Opel

The Chevrolet Volt is still nearly two full years from production, but the Opel-branded version of it is already on display in Geneva. Today General Motors finally pulled the sheet off its European plug-in hybrid, revealing the car in full photographic detail. The new Ampera is essentially...

General Motors' Volt and the plug-in hybrid technology behind it has come under fire in the press recently, with critics accusing the car of being too expensive and too inefficient to justify its purchase over a standard hybrid. The argument goes that real-world efficiency of a plug-in hybrid isn't...

General Motors recently gave us a preview of a new plug-in hybrid vehicle based on the Chevrolet Volt that the company plans to sell in Europe under its Opel division. The car is the new Opel Ampera and it is set to make its world debut at March’s Geneva Motor Show. GM has now released a...

A next-generation Buick small sedan, headed for sale in the U.S. and China, could be built around the FWD Delta II platform in Opel's Russelsheim, Germany plant, according to sources inside Opel. The move would displace some Saab production, but the next-generation 9-3 is already expected to be...

German tuner Steinmetz is a specialist when it comes to modifying Opels, having worked with the brand for the past several decades and waiting more than five years to finally develop the new 2009 Insignia saloon. Not surprisingly, it's one of the first companies to work with the car, releasing a...

The struggling auto industry is feeling the pressure of slow sales and a tough global economy in many markets. Rumors of bankruptcy and pleas for government aid are the norm - but in Germany today a solar power group called SolarWorld surprised the market by making a takeover bid for Opel, General...

Germany on Monday confirmed it would be holding talks with Opel, General Motors' primary European brand, to discuss the topic of aid for the company should GM cease supplying cash. The concern on Opel's part is very real considering the state of GM's U.S. and global operations, and Opel's...

The 2009 European Car of the Year has been announced, and in the very closest of contests the Opel (Vauxhall) Insignia has taken out the top spot with 321 points, marking a very important victory for General Motors. The Insignia edged out the Ford Fiesta by a single point, while the Volkswagen Golf...

Vehicle-to-vehicle communication is the next big wave in active vehicle safety but the technology is still in its infancy and will require substantial cooperation between carmakers and governments to get off the ground. Several carmakers have taken the initiative to develop the technology already...

Building the next generation of cars is often easier than deciding which should be built, or how they'll be built, if General Motors' trouble with the Epsilon II platform and its large sedan lineup is any indication. Nevertheless, it appears that GM is still working on reviving the Chevrolet Impala...

General Motors has traditionally designed many of its compact and mid-size cars at its Opel operations in Russelsheim, Germany. Now, however, the company may be looking to shift some of that duty to its U.S. offices, the better to design a car that will suit both U.S. and European tastes. Primary...

Earlier this year we reported that General Motors could possibly delay the launch of the next-generation Saturn Aura, or possibly drop the model altogether, but according to GM vice chairman Bob Lutz the new car is on track albeit with some major changes. Lutz confirmed at the time that the Opel...

General Motors Company [NYSE:GM] global product chief Bob Lutz has ruled out developing a new flagship model for the Opel brand, claiming that there’s little chance a model positioned above the new Insignia sedan would be able to compete with Germany’s well-established premium brands...

Official images and details of Opel’s all-new Insignia sedan have finally been revealed and as predicted the car picks up a number of design cues from last year’s Opel GTC concept. There’s a lot of significance riding on this model because this is the car that will be sold in the...

The Irmscher Opel GT i40 is the latest of the cars sharing GM's global rear-drive Kappa platform to get a V8-transplant. And even though it's not the first, it's certainly one of the most powerful. The Solstice and Sky (the GT's American counterparts) have often been called 'baby Corvettes' but...

The Opel GT (Saturn Sky) platform is one the most stylish roadsters on the market despite its budget connotations and combined with a turbocharged powerplant you’d think it would be one of the most popular tuner cars around. Surprisingly, tuner kits for the GT are few and far between, but one...

Engineers at General Motors Company [NYSE:GM] are working on a new hybrid drivetrain they plan to install in the next-generation Opel Astra (current model pictured), scheduled to hit the streets in 2010. GM is working on its new E-Flex plug-in technology but is also planning to launch a new range...

Opel has unveiled the new Astra OPC Nürburgring Edition, a unique version of the three-door Astra that emphasizes the brand’s history at the famous German circuit. Opel’s production cars are extensively tested during their development stage on the ‘Ring, and back in 2005...

A teaser image of a new Opel concept was released last week, which has now been revealed to be the new Gran Turismo Coupe Concept that’s scheduled to be unveiled next week at the Geneva Motor Show. The images highlight Opel’s new design trend and a possible replacement for the original...

General Motors Company's [NYSE:GM] European division has just launched the hot two-seater Opel GT roadster, the latest achievement from its badge-engineering exercise between Saturn and Opel. The GT roadster follows the classic roadster definition perfectly with its powerful front-mounted engine...