Redesigned 2015 Opel / Vauxhall Corsa Spied in Three-Door Trim

The confusion over whether Opel and sister firm Vauxhall are completing work on a test mule for the next generation Corsa or a heavy facelift remains, and the elaborate camouflage of this three-door prototype isn't helping much.

This Reviewer Finds Astra OPC/VXR the Least Boring Opel/Vauxhall

Opel's sister company Vauxhall is not a brand with a very cool image in the UK, quite the contrary, actually, as some qualify it as a maker of boring automobiles.

However, the story is quite different when it comes to high-performance VXR models, especially the V8-powered Holdens imported from Australia and rebadged as Vauxhalls.

But those aren’t the only exciting Vauxhalls, as one can’t ignore the Astra VXR. The folks from XCar believe it is an even more exciting car than its predecessor is and to prove it, they took it for a ride.

Design-wise, it’s hard to find ungraceful angles on the latest Astra VXR, and the car is an improvement over the previous one in terms of performance as well. With 280PS (276hp) and a 5.9-second 0 to 100 km/h (62 mph) sprint time, the Astra VXR is quicker than most of its competitors.

To go faster than that, one has to choose the AWD VW Golf R or premium hot-hatches like the BMW M135i or Mercedes A 45 AMG. The problem is that the Vauxhall’s £26,995 base price puts it dangerously close to the RWD BMW M135i that starts from £31,595 in the UK.

Scroll down to watch the review and find out if it’s worth the price.

By Dan Mihalascu

VIDEO

2014MY Opel Astra Gets New 1.6-Liter CDTI Diesel Engine, Averages 3.9 L/100 KM

A year after the first facelift of the Astra family, Opel has introduced the new generation 1.6-liter CDTI diesel engine on its core C-segment model.

Launched on the Zafira Tourer, the Euro-6 compliant powerplant develops 136PS (134 hp) and 320 Nm (236 lb-ft) of torque.

Fitted with a standard start-stop system, the unit delivers an average fuel economy of 3.9 l/100 km (60.3 mpg US) on the Astra, 7 percent less than its 1.7-liter predecessor (130PS/128hp). CO2 emissions are rated at 104 g/km.

Opel says the new engine is quieter than the unit it replaces and that it offers better acceleration as 0 to 100 km/h (62 mph) takes 10.3 seconds, while 80 to 120 km/h (50 to 75 mph) in fifth gear, 9.2 seconds. Top speed is 200 km/h (124 mph).

The diesel engine is available to order on the Astra five-door hatchback, the Astra sedan and the Astra Sports Tourer wagon, but not yet on the Astra GTC.

Besides the new diesel engine, the 2014MY Astra also gets the IntelliLink infotainment system with Bluetooth interface, originally available only on the Insignia. The technology integrates smartphone functions into the car, with Opel saying it is easily controllable and clearly arranged on a seven-inch high-resolution color display. IntelliLink will be rolled out on more Opel models in the future.

Finally, Opel also offers a new Active- option pack, which includes features such as LED daytime running lights, CD 600 IntelliLink system, Aux-In-, USB- and hands-free equipment via Bluetooth interface, as well as Piano Black Décor Moldings in the cockpit.

By Dan Mihalascu

PHOTO GALLERY

Opel Unveils Adam Customized by Valentino Rossi at EICMA

Opel revealed the “Adam & Vale for Charity”, a fully customized version of the city car designed by multiple MotoGP champion Valentino Rossi and Aldo Drudi, a designer who has collaborated with Valentino on his bikes, racing overalls and helmets for a long time. The unique Adam will be on display at the EICMA international motorcycle exhibition (November 7-10) in Milan, Italy.

Rossi and Drudi have put their mark on the Opel Adam, which has been customized from roof to wheels. The car features drawings from The Doctor’s graphic universe, including Valentino’s most widely known images and the symbols most treasured by him.

The car’s intricate livery was designed, redesigned and applied on the bodywork over the course of three months by a team of four people, as Rossi and Drudi changed their minds rather often.

The psychedelic theme of the exterior is continued in the cabin, where Dainese leather was used to trim the seats and doors. No word on performance upgrades, though.

“To tell the truth, the design phase took a very long time,” said Aldo Drudi. “It took us hours of hard work, but then you know Valentino, he is hard to please. And so am I. Scores of drawings were produced, phone calls were made and every time we decided to change everything and started all over again. In other words, it was exhausting but it was worth the effort,” he added.

The car will be put for auction during a fund-raising event next December to support a charity initiative sponsored by Opel: the Meyer Children’s Hospital Foundation

By Dan Mihalascu

PHOTO GALLERY

GM and PSA Axe Plans for Mid-Size Models, Narrow Their Partnership

Even though it hasn't been that long since General Motors and PSA Peugeot-Citroen announced big plans for an elaborate partnership, the two companies have failed to come to an agreement on a number of projects.
After dropping plans to jointly develop a small car for Latin America and a dual-clutch gearbox earlier this year, we now learn that GM and PSA have also scrapped plans for a joint mid-size car program that would have seen models like the next-generation Opel/Vauxhall Insignia, Peugeot 508 and Citroen C5 sharing parts.

Chris Harris Puts Ford’s Focus ST Against Opel Astra OPC and Renault Megane RS

Hot hatches are the Swiss Army knives of the automotive world in that they can do almost everything. Their humble underpinnings mean that they are as practical as any hatchback in everyday use, their tuned chassis and powerful engines can scare a sports car or two on twisty roads and they are, comparatively affordable.
There was a time, not so long ago, that putting anything more than 200-horses on the road through the front wheels was considered a recipe for terminal power understeer. Things have certainly changed and, as Chris Harris points out in the video that follows, front-wheel drive hot hatches have really become very competent.

New Opel / Vauxhall Adam Debuts at Paris, Priced in Germany and the UK [86 Photos]

The stylish, highly customizable city car niche has just welcomed a new member. It’s the Opel or Vauxhall in the UK, Adam, a three-door, four-seater hatchback that will fight the Fiat 500 and the Mini.
Featuring a distinctive styling and what Opel calls a “floating roof” that can be ordered in two different shades that contrast the bodywork, the 3.7 m long Adam is counting a lot on the “more than a million” possible customization options and its lengthy equipment list to make a name for itself in the premium subcompact market.
Opel’s president of design Mark Adams claims, “no other car in this segment can be individualized as much as the Adam… It’s very unlikely that you’ll find two identical Adams out there”. Now, this certainly brings a sense of déjà vu – but let’s not name names…
At launch, the Adam will be available with three four-cylinder petrol engines: a 1.2-liter with 69HP (70PS) and two 1.4-liter units producing 86 or 98HP (87 and 100 PS respectively). Later on, a new generation of small petrol engines with forced induction and direct injection, as well as a new six-speed transmission, will join the range.

New Opel Astra OPC / Vauxhall VXR Vs. Renault Megane RS 265 Cup

The new Opel Astra OPC, otherwise known as the Vauxhall Astra VXR, is the latest arrival in the European hot hatch segment. If there's one model it has to beat - aside from the ever-popular VW Golf GTI, it is the highly regarded Renault Megane RS 265 Cup.
In terms of specs, the two models are similar with the Astra OPC / VXR sporting a 2.0-liter turbocharged four that produces 276hp (280PS) and 400Nm (295 lbft) of peak torque channeled to the front wheels via six-speed manual and a limited slip differential.

Opel / Vauxhall to Officially Reveal New Astra Sports Tourer this Week

An inside source has just tipped us off that General Motors' Opel unit - and consequently Vauxhall- will pull the wraps off the new Astra Sports Tourer and release the first photos and details on the car by the end of this week.

We've already shown you a bunch of revealing spy photos (here) and videos (here) of the upcoming Astra Sports Tourer and from the looks of it, the new model boasts a slicker style with a more raked roofline than today's Astra estate.

Opel / Vauxhall Insignia Range Gains Refined and Cleaner Diesel Engines

GM's European division has fine tuned several engines in the Opel / Vauxhall Insignia range (known as the Buick Regal in the States0 for better economy and lower CO2 emissions. Aside from the changes made on the 2.0-liter Turbo unit that yield close to five per cent drop in emissions, all 2.0-liter diesel powerplants including the ecoFLEX models benefit from improvements that make them greener and less costly to run.

Opel Increases Market Share in Europe, GM Still not Happy

Opel has increased its share in Europe this year, with sales rising 6% up to May, giving the brand a market share of 7.4%, compared to 7% in 2010. So mother company GM must be satisfied, right?
Well, not entirely, according to Automotive News. And that’s because Opel’s cars are technologically advanced and due to high German working rates, are quite expensive to manufacture. However, they cannot be sold in prices similar to direct competitors such as Volkswagen because they lack their rivals’ image.

Today’s Cars Are Nigh Impossible to Steal, Says Motor Industry

In the UK, car theft is down by more than 60% over the last seven years thanks to improvements in anti-theft technology. Coded car keys, alarms, immobilisers, better locks, strengthened glass and built-in tracking devices have made the modern automobile virtually impossible to steal.
Some 80% of car thefts now require would-be thieves to steal the owner’s keys or otherwise load their targets onto trailers for transport. And even then, tracking systems in some high-end cars mean these cars are recovered rather quickly.

2013 Opel Astra Convertible Spy Photos and Video Outline New Softop Model

Our spies have photographed and filmed the new Opel (Vauxhall in Britain) Astra Convertible on test in Germany. The vehicles caught testing here are early prototype models as the front doors appear to be carried over complete with their frames from the hatchback model.
Nevertheless, we are offered out first look at the open-top version of the new Astra series, which is planned to go on sale by early 2013. The most important change over the previous Astra TwinTop is the replacement of the more complicated, heavier and costly retractable metal roof with a traditional fabric hood.

Report: GM Fed up with Opel, but a Sale isn’t on the Table

They say, where there’s smoke, there’s fire, and true enough in the case of GM’s relationship with its European subsidiary Opel, there seems to be a lot of smoke piling up lately. Just yesterday, press reports from Auto Bild and Spiegel Online said that GM is looking for a buyer, but the news was quickly dismissed by spokespeople from both Opel and the government of Germany's state of Thuringia, home to one of the brand’s factories.
Today, Reuters came out with a new report saying the Detroit automaker is “frustrated” with its money-losing Opel brand and is “considering options for a turnaround”, noting, however, that a sale of the Opel brand is highly unlikely.
"Akerson is fed up with Opel, and the turnaround isn't gaining traction," a unnamed source who is close to the GM CEO told Reuters. "He is trying to think of all possibilities to improve performance. But a sale is wishful thinking,” the source added.

GM Denies Reports Claiming Plans to Sell its Opel Brand Possibly to the Chinese or VW Group

German car magazine Auto Bild and weekly Der Spiegel reported Thursday that General Motors is once again considering the sale of its Opel and Vauxhall units. The reports were dismissed as pure speculation by the Detroit automaker as well as a German state with an Opel factory, which called the news “nonsense”.
According to the news reports, GM allegedly was no longer in need of Opel’s know-how in manufacturing small cars as well as low emission and fuel efficient powerplants and that it could replace the German brand with its South Korean GM Chevrolet unit, formerly known as Daewoo.

Opel Officially Reveals 2012 Astra GTC, High-Po OPC Coming Next Year

This is General Motors’ brand new Opel Astra GTC revealed more than two months ahead of its world premiere at the 64th International Motor Show in Frankfurt, Germany, in mid-September. The newest member of Opel’s ever-growing Astra family will go on sale across Europe including the United Kingdom where it will be available as a Vauxhall later this year. Recent reports also suggest it may come to the States under the Buick brand.
GM’s European subsidiary is confident about its new Astra GTC with Vauxhall going as far as to claim that it will “lay down the gauntlet to VW’s Scirocco and Renault’s Megane Coupe with a heady mix of dynamic excellence, dramatic design features and competitive pricing".

Vauxhall Insignia gains New 1.4-Liter Turbo Petrol and Improved EcoFlex Diesels

It’s model-year changeover over time for the Vauxhall Insignia with the British company announcing the addition of a low emissions ecoFLEX diesel model and a new-to-the-range 1.4 Turbo petrol engine.

British Study Reveals the Most Popular Hairdresser’s Car in Real Life

And no, despite what you may have heard or read, the Audi TT ain’t the most popular car among hairdressers – or at least not in Britain. According to a new study made available today by UK women's car insurance specialist Diamond, that title goes to…*drums please*…the one and only, MINI One hatchback. In fact, the BMW Group’s MINI brand had two vehicles in the top five positions.
The UK insurance firm came to this conclusion after looking at data from over 18,000 hairdressers in Britain. The company said the MINI One is three and a half times more likely to be driven by someone working as a hairdresser than everyone else.

SCOOP: Is this the New 2013 Opel / Vauxhall Astra Convertible?

With the new sporty looking three-door Astra GTC on its way and the Astra Sedan outlined by its sister models from Buick’s US (2012 Verano) and China (Excelle) divisions, the only body style left to complete the range of Opel’s C-segment model series is the convertible version.
Recently, our spies in Germany caught a glimpse of an Astra-based model, which appears to be the cabriolet variant of the series. While we can’t be 100 percent sure, it is clear that this Astra has a boot while the close ups reveal a more raked rear windshield line than you’d normally expect to see on a four-door family sedan.
To get an idea of what the Astra Convertible might look like, here's our artist’s impression based on the upcoming GTC model. Even though our image of Opel’s VW Golf Cabriolet contender was styled with a soft-top, it has not yet been revealed if the German company will adopt this solution or if it will continue to use the current Astra TwinTop’s retractable metal roof.

New Opel Zafira Tourer Receives its Video Debut

Across the pond, General Motors is upping the ante in the popular compact MPV sector with the introduction of Opel’s third generation Zafira model that will go on sale in most European countries this autumn. The production version of Opel’s Geneva show concept will also wear Vauxhall’s badges with the first cars to reach UK showrooms by early 2012.
We have already brought you the news and the first batch of photos in our previous post (see here), but now we have also obtained the launch film showing Opel’s people carrier on the move.