Vauxhall Blog
Buick Encore appears as Vauxhall/Opel Mokka overseasFiled under: Geneva Motor Show, Europe, Crossover, Buick, Vauxhall, UK, Design/Style 
The Buick Encore will see its first encore in Ye Olde England when it appears as the Vauxhall Mokka, and other than a little bit of fiddling up front, it doesn't appear that anything changes in the still-ladybug-sized limey version. To our eyes, the design looks much better without the Buick's Ventiports tacked onto the hood, and something of this size and capability just seems to be a better mental fit with Vauxhall or Opel branding versus Buick.
Instead of the Hobson's choice U.S. buyers are faced with for the engine - a 140-horsepower 1.4-liter or... nothing - the Euros will get a choice of three powerplants: two gasoline and one diesel, all with stop/start. They also get the option of two-wheel drive and all-wheel drive and a six-speed manual transmission.
Admittedly, the two other engine options are less powerful: one of them is a non-turbocharged 1.6-liter with just 113 horsepower, but the 127-hp, 1.7-liter CDTI diesel does crank the torque up to 222 pound-feet, well up from 148 lb-ft in the Ecotec 1.4-liter. We'll see it in person at the Geneva Motor Show in March, it will go on sale toward the end of this year, and there's a press release after the jump to get you ready to... Mokka.Continue reading Buick Encore appears as Vauxhall/Opel Mokka overseas Buick Encore appears as Vauxhall/Opel Mokka overseas originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 12 Jan 2012 11:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments2012 Opel Astra OPC gets 280 horsepower, 155 mph top speedFiled under: Performance, Europe, Hatchback, GM, Opel, Vauxhall 
We ogled the curvaceous Opel Astra GTC at Frankfurt, but this is the one we've really been waiting for: The OPC version. Standing for Opel Performance Center, "OPC" is similar to the Honda "Type R" or BMW "M" nomenclature, although not nearly as well known. The 2012 Astra OPC could change that in a hurry.
GM's European division has really done a number on the compact hatchback to make it worthy of the badge, dropping a turbocharged, 2.0-liter four with direct injection underhood. The 280-horsepower engine is also good for 295 lb-ft of torque, and GM says the Astra OPC can do all of 155 mph. Like the Astra GTC, the OPC uses the HiPerStrut front suspension with adjustable dampers, steering and throttle, thanks to the FlexRide control system. But the top-of-the-line Astra model adds a limited-slip front differential to help control all that turbo torque. Brembo brakes, special front and rear fascias, dual exhaust, performance seats, a special steering wheel and new instrumentation round out the OPC package.
The Astra OPC will also be sold as the Vauxhall Astra VXR in the U.K.
Of course, the first question any of us here in the States have is, "Will we get it?" To which the answer is, per usual, not likely. If we do get any version of the Astra, it's much more likely to be the GTC, which could potentially be sold as a coupe version of the Buick Verano. Read the entire press release after the jump.Continue reading 2012 Opel Astra OPC gets 280 horsepower, 155 mph top speed 2012 Opel Astra OPC gets 280 horsepower, 155 mph top speed originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 04 Nov 2011 15:44:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | CommentsVauxhall wins fuel economy shootout... with 6.2-liter VXR8Filed under: Sedan, Performance, Vauxhall, UK 
It's not out of the question to think that Vauxhall could win a shootout for the best fuel economy. But you'd figure the honors would be taken by something like the Ampera plug-in hybrid or one of its EcoFlex models, not the VXR8 muscle sedan, what with its huge 6.2-liter V8 engine. But it's precisely the VXR8 that took the prize at the end of the day.
The Fleet World MPG Marathon doesn't just measure overall fuel economy, but how much of an improvement over its combined city/highway rating they can eke out of a given car. The goal is to demonstrate just how much a driver and his/her driving style can effect the amount of fuel consumed.
By that standard, the VXR8 was a shocker: the vehicle is rated (on the European cycle) at 21 miles per gallon, but with Top Gear online editor Chris Mooney behind the wheel and Vauxhall's own Andrew Duerden coaching from the front passenger seat, they managed to squeeze out a much more pump-friendly 32.14 mpg - a remarkable 53-percent improvement.
Second place went to a likelier candidate in the Suzuki Swift DDiS, which managed to get an astounding 86.4 miles per (diesel) gallon on a 67.3 mpg rating for a 28.3 percent improvement over specification. Follow the jump for both press releases.Continue reading Vauxhall wins fuel economy shootout... with 6.2-liter VXR8 Vauxhall wins fuel economy shootout... with 6.2-liter VXR8 originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 11 Oct 2011 18:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | CommentsNext Opel / Vauxhall Astra cabrio to be standalone modelFiled under: Frankfurt Motor Show, Convertible, Europe, Opel, Vauxhall 
The Opel Astra CC suffers from the same ailment as other small, hardtop convertibles like the Renault Megane and Peugeot 308 cc: an ungainly backside. Stowing a tin roof that needs to cover four people inside a small car just blows things up in the rear. That's why the head of General Motors design in Europe says that the next Astra cabrio won't be a hardtop, but return to cloth.
And in fact, it won't even be called "Astra." Set to bow in 2012, it will break from that nomenclature and forge its own - as yet unknown - brand path. "This car demands a new name," it was said, because "it will look nothing like an Astra," burdened as it will be with continuing the fight to raise Opel and Vauxhall cachet as, a battle begun with the Insignia.
We thought the Opel GTC we saw at the Frankfurt Auto Show was pretty hot - put a softtop on that and hold its stance, and we'd applaud. But if Opel has something even better in mind, well then bring on 2012. We can't wait to see it.Next Opel / Vauxhall Astra cabrio to be standalone model originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 10 Oct 2011 08:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments2012 Opel Zafira Tourer seats 7, returns up to 44 mpgFiled under: Frankfurt Motor Show, Minivan/Van, Opel, Vauxhall, Diesel 
Barely altered from the concept that wowed crowds at the Geneva Motor Show is the 2012 Zafira Tourer revealed by Opel in Frankfurt.
The Zafira Tourer is still a sleek, seven-passenger MPV and perhaps one of only a few lookers in its class. Priced at £21,000 in its most basic guise, the 2012 Zafira Tourer undercuts even the cheapest Ford S-Max by more than £1,200.
All Tourer models come well equipped, with air-conditioning, cruise control, six airbags and active headrests as standard. The Zafira's Flex7 seating arrangement has evolved and, at the press of a button, adjusts seating to accommodate four, five or seven passengers.
Engine choices include a turbo'd 1.4-liter gasser, a 2.0-liter CDTi diesel, including a ecoFlex version, and a 1.8-liter gasoline burner. With its most frugal engine - the 2.0-liter ecoFLEX diesel - the Zafira Tourer emits only 119 grams per kilometer of CO2, roughly equal to 44 miles per gallon U.S.
Opel says the Zafira Tourer's order books will open on November 1 and that deliveries will commence early next year. See the sleek MPV for yourself in the attached high-res image gallery and get the details in the official release after the jump.Continue reading 2012 Opel Zafira Tourer seats 7, returns up to 44 mpg 2012 Opel Zafira Tourer seats 7, returns up to 44 mpg originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 15 Sep 2011 07:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | CommentsOpel/Vauxhall targeting Mini, Fiat 500 with new Junior hatchbackFiled under: Budget, Europe, Hatchback, Opel, Vauxhall, UK 
Premium hatchbacks have been taking the European market by storm, with models like the Mini Cooper, Fiat 500 and Audi A1 continuing to dominate. It's a trend that General Motors can't well afford to ignore, and now sources indicate that plans are moving forward to field a challenger of its own.
Tentatively called the Junior, the Opel/Vauxhall model would slot in below the existing Corsa and Agila (pictured above) but pack only three doors. It's expected to come in around the size of the Mini Cooper but, with an arched roofline and wide track, offer more interior space than the Fiat 500.
The model was reportedly part of GM's plans until the economy collapsed, forcing the company to trim its localized development programs in favor of global products. The General's chief of European operations Nick Reilly, however, appears to have convinced the bean-counters in Detroit of the necessity of the Junior project.
The name is still being finalized and could be announced in Frankfurt alongside the debuts of the Astra GTC and Zafira Tourer and that mystery concept, with sales slated to start in early 2013. When it does hit the market, we'd likely be looking at a range of three-cylinder engines shoehorned into an adaptable engine bay with the potential for an all-electric version by 2015.Opel/Vauxhall targeting Mini, Fiat 500 with new Junior hatchback originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 19 Aug 2011 08:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | CommentsOpel/Vauxhall coming to Frankfurt with secret concept plus two production debutsFiled under: Concept Cars, Frankfurt Motor Show, Europe, Opel, Vauxhall, UK 
General Motors' European divisions are keeping mum on the details, but Opel and Vauxhall are preparing to unveil some sort of new concept car next month at the Frankfurt Motor Show.
All GM is saying at this point is that the experimental prototype will be driver-focused. Which sounds good, but we'll reserve any sort of judgement until we know a little more. Or really, until we know anything.
The secretive show car will join the Astra GTC three-door hatch and Zafira Tourer minivan, which also make their production debuts, on the twin companies' show stand. Joining them as well will be the Ampera - the European cousin of the Chevy Volt - that is nearing its market debut, and seven vehicles equipped with the EcoFLEX family of frugal engines.
Follow the jump for the full press release, and watch this space for more info on what form that concept car might take as the show approaches.Continue reading Opel/Vauxhall coming to Frankfurt with secret concept plus two production debuts Opel/Vauxhall coming to Frankfurt with secret concept plus two production debuts originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 18 Aug 2011 07:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | CommentsWikileaks docs show GM in scrap with Kremlin over Opel sale two years agoFiled under: Europe, Government/Legal, Plants/Manufacturing, GM, Opel, Vauxhall, Russia  As it turns out, General Motors may have nixed the sale of its Opel and Vauxhall brands in 2009 due to the fact that the proposed buyers added 31 amendments to the deal after it was signed. The news comes courtesy of reports that cite U.S. diplomatic cables obtained by Wikileaks.
Some of those demands included the right to sell some of the automakers' two factories to a carmaker owned by the Russian state. That would give the foreign automaker access to Opel technology and patents.
Originally, Magna, a Canadian parts manufacturer, and the Russian bank Sberbank agreed to purchase a 55-percent stake in Opel from the German government in a Memorandum Of Understanding. According to The Daily Mail, After the deal was inked, Magna and Sberbank continued to pile on amendments to the MOU, and GM felt that the German government didn't fully understand exactly what the buyers wanted. As a result, the American automaker pulled the plug in 2009.Wikileaks docs show GM in scrap with Kremlin over Opel sale two years ago originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 25 Jul 2011 15:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | CommentsOpel/Vauxhall preparing soft-top Astra cabrioFiled under: Spy Photos, Convertible, Europe, Opel, Vauxhall, UK 
Opel/Vauxhall Astra Cabriolet spy shots - Click above for high-res image gallery
The Astra is a car of many hats. It's sold as an Opel in Europe, a Vauxhall in the UK, a Buick in China and a Chevrolet in South America. The previous model was even sold as a Saturn in North America and as a Holden in Australia.
Now that's versatility for you, and its body-styles are just as pervasive. The five-door hatch launched in 2009 has since bred a wagon variant, the GTC coupe was just revealed last week, and there's two more to come - including the convertible that's simultaneously surfaced in these spy shots and in the rendering (below right) released by GM's European design studio.
 Whereas the previous Astra cabrio went with a folding hard top, the new model is expected to incorporate a soft roof to save on space and weight. The resulting shape ought to be a bit longer than the hatchback, but maintain a svelte profile. Four seats and a usable trunk are also said to be part of the package, with the roof folding into its own compartment aft of the cabin and below an elegant chrome surround.
The Astra cabrio is expected to hit markets overseas in 2013. But with Saturn long gone, it remains to be seen whether General Motors will bring it over to its home market at all.Opel/Vauxhall preparing soft-top Astra cabrio originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 09 Jun 2011 17:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | CommentsVauxhall unveils new Astra GTC ahead of Goodwood debutFiled under: Coupe, Europe, Hatchback, Misc. Auto Shows, Opel, Vauxhall, UK 
2012 Vauxhall Astra GTC - Click above for high-res image gallery
Different strokes for different folks. While Volkswagen chose to label its coupe-like Golf derivative as the Scirocco, rival automakers are keeping theirs in the family. Take, for example, the Renault Megane coupe, and this - the new Vauxhall Astra GTC.
Compared to the already-sleek five-door Astra, the GTC retains only the door handles and antenna. All the body panels are fresh, riding on a wheelbase that's actually longer than the existing five-door's, and it's slower and wider, too. Overall, it's a pretty direct production of the GTC concept unveiled at the Paris Motor Show last fall, and of the renderings released more recently.
British buyers - and presumably European ones at Opel dealerships as well - will be able to choose from from four engine options: a 1.4 with 118 or 138 horsepower, a 1.6 with 178 hp or a 2.0-liter diesel with 163 hp. The sophisticated suspension from the higher-end Insignia VXR coupled with adaptive damping promise to keep handling tight.
The Astra GTC will headline Vauxhall's lineup at the Goodwood Festival of Speed next month for its public debut (it was originally promised for this fall's Frankfurt Motor Show, but is showing up early), but you can check it out now in the high-res image gallery and the press release after the jump.Continue reading Vauxhall unveils new Astra GTC ahead of Goodwood debut Vauxhall unveils new Astra GTC ahead of Goodwood debut originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 07 Jun 2011 09:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | CommentsBuick Regal Coupe in the works?Filed under: Coupe, Europe, Vauxhall, Rumormill 
Word from Auto Express is that General Motors has given Vauxhall the go-ahead on a new coupe project based on the Epsilon II platform. That may mean that a similar model is headed to the land of the free under the Tri-Shield badge. After all, wherever Vauxhall goes these days, Buick is sure to follow. In the old country, the upcoming coupe is rumored to pack a 2.8-liter turbo V6 under its pretty little bonnet, though there's no telling what a Buick version would rely on for power. Auto Express reports that Vauxhall plans to offer varying levels of boost depending on trim.
All topped out, the two-door would offer a little over 320 horses at all four wheels, and engineers are said to be working on improving the vehicle's handling dynamics by shortening the chassis. Design wise, the newcomer will borrow heavily from the GTC concept, though we would expect to see the corporate waterfall grille on any American iteration. Across the pond, the coupe will reportedly carry the Calibra moniker. Here in the States, we'd be satisfied with a big GNX badge on the rear deck should this sucker come to life.Buick Regal Coupe in the works? originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 13 May 2011 10:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | CommentsOpel previews production Astra GTC ahead of Frankfurt debutFiled under: Frankfurt Motor Show, Europe, Hatchback, Opel, Vauxhall 
2012 Opel Astra GTC - Click above for high-res renderings
A staple product of General Motors' overseas subsidiaries, the Opel Astra has been a long time in the making. The five-door hatchback was revealed back in 2009 at the Frankfurt Motor Show, which was then followed by the GTC show car that previewed the three-door version in concept form (along with the production Sport Tourer wagon variant) a year later at the Paris Motor Show. Another year after that, Opel will unveil the production three-door GTC in Frankfurt this coming September. The final product is still undergoing development, but while GM's German division irons out the kinks, they've released these preliminary images showing us what to expect from the production version.
Although still months away from its public debut, the order books for the Astra GTC will officially open on June 7, when full details will be revealed. The Astra range, you'll recall, is also offered a Vauxhall in the UK, as the Buick Excelle XT in China, and as a Chevrolet in Latin America. But while Saturn had a version of the more angular previous-generation model, now that the brand is shut, we'll likely have to do without. That's a shame, because we recently saw a five-door model out on the road while overseas and were struck by its fluid design. So we'll just have to do with admiring from afar. Follow the jump for the brief press release, and scope out the pair of images in the gallery below.
[Source: Opel]Continue reading Opel previews production Astra GTC ahead of Frankfurt debut Opel previews production Astra GTC ahead of Frankfurt debut originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 26 Apr 2011 19:26:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | CommentsVauxhall Insignia to go racing in British Touring Car ChampionshipFiled under: Motorsports, Sedan, Vauxhall, UK, Racing 
You go ahead and try to find a racing series with as high a participation rate as the British Touring Car Championship. With 13 different models from 10 different manufacturers covering 27 entries, the BTCC field is at an all-time high this year. But there's always room for one more.
That one more is slated to come in the form of the Vauxhall Insignia - known on these shores as the Buick Regal. Of course as General Motors' British subsidiary, Vauxhall is already well-represented on the BTCC grid. In fact, the Griffin marque has claimed six drivers' titles, six teams' titles and eight manufacturers' titles just since the turn of the millennium. But while the Astra has dominated in years past and the Vectra appears on the grid this year - to say nothing of the Chevrolet Cruze - the new addition is reportedly going a decidedly larger route by converting the Insignia into a touring car.
The project is being undertaken by Thorney Motorsport, a British tuning and racing firm that specializes in BMWs and Vauxhalls, who are tempted by the latest cost-effective Next-Generation Touring Car (NGTC) regulations. The Insignia would be the fourth NGTC-spec car on the grid, joining the Toyota Avensis, Audi A4 and Proton Gen-2 along with the ten returning S2000 and BTC-T cars.
Thorney, which operates 60 performance garages across the UK, may opt to develop its own engine or else use the spec engine package offered by series organizers TOCA. The larger form of the Insignia, the team hopes, will be offset by its low aerodynamic drag coefficient. Thorney hopes to have the car on the grid by the end of the season.
[Sources: BTCC, Autosport]Vauxhall Insignia to go racing in British Touring Car Championship originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 13 Apr 2011 09:38:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Read | Permalink | Email this | CommentsVauxhall presents an Insignia for the bobbies at UK police expoFiled under: Wagon, Misc. Auto Shows, Vauxhall, Police/Emergency, UK 
Vauxhall Insignia police cruiser - Click above for high-res image
Badged alternately as an Opel (Europe), Vauxhall (UK), Chevrolet Vectra (South America) or Buick Regal (North America and China), GM's Insignia has been gaining traction around the world. But the latest version isn't targeted at private consumers: it's a police cruiser.
Developed with the Intelligent Transportations Systems Working Group of the Association of Chief Police Officers (APCO) in the UK, this Vauxhall Insignia was just recently unveiled at the annual exposition of the Home Office Scientific Development Branch (HOSDB). Whether the acronyms mean anything to you or not, the Insignia police car packs a new feature called Single Vehicle Architecture. SVA doesn't refer to the car's platform or chassis, but rather to a standardized electronics system that will allow police equipment manufacturers to install all manner of special equipment without having to rewire the entire car.
Examples of equipment capable of installation include automatic license plate recognition systems and data recorders, as well as the usual suspects from sirens to comm radios. Follow the jump for the full press release.
[Source: Vauxhall]Continue reading Vauxhall presents an Insignia for the bobbies at UK police expo Vauxhall presents an Insignia for the bobbies at UK police expo originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 13 Apr 2011 07:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | CommentsVauxhall Zafira Tourer concept rocks up ahead of GenevaFiled under: Concept Cars, Minivan/Van, Wagon, Geneva Motor Show, Vauxhall 
Vauxhall Zafira Tourer Concept - Click above for high-res image gallery
Opel reached into the future to tease its Zafira Tourer Concept. Vauxhall, on the other hand, is sticking with tradtional photography for its own iteration of the compact people mover. The sleek, seven-passenger Zafira Tourer Concept is set to make its world debut at the 2011 Geneva Motor Show this week.
Vauxhall uses terms like "relaxing lounge" and "automobile oasis" to desribe the interior design of the Zafira Tourer. Its Flex7 seating arrangement is set up to seat seven passengers, or five if you desire extra cargo space. A press of a button adds a third seating arrangment, which turns the Zafira into a spacious four-seater.
Outside, the Vauxhall Zafira Tourer Concept features sweeping body lines and boomerang-style forward lighting. The front glass sweeps back into the panoramic roof allowing plenty of light to enter the cabin.
Power is provided by a 1.4-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine. As it's officially a concept, there's no word yet on what type of mileage the people mover can achieve, but the Zafira Tourer is equipped with start/ttop technology to aid in the quest for great fuel economy figures. Either way, we expect a production version of this car to hit the world's markets shortly.
[Source: Vauxhall]Continue reading Vauxhall Zafira Tourer concept rocks up ahead of Geneva Vauxhall Zafira Tourer concept rocks up ahead of Geneva originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 28 Feb 2011 14:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | CommentsOpel teases Zafira Tourer concept via hologramFiled under: Concept Cars, Minivan/Van, Geneva Motor Show, Opel, Vauxhall 
Opel Zafira Tourer Concept - Click above for high-res image
We've seen lots of ways for an automaker to unveil a new car. They can do it online, at a special event, at an auto show. They can show us sketches and spy shots, they can give us a full array of photos, or they can make it all a big surprise when they pull back the sheet live in person. But this has got to be a new one: Opel has given us our first look at its latest concept car via hologram.
Well, not quite. It's not like we're looking at the hologram right now. What we're looking at is a picture of a hologram, ostensibly generated by an iPad held by Opel/Vauxhall's design chief Mark Adams. But that's not the point: the point is that GM's European and British subsidiaries will be unveiling this new concept next week in Geneva, and we won't need a hologram or an iPad to see it.
The show car is called the Zafira Tourer Concept, and serves as a preview for the next generation of minivan based on the Corsa. It's one of several new debuts for Opel at the European expo, joining the production Ampera (the overseas version of the Chevy Volt) and facelifted versions of both the Antara crossover and Corsa hatchback. We'll be on hand to see them up close and personal, but for now we've placed the press release after the jump for all those interested.
[Source: Vauxhall]Continue reading Opel teases Zafira Tourer concept via hologram Opel teases Zafira Tourer concept via hologram originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 24 Feb 2011 08:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments2011 Vauxhall VXR8 is all we really want for the holidaysFiled under: Sedan, Performance, Vauxhall, UK 
2011 Vauxhall VXR8 - Click above for high-res image gallery
Listen, General Motors. We know you're kinda busy getting back on track, jump-starting your IPO, and generally getting your house in order. We appreciate it and everything. But could we ask just one favor? You see this Vauxhall? Could you bring it over to this side of the Atlantic, please? You don't have to bring Pontiac back to do it, no matter how many people are still looking it up on Google. You can slap a Bowtie badge on the nose - heck you can make it a Buick if you want. Call it a Daewoo for all we care. Just bring it here.
What we're talking about is the new Vauxhall VXR8, and it could very well be the best performance sedan The General offers this side of the Cadillac CTS-V. And it's just undergone a series of updates, complete with a restyled front end, tail and interior, along with some new gizmos to keep all the power in check.
The VXR8 is based on the Holden Commodore, but instead of the hot ClubSport R8 model on which the previous Vauxhall was based, the new model starts with the new E3 GTS just launched in Australia. That means a 6.2-liter LS3 V8 with 425 horsepower and 405 lb-ft of torque - kept in line by new Magnetic Ride Control and Launch Control systems, driving through a six-speed transmission (automatic or manual) and a mechanical diff - for a 4.9-second sprint to 60 mph and an electronically-limited top speed of 155 mph.
There are plenty more reasons to want this muscle sedan on American shores, pronto, and you can read all about 'em in the press release after the jump. We just hope someone at the RenCenter is listening.
[Source: Vauxhall]Continue reading 2011 Vauxhall VXR8 is all we really want for the holidays 2011 Vauxhall VXR8 is all we really want for the holidays originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 15 Dec 2010 10:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | CommentsFiat to supply Opel with a range of vansFiled under: Minivan/Van, Opel, Vauxhall, Fiat 
Fiat Doblo - Click above for high-res image gallery
Fiat and Opel have been dancing at arms length for years. The relationship looked like it could grow closer as a result of GM's recent downsizing, but the Italian automaker didn't end up acquiring the General's European operations in the end. The two automakers have, however, announced a new arrangement that will have Fiat supplying Opel and its British counterpart Vauxhall with rebadged versions of its Doblo van.
Not even taking into account impending platform-sharing with Chrysler, Fiat already produces a number of vehicles with or for other automakers, including commercial vans with PSA Peugeot-Citroën and the compact SX4/Sedici with Suzuki.
The Opel vans will be produced at Fiat's Tofas plant in Turkey, with several derivatives planned, including chassis cabs, cargo vans and passenger vehicles. They'll be sold in Europe and overseas markets (but not in North America), replacing the Opel Combo that itself was based on a Fiat platform that underpins the Corsa.
[Source: Fiat]Continue reading Fiat to supply Opel with a range of vans Fiat to supply Opel with a range of vans originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 02 Dec 2010 07:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | CommentsReport: an Opel Calibra this way comes, inspired by the GTC ConceptFiled under: Coupe, Opel, Vauxhall 
2007 Opel Gran Turismo Coupe Concept - Click above for high-res image gallery
Grumblings about a new Opel Calibra have been around for years, and now there's some substance behind the rumors. In 2007 Opel spoke of developing a Calibra based on the Opel GTC Concept shown at the 2007 Geneva Auto Show. Now GM Europe chief Nick Reilly has waved his wand and said, "I believe we should have one, so we will have one."
Although Reilly has said, "Make it so," issue remain. When the matter was brought up earlier this year, the question was whether to think of this as a Calibra or an Insignia Coupe, since the GTC Concept was quite a bit longer than the two-door Opel of yore. And if the 30,000-units-per-year is still the number to justify a Calibra, would it make sense for the brand to make a much smaller coupe that compromises the Insignia's roominess?
Engines are already being mentioned as Vauxhall's smaller displacement, turbo powerplants. The top trim could get some variant of the 320-horsepower motor in the Insignia GXR, and have all-wheel drive.
[Source: Auto Express]Report: an Opel Calibra this way comes, inspired by the GTC Concept originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 29 Nov 2010 09:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Read | Permalink | Email this | CommentsCan a Vauxhall play Bingo? Well of Corsa it can!Filed under: Budget, Etc., Hatchback, Vauxhall, Toys/Games, UK 
Vauxhall Corsa Bingo Ball Special - Click above for high-res image gallery
If you thought the current trend of alphanumeric nameplates leaves most cars sounding like places on a bingo card, just get a load of the latest from Vauxhall. General Motors' British subsidiary has outfitted one of its Corsa hatchbacks with over 2,000 bingo balls hand-applied to a pastel bingo sheet all over the car's surface.
The one-of-a-kind promotional "art" car will be displayed at a special game event at an old church in Manchester, England. 500 participants will be on hand to play under the special Vauxhall's watchful eye, with a chance at winning one to take home for themselves... sans the bingo ball motif. See all the details in the press release after the jump and the high-resolution photos in the gallery below.
[Source: Vauxhall]Continue reading Can a Vauxhall play Bingo? Well of Corsa it can! Can a Vauxhall play Bingo? Well of Corsa it can! originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 26 Nov 2010 09:14:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments
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