Car Design News: opel

Showing posts with label opel. Show all posts

Monday, March 28, 2011

2011 Opel Kadett

The Opel Kadett was a small family car produced by the German automobile manufacturer Opel between 1937 and 1940, and then again from 1962 until 1991 (Cabrio 1993), when it was replaced by the Opel Astra, (branded in the UK as the Vauxhall Astra MK3).

Elegant Silver 2011 Opel Kadett

In 1992, GM Europe decided to standardise model names across its two brands, and Opel adopted Vauxhall's name for the Kadett, Astra, for the replacement car for Europe which debuted that year. Only in South Africa, the Kadett name continued on the first Opel Astra hatchback until 1999, when all models took the Astra name.

However, under Opel's internal naming convention, successive generations of the Astra platform are treated as a logical continuation of the Kadett lineage - hence the original 1992 Astra was designated Astra F in relation to the previous Kadett E - this convention has continued through to the current (2009) Astra J.

2011 Opel Kadett Hatchback

2011 Opel Kadett Interior

2011 Opel Kadett Engine

The new Kadett followed the innovative Opel Olympia in adopting a chassis-less monocoque construction, suggesting that like the Vauxhall 10 introduced in 1937 by Opel's English sister-company, the Opel Kadett was designed for high volume low cost production. Competitive pricing led to commercial success, and Kadetts continued to be produced during the early months of the war: by the time production was interrupted in 1940 following intensification of hostilities, 107,608 of these Opel Kadetts had come off the assembly line at Opel's Rüsselsheim plant, which had been the first major car plant in Germany to apply the assembly-line production techniques pioneered by Henry Ford.

Friday, February 25, 2011

2013 Opel Astra Cabrio Confirmed

Opel and Vauxhall confirmed that they will build a convertible based on the Astra compact car at the factory in Gliwice, Poland. The move is a part of the brand�s planned 11 billion Euro investments to renew its lineup over the next five years.

The 2013 Opel Astra Cabrio is most likely going to use a fabric roof rather than the retractable hard top, with one of its main rival being the newly introduce Volkswagen Golf 6 Cabriolet.

�The new Convertible will be a great addition to our product lineup,�said Opel/Vauxhall CEO Nick Reilly. �It follows the long-standing tradition of highly emotional and legendary Opel/Vauxhall Cabrios that provided important halo effects on our brand. With its sleek and elegantdesign, our new Convertible will fully deliver on that same promise.�

Press Release

Opel/Vauxhall Confirms Production of New Convertible

Product offensive continued
Cabrio to enter market in 2013
Production scheduled for Gliwice, Poland

R�sselsheim. Opel/Vauxhall continues its portfolio expansion as the addition of a new Convertible has been confirmed today. The new Cabrio is part of the company's �11 billion investment pledge announced approximately one year ago as part of its plan for the future. It comes on the heels of successful products such as the Insignia, 2009 Car of the Year, the Astra, winner of a 2009 Golden Steering Wheel, the Meriva with its innovative and highly-acclaimed FlexDoors system, the upcoming new generation Zafira, and the revolutionary Ampera electric vehicle.

The new Convertible will be based on Opel/Vauxhall's compact vehicle architecture which is also the basis for the current Astra, the Astra SportsTourer and the upcoming Astra GTC. It will hit the market in 2013 - the same year that Opel/Vauxhall will also launch its chic and stylish small car meeting the growing demand for vehicles in line with a young and urban lifestyle.

Subsequent to a joint agreement between management and employee representatives during the restructuring at the Opel plant in Gliwice, Poland, the decision has been made to build the Cabrio at the highly-efficient Gliwice plant alongside other Astra models.

"The new Convertible will be a great addition to our product lineup," said Opel/Vauxhall CEO Nick Reilly. "It follows the long-standing tradition of highly emotional and legendary Opel/Vauxhall Cabrios that provided important halo effects on our brand. With its sleek and elegant design, our new Convertible will fully deliver on that same promise."

Further details, such as vehicle naming, pricing and equipment, will be announced closer to the launch timing.

Wednesday, February 9, 2011

Opel Astra, 2010

Opel Astra, 2010

The new Opel Astra brings into the compact class its own interpretation of the brand's award-winning design language of combining sculptural artistry with German precision first seen in the Opel Insignia. Its strong sporty lines and elegant details add to a new handsome look.

The exterior of the new generation Opel Astra, which debuts in September 2009 at the IAA in Frankfurt, boasts a strong cab-forward, fluid silhouette. Inside, high quality materials and a total re-think of the design add to the excitement of driving a compact car. Moreover, Opel has added innovative extras - higher quality materials, more storage, improved seats and safer bumpers - to give the Opel Astra comfort, health and safety features not usually seen in the compact class.

The exterior design gives Opel philosophy a new twist
Designers have given Opel's new philosophy an interpretation fitting for the compact class using the same wing and blade styling cues first introduced on the mid-sized Insignia. Sculpted into the side panels of the new generation Opel Astra, the blade sweeps rear ward and upward, connecting with the side window line, giving the car balance and harmony. Eagle eye-shaped headlamps that encompass the prominent signature wing daytime running lights give the Opel Astra face a low, sporty character.

A graceful flowing silhouette connects the muscular shoulder lines with an expressive rear to make it sporty yet elegant. On the front fascia, the next generation Opel Astra re-interprets the new Opel face by using the small upper grille to frame the new Opel logo, while emphasizing the bigger, bolder lower opening so as to create a sportier look.

The inside, design cues used to create driver-focused styling
Echoing the flowing forms of the bodywork, the hallmarks of the interior are sweeping lines and shapes that are executed with care. Interior designers achieve that, for instance, by creating bold, dynamic shapes that use materials intelligently. Everything drivers and passengers touch has been given a refined, high quality feel. In addition,
The interior also continues Opel's recurring wing and blade motifs. In this execution, the blade theme is expressed in details like the shape of the door grab handles and the trim for gearshift molding and steering wheel. The wing design cue is immediately evident in the warm, inviting wraparound instrument panel that embraces front seat occupants. It arcs across the cabin into the top of the door moldings.

Health, safety and comfort added via storage, seats and bumper improvements
The Opel Astra has added practicality through greatly increased storage and clever solutions for a compact class car that include a mini glove box on the driver's side and a drawer under the front passenger seat.
New, high quality seat technology brings added comfort and help to backs. In addition, safety was a major consideration in design. A new, intelligent bumper is intended to minimize damage in front and rear collisions, reducing injury to pedestrians and passengers and saving money in repairs and insurance.

The execution matched by great components and perceptual quality
Opel designers and engineers believe quality execution also must be matched by what the customer sees and feels. Such perceptual quality is particularly important in the interior, where the appearance and tactile properties of all materials must be on a par with their high standard of fit and finish.

The quality of the materials used in the new Astra is evident in such things as the grained, soft-touch surfaces, the textured panels, the quality of the d�cor, the chrome trim elements, and the feel of operating buttons and switches.

Opel Insignia Hatchback, 2009

Opel Insignia Hatchback, 2009

The new Opel Insignia highlights breathtaking design: Both body styles boast a flowing, muscular yet elegant silhouette with a coup� roofline. Designers of the new car deliberately created similar versions to retain the beauty of Opel's latest mid-sized car. The length of both the notch and hatchback, at 4,830 mm, and the wheelbase of 2,737 mm remain the same.

The Insignia's fuel consumption, CO2 emissions and driving dynamics benefit from the aerodynamic efficiency that was perfected during more than 650 hours in the wind tunnel. The result: A class-leading drag coefficient of 0.27.

Offering both the notchback and hatchback from the start is particularly important for markets such as the U.K. and France, where 5-door sedans traditionally enjoy a high market share of the mid-size class segment. German and Spanish customers, on the other hand, generally prefer notchback sedans. Prices for the U.K., Ireland, Germany, Austria and Switzerland will be announced July 22 in London and cars will hit German dealerships before the end of the year. Opel expects both models to sell in about equal numbers.

From the beginning, the Insignia will be launched with a broad line-up of motors. Seven engines will be available; all meet Euro 5 emissions standards and come coupled with six-speed transmissions. The four gasoline engines range from a four-cylinder 115 hp unit to a V6 with 260 hp. Three new direct-injection turbo-diesels exclusively developed for the Insignia feature a displacement of 2.0 liters and power outputs spanning from 110 to 160 hp.

The newly developed chassis can be enhanced with the innovative, integrated FlexRide mechatronic system, as well as the sophisticated Adaptive 4x4. Its lightning-fast distribution of torque over the four wheels ensures top stability and traction while improving dynamic handling performance.

Opel Insignia, 2009

Opel Insignia, 2009

The Opel Insignia elegant styling can be summed up as sculptural artistry meets German precision - a mantra that will be chanted in Opel models moving forward. With the Insignia, Opel successfully has brought the sporty coup� design to the mid-size sedan class without making any concessions in interior space. The Insignia offers three centimeters more knee room than the Vectra. The car also proves to be particularly efficient aerodynamically with a spectacular Cd of 0.27 which positively influences the economic, dynamic and acoustic qualities of the car. Both body variants have identical 4.830 mm length and share the same wheelbase of 2,737 mm.

The new car will hit dealerships in Germany before the end of 2008 and other markets as of January 2009 with a line-up of seven engines. All meet Euro 5 emissions standards and come with six-speed transmissions, either manual or automatic. The four gasoline engines range from a four-cylinder 115 hp unit to a V6 with 260 hp. The three new direct-injection turbo-diesels exclusively developed for the Opel Insignia feature displacement of 2.0 liters. They offer outputs spanning from 110 to 160 hp and excellent torque values ranging from 260 to 350 Nm. All combinations compare competitively in CO2 emissions.

Powerfully Sculpted Lines Give Opel Insignia its Dynamic Look
The design of the new Opel Insignia signals a paradigm shift for Opel by adding emotion back to the brand. Both the notch and hatchback of Opel's new car feature a flowing, muscular silhouette with a sporty roofline. The designers created a powerfully sculpted shape for the body and used the same design cues in the interior, giving the Insignia a premium feel.

Opel has a long successful tradition of building very aerodynamic cars. Just remember the spectacular 1990 Calibra and its Cd of 0.26. With a drag coefficient of 0.27, the Opel Insignia is more streamlined than competitors with underbody shields. The Insignia's fuel consumption and driving dynamics benefit from its sleek, flowing styling which was optimized during more than 650 hours in the wind tunnel.

Redefined design vocabulary
Like the signature crease on the hood, a blade form has been chiseled into the side, signposting a styling element that becomes another defining characteristic of future Opel cars. Other unmistakable design elements include a distinctive radiator grille with a newly-designed Opel emblem as well as sweeping front and rear light forms. The dynamic tapered shape of the wing lighting signature is another Opel Insignia DNA detail.

Echoing the exterior design, the shapes and surfaces of the interior also articulate this promise of exciting mobility and are crafted with high quality materials. The new car's dashboard wraps around from the instrument panel to the door in a very sophisticated way, embracing the occupants. The bold exterior "blade" graphic is echoed in the shape of the interior door grab handle, the steering wheel or the central gear-shift lever.

The designers focused on painstakingly refining the surfaces, carving the crisp intersecting lines and colors; testing the textures, feeling the materials and ensuring all the surface finishes were of the highest quality. At the same time, practical needs - such as good ergonomics and numerous storage compartments - also were given top priority. The orangish-red ambient light that warms the interior also will be found in future Opel models.

Powertrain
The new Opel Insignia launches with a exceptionally broad range of seven engines that all meet Euro 5 emissions standards. The four gasoline engines range from 115 to 260 hp completed with three new 2.0 liter turbo-diesels featuring power outputs of 110, 130 and 160 hp. In the coming months, the powertrain range will be expanded with new, more powerful motors. In addition, an ecoFLEX version with especially low CO2 emissions will join the lineup. In each of their respective power output category, these engines are among the best or the best in fuel consumption and CO2 emissions.

The three diesel and four gasoline engines all come with a six-speed manual gearbox. The top diesel and gasoline units also are available with a six-speed automatic transmission. All-wheel-drive (see chassis chapter) versions, too, can be ordered with the 2.0 Turbo and 2.8 V6 Turbo gasoline engines and later with the more powerful diesel engines.

Opel Insignia Gasoline Engines
The 2.0-liter turbo is new in the Opel mid-size class segment. The 220 hp direct-injection engine is closely related to the sporty unit in the Opel GT. The all-aluminum engine is a powerhouse generating 350 Nm of torque from 2000 to 5200 rpm, with twin balancer shafts to ensure smooth running. Offering strong power allied to economic fuel consumption, it makes a perfect partner for the dynamic, comfortable Insignia. This engine also illustrates the downsizing policy at GM as this 2-liter 4 cylinder can compete with the competitors 5- and 6 cylinders in performance but with lower fuel consumption and emissions.

The entry level gasoline engines are the 1.6 ECOTEC (85 kW/115 hp) and 1.8 ECOTEC (103 kW/140 hp) recently introduced on other models of the Opel range. The top of the line gasoline engine is the 2.8 V6 Turbo developing a generous 191 kW (260 hp) and 350 Nm of torque between 1800 and 4500 rpm.

All gasoline engines feature camshaft phasing - on both intake and outlet sides for the four cylinder units, and on the intake side for the V6. Variable valve timing increases torque at low rpm and plays an important role in reducing fuel consumption as well as meeting new Euro 5 emissions standards.

Opel Insignia Diesel Engines
The new-generation Opel diesel engines in the Insignia feature 2.0-liter displacement, more power and torque, as well as excellent fuel economy. The Opel Insignia launches with 3 versions of the 2.0 CDTI engine developing respectively 81 kW/110 hp, 96 kW/130 hp and 118 kW/160 hp. This last engine variant also powers the Opel Insignia ecoFLEX with lower fuel consumptions and CO2 emissions. All versions come with a maintenance-free diesel particulate filter as standard and meet Euro 5 emission levels.

The engines have two overhead camshafts, four valves per cylinder, and common-rail, multiple fuel direct injection, together with a variable geometry turbocharger for a rapid throttle response at low rpm. Thanks to the large 70-liter tank, the diesel models boast a driving range of over 1200 km between visits to the gas station.

Thursday, January 13, 2011

2010 Opel Flextreme GT-E

2011 Opel Astra ecoFLEX

In the lists of the new Opel Astra, in sedan and Sports Tourer debuts promise ecoFLEX version that stands for an average consumption of 3.9 l/100 km and CO2 emissions of 104 g / km. The ultra-efficient Astra 1.3 CDTI ecoFLEX with 95 HP uses the device Start / Stop and a variety of mechanical and aerodynamic refinements to propose a modern car if he sees an equal footing with the most �virtuous�medium diesel market as a Volkswagen Golf 1.6 TDI BlueMotion, Citroen C4 1.6 HDI and e-Audi A3 1.6 TDI e.

The Astra ecoFLEX is powered by a 70 kW/95 hp 1.3 CDTI turbo diesel engine. Offering torque of 190 N�m (140 lb-ft) between 1,750 and 3,250 rpm, it uses a common rail, multiple fuel injection system working at a pressure of 1,600 bar and a turbocharger with variable geometry.

The fuel consumption rating for the Sports Tourer variant is 4.1 l/100 km for emissions of 109 g/km CO2.

Set to go on sale shortly, the Astra ecoFLEX with start/stop technology will be priced from �19,780 in Germany.

Press Release

Opel Astra ecoFLEX now with Start/Stop and only 104 g/km CO2

Astra now also available with Start/Stop technology
Only 3.9 l/100 km and 104 g/km CO2 for cleaner air and lower taxes
In Germany, prices start at 19,780 euros for the 5-door version

R�sselsheim. Now available with Start/Stop technology, the Astra 1.3 CDTI ecoFLEX brings even greater efficiency to Opel's recently launched compact car: The 5-door hatchback version with Start/Stop reduces 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. Thanks to this technology, which combines with a raft of mechanical and aerodynamic improvements, customers can profit from additional tax benefits in many European countries. Prices of the new Astra 1.3 ecoFLEX with Start/Stop start at 19,780 euros in Germany.

The Astra ecoFLEX is powered by the economical, multivalve 70 kW/95 hp 1.3 CDTI turbo diesel engine. Offering a comfortable torque of 190 Nm between 1,750 and 3,250 rpm, it uses a common rail, multiple fuel injection system working at a pressure of 1,600 bar and a turbo charger with variable geometry. It also receives a new E59 control unit, and its improved exhaust gas recirculation module (EGR) is now water-cooled to help reducing emissions. In addition, it is fitted with a Diesel Particulate Filter (DPF) as standard. The Astra 1.3 CDTI ecoFLEX is mated to a five-speed manual transmission optimized to obtain great fuel economy.

While the 5-door hatchback 1.3 CDTI ecoFLEX version is available with and without Start/Stop system, the new Sports Tourer always receives it. Its fuel consumption is of 4.1 l/100 km for emissions of 109 g/km CO2.

All Astra 1.3 CDTI ecoFLEX improve their aerodynamic performance using an active aero shutter fitted to the front grille: It opens to allow air to pass the engine at low vehicle speeds and then automatically closes at higher speeds to smoothen the airflow at the front of the car. This system is complemented by carefully-tuned underside aerodynamics. To optimize fuel economy, a �shift-up' indicator is fitted in the main instrument cluster. This item is offered on all Astra versions equipped with a manual transmission.

The Astra ecoFLEX is part of Opel's ecoFLEX diesel range of low CO2-emitting cars, which include the 94 g/km Corsa 1.3 CDTI (70 kW/95 hp) and the Insignia 2.0 CDTI (118 kW/160 hp) with just 129 g. Opel is investing some one billion euros in new powertrains on its way to establish clean mobility. This starts with optimizing and right-sizing the engine line-up, offering alternative fuels like LPG and CNG and popularizing Start/Stop technology. It continues with new, alternative propulsion systems like extended-range electric vehicles including the Opel Ampera due to late 2011, as well as hybrid and all-battery electric vehicles.