Over in Europe, midsize cars like the Opel Vectra, Renault Laguna and Ford Mondeo have long been offered in multiple body configurations including four-door sedans, station wagons and, of course, five-door hatchbacks. Unlike Americans, who for some reason are averse to a fifth body opening unless the vehicle rides 4 to 6 inches higher than it should, Europeans have always appreciated the extra utility. The Opel Vectra is being replaced this summer by the redesigned and renamed Insignia, but so far we've only seen photos (either spy pics or official GM shots) of the four-door sedan that will likely land here later next year as the next Saturn Aura. A sharp-eyed photographer, however, has captured what may be the first shots of the new hatchback Insignia. The five-door version doesn't look radically different from the sedan, the main variance being the shorter rear deck that's attached to the rear glass. Will the hatchback arrive as an Aura at Saturn dealers? Highly improbable, but then so was the Astra, so anything is possible. We more likely might just get a wagon version that we haven't yet seen.
Click above for a gallery of the Steinmetz Corsa OPC
The Opel Corsa is small, cool, and like most other neat U.S.-automaker Euro offerings, unavailable to us -- at least for now. As good as the current car would look wearing Saturn badges and slotted beneath the Astra, we'll have to wait a good while until the next-gen Corsa arrives to see it in Saturn stores. Nifty though it may be in standard guise, it's the OPC performance variant that really strikes our fancy. 192 horsepower, a 6.8-second 0-60, and fuel economy in the neighborhood of 30 mpg is a compelling combo.
Longtime Opel tuner, Steinmetz, has unveiled a suite of mods for the butched-up Corsa OPC. The factory hot hatch gets a new exhaust that adds ten horsepower, bumping its peak output to 202 ponies. Next comes a suspension upgrade that drops the car 30 millimeters, giving it a more athletic stance. Finally, Steinmetz closes the deal with a new front spoiler, replacement grille, side stripes, aluminum gas cap, and an upgraded wheel/tire package. Looks like fun to us.
Brenda Priddy & Co have brought us the first glimpse of GM's upcoming 7-seat MPV. Based on the Delta global platform, it is said to be about the same size as the Mazda5. The person hauler is apparently the work of GM Daewoo (GMDAT), with R&D work carried out in Bupyeong, South Korea.
The vehicle will be offered for numerous GM brands around the world, though no one knows yet exactly which ones will get it. Chevy is certain, with Daewoo and Opel posed as logical outlets. Priddy guesses that this could even be the replacement for the Opel Zafira. It will most likely be built in the Hamtramck, Michigan plant. True, it's only a taped-up mule and there are parts missing – like the front end – but we hope GM doesn't go to far down the bland route in order to appeal to the widest number of global villagers.
Click above for a high-res gallery of the Opel Insignia.
After a few leaks and an assortment of GM-sponsored "spy shots," the Opel Insignia is here. Take note. Aimed to compete in Europe with the Ford Mondeo, Honda Accord, Mazda6 and Citroen C5, the Insignia is set to replace the aging Vectra and could come Stateside sporting a Saturn badge.
The sleeker, sexier Insignia takes a few cues from the GTC concept that helped to inspire the new sedan, with a taut fascia, muscular stance and deeply drawn side blades that extend from the front fenders to run parallel with the side sills. The old V-bar has been nixed in favor of a wider grille, complimented by a pair of intake ducts and the new Vauxhall logo. "Smart" headlights feature daytime running lamps standard and there will be an option for LED lighting on higher-spec models. The rear is sufficiently swoopy, with a tapered tail and smooth haunches, while the rear badge plays double duty as adornment and trunk release button.
The Insignia is 21 cm longer and five cm wider than the Vectra it replaces, and legroom shouldn't be an issue since the Insignia gets an additional 35 mm tacked onto its wheelbase. Three models will be available, including the standard saloon (above), a hatchback and a wagon.
Power is provided by a choice of three diesels or four gasoline-powered engines, with the former producing anywhere between 110 hp to 160 hp, and the latter putting out 115 hp from the standard four-cylinder or 260 hp from the range-topping V6. Power is channeled to either the front or all four wheels through a six-speed manual or six-speed automatic. A VXR model is likely to be revealed sometime next year.
The Opel Insignia will be available for a meet and greet at the London Motor Show this July and will hit showrooms in the UK this October.
Click any of the images for a gallery of the Opel Insignia.
The folks at AutoWeek.nl decided to take the wind out of Opel's sails by posting images of the new Insignia before it released official information later this week. We've seen the basic shape and several details of the Insignia when Opel sent out "official" spy shots of their new D-segment player (think Mondeo, Passat), but these newest pictures tell the whole tale, sans artful camouflage.
Due to hit dealers in Europe this October, the Insignia will replace the Vectra and come equipped with a handful of diesel- and gasoline-powered engines, ranging in displacement from 1.6- to 2.8-liters. Both 1.6-liter and a 2.0-liter turbocharged engines will be equipped in the entry level models, with a 250 hp, 2.8-liter V6 powering the range-topper. Diesel mills packing 1.9-liters of displacement and outputting 120 to 150 hp will also be offered, and there's also talk of a 180 hp, 1.9-liter turbo and a 2.9-liter V6 diesel.
The Insignia is relevant to those of us in the States since it will likely replace the Saturn Aura in the next few years. The styling is a slight step above Saturn's current sedan, with an attractive front clip and a rather dynamic swage line that begins aft of the front fender and runs parallel with the rocker panels.
The Opel Insignia will be publicly debuted at the London Motor Show this July and we should see a Saturn variant making its way to the U.S. sometime around the turn of the decade.
Click above for a gallery of the Opel Corsa Limited Edition.
In celebration of the 10-millionth Opel Corsa, Russelheim has unveiled the Corsa Limited Edition to the public at the Leipzig Motor Show. Carrying Ecotec power displacing 1.2- or 1.4-liters and pushing 80 and 90 horsepower, respectively, the Corsa Limited Edition sits on a sport-tuned suspension with 17-inch rims that conceal red brake calipers. Production will be capped at 1,000 units, all of which will be Casablanca White with contrast provided by black on the roof and wheels, along with dark-tinted rear glass.
The exterior color scheme is mirrored inside, where the three-door carries standard air conditioning and an MP3-capable audio system with an auxiliary input. The design of the Limited Edition Corsa was a joint effort, specifically employing the input of 120 trainees to help the car appeal to youthful customers. It certainly appeals to us looks-wise. If you're fortunate enough to be where you can purchase one of these cars, wad up €16,000 in your hot little fist and head on down to your Opel store. Translated official press release after the jump.
Click above for high-res gallery of the Opel Agila City Heels
April foolery a few days late? Unfortunately, no... the shoes you see above and in the gallery below are real. Opel has gone and commissioned a one-off pair of Opel Agila City Heels by Luca Stappers. Unveiled on April 2 at trendy shoe boutique Shoebaloo in Amsterdam, the shoes were delivered by a certain Prince Charming who rode, not in an Opel Agila, but on a white horse. We swear, we're not making this stuff up, though we honestly wish they were left in the back of someone's mind before ever hitting the drawing board. Whatever the case, the shoes do exist, so perhaps the lucky owner could cut her losses by lopping off the horrible fake-grille and headlights for some nice open-toed action. Or they could just throw 'em out. Heck, they aren't even white!
Click above for more "spy shots" of the Opel Insignia.
The spy photo racket is big business, and GM's Opel division has been doing its best to keep prying lenses off its new Insignia model ahead of its debut at the London Motor Show this July. To stem the tide, Opel released a handful of "official" spy shots and a press release that details how and why the automaker applies artful camouflage to its upcoming flagship.
The design of the camo is actually there to confuse digital cameras through the use of moiré patterns (yeah, we had to look it up too) that cause a rippling effect on the photo. In addition to the obvious tribal vinyl, the vehicle's silhouette and sheet metal is modified with a foam adhesive that dulls the mule's character lines, and in the case of the Insignia, Opel's engineers have added a fake rear spoiler that completely changes the shape of the sedan's rump.
When the Opel Insignia makes its official, uncamouflaged reveal in a few months, we'll be paying attention, since the Insignia will likely replace the Saturn Aura sold here in the States.
All the details are available in the press release after the jump.
It's been a while since we've heard about the upcoming Opel Insignia due out later this year, but we've got a vested interest in its development as it's likely to come to the U.S. sporting a Saturn Aura badge. We were initially teased with a darkened shot of the new Euro-sedan's tail lamp back in November, but today, another shot has surfaced that gives us a brief peek of the flagship's new fascia.
The Insignia is set to replace the Vectra (Saturn Aura in the States) and will grow in every dimension to include a sedan, wagon and five-door hatch. Built atop the new FWD Epsilon II platform, the new model will feature a number of four- and six-cylinder engines, with the possibility of a hybrid drivetrain pulled from the Malibu and fitted to the new Aura when it makes its way to the U.S. sometime in 2010.
Click above for a high-res gallery of the Opel Meriva concept.
The Opel Meriva concept's high belt-line and hatchback shape looks like it could double as a Pontiac Vibe of the future, but recent history tells us it could one day find its way into a Saturn dealership. Automotive News quotes unnamed GM execs saying that the next generation Meriva is "being considered" for the U.S. market. The dreaded "business case" has to be made in order for the little MPV to land stateside, but the Meriva, already successful in Europe, has plenty going for it. The concept that previews the next production model was built with parts from two of GM's small car architectures that will be shared with other vehicles, and the Meriva's turbocharged 1.4L engine also rested under the hood of the Saab 9-X concept. The Meriva would also supply Saturn with a fuel-efficient family hauler, at least more efficient than the VUE CUV, another European import from Opel. Heck, it's not our money, we say build it, slap on a Saturn badge and call it a day.
Over in Europe, midsize cars like the Opel Vectra, Renault Laguna and Ford Mondeo have long been offered in multiple body configurations including four-door sedans, station wagons and, of course, five-door hatchbacks. Unlike Americans, who for some reason are averse to a fifth body opening unless the vehicle rides 4 to 6 inches higher than it should, Europeans have always appreciated the extra utility. The Opel Vectra is being replaced this summer by the redesigned and renamed Insignia, but so far we've only seen photos (either spy pics or official GM shots) of the four-door sedan that will likely land here later next year as the next Saturn Aura. A sharp-eyed photographer, however, has captured what may be the first shots of the new hatchback Insignia. The five-door version doesn't look radically different from the sedan, the main variance being the shorter rear deck that's attached to the rear glass. Will the hatchback arrive as an Aura at Saturn dealers? Highly improbable, but then so was the Astra, so anything is possible. We more likely might just get a wagon version that we haven't yet seen.
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