Vauxhall's Corsa VXR gets the Blues: New Special Edition of 192HP Hot Hatch

To mark the launch of the subtly refreshed Corsa VXR, Vauxhall is introducing a new limited edition version of its hot hatch with an additional kit and a special blue paintjob as standard.

In detail, the new Corsa VXR Blue Edition is finished in an Arden Blue metallic paint and comes fitted with 18-inch alloy wheels, dark-tinted glass, bespoke interior air vents and Recaro seats, which equate to a £445 saving compared with the cost of speccing a ‘standard’ VXR with this kit.

Other standard features include a lowered sports suspension, uprated brakes and switchable Electronic Stability Programme (ESP).

Powering the VXR Blue Edition is a 1.6-liter turbocharged four producing 192PS, which allows for a 0-60mph [96 km/h] sprint time of just 6.8 seconds and a top speed of 140mph [225 km/h]. An overboost feature increases maximum torque to 260+Nm when the driver needs more power.

The price for the limited edition Corsa VXR is set at £19,425 (including 20% VAT), with Vauxhall claiming that it undercuts key rivals such as the Citroen DS3 R and the Mini Cooper Works by up to £3,600.

The sport hatch is available for order now with the first examples to arrive in dealerships in late February.

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VIDEO: Opel Astra GTC Paris Walk-around

After showing you some vids of the Range Rover Evoque on Friday, today we've got some press clips of Opel's GTC Paris hot hatch concept. First up is an artsy walkaround clip of the new hot hatch, but the more interesting video is the one in which Opel-Vauxhall calligrapher/graphic designer Ingrid Gollong gives us her take on the GTC's lines.

There's also a little bit about the interior, brought to you by Jeanette Finger. Both ladies explain their roles in taking one line from one poem and applying it to the GTC Paris in order to make speed into "pure beauty". If you're interested in a little design, enjoy the films below. For a full look at the 2.0-liter, 290-horsepower GTC Paris, check out our previous post here.

By Phil Alex

VIDEO: Opel Astra GTC Paris Walk-around

After showing you some vids of the Range Rover Evoque on Friday, today we've got some press clips of Opel's GTC Paris hot hatch concept. First up is an artsy walkaround clip of the new hot hatch, but the more interesting video is the one in which Opel-Vauxhall calligrapher/graphic designer Ingrid Gollong gives us her take on the GTC's lines.

There's also a little bit about the interior, brought to you by Jeanette Finger. Both ladies explain their roles in taking one line from one poem and applying it to the GTC Paris in order to make speed into "pure beauty". If you're interested in a little design, enjoy the films below. For a full look at the 2.0-liter, 290-horsepower GTC Paris, check out our previous post here.

By Phil Alex

New Opel Meriva MPV with Suicide Rear Doors Spied

The development of the next-generation Opel Meriva is moving ahead as planned with the German automaker removing more and more camouflage off the prototype models. In these latest scoop photos, the prototype Meriva has lost the confusing chequered black and white taping revealing many details on its design. Even though Opel has attempted to mislead us with a pair of fake rear-door handles, the new Meriva will retain the 2008 Geneva Show car's rear-hinged suicide doors called FlexDoors.

While the front doors are conventionally designed with front hinges, the Meriva's rear doors swing open towards the back of the car to a 90-degree angle. Another feature of the FlexDoors is that the front and rear doors can open independently of each other. GM's people support that the patented FlexDoors will make the Meriva more comfortable, versatile and safer than the current model.

The new Meriva will borrow several design cues from the Insignia including the front-end styling and the delta-wing blade on its flanks. While it won't be as exciting as the concept study, Opel's second-generation mini-MPV looks like it will be far more stylish than today's Meriva.

Same goes for the interior that is stylistically inspired from - you guessed it- the Insignia. Even though the car's design was a high-priority, GM did not forget about the Meriva's functional and practical side. Among other features, the 2010 Meriva will be equipped with Opel's variable FlexSpace rear seating system that allows the transformation of the vehicle from a five-seater to a four, three, two or even single seat vehicle without the need to remove seats.

The 2010 Meriva will adopt the latest version of GM's Gama platform sharing many of its underpinning with the new Corsa. It is expected that the new Meriva will grow in size offering improved space for passengers and their luggage.

While we don't have the full Monty on the powertrain options, it is anticipated that apart from the usual gasoline and diesel engines found in the Corsa, the new Meriva will also be available with GM's brand-new 1.4-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder petrol unit with outputs ranging from 120 hp to 140 HP.

Unlike its chief rivals that include the Honda Jazz and Citroen C3 Picasso, the Meriva's range will also feature a high-performance OPC version powered by a turbocharged 1.6-liter gasoline unit with an output of around 180-horsepower.

Sales of the new Meriva will begin in Europe in 2010. As for any chances seeing the Meriva in the U.S., for the time being, your guess is as good as ours.

New Opel Insignia OPC Bi-Turbo V6 Scooped without Camo!

For the second time in the past few months, the forthcoming Opel Insignia OPC or as it will be called in the U.K., the Vauxhall Insignia VXR, has been photographed without any camouflage whatsoever. These new photos that were shot in Barcelona, Spain,come courtesy of a keen reader over from our friends at Motorpasion. The most promising version of the Insignia features a GTC Concept Coupe style nose as well as a new rear bumper and beefy alloy wheels.

The high-performance Insignia will most likely be powered by a twin-turbocharged V6 engine developing somewhere in the area of 300-320HP. Unlike today's front-wheel drive Vectra OPC, the range-topping Insignia will benefit from a four-wheel drive system that incorporates a torque-splitting electronic rear differential, complements of the new Saab 9-3 Turbo X.

We should expect to see the production Opel Insignia OPC making its world debut at this fall's Frankfurt Motor Show with sales starting towards the end of the year.

Via: Motorpasion

2010 Opel Astra Caught Totally Undisguised: High-Res Scoop Photos

For the first time, our spy photographers have managed to capture a prototype model of the all-new fourth generation Opel / Vauxhall Astra without a single trace of camouflage. The spy shot gives us a clear view of the Astra's profile revealing details like the shape of the windows and the roofline, the taillights and the concave surfacing on the doors, all of which bring to mind the Insignia that has clearly inspired the designers of Opel's subcompact hatch.

Our gallery also contains spy photos of the 2010 Astra's interior that as you may have probably figured out already, is once again influence by the Insignia. The dashboard features four deeply positioned instrument dials in front of the driver and a swoopy central console with an elevated lower part that houses the gearbox lever.

Technical innovations will include several 'gizmos' like the 'Opel Eye' camera system that recognizes traffic signs warning the driver and a next-generation adaptive headlight system.

Under the skin, the new Opel Astra gets GM's latest front-wheel-drive Delta platform which is also used on the Chevrolet Cruze and Volt. Power will come from a wide range of diesel and gasoline powertrains, including GM's all-new 1.4-liter turbocharged petrol engine that will be offered with outputs ranging from 120 hp to 140 hp and torque values of 175 to 200 Nm. Opel claims that this unit will deliver an approximate 8% improvement in fuel consumption compared to the naturally aspirated 1.6 and 1.8-liter engines that it will replace.

The 5-door Astra will make its official premiere at the 2009 Frankfurt Auto Show in September, with sales following in Europe shortly after. In 2010, the Astra's range will be enhanced with the addition of the sportier 3door GTC while Opel also plans to introduce a four-door sedan, a station-wagon and a coupe-cabriolet variant with a retractable hardtop by 2011.

As for the U.S., GM plans to build the new Saturn-badged Astra here in America with sales supposed to commence sometime in 2011. However, given the current economic status of General Motors and more importantly, the uncertain future of the Saturn brand, we wouldn't be surprised if the Astra's North American debut is put on hold.

High-Performance Opel Insignia OPC with 320HP and AWD Scooped at Official Event

British car magazine EVO has posted a grainy photograph of what appears to be a prototype model of the forthcoming high-performance Insignia OPC, or as it will called in the UK, the Vauxhall Insignia VXR. We're not entirely sure, but from what we can tell, the picture was taken at some sort of internal gathering of top Opel executives. Aside from the new front bumper that is apparently inspired from the Opel GTC Concept coupé that was previewed at the 2007 Geneva motor show, the OPC prototype also seems to feature wider wheel arches than the standard Insignia.

Details of what is hiding under the Insignia OPC's hood have not been disclosed, but is said that the Opel's performance saloon will get a modified version of the firm's twin-turbocharged 2.8-liter V6 producing around 320HP matched with the latest Haldex AWD differential.

It is expected -but not yet confirmed- that Opel will unveil a prototype version of the car at the Geneva Motorshow in March with the production model following at the Frankfurt show in September.

Source: EVO , Via: Autoblog.it