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Wednesday, April 27, 2011
The three-door Astra GTC will be available with a similar engine lineup to the five-door model, offering buyers a variety of turbocharged gasoline and diesel units. A hotted up OPC model with more than 250 ponies and a specially tuned chassis is expected in the near future.
Saturday, April 23, 2011
The added power is achieved through a new ECU, a modified turbocharger, a sports exhaust with reduced backpressure and optimization for 100-octane fuel. Maximum torque has also been increased to 250 Nm (184.4 lb-ft), with 280 Nm (206.5 lb-ft) available when the overboost function is activated. In terms of performance, the Corsa OPC Nurburgring Edition hits 100 km/h from a standing start in 6.8 seconds and reaches a top speed of 230 km/h (143 mph). It also completes the 80 to 120 km/h acceleration in 5th gear in 6.2 seconds.
To better exploit the increased power, OPC engineers fitted the FWD Corsa with a mechanical, multi-plate limited-slip differential that helps recuce wheel spin during cornering, making the Corsa OPC ideal for the racetrack. The chassis has also been retuned, with the car sporting a lower ride height, new Bilstein springs and dampers and a new lightweight front braking system from Brembo. In addition, systems such as the ABS, Traction Control and Electronic Stability Control have been recalibrated to suit the car's new configuration.
The Opel Corsa OPC Nurburgring Edition is available in two exclusive body colors, red “Henna” and apple-green “Grasshopper”, as well as with new 18-inch forged aluminum wheels in high-gloss grey. Other new features include a front spoiler lip, a new stainless steel dual exhaust system and Nurburgring logos on the B-pillars. On the inside, the Corsa features Recaro sports seats with white stitching and unique sill plates.
The car is available in Germany for €27.650 ($40,150), while its Vauxhall-badged alter-ego costs £22,295 in Britain.
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Tuesday, April 5, 2011
Thursday, March 31, 2011
the Opel Ampera is nothing more than a Chevrolet Volt with some extremely mild cosmetic changes, but doppelgangers have always had a very special place in the wonderful world of General Motors. If Bloomberg’s inside sources are right, GM is currently looking into the development of a Buick-badged version of the plug-in hybrid Opel Ampera. According to people familiar with the project, the Buick model could go on sale in 2013, if the plans goes ahead.
A key aspect to General Motor's survival is what is now being called its Voltec platform - cars which are built on the same platform underpinning the Chevrolet Volt, an electric car scheduled to be introduced before the end of 2010. Besides the Chevrolet Volt, GM has been showcasing the Cadillac Converj concept, a luxury coupe version of the Volt as well as the Opel Ampera, a European counterpart to the Volt. Together, these three cars will play a prime role in distinguishing the direction General Motors will be going for the next decade or longer.
Each of the three models will be "powered" by an electric lithium-ion battery, a rechargeable powerplant with an all-electric range of forty miles. Beyond that, a small gas engine will kick in and, in the case of the Chevrolet Volt, that engine will be the same 1.4L I4 motor as the one that will move the upcoming Chevrolet Cruze, a gasoline model. GM hasn't said which engines will be in the Ampera or the Converj, but the 1.4L may provide just enough power to move those two models as well.
OK - so you heard all the up sides to plug-in hybrids but what are the downsides (apart from mainly not being available yet)? Well here are some that I see:
* They have a lot of unproven technology as they have never really been tried in mass production yet so it could take a while to iron out the kinks.
* Some people could have a problem trying to find a place to charge them - which could mean they take the "lazy" option of mostly using the engine all the time.
* Obviously another one is the price! - at the moment they look a lot more expensive than even the usual hybrids which are already more expensive than a regular car. The Prius had a problem with price for a long time.
* And finally Are they too little, too late - to save the environment, because that's what they're all about aren't they?
So in summary: It looks like out of all the options for Electric Cars for me - the Plug-in Hybrid seems like the best one - especially compared with the All-Electric Cars around at the moment. But we'll also have to wait a year or two first. Right now though I have to get my hands on some of those electric scooters and electric bicycles around at the moment!
