Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com Autoblog http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.autoblog.com/media/feedlogo.gif Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com en-us Copyright 2013 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Opel Adam a.k.a. Junior a.k.a. Allegra caught on the 'Ring]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2012/04/27/opel-adam-a-k-a-junior-a-k-a-allegra-caught-on-the-ring/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/04/27/opel-adam-a-k-a-junior-a-k-a-allegra-caught-on-the-ring/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/04/27/opel-adam-a-k-a-junior-a-k-a-allegra-caught-on-the-ring/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,



The new Opel minicar has been so long in gestation that it has worn three names (so far). From the Junior and Allegra, we are now being told that it will now be called the Opel Adam, no doubt a nod to company founder Adam Opel.

Still clothed in enough camo to hide a barn, we can't tell much about how it looks, but with the latest spy shots we do know its sporting chops have been tested at the Nürburgring. That's a necessity since a longer version of the Adam's platform will go under the next Opel/Vauxhall Corsa. Beyond that, we aren't sure what will power it at launch but three-cylinder engines co-developed with SAIC are in the product pipeline. The electric version, however, has reportedly been canned.

At 3.70 meters, the Adam extends 15 cm beyond the Volkswagen Up! but is smaller than the Opel Agila. It is expected to go on sale in the Spring of 2013 for a base price of under €10,000 (Roughly $13,000 USD). If it does, that would be a turnabout from last year when former Opel chief Nick Reilly said the "Junior" would be an upscale mini and cost more than the larger Agila, which currently lists at €10,600 ($14k), but still wouldn't be a competitor to the Mini Cooper.

Stay tuned, for those and other mysteries will begin to be solved on May 8, which is when Opel will officially announce the car. So the rumors say. The showcase reveal will come at this year's Paris Motor Show.

Opel Adam a.k.a. Junior a.k.a. Allegra caught on the 'Ring originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 27 Apr 2012 13:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2014 opel adamadamjuniornurburgringopelopel adamopel allegraopel juniorspy shotsvauxhallFri, 27 Apr 2012 13:15:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20225634/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2012/04/27/opel-adam-a-k-a-junior-a-k-a-allegra-caught-on-the-ring/20225634/article-detail.xml 20225634 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/04/opeljuniorspy_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/04/opeljuniorspy.jpg <![CDATA[Opel to debut engines developed with SAIC at the Paris Motor Show]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2012/03/27/opel-to-debut-engines-developed-with-saic-at-the-paris-motor-sho/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/03/27/opel-to-debut-engines-developed-with-saic-at-the-paris-motor-sho/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/03/27/opel-to-debut-engines-developed-with-saic-at-the-paris-motor-sho/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,



The resurrected Opel/Vauxhall Junior is expected to be unveiled at the Paris Motor Show later this year with a three-cylinder engine tucked in its engine bay. That motor will be a joint product of General Motors and its Chinese partner SAIC and the heart of Opel and Vauxhall's gas-powered, small-capacity engine family.

Both three- and four-cylinder engines are on the way ranging from 1.0 to 1.4 liters. The Junior is predicted to get a three-cylinder, but Opel hasn't confirmed that or even if the Junior will be the first car to get one of the co-developed motors. Automotive News reports that the engines have "direct injection and turbocharging capability," but with double-digit gains in fuel economy and torque out of the box, those features might not appear immediately.

Above that, there will be 1.6-liter diesel and gas engines to replace current units, perhaps like the 1.4-liter in the Opel Insignia. GM says those engines will come to the U.S. "within two years."

The three-door Junior will be smaller than the Opel Agila (pictured), a challenge to the Mini Cooper and Audi A1. An electric version is a possibility for 2015.

Opel to debut engines developed with SAIC at the Paris Motor Show originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 27 Mar 2012 08:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>enginegeneral motorsgmopel juniorparisparis 2012paris motor showsaicvauxhall juniorTue, 27 Mar 2012 08:27:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20200517/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2012/03/27/opel-to-debut-engines-developed-with-saic-at-the-paris-motor-sho/20200517/article-detail.xml 20200517 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/03/opeljuniorengine_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/03/opeljuniorengine.jpg <![CDATA[Is the Opel RAK e electric concept headed for production?]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2011/09/19/is-the-opel-rak-e-electric-concept-headed-for-production/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/09/19/is-the-opel-rak-e-electric-concept-headed-for-production/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/09/19/is-the-opel-rak-e-electric-concept-headed-for-production/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,

Opel RAK e concept

Soon after unveiling the Opel RAK e concept at the 2011 Frankfurt Motor Show, General Motors of Europe president Nick Reilly revealed to Autocar that the RAK e is a "very serious concept," adding that Opel is currently investigating production feasibility and believes the two-seat electric could launch with a £9,000 price tag (Around $14,216 U.S. including England's massive Value Added Tax)

The RAK e's lead designer told Autocar that the lightweight concept has been constructed "with production in mind." Meanwhile, Reilly says, "We've got to work on costs and we've got to refine [the RAK e] and do it right."

Autocar claims the RAK e could replace Opel's now-abandoned electric version of the Junior minicar, which was recently scrapped due to "excessively high" costs. While we'd be thrilled to see the RAK e enter the production cycle, there seems to be no indication that it will ever come to the States.

Is the Opel RAK e electric concept headed for production? originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 19 Sep 2011 17:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>electric vehicleopelopel conceptopel junioropel rak erak erak e productionMon, 19 Sep 2011 17:45:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20046788/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2011/09/19/is-the-opel-rak-e-electric-concept-headed-for-production/20046788/article-detail.xml 20046788 http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2011/09/02-opel-rak-e-concept_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2011/09/02-opel-rak-e-concept.jpg <![CDATA[Opel/Vauxhall targeting Mini, Fiat 500 with new Junior hatchback]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2011/08/19/opel-vauxhall-targeting-mini-fiat-500-with-new-junior-hatchback/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/08/19/opel-vauxhall-targeting-mini-fiat-500-with-new-junior-hatchback/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/08/19/opel-vauxhall-targeting-mini-fiat-500-with-new-junior-hatchback/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Opel Agila

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 | Comments]]>junioropelopel juniorvauxhallvauxhall juniorFri, 19 Aug 2011 08:28:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20021213/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2011/08/19/opel-vauxhall-targeting-mini-fiat-500-with-new-junior-hatchback/20021213/article-detail.xml 20021213 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/08/2008opelagila006_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/08/2008opelagila006.jpg <![CDATA[GM to bring compact Opel back to America?]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2011/06/20/gm-to-bring-compact-opel-back-to-america/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/06/20/gm-to-bring-compact-opel-back-to-america/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/06/20/gm-to-bring-compact-opel-back-to-america/#commentsFiled under: ,

2010 Opel Corsa
2010 Opel Corsa - Click above for high-res image gallery

Think of German automakers and you're likely to conjure up names like Mercedes-Benz, BMW, Volkswagen, Porsche and Audi. Those are the ones we get on this side of the Atlantic. In their home market, they are joined, most notably, by Opel. The reason we don't get that brand in the States is because it's General Motors' European division, and GM already has plenty of brands operating in its own home market. But that hasn't always been the case, and may not be for much longer - if the latest reports prove accurate.

The German GM subsidiary marketed in the United States between 1958 and 1975. Since then, various Opel models have been sold Stateside as Buicks, Saturns and even Cadillacs. But with Saturn long gone, and the Omega-based Catera replaced by the stand-alone CTS, the only Opel product making it to these shores these days is the Buick Regal (née Opel Insignia).

Recent reports suggested once again that GM could be looking to sell off Opel, but a proposal reportedly being fielded within the GM hierarchy could see Opel returning to American shores. The idea would be to have GM fending off its import rivals with an import of its own, bringing a small hatchback to the U.S. market wearing an Opel badge and a nameplate such as Junior (let's hope not...) or Allegra (hm, let's hope not again).

Whether it would be an all-new product specifically targeted at American consumers or one based on a current model like the Corsa pictured above remains to be seen, but sources indicate that, if the proposal is taken up in Detroit, we could be seeing Opels on American roads as early as 2013.

GM to bring compact Opel back to America? originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 20 Jun 2011 08:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>allegracorsageneral motorsgmjunioropelopel allegraopel corsaopel juniorMon, 20 Jun 2011 08:28:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/19970712/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2011/06/20/gm-to-bring-compact-opel-back-to-america/19970712/article-detail.xml 19970712 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/06/opelcorsa_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/06/opelcorsa.jpg -1 2