2011 New Opel Astra GTC will be available

The three-door Astra GTC will be available with a similar engine lineup to the five-door model, offering buyers a variety of turbocharged gasoline and diesel units. A hotted up OPC model with more than 250 ponies and a specially tuned chassis is expected in the near future.

New Opel Vauxhall Ampera:show with models

the Opel Ampera is nothing more than a Chevrolet Volt with some extremely mild cosmetic changes, but doppelgangers have always had a very special place in the wonderful world of General Motors. If Bloomberg’s inside sources are right, GM is currently looking into the development of a Buick-badged version of the plug-in hybrid Opel Ampera. According to people familiar with the project, the Buick model could go on sale in 2013, if the plans goes ahead.

the Opel Ampera in Europe around

A key aspect to General Motor's survival is what is now being called its Voltec platform - cars which are built on the same platform underpinning the Chevrolet Volt, an electric car scheduled to be introduced before the end of 2010. Besides the Chevrolet Volt, GM has been showcasing the Cadillac Converj concept, a luxury coupe version of the Volt as well as the Opel Ampera, a European counterpart to the Volt. Together, these three cars will play a prime role in distinguishing the direction General Motors will be going for the next decade or longer.

Each of the three models will be "powered" by an electric lithium-ion battery, a rechargeable powerplant with an all-electric range of forty miles. Beyond that, a small gas engine will kick in and, in the case of the Chevrolet Volt, that engine will be the same 1.4L I4 motor as the one that will move the upcoming Chevrolet Cruze, a gasoline model. GM hasn't said which engines will be in the Ampera or the Converj, but the 1.4L may provide just enough power to move those two models as well.

OK - so you heard all the up sides to plug-in hybrids but what are the downsides (apart from mainly not being available yet)? Well here are some that I see:

* They have a lot of unproven technology as they have never really been tried in mass production yet so it could take a while to iron out the kinks.
* Some people could have a problem trying to find a place to charge them - which could mean they take the "lazy" option of mostly using the engine all the time.
* Obviously another one is the price! - at the moment they look a lot more expensive than even the usual hybrids which are already more expensive than a regular car. The Prius had a problem with price for a long time.
* And finally Are they too little, too late - to save the environment, because that's what they're all about aren't they?

So in summary: It looks like out of all the options for Electric Cars for me - the Plug-in Hybrid seems like the best one - especially compared with the All-Electric Cars around at the moment. But we'll also have to wait a year or two first. Right now though I have to get my hands on some of those electric scooters and electric bicycles around at the moment!

2012 Opel Astra 1.3 CDTI ecoFLEX reduce

With an average fuel consumption of 4.1 lt/100 km (57.4 US mpg) and CO2 emissions of 109 g/km, the diesel-powered Opel Astra 1.3 CDTI ecoFLEX hatchback was already a frugal and eco-friendly proposal. However, GM's European division decided to do further improve the Astra's green-credentials by adding a rather effective Start and Stop system.

The new start and stop technology helps the hatchback version of the Astra ecoFLEX reduce its CO2 emissions from 109 to just 104 g/km and its combined fuel consumption from 4.1 liters to 3.9 liters per 100 km, which is equal to 60.3 mpg. The Sport Tourer estate version of the Astra ecoFLEX consumes on average 4.1 lt/100 km and emits 109 g/km of CO2.

2012 Opel Astra 1.3 CDTI ecoFLEX reduce

New Opel Corsa Utility in South Africa

Additionally, a new "FlexFold" rear seat system has been added to easily fold the rear seats down. The system works using a spring-loaded mechanism that fires with the press of a button, automatically folding the seats down.

No. According to a report from the San Francisco online (www.sfgate.com), General Motors' Opel division will not bring the Corsa OPC in the U.S. anytime soon. This is because of some economic factors like the different range of gas prices in Europe and United States. In an interview with Robert Lutz, Vice Chairman for Global Product Development of General Motors Corporation, he said: "Europe and the United States are two different worlds. We could sell the OPC here (Europe) and make money because gasoline is near $6 a gallon. If we had $6 gasoline in the United States, we could sell it there at a profit, too."


New Opel Corsa Utility in South Africa

Detail Audio Visual New 2011 Opel Corsa

As the Sports Tourer was designed to hold as much cargo as possible as efficiently as possible, the engineers went to great lengths to ensure optimum storage space. At the back, the cargo compartment has been carefully sculpted to eliminate any odd, hard-to-use corners.

Unlike the four-door hatchback, which places style over substance, the Sports Tourer is more of a pure wagon. The roofline flows straight over the rear seats, giving rear passengers more headroom and continues out towards the hatch, increasing luggage space. Like the hatchback New Astra, it still sports a stylish European wrapper.


Detail Audio Visual New 2011 Opel Corsa

2011-2012 New Opel Corsa Harks Back

Regrettably, GM probably won't roll Corsa-sized cars and crossovers into Saturn showrooms until the next-generation design is ready in three or so years.

Chevrolet isn't the only brand in the GM Group playing around with vivid colors and special editions that hark back to models of the 60s and 70s. So is the firm's European division Opel that has released a new exclusive edition of the Corsa supermini called 'Color Race' inspired from the late 1960s - early 1970s Rallye Kadett B Sprint.

New Opel Corsa

2011 Opel-Corsa-Facelift

The biggest difference between the four-door hatchback and Sports Tourer is body style, as most of the pieces carry over from the hatch. The suspension from the hatchback carries over mostly unchanged to ensure good ride quality and handling, but the rear suspension has been calibrated to handle higher loads.

"But it is unlikely that Americans would buy a little car at $30,000 when they are paying $2.50 for gasoline. We need $6 gasoline in the United States to make sense of the Corsa OPC in that market." he added


2011 Opel-Corsa-Facelift