The new spy shots do not completely describe the exterior design. It seems that the previous set of shots were more expressive. The next-gen Opel Astra will not be a complete copy of the Peugeot 308, on which it is based, but the German variant will have slight variations in design and performance. We are expecting a mix of gasoline and diesel engines will be offered, along with hybrid and PHEV models. The base variant Opel will get Peugeot’s 180hp engine with a 12.4kWh battery pack helping its cause. The battery will add around 37 miles to the total range.

Peugeot is reportedly working on an all-electric model of the 308, which will be launched in 2023 as a direct competitor to the Volkswagen ID.3. Opel has done a great job hiding the details of its new Astra. They haven’t disclosed anything about this new model, but we will know the particulars soon. The car is expected to be revealed in September at the IAA show. An online premier could took place a few days before that happens.

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Even if we don’t know the complete official details, we do have some info about the car`s engines and trims, and some of its technological goodies.

From what we`ve found from close sources, the all-new 2018 Opel Crossland X will be offered with the OnStar services for the Edition grade, along with the 24-hour emergency call service, remote control operation of door locks, adding a suite of other features.

These refer to the 4G LTE Wi-Fi hotspot, IntelliLink infotainment system with 8.0-inch colour touchscreen, Android Auto Apple CarPlay smartphone integration, wireless inductive charging and so on.

As for the engine lineup under the hood, the all-new 2018 Opel Crossland X comes with a wide range of petrol burners and diesels.

First, the model is set to come with three petrol engines: the 1.2-liter with 80 horsepower and the 1.2-liter turbo with 108 horsepower and 205 Nm of torque, respectively 128 horsepower and 230 Nm of torque, the latter one coming as well with a sprint from 0 to 100 km/h in a good 9.1 seconds, at a top speed of 206 km/h.

On the diesel side, the new Crossland X comes with a 1.6-liter engine with two configurators: 98 horsepower and 254 Nm of torque, and 118 horsepower and 300 Nm of torque, respectively. All five engines are equipped with a five-speed manual transmission or six-speed automatic.

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And as expected, the high-end model from the Insignia lineup has been also seen online wearing a special OPC body styling, the rendering being signed by no other than X-Tomi Design.

Even such a model might won`t receive the green light, the carmaker focusing on investing lots of money in the Grand Sport model, it is a good fun seeing it with a much sportier and more aggressive OPC design.

As we can see in the rendering, the model comes with the general design from the Insignia Grand Sport, wearing however a custom-built front bumper, wider wheels, lowered ride height and more prominent side skirts.

As a reminder, the 2018 Opel Insignia Grand Sport was unveiled with a massive, bulker and wider body styling, highlighted by a sober attitude and the latest technology in terms of design and interior features.

Amongst the top features, we should mention the new Intellux LED matrix lights, new alloy wheels and a wide range of safety features, including Lane Keep Assist, adding Head-Up Display and AGR-certified premium seats.

Other features are kept from the previous generation and concerns the Flex-Ride chassis with the three driving modes – Standard, Sport and Tour. Inside, the model also comes with the latest technology, including the up-to-date IntelliLink systems or the Vauxhall OnStar.

In the engine department, the all-new 2018 Vauxhall Insignia is rumoured to come with a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder petrol and diesel engines, followed by a top of the line V6, which will also be found on the Holden model.

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The 2016 Paris Motor Show starting a couple of days ago, was the perfect opportunity for Opel to present its already previewed Ampera-e model which according to the carmaker “is not eco-luxury, not a gadget, and not just a second car”.

This metaphor was used to described the car`s technology, with Dr. Karl Thomas Neumann, Opel CEO, also declaring that “Opel is showing that electro-mobility is also achievable for a much broader audience thanks to the most innovative technology – Opel is democratizing the electric car with the Ampera-e.”

Having said that, the carmaker is indeed highlighting that its Ampera-e model will “revolutionize the electro-mobility”, bringing forward a new electric which is “fully feasible for everyday use and lots of fun”.

Speaking about fun and feasibility, the Opel Ampera-e is indeed fun to drive as it offers advanced driving capabilities and “more than 500 kilometers”, and that on a single charge.

The model uses an electric motor with an impressive 204 horsepower and just 3.2 seconds to reach 50 km/h, which is not bad at all. The sprint from 80 to 120 km/h is also done in 4.5 seconds, at a top speed of 150 km/h.

We will surely hear about the all-new Opel Ampera-e vehicle in the near future, perhaps sooner than expected, as the company has also declared that it would become a real hit amongst the most preferred electric-cars destined for city fun and purposes.

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However, it was after the snapshots were taken that YouTuber DrGrumoLunatic had realized that he was actually dealing with prototypes of the new Opel Insignia.

The test mules features “GG” German license plates, meaning Groβ-Gerau district, the region where Opel has its factories. More than that, it couldn’t have been the future Renault Megance, as this one is relatively much smaller than the big Insignia.

As we can depict from the spy photo, the upcoming Opel Insignia is expected to come with a new wishbone rear suspension, which would improve the car`s handling and driving dynamics.

Also, the all-new Insignia will stand on the new GM E2XX architecture, the same one found on the fresh Chevrolet Malibu, and the same one to presuming underpin the 2018 Holden Commodore in Australia.

The Opel Insignia has been declared “Car of the Year” in Europe in 2014 and is one of the most appreciated sedans on the Old Continent. The new Insignia will also form the basis for the future Buick Regal in the United States and China, and will spawn the next-gen 2018 Holden Commodore, both as a hatchback and a wagon, in Australia.

YouTuber DrGrumoLunatic has also released a short video with what he thought he`d be the future Renault Megane.

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The Sports Tourer’s sales will start this spring, but Opel already received a large number of orders in advance. Since their first C-segment estate had been launched back in 1963, 5.4 million units have been sold until this 10th generation. The oncoming model has been refined in all the aspects, weighing 190 kg less than the one it replaces. This adds extra sportiness while lowering the fuel consumption and transforms it into an appropriate company car. All the body elements are now made of high or ultra-high strength steels and the axles have been redesigned, therefore the car weighs only 1.188 kg!

Though the exterior dimensions remained similar to the outgoing version’s, the cabin is roomier: 26 mm have been added to the driver’s headroom while the passengers in the rear enjoy 28 mm additional legroom. The luggage compartment has been increased by 80 liters, totaling 1.630 liters. Speaking of luggage, the tailgate can be opened and closed without touching it, thanks to the “Keyless Open” system. A simple kicking motion under the bumper will open or close the tailgate.

The exclusively-turbo engines develop between 95 hp and 200 hp, averaging 3.4–6.2 l/100 km (89-142 g/km CO2). The new 1.6 BiTurbo CDTI engine produces 160hp and 350 Nm from 1.500 rpm. It averages 4.1 l/100 km (in Start-Stop, low resistance tires configuration), while accelerating from 80-120 km/h in 8.1 seconds. It joins the 1.6 diesel engines family, including the 95, 110 and 136 variants. The gasoline engines range is dominated by the 1.6 Turbo, 200 hp and 300 Nm of torque beast. Though it displays a fuel consumption of only 6.0 l/100 km, there are available two smaller engines offering a better fuel economy: the 1.4 liter turbo and the even more impressive aluminum-made 1.0 ECOTEC Direct Injection Turbo. The technologies included in the new Sports Tourer are the same as in the other Astra version: from the IntelliLux LED matrix light, which continuously deactivates and reactivates individual LED modules for best visibility, to the complete connectivity solutions, there is nothing missing from the menu.

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It is best suited for the cities’ crowded traffic, because it eliminates the need of repeatedly clutching and de-clutching. Therefore, Opel propose it from now on as an option for its small cars: Adam, Corsa and Karl. It’s also less expensive than an automatic transmission, a fact that makes it even more appropriate for the small cars. But how does it work? It feels pretty much like an automatic transmission, because of the missing clutch pedal. Instead, it is an actuator that engages the clutch for the driver. But the fuel consumption stays low, because there is no transmission loss typically for the automatic gearboxes. It is also as solid and reliable as the manual transmission. To put it in other words, it’s a simple manual transmission, with the clutch and shifting system electrically powered.

The last iteration from Russelheim is called Easytronic 3.0 and it features smoother gear shifts and more responsiveness compared to the previous variant. It offers either a full automatic mode, when the selector is in D position, or a manual shifting mode, just like the most of the automatic transmissions. It can be combined with start-stop function and the five gears are longer, for a better noise-comfort at high speeds. Because of these two features, it contributes to a remarkably low consumption. For instance, when fitted under the new Astra’s hood, it helps the 1.0 liter engine achieve an excellent combined consumption of 4.2 l/100 km (96g CO2/km).

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Before its world premiere, at Geneva Motor Show, Opel presents its latest concept in a meaningful video. Starting as a dream, the car gradually takes shape, passing into the real life. Finally, it transforms in in a real, proper sports car, opens its door and invites the fan to drive it into a city full of lights. In a sequence of the film, the 1965 Opel GT can be seen, creating a bridge between the German’s brand history and its future. The message sent by the film is eloquent:” If you can dream it, you can create it”.

Indeed, the concept shows many futuristic features, while maintaining its form as simple as possible. The exterior shape looks flawless, getting rid of disturbing elements like door handles or mirrors, while the complete lack of the switches onboard creates a truly unique atmosphere. It’s a real sporty silhouette, with the long bonnet and insignificantly overhangs. Yet, the central double exhaust and the steering wheel remind of the old GT concept. Let’s remember also probably its most interesting feature, which transform the GT into a unique companion: the Human Machine Interface. This interface learns the driver’s habits and preferences and acts accordingly, playing its favorite music and setting its preferred temperature, or even more, sending him useful messages regarding to the traffic.

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The whole concept is pure: in the Germans vision, the future sportscar must be both simple and breathtaking. They’re going to bring the concept to the 2016 Geneva Motor Show, so you’ll soon be able to admire its curvy, sculptural body-shape and the simple, yet spectacular interior design. As you can imagine, the lack of physical buttons was a real challenge for the engineers: they had to create an easy to use, fully functional interface. So they decided to allow the driver to use two input methods: by voice and via the central touchpad. They call it symbolically Human Machine Interface (HMI). It continuously evolves by getting to understand the driver’s habits and therefore his needs. The point was to create a car that adapts to the driver’s style, rather than the other way round.

The software behind the HMI is very complex: it literally creates a dialog between itself and the driver, asking questions about the music, route or temperature. The driver will eventually see it as a friend which always plays the best suited music, take the best route and understands the driving style, adapting the car’s setups to support it best. As about the onboard atmosphere…it is relaxing, yet sporty thanks to the huge windshield, the brushed aluminum used for the instrument panel and the red driver’s seat. Not only they look interesting, but their lightweight construction help the car stay under 1.000 kg. The two round instruments are fully digital and project in 3D the information selected by the driver.

The dynamic safety systems are now up to a whole new level: the car is permanently connected to the traffic, and can send helpful messages like “Be careful. Don’t overlook the motorcycle behind us!”. No more side mirrors, as they are replaced by rearview cameras. It feels like science fiction became reality!

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What makes Ampera-e better than other electric cars? First of all, it promises a longer range than the majority of electric cars on the market. Then, probably even more exciting, it will be affordable.

It’s going to be the European version of the Chevrolet Bolt, which was presented last month at CES and Detroit Motor Show. Its American brother revealed most of its technical data: his estimated range reaches 320 km, while the fully-charging time lasts 9 hours, using a 240 charger unit. Each charging hour, at this voltage, provides an average 40 km of range. However, there’s a quick-charging mode, which can charge the equivalent of 145 km in 30 minutes. The battery-pack isn’t T-shaped, like in the Volt – Ampera, but rectangle-shaped, being placed under the floor. It’s compact enough to provide a good interior space and not intrude into the trunk. In Chevrolet’s model, the cargo space has a capacity of 478 liters. Back to the batteries, they have a 60 kWh capacity and weigh just over 430 kg. Paired with the 200 hp electric engine, they are able to accelerate the Bolt to 100 km/h in 7 sec. The entire drivetrain, including the electric motor and the batteries of the Bolt are made by the Korean giant LG.

Opel announced that the Ampera-e will be equipped with the manufacturer’s connectivity and assistant Opel OnStar, together with smartphone-connectivity systems and infotainment technologies. We expect it on the market in 2017.

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