Opel continues the celebration for its 150th anniversary with the introduction of a special trim package for its Corsa, Meriva, Astra and Insignia models, dubbed ‘150 Year Opel’.

With this celebrative package, both Corsa and Meriva will get 16″ wheels, tinted rear glass, fog lights, heated steering wheel, cruise control, an MP3-CD stereo and an adjustable panoramic roof or sunroof with separate air conditioning for both the driver and the front passenger. whereas the Astra will get the same goodies but with a set 17″ rims. As for the Insignia, the package is completed by heated front seats, dual-zone climate control, a Navi 900 Europa info-tainment system, an electric sunroof and a glazed panoramic roof as well as 18″ alloys. Needless to say, the whole lot will also receive slew of anniversary-themed badges and finishing.

What makes the ‘150 Years Opel’ jubilee trim even more interesting is that it promises to be quite cheap, savings of up to 2,100 € over the usual price of the aforementioned extras. The jubilee trim packages start at 450 euro (recommended retail price in Germany including VAT). Depending on the model, they represent a cost saving of 876 euro.

via | CarFanaticsForum

....

0 comments

British tabloid ‘The Sun‘ has published this pretty funny picture on its website that was taken a few days ago in the little town of Wickwar, near Bristol. Maybe the unnamed driver of that black Vauxhall Corsa was paying too much attention to the sign, or -more likely - not at all. No one got injured though.

....

0 comments

Our colleagues from Autoblog.it brought to our attention this footage showing a Polish motorist trying to tear down a wall with the sheer power of a second generation Opel Corsa. The clip is a lot of fun and also quite interesting, but we will not tell you now how it ends: why should we spoil the surprise? However, we would like to congratulate the unnamed owner of the car who had the nerve to try such a feat.

via | Carscoop

....

0 comments

This is what I would like to do with my Corsa if only it had the capability. See the Opel Corsa OPC Nurburgring Edition blast around the track in this video. The little hatch looks like quite an explosive model as it gets around. Only 500 units will be built of the car, based on the standard OPC but with some performance upgrades.

The 1.6-litre turbo engine is now up to 210 hp, and we get extra torque at 250 Nm. Overboost phase provides another 30 Nm. Bilstein components have been used, along with Brembo brakes and 18-inch wheels. A new front spoiler and integrated exhaust and rear diffusor complete the package.

....

0 comments

The Opel Corsa OPC Nurburgring Edition model will have a production run of 500 units and has a few updates on the standard OPC to make it even sportier. The 1.6-litre engine is up from 192 to 210 hp while torque goes from 230 to 250 Nm. An overboost function takes that figure to 280 Nm. The car has been lowered and stiffer suspension has been fitted with Bilstein components, along with Brembo brakes and 18-inch wheels.

The Corsa Nurburgring Edition gets new badges on the doors and a larger front spoiler. Twin exhaust and new rear diffusor also distinguish the model. Top speed on this OPC Nurburgring Edition is 230 km/hr and the sprint to 100 takes just 6.8 seconds. Fuel consumption measures 7.6 l/100 km and it produces 178 g/km of CO2 emissions.

Opel Corsa OPC Nürburgring Edition new pics

Continue reading: Vauxhall/Opel Corsa OPC Nurburgring Edition new pics

....

0 comments

The Opel Corsa OPC Nurburgring Edition will have a total of 210 hp once the 1.6-litre turbo engine from the OPC is tuned to an extra 18 hp. An overboost function takes torque to 280 Nm, and the new edition also gets a sports exhaust and new engine mapping system.

Only 500 units of the Corsa OPC Nurburgring Edition will be made for the European market, and the model will have new 18-inch wheels and logos. Other technical features include a twin exhaust out the back, limited slip differential and Bilstein shocks and springs.

The Corsa Nurburgring gets to 100 km/hr in 6.8 seconds and has a top speed of 230 km/hr. To those figures, Opel has also added a fifth gear sprint from 80 to 120 km/hr in 6.2 seconds. Fuel consumption is declared at 7.6 l/100 km.

....

0 comments

Opel is planning a new B segment vehicle to be called the Opel Mokka according to internet rumours. The model is set to compete with the Citroen DS3 and the latest reports regard the name. We’re not quite sold on what sounds like a type of coffee for a car (apart from the spelling) but a DS3 competitor from Opel makes a lot of sense.

The Mokka name has already been filed to be trademarked and the car would be based on a shortened Opel Corsa platform, making this new B segment industrially viable for the company. The small Opel should follow the DS3 trail by providing a distinctive design.

The Opel Mokka (and not Allegra as it is currently known internally) should be compact and original, with a daring interior. It should be no longer than 380 cm and could go on sale as early as next year. An electric Opel would be developed in the future, but it would play a very minor role in company sales.

Source | Automobile Magazine

....

1 comment

Over the 2011 Detroit Auto Show, among the plans for expansion of the Opel brand overseas, General Motors confirmed that models like the Opel Astra will be back on the Australian car market, not as locally-badged Holden models, but as Opel European premium brand vehicles. The move could involve internal competition among the General Motors group, with models like the Chevrolet Cruze being overlooked for the Opel badge, but Opel head Nick Reilly claims that the European models will be headed for a different market segment, with customers unlikely to swap over from brand to another.

So far comments in Australia seem to welcome the move, and the return of European-built models like the Opel Astra and Opel Corsa (originally on the market as the Holden Barina) could prove to be extremely popular. We already analysed how the change from European-produced, Holden-Opel models to Korean-built ones was unwelcome, and how it damaged the brand on that market, and the announcement to bring back Opel models may well be celebrated by those wanting more choice in the European brand offering.

Rather than badging the models as Holdens, Opel will work alongside the Aussie brand, but will likely have its own standalone division and possible dedicated dealerships. Australian customers will have to expect to pay a premium for the Opel models though, as they will be priced in a different bracket from previous Holden branded models. They could prove to be more expensive than Volkswagen models, but will still be placed in front of Peugeot, Citroen, Renault and Alfa Romeo.

The expansion of the Opel brand worldwide is key to its survival, particularly at an international level, and the brand is planning new ventures in China, South America and the Middle East. Plans for the Australian market will likely be clouded somewhat by the history of the Holden brand, and will depend on the success of the premium brand label with past attempts not producing the profits expected. We’re hoping though that this time the move will be successful enough to discourage Opel from importing Korean-made Corsa’s and other models into Europe….

Source | Carsales.com.au

....

0 comments

We’ve already discussed how a Korean Opel Corsa might fare in Europe and it seems that General Motors’ european division is just as aware of the fact as the consumer is. According to Autocar, GM Europe has a challenge on its hands convincing European customers that a Korean designed Opel Corsa will be to their taste.

The Korean research and development facilities are working on the next Corsa platform, but General Motors has said the car will be engineered in Germany. That should go some way to appeasing customer concerns over build quality, but the design work is still being done in Korea, meaning Europe will have to put up with an Asian-styled Corsa, unless the R&D division produces a European design.

Previously, reports have been that the new Opel Corsa could even be manufactured in Korea which won’t bode well for its success on the European market. It may seem harsh to judge a model that we haven’t even seen yet, but the Corsa is a big seller for Opel and one of the reasons behind that has been its reliability and quality. General Motors might still produce a good version, but it will have quite a hurdle to negotiate in European prejudices before it’s accepted.

....

1 comment

The 2011 Opel Corsa gets a slight restyling which will debut at the Bologna Motor Show. The front-end of the Corsa has received the most changes with a new set of headlights and modified bumpers. On the technical front, we also get some new features, with the new EcoFLEX version available. It’s equipped with a 1.3-litre CDTI engine with 95 hp and 190 Nm of torque and has Start&Stop technology. Available on both the three-door and five-door models, the start&stop feature brings fuel consumption down to 3.5 l/100 km and CO2 emissions to 94 g/km on the three door model, while fuel consumption and emissions on the five-door model are 3.6 l/km and 95 g/km.

The same engine range available on the 2010 MY Corsa appear on the new model: the 12V 1.0 litre with 65 hp, 16V 1.2 with 85 hp, 16V 1.4 with 100 hp and the 1.6 turbo option in powersteps of 150 and 192 hp. There will also be an OPC version and the diesel line-up of: the 1.3 CDTI with 75 hp or 95 hp and the 1.7 CDTI with 130 hp. New alloy wheels are available and there is an updated colour range including the flashy Grasshopper green you see in the pics. Color Edition models have black wheels and roof and on the inside new options include Charcoal Blue, Tabasco Orange and Steel Blue.

A new Touch & Connect multimedia system has been included on the 2011 Opel Corsa and the rest of the interior features include a seven-speaker sound system, five-inch screen, bluetooth capability, iPod and USB connectivity and a navigator system with features such as the most ecological way to get to your destination.

Continue reading: 2011 Opel Corsa restyling

....

0 comments

The new Opel Corsa facelift has been revealed ahead of its Bologna Motor Show unveiling in December. The pictures have emerged from the internet although it’s not known where they come from exactly. If these shots happen to be the real thing, the new Corsa facelift gets new bumpers and modified headlights inserted into a more prominent chrome feature at the front. Apparently some interior changes will also appear but the modifications are purely aesthetic at this stage.

Opel Corsa facelift leaked pics

....

1 comment

There is a long preamble to this story that is coming up, but firstly reports are that the future Opel Corsa could be built in Korea, along with a new Opel citycar model being developed. According to the reports, there will be a new “premium hatch” and a budget citycar which will join the Opel Corsa in the small car line-up for the brand.

Despite being cars destined for the European market, the Corsa design and engineering will take place in Korea, along with the other two vehicles. The premium hatch, intended as a Mini competitor, will possibly have manufacturing trusted to Europe though, in what we see as a move indicating doubts on the build quality coming from Asia.

While nothing has been signed off as yet, General Motors has already tried this Asian-built Corsa experiment on another market - Australia. The model there is called the Holden Barina, and it was a stalwart on the Australian market for many years, especially as it gave local customers access to good, European-made cars, re-badged with an Australian brand. That was until recently when General Motors decided it could re-badge Daewoos rather than export the European models. More after the jump.

Continue reading: Analysis: would you buy a Korean-built Opel Corsa in Europe?

....

1 comment