il3ana: Opel Scoops

Showing posts with label Opel Scoops. Show all posts

SCOOP: New Opel Astra GTC OPC Flogged Around the ‘Ring

What you see here is a prototype version of the all-new Opel Astra GTC OPC, or as Vauxhall buyers in Britain will come to know it, the upcoming Astra GTC VXR, and it was spotted doing test rounds at the Nurburgring race track.

Having already revealed the mainstream models of the new and rather sporty looking in a VW Scirocco kind of way GTC, the Astra’s engineers turned their focus on the fastest and most powerful version of the series, which will look a lot like the original concept seen at last year’s Paris Motor Show.

Our spies have photographed and filmed the new Opel (Vauxhall in Britain) Astra Convertible on test in Germany. The vehicles caught testing here are early prototype models as the front doors appear to be carried over complete with their frames from the hatchback model.

Nevertheless, we are offered out first look at the open-top version of the new Astra series, which is planned to go on sale by early 2013. The most important change over the previous Astra TwinTop is the replacement of the more complicated, heavier and costly retractable metal roof with a traditional fabric hood.

With the new sporty looking three-door Astra GTC on its way and the Astra Sedan outlined by its sister models from Buick’s US (2012 Verano) and China (Excelle) divisions, the only body style left to complete the range of Opel’s C-segment model series is the convertible version.

Recently, our spies in Germany caught a glimpse of an Astra-based model, which appears to be the cabriolet variant of the series. While we can’t be 100 percent sure, it is clear that this Astra has a boot while the close ups reveal a more raked rear windshield line than you’d normally expect to see on a four-door family sedan.

To get an idea of what the Astra Convertible might look like, here's our artist’s impression based on the upcoming GTC model. Even though our image of Opel’s VW Golf Cabriolet contender was styled with a soft-top, it has not yet been revealed if the German company will adopt this solution or if it will continue to use the current Astra TwinTop’s retractable metal roof.

These are the latest and most revealing spy shots of the upcoming 2012 Opel Zafira minivan (to be sold under the Vauxhall brand in the UK), which will receive its world premiere at the Frankfurt Motor Show in September before going on sale across Europe this fall.

The new Zafira was previewed in conceptual form at the Geneva Salon in March and will sit atop the Meriva in Opel’s MPV range rivaling the likes of Ford’s C-Max and Citroen’s Grand C4 Picasso.

From the looks of the lightly camouflaged test model, the Zafira has remained close to the Geneva concept car, with the most visible changes concerning the shape of the mirrors and the lower parts of the front and rear bumpers along with the reduced angle of the kink in the rear-side window.

Opel and its sister company Vauxhall are pushing ahead with the development of the next generation Zafira minivan, which was caught here testing by our scoop photographers. The new seven-seat model is expected to grow in dimensions offering improved passenger and luggage space. Unlike the latest Meriva that boasts a pair of suicide doors, the new Zafira will continue to use conventional rear doors.

The sleeker shape of Opel's newcomer can easily be seen beneath the harlequin camouflage, while the pictures suggest that the minivan takes styling cues from both the Insignia and new Astra, including the wing-shaped head lamps.

The interior design will also be more or less inspired by the Astra, while the car's flexibility is reported to have been improved by a revamped three-row flexible seating system providing independent seating for all seven passengers.

The new Zafira will use hardware from the Astra range, so expect a suite of turbocharged diesel and petrol engines, including more eco-friendly and frugal EcoFlex versions and possibly even a sporty OPC / VRX variant.

Look for the next generation of Opel's people mover to make its world premiere at a major international motor show this year with European sales to start in late 2011 or early 2012.

There's no official word about a North American variant, but given that the Zafira is essentially the minivan version of the Astra (which itself forms the base for the new Buick Verano), as well as the fact that Ford is preparing the U.S. launch of the Focus-based C-Max, we wouldn't completely rule out the possibility.

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2011 Opel Corsa Facelift Pictures Found and Confirmed on Official Site

A couple of weeks, we told you about a series of photos showing the 2011/2012 Opel Corsa facelift. To recap, according to numerous tipsters including Carscoop reader Javier, the pictures were found momentarily on Opel's German site, but were removed shortly after some users started uploading the images on the firm's Facebook page. Unfortunately, we weren't able to verify the claim then.

But Javier kept on looking and this time, he was able to tip us off in a timely manner about the Corsa facelift making its appearance on Opel's Belgian website. And yes, we can confirm their authenticity. The pictures of the standard 3-door and 5-door Corsa as well as of the OPC hot hatch that you see in our gallery after the jump were downloaded by us.

The only visible change over the current Corsa concerns the refreshed fascia that receives a crispier front grille similar to the one found on the updated 2011 Antara we told about yesterday, reshaped headlamps and a new design for the bumper with a wider lower grille and taller housings for the fog lamps (expect the OPC).

That's all we have for now, but we'll update this story as soon as something pops up on our radar.

Kudos to Javier for the tip!

Link: Opel Belgium

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Is this the 2012 Opel / Vauxhall Corsa Facelift?

We were tipped off this morning by an attentive reader from Chile about images of the facelifted Opel Corsa (Vauxhall in the UK) that were posted by a user on Opel's dedicated Facebook page. The back story is that the refreshed Corsa was found momentarily on the official configurator on Opel's German site, but was abruptly removed shortly after the posting. We checked on the webpage but didn't find anything.

Now, unless we have a photoshop-wiz in our hands, we'd say the images look pretty real. The cosmetic changes over the current model (at least the ones we can see from these angles) are concentrated on the front end that takes styling cues from both the new Meriva and latest Astra, including a crispier front grille, reshaped headlamps and a new design for the bumper with a wider lower grille and taller housings for the fog lamps on either side.

We'll keep an eye on Opel's site to see if these pictures turn out to be real or fake and post an update on any new developments.

Muchas gracias Javier for the tip!

Via: Opel Facebook

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2011 Opel Zafira MPV Scooped on Video, Doesn't get Trick Rear Doors

Along with the sportier three-door variant of the new Astra, General Motors' Opel division is also developing an MPV version of its C-segment model that will replace the current Zafira. Caught on film out and about at the Nurburgring track in Germany, the camouflaged prototype confirms that the new Opel (Vauxhall in the UK) Zafira won't get the funky FlexDoor system with the rear-hinged back doors of the Meriva, and will continue to use a conventional five-door layout instead.

For the most part, the styling of this disguised test car has been hidden well, however, it's obvious that the new Zafira MPV takes its styling cues from the Astra and Insignia incorporating features such as the creased swoop behind the front wheels and the wing-shaped head lamps.

Inside, expect to find a similar dashboard styling with the Astra and enough space for seven passengers with three rows of seats and Opel's Flexspace seating system.

Since the next Zafira is based on the new Astra, powertrain options will be similar, meaning the range will include 1.4-liter and 1.6-liter turbocharged petrols as well as 1.7-liter and 2.0-liter diesels. Opel's next generation people mover is expected to be launched in Europe sometime next year.

Video via: AMS

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