Opel
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Just two weeks after Opel CEO Karl-Friedrich Stracke announced his resignation from the top job, David Lyon, Opel’s recently appointed head designer has reportedly stepped down just a week before he was scheduled to start work at Opel’s headquarters in Russelsheim, Germany. Lyon’s last post was head of interior design at Buick and GMC, and at Opel he was set to replace former design boss Mark Adams who recently moved to Detroit to head up design at Buick and Cadillac. General Motors is yet to formally announce the latest executive shakeup though a spokesman for the company...
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Could The Cadillac XTS Serve As Opel’s New Flagship?
The stretched Epsilon II platform underpinning the XTS was considered for flagship sedan models from Saab and Opel, according to a new report.
Viknesh Vijayenthiran -
Opel Appoints New Interim Chief
Opel has announced that Thomas Sedran, one of the struggling automaker’s strategy heads and chief of operations, will serve as interim chairman until a permanent replacement can be found. Sedran’s temporary appointment comes less than a week after former Opel boss Karl-Friedrich Stracke...
Viknesh Vijayenthiran -
Opel Boss Steps Down Amid Rising Concerns In Europe
This year Opel turns 150, but the company has very little to celebrate, with news emerging overnight that Karl-Friedrich Stracke, president of General Motors Europe and the current CEO of Opel, is stepping down from the top role to focus on special assignments reporting to GM head honcho Dan...
Viknesh Vijayenthiran -
Opel Designer Appointed Design Chief Of Buick And Cadillac
As General Motors celebrates the 85th anniversary of its GM Design organization, which today employs more than 1,900 talented designers in 10 advanced studios located around the globe, the automaker has announced a series of changes at the highest levels of its design operations. Still in charge of...
Viknesh Vijayenthiran -
Updated 2012 Opel Astra Revealed
Joining the brand new Astra Sedan in European showrooms later this year is the updated 2012 Opel Astra range, which has been revealed today ahead of its official debut at the 2012 Paris Auto Show this September. The current generation of the Opel Astra has been on sale since 2009 and this is the...
Viknesh Vijayenthiran -
Following last month's spy shots, Europe's Opel Astra range is set to expand this fall with the 2013 Opel Astra Sedan. The new sedan joins the five-door hatchback, Sports Tourer station wagon and GTC coupe in the Astra range, before a convertible version also joins the ranks later this year. While there have been rumors that the convertible and sporty GTC coupe might make it to U.S. shores under the Buick name, the Astra sedan is already pretty much on sale here as the almost identical Buick Verano. That means the sedan is the latest in an expanding lineup of vehicles shared between GM's...
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2013 Opel Astra Sedan Spy Video
Despite its recent financial doldrums and oversupply issues, Opel, the European arm of GM, is continuing the development of new models like this sedan version of the Astra hatchback. Spotted testing in Germany, the Astra Sedan prototype appears almost complete and should be hitting showrooms in...
Viknesh Vijayenthiran -
2013 Opel Astra Sedan Spy Shots
Despite its recent financial doldrums and oversupply issues, Opel, the European arm of General Motors, is continuing the development of new models like this sedan version of the Astra hatchback. Spotted testing in Germany, the Astra Sedan prototype appears almost complete and should be hitting...
Viknesh Vijayenthiran -
Opel Celebrates 150 Years, Cautiously: Video
Opel celebrates 150 years of manufacturing in 2012, raising the question of what lies in Opel's future.
Kurt Ernst -
Will A Management Change At GM Europe Lead To A New Opel Manta?
Karl Stracke is set to take the reins at GM Europe, and we say that's a good thing; Stracke sees potential in an updated version of the Opel Manta and Opel GT
Kurt Ernst -
Opel Astra OPC Revealed, Buick Version Still In Contention
GM’s European division Opel has taken the wraps off its new Astra OPC (known as the Vauxhall Astra VXR in the UK), which goes on sale in Europe next summer and with any luck may eventually appear in North American showrooms. The sporty coupe, developed by Opel’s go-fast division Opel...
Viknesh Vijayenthiran -
GM’s European division Opel is working on a high-performance version of its recently revealed Astra GTC sports coupe, a prototype of which was captured by our sleuth spy photographer while it was testing in Germany. The new two-door is being developed by Opel’s in-house performance tuner Opel Performance Center (OPC) and should be launched early in the new year. Under its hood is expected to be a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine developing around 300 horsepower. Most likely matched to a standard six-speed manual, the new Astra OPC would be the ideal rival to similar hot...
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Buick (Opel) Astra GTC Caught Testing In Michigan?
Talk of a Buick version of the Opel Astra GTC turbo hatchback has largely died down since reaching a peak earlier this year, but these images shot on I-96 in Michigan just moments ago may revive the idea of the sporty Buick hatchback. The Opel Astra GTC, as sold in Europe, is powered by a...
Nelson Ireson -
Vauxhall/Opel Electric Car Concept: 2011 Frankfurt Auto Show Preview
Tiny electric cars of non-standard configuration appear to be all the rage at this year's Frankfurt Auto Show, with Audi and Volkswagen already whipping the sheets off their contenders. The latest entry is an as-yet-unnamed Vauxhall/Opel two-seat electric car with wheels placed more narrowly in the...
Nelson Ireson -
Opel Working On New Flagship: Report
The 2003 Opel Insignia Concept, which eventually went on to spawn a sedan and wagon, is possibly the best example of a station wagon with crossover elements that Opel is considering for its new flagship.
Viknesh Vijayenthiran -
Opel Astra Cabrio Teased, U.S. Launch Rumored
We’ve been reporting about a convertible version of the latest-generation Opel Astra sold in Europe since 2009 but news concerning the car never really heated up until last month when reports emerged suggesting that the car, along with the recently revealed Opel Astra GTC sports hatch, could...
Viknesh Vijayenthiran -
Opel Astra GTC Revealed, U.S. Launch Still Undecided
GM’s European division Opel has revealed its all new Astra GTC three-door sports hatch ahead of the car’s official world debut this September at the 2011 Frankfurt Auto Show, and as we reported early last month this car could potentially be on sale in the U.S. badged as a Buick. In...
Viknesh Vijayenthiran -
We’ve consistently reported about some of Opel’s hotter models being imported to the United States and sold as Buicks, and we’ve already seen the top-selling Insignia sedan arrive as a Regal as well as the soon-to-be released Verano, which is essentially a reskinned Opel Astra and Chevrolet Cruze. However, it’s not often that we hear about some of Buick’s top models making their way over to Europe. Of course, there are the Chevrolet Volt and Opel Ampera twins, but according to a new report there could be a couple of Buick models being sold in Europe as Opels in...
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Sporty Opel Astra GTC Hatchback Heading To U.S. As A Buick? Convertible Too?
General Motors Company's [NYSE:GM] European division Opel is scheduled to debut its new Astra GTC at this September’s 2011 Frankfurt Auto Show, but one day we could see the sporty three-door hatchback on sale in the U.S. wearing Buick badges. This isn’t your average Astra like the one...
Viknesh Vijayenthiran -
Opel Zafira Tourer Concept: 2011 Geneva Motor Show
Opel, GM’s European division, is working on a new generation of its popular Zafira MPV and in the lead up to the new model, due out later this year, the automaker has unveiled this latest concept. Called the 2011 Opel Zafira Tourer Concept, the new show car will be on display next week at the...
Viknesh Vijayenthiran -
2010 Paris Auto Show Preview: Opel GTC Paris Concept
The 2010 Paris Auto Show is less than a week away now so it’s not surprising to see more and more new model and concept debuts planned for the show starting to be revealed. We’ve already seen the Renault DeZir Concept and new Peugeot 508 sedan and now Opel, GM’s European division...
Viknesh Vijayenthiran -
2011 Opel Astra Sports Tourer Wagon Revealed
The latest generation Opel Astra made its debut in Europe back in May of 2009 and ever since its release there have been hopes that the car could eventually make its way to the United States as a Saturn or even a Buick. While the Saturn route is no longer possible given the demise of the brand, the...
Viknesh Vijayenthiran -
Spy Shots: 2011 Opel Astra Sport Coupe
The current generation Opel Astra made its debut in Europe back in May of 2009 and ever since its release there have been hopes that the car could eventually make its way to the U.S. as a Saturn or even a Buick. While the Saturn route is no longer possible, the new Astra will be arriving on local...
Viknesh Vijayenthiran