coilover suspensions are produced in the unique stainless steel "inox line" technology. This assures the extremely high quality and durability of the suspensions plus a long-lasting perfect finish to match.

© Source: seriouswheels
We need your comments below >>

Suzuki and Opel City Siblings

First details on the second-generation Opel Agila and its Suzuki sibling, the Splash, have been revealed, months ahead of their public debut at the Frankfurt auto show in September.

Back in the late 1990s when General Motors had a stake in Suzuki and Suzuki-designed models wearing Chevrolet badges were sold in various parts of the world, the two companies collaborated in Europe on a new minicar. While the Suzuki Wagon R+ was built in Esztergom, Hungary, its Opel version, the original Agila, was built at a new greenfield factory in Poland. In 2006, production of the Wagon R+ was transferred to Poland, and last month the last models rolled off the assembly line.

Ever since Suzuki unveiled the Concept Splash at the 2006 Paris Auto Show, it was an open secret that the sucessor to the Wagon R+/Agila will be very close to that concept car. Judging by the first official photos of the new Splash and the Agila II, these rumors appear to be true. While the Agila goes for a more rugged styling, the Suzuki looks a bit more trendy. Both are 145.6 inches long and 66.1 inches wide, powered by 1.0-liter or 1.2-liter gasoline or Fiat-sourced 1.3-liter diesel engines. Both will be produced at Suzuki's Hungarian facility, which was recently expanded and now has a capacity of 300,000 cars a year.

The chic-city-car category is one of the most competitive segments in Europe, with cars like the Lancia Ypsilon, Smart and the Toyota Aygo/Citroen C1/Peugeot 107 already accounting for sales of close to half a million a year. Suzuki and GM hope to add another 120,000 units a year.
© Source: insideline
We need your comments below >>