The new Opel Astra GTC is being given a sharper edge: the crowning glory of the new sporty compact coupé will come in summer 2012 in the shape of the high performance OPC (Opel Performance Center) variant. The Astra OPC is powered by a 2.0 liter direct injection turbo gasoline engine. The performance figures: 206 kW/280 hp of power and maximum torque of 400 Nm. This power house ensures that the Astra OPC can reach a top speed of 250 km/h. Never before has an Astra been so fast. Read the rest of this entry »

Chief Executive Officer Nick Reilly today announced an ambitious five-year €11 billion Plan for the Future that will reinvigorate 80 percent of Opel/Vauxhall carlines and place a strong emphasis on alternative propulsions.

At the same time, Reilly said the external auditor Warth & Klein judged the plan sound and viable. With this assessment, the company this morning formally applied for loans or loan guarantees from the German government.

“We are extremely pleased that we now have independent confirmation that our plan is sound and will place Opel and Vauxhall on the road to sustainable, long-term profitability,” Reilly said. “We now have a road map, we know where we are headed and we are working with all our partners so we can switch into high gear for a successful future.” Read the rest of this entry »

As Opel moves quickly on its way towards a viable future, the company announced today the intent to wind down its manufacturing plant in Antwerp, Belgium in the course of 2010.

Opel will continue to engage in the official information and consultation process with employee representatives regarding the envisaged restructuring.

“We fully understand the effect this announcement has on the Antwerp employees and their families and we sympathise with them,” said Opel CEO Nick Reilly. “Many have been dedicated to the plant over generations and have done an excellent job producing great quality cars. The decision to announce this today was not taken lightly; instead, it is the unfortunate result of the current business reality. We must make this announcement now so that we can secure a viable future for the entire Opel and Vauxhall operations.” Read the rest of this entry »

The second generation Opel Meriva, to be unveiled on March 4 at the Geneva Motor Show, will set the new standard for automotive versatility with a multitude of innovative features engineered to optimize the flexible use of space. The new Meriva introduces FlexDoors, innovative rear-hinged rear doors that facilitate access to its cabin, a premiere for a volume manufacturer. Moreover, the vehicle features vast interior storage space enhanced by a revolutionary concept of flexible center console, as well as the Opel-exclusive FlexFix system, an integrated rear bicycle carrier that is stored like a drawer under the luggage compartment. Designed and developed at Opel’s engineering center in Rüsselsheim, Germany, the new Meriva will be built in Zaragoza, Spain and is scheduled to go on sale this summer. Read the rest of this entry »

Following its crowning glory as 2009 European Car of the Year and the recent launch of the all-new Sports Tourer, it may seem there’s no getting away from the Vauxhall Insignia.

And now, there really isn’t! GM UK Special Vehicles has pulled the wraps off the all-new Police specification version of the car, which can be supplied to order to Police fleets throughout the UK. Read the rest of this entry »

[SinglePic not found]Packing 325 horsepower, a sophisticated four-wheel-drive chassis and a sub-six second 0-60 time, Vauxhall’s new Insignia VXR is set to take the mid-size performance saloon market by storm when it goes on sale early this summer, with a level of dynamic prowess which aims to raise the bar in its class.

Based on the successful 2009 European Car of the Year, and available in hatch, saloon and Sports Tourer body styles, the high-performance Insignia will be Vauxhall’s first VXR model to adopt 4X4 technology, using a bespoke chassis developed through an extensive test programme at the gruelling Nurburgring circuit in Germany. Read the rest of this entry »

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Few will claim that Vauxhall’s storming VXR8 super-saloon is lacking in the power stakes, but just in case there were any doubters, the Bathurst S Edition will put them straight.

Thanks to the addition of a Walkinshaw Performance 122 Supercharger, the Bathurst S dispenses 560 V8 horsepower, compared with the standard car’s 431 horsepower, and produces searing acceleration throughout the rev-range and a spine-tingling, banshee wail when you hit the loud pedal.

The Bathurst S Edition joins the normally aspirated Bathurst Edition at the top of the Vauxhall family tree, with both cars receiving a raft of technical and cosmetic upgrades over the standard VXR8. Only a limited number of Bathurst Editions will be sold through selected Vauxhall retailers. Read the rest of this entry »

It’s taken five years to complete the styling on the Opel Insignia. Now it’s ready, packed with the latest technology such as innovative lighting systems, all-wheel drive with selective power distribution to the rear wheels, and adaptive suspension. Not to mention pedestrian protection. So is there still room for tuning? Read the rest of this entry »