Opel/Vauxhall

Opel Sees Restructuring Pay Off Großansicht des Bildes mit der Bildunterschrift: The carmaker has managed to improve its results in Europe As US parent company GM struggles, auto maker Opel is back in good financial health, nearly a year after undergoing massive restructuring. Opel, the German subsidiary of hard-hit US auto maker General Motors, is back in the black, after putting into place a savings program that will eventually cost the company 9,000 jobs. Bildunterschrift: Großansicht des Bildes mit der Bildunterschrift: Last year, Opel workers took to the streets to keep their jobsIn a report based on internal group forecasts, German business newspaper Handels…

News Opel expanding performance lineup, hopes added models will boost brand image JASON STEIN | Automotive News Posted Date: 11/24/05 PALERMO, Italy -- To boost the image of its lineup, General Motors is expanding its range of Opel Performance Center vehicles. GM will extend its OPC high-performance package to include nearly all of its Opel models within the next two years. "On the product front, we want people to take Opel seriously as a dynamic brand, and we think we can convey that in more of our products," said Mark Adams, General Motors Europe's director of exterior design, during the press introduction of the Astra, Zafira and Vectra OPC vehicles. …

Opel urgently needs money to prevent a cash crisis that could result in the total failure of its operations. The time frame is weeks. The cash-starved General Motors brand has appealed to governments in European nations where it has operations to supply emergency funding to bridge a €3.3 billion liquidity shortage. German Economy Minister Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg said today he will not be pressured into making a quick decision on granting state aid to struggling Opel. http://www.worldcarfans.com/9090302.005/op...y-from-collapse

Some interesting notes: -Rumor has it this previews a new Saturn Crossover (VUE Replacement) -Concept built on "Theta" platform (Saturn VUE, Chevrolet Equinox, Pontiac Torrent) -Shares a designer with the Ford Iosis Concept (Stephan Lamm). -May be sold as a Chevy in Europe or as a replacement for the Opel Frontera. -When this goes into production, expect to see two extra doors.

Spy Pics of Opel Astra caught testing in Death Valley! Link: http://jalopnik.com/cars/the-opelization-o...lley-265642.php

Opel Astra Heads Towards One Million Mark Text & photos courtesy Adam Opel GmbH 03-16-2006 -Sales up 25 percent in 2005 -Number one compact car in eight European countries in 2005 -Most popular compact station wagon in Europe -Market launch of Astra TwinTop cabrio Two years after its market launch, the Opel Astra continues to enjoy great popularity throughout Europe. New registrations of the best-selling Astra, winner of numerous comparison tests in the highly-competitive compact class, rose from around 400,000 to 515,000 in 2005. This plus of approximately 110,000 units compared to 2004 represents an increase of 25 percent, and brings the current Astra ge…

Hello, there is an Opel Astra supposedly for sale in the US. Since the laws here really don't let you import a car, with a handful of exceptions, it's almost certain the car (if it is really here) is here illegally. i am curious what country's plates are on the car...can someone help identify? see the picture here: http://www.craigslist.org/nby/car/171218574.html THANK YOU!

New Astra TwinTop: Sporty, Elegant Four-Seat Cabrio-Coupé State-of-the-art three-part retractable hardtop From coupé to cabrio at the touch of a button in less than 30 seconds Generous luggage compartment space, innovative “Easy Load” function Adaptive chassis with Continuous Damping Control and bi-xenon curve light Rüsselsheim. World premiere of Opel’s new cabrio-coupé at the IAA: following the successful launches of the sedan, station wagon and GTC, Opel presents its fourth distinctive Astra model. The Astra TwinTop will be unveiled to the public for the first time at the International Automobile Exhibition in Frankfurt (September 17 – 25). The elegant fou…

Opel Astra TwinTop Production Begins Text & photos courtesy Adam Opel GmbH 02-24-2006 *Astra model range with four variants now complete *2005: 513,300 Astras produced across Europe Antwerp. Production of the new Opel Astra TwinTop, the fourth variant of Opel’s successful new Astra generation, started today at the state-of-the-art Astra plant in Antwerp. The dynamically designed and innovative four-seat cabrio-coupé features an innovative three-part roof system that fully opens or closes at the touch of a button in less than 30 seconds. As the individual parts of the roof system are smaller than those of conventional cabrio-coupés, there is more room for passe…

Opel to cut production of Astra, Vectra - report Sat Nov 18, 2006 12:20pm ET Link to Original Article @ Yahoo!Reuters FRANKFURT, Nov 18 (Reuters) - General Motors (GM.N: Quote, Profile, Research) plans to cut production of its Astra and Vectra cars by about 9 percent next year as its new Corsa cannibalises sales of the Astra, its best-selling car in Europe, Germany's Automobilwoche reported. Citing confidential company documents, the magazine said on Saturday that production of the Astra compact and the Zafira vans based on the Astra model would fall to 690,000 from 750,000 in 2007. Production of Vectras would be cut to 127,000 next year from 144,000 this year, the…

BY MARK PHELAN FREE PRESS AUTO CRITIC FRANKFURT, Germany -- If you thought the deal to sell a controlling interest in General Motors' European operations to a Russian-Canadian consortium was done, think again. GM's fate could hinge on the outcome, because its European operations are responsible for developing the compact and midsize vehicles GM needs to survive. However, GM is making contingency plans in case things go sideways and it finds it cannot trust its partners in a shotgun wedding orchestrated by the German government after six months of tense negotiations and political intrigue. It's almost impossible to get anyone to assess the deal's prospects frankly,…

20.10.2006 Opel is backing up new Astra sedan Link to Full Article & Commentary @ Autoblog Istanbul. Opel is back into the compact sedan market. And it backed up its new entry, the Astra Sedan, at its world premiere at the Istanbul motor show yesterday with two company firsts: General Motors has never before premiered a new car in Turkey. And it never before drove it on stage in reverse. Friedhelm Engler, chief designer compact cars at General Motors Design Europe, said climbing out of the back seat of the Astra: "We are back in the market of compact sedans with the new Astra. And its back is what it's all about. It gives ample space for the luggage of a family o…

Opel Flextreme GT/E concept adds Volt drivetrain to larger car Think of the Opel Flextreme GT/E concept as a bigger Chevrolet Volt (or Opel Ampera if you're European). The idea behind this concept, which will debut at the Geneva Motor Show, is to show how the Volt's extended-range electric vehicle drivetrain can be used in a larger vehicle, in this case a mid-size five-door hatchback. So far, every vehicle shown by General Motors with an ER-EV drivetrain, including the Volt, Ampera and Cadillac Converj concept, has been compact in size. By paying attention to aerodynamics, the Flextreme GT/E still achieves a low 0.22 coefficient of drag despite its bigger dimens…

A great name doesn’t have to be long. Indeed, for many automobile fans, the Opel GT is the cult sports car of the 1970s. Now the legendary name is making a comeback in the form of a stunning two-seat roadster that could also make automobile history. Opel will present the all-new GT to the international public for the first time at the Geneva Motor Show (March 2 to 12, 2006). With exciting, sharply-cut lines, rear-wheel drive, and a potent four-cylinder turbo engine with gasoline direct injection, the new sports car echoes the successful concept of the original GT, which was built between 1968 and 1973. “The GT is a powerful addition to our range of attractive niche produ…

1. Classic proportions: sleek silhouette, long hood, short overhangs. 2. Archetypal roadster architecture with front-mounted engine and rear-wheel drive. 3. High-tech turbo direct injection and twin A-arms. 4. Roadster fun and performance at affordable price: 264 hp for 30,675 euros. The modern definition of an athletic two-seater finds its form in the new Opel GT. As a classic roadster, it has a powerful front-mounted engine, rear-wheel drive, a cockpit with sporty instruments and a tailor-made fabric roof. With a wide stance, sleek silhouette, long, front-hinged hood and short overhangs, the proportions are typical of this class. The Opel GT also brings new charm to…

Opel has more orders than they can fill for the Opel Ampera E According to the news, Opel has issued an order to all opel dealers to pause on accepting anymore orders for the Ampera E EV auto that is based on the Chevrolet Bolt. To date, Chevrolet has delivered 15,000 bolts and in Europe 1,000 have been delivered in Norway alone with another 5,000 already on order. Opel has also started Ampera E deliveries in Germany, Switzerland and Netherlands. Opel has stated they want to ensure getting the Consumer Reports most reliable auto, the BOLT into as many hands as possible and at this time till they can fulfill the backlog, they are holding off on accepting new orders. T…

http://www.worldcarfans.com/9080625.008/op...production-trim

Opel Presents Astra OPC Nürburgring Edition Limited special edition model with high-performance package Rüsselsheim. At the start of the fourth round of the OPC Race Camp, Opel unveils the Astra OPC “Nürburgring Edition”, a limited special edition version of the successful three-door model. The “Nürburgring Edition” emphasizes the connection between the racetrack steeped in tradition and the Opel brand. The Nürburgring, and in particular the legendary Nordschleife, are rightfully known as Opel territory, as this is where Opel production cars are extensively tested during their development stage. Manuel Reuter first highlighted the OPC models’ performance power in 2005…

Opel Making A Comeback In America? William Maley - Editor/Reporter - CheersandGears.com June 18, 2011 Opel hasn't had an easy time since GM's bankruptcy. The company has been losing money and sales since GM exited bankruptcy in 2009. Last week, rumors came out about GM possibly selling the company to either the Chinese or a German auto company. This week, there is talk about bringing over an Opel-branded small car to the US. In a interview with German magazine Auto Motor und Sport, Opel's labor chief Klaus Franz purposed the idea of selling a small car in America. "In the cities of the East and West coast, I do see demand for this vehicle," said Franz. …

Check out this amazing new commercial for Opel called "Opel Ode"! http://velocityfilms.whip.co.za/whip_veloc...el%20Ode%20.mov (it may take a minute to download, but its worth it!)

Opel Insignia Production line. Notice that both the Insignia and Vectra are being built on the same assembly line. The car behind the Insignia is a Vectra. Hmmm, France or the UK, which way should I go? :rotflmao: These next two are for you Z! Circa 1926.

Link to Autoblog entry. Enjoy!

Looks like the S3X with a Different Front end. http://autospy.dreamwiz.com/board/bbs/tabl...l1125400893.jpg Opel Antara GTC Concept http://www.auto-motor-und-sport.de/news/fo...a_gtc.90218.htm From Autoweek.nl http://www.autoweek.nl/images/800/8521472.jpg http://www.autoweek.nl/images/800/8521476.jpg http://www.autoweek.nl/images/800/8521477.jpg http://www.autoweek.nl/images/800/8521478.jpg http://www.autoweek.nl/images/800/13000.jpg http://www.autoweek.nl/images/800/13001.jpg http://www.autoweek.nl/images/800/13002.jpg Interior http://www.autoweek.nl/images/800/8521475.jpg http://www.autoweek.nl/images/800/8521473.jpg http://www.autoweek.…

Amy Wilson Automotive News October 3, 2008 - 11:30 am ET PARIS -- General Motors' second extended-range electric vehicle will be an Opel. Opel, GM's European brand, will sell its own version of the Chevrolet Volt plug-in just months after the Volt's promised on-sale date in late 2010, said Hans Demant, managing director of Opel. "Since fuel economy and the whole issue of ecological driving is as important in Europe as it is in North America, we made a decision that we're going to trail the North American Volt with an Opel version of that vehicle in the 2011 time frame," Demant said here. Though the Opel plug-in will share the Volt's powertrain, it will hav…

Link to Article After a day of worker protests across Europe at various General Motors plants, news comes today from Carl-Peter Foster (above), head of GM Europe, that Opel is planning to reorganize itself as a joint-stock company. GM would basically give up between 25-50 percent of its stake in the spun off company, with the hope that outside investors would make up the rest. The reorg would also likely include concessions by workers for lower pay as well as a restructuring plan to lower operating costs. The main obstacle to separating Opel from GM in the past has been the degree to which the two are intertwined, but a joint-stock company in which GM remains the lar…

Link to article

Notice the new slogan - Wir leben Autos (We live cars) ... stole that from Pontiac, Pontiac is car ... Link- http://opel.de

http://www.autoscoops.be/autoforum/viewtop...3a56ed482822e8c You must register for the Scoops forum!

Opel/Vauxhall Insignia named Car of the Year 2009 OFFICIAL WEBSITE: http://www.caroftheyear.org/ -Jury members say Insignia "much more than style" -Innovation, safety and comfort highly value Rüsselsheim. The Opel/Vauxhall Insignia was named Car of the Year 2009 (COTY) today by a panel of car journalists from 23 countries, recognizing the mid-sized car as truly revolutionary for the brand. Many jury members appreciated the looks and visual quality of this model but the new C/D (mid-sized) car from Rüsselsheim is much more than style, the non-profit COTY organization said. Active and passive safety, comfort and a wide array of efficient engines characteriz…

When information first broke out that Volkswagen was using illegal software to fool emission testing equipment on their diesel vehicles, questions arose of whether or not other automakers are doing the same thing. Belgian news site VRT News alleges that Opel is secretly updating the emission control software in the Zafira 1.6 diesel by saying it's only a software update. This vehicle has been the target of various environmental groups as being one of the dirtiest vehicles. VRT News tested two Zafiras - with and without the update - and found the update cut emissions by more than half in one and by three-quarters in another. In their report, VRT News said deale…

Yesterday, news broke that General Motors and PSA Group (owner of Peugeot and Citroen) were in discussions on possibly selling Opel and Vauxhall. Already, the possible sale is under intense scrutiny from various European governments and unions. There are concerns about jobs being cut with this deal, and none are too happy that officials from local governments and unions were not included in the talks. There is also the possibility of political backlash coming to Germany and France as both will be holding elections later this year. "It's unclear whether GM will keep an Opel stake, who pays what and if anything will go through at all, given the political backlash," a s…

It is now official. This morning, PSA Group has agreed to buy Opel and Vauxhall from General Motors for 2.2 billion euros (about $2.3 billion). The deal is comprised of a 1.8 billion euros ($1.9 billion) payment for Opel and Vauxhall, along with a stake in Opel's financing arm. This makes PSA Group the second-largest automaker in Europe. “It gives us the opportunity to become a real European champion. Our plan is to build a common future for Opel and Vauxhall and fix the existing issues,” said PSA Chief Executive Officer Carlos Tavares. Those existing issues include Opel and Vauxhall never breaking even for GM. Over the past two decades, Opel and Vauxhall have los…

Today, Dr. Karl-Thomas Neumann has announced that he will be stepping down as Opel CEO, confirming various reports that came out over the weekend. His replacement is Opel's current chief financial officer, Michael Lohscheller effective immediately. "It was a difficult personal decision to not continue with the Opel/Vauxhall team when it transitions to Groupe PSA. I am proud of the team for all we have accomplished so far and have no doubt that the move to PSA will make Opel/Vauxhall an even stronger and more successful company in the future. I am committed to completing this transaction and will then take some time to decide what is next for me,” Neumann said in a st…

Previous Page Next Page Just a day after a set of spy shots revealed the next-generation Opel and Vauxhall Insignia, Vauxhall has unveiled the 2017 Insignia Grand Sport. Meanwhile, Holden has pulled the wraps of the 2018 Commodore. The Insignia/Commodore borrows a lot of cues from the 2013 Monza concept with a lowered grille, distinct sculpting along the side, and shorter overhangs. This new shape is more aerodynamic with a drag coefficient of 0.26. Even though the new Insignia is the same length as the outgoing model, the new one has a wheelbase that has been stretched 3.6 inches for added legroom. Other measurements to be aware of inclu…

William Maley Staff Writer - CheersandGears.com September 10, 2012 Last Thursday, Morgan Stanley released a report saying GM should sell off Opel and settle it losses. The report says GM has lost $10 to $20 billion over the past three years to Opel. If GM keeps the brand, the report says it will cost it up to another $12 billion over the next 10 years. Closing Opel isn't a good option at all says the report due to the enormous costs of winding down manufacturing operations in Europe. The report goes on to say that if GM was to sell Opel, that it would cost between $7 and $13 billion dollars. UBS auto analyst Colin Langan told the Detroit Free Press that if GM was to…

By William Maley Staff Writer - CheersandGears.com January 11, 2013 At the unveiling of the first production model of the new Opel Adam, GM Europe president Steve Girsky and vice CEO Thomas Sedran went into more detail about the company's multibillion-dollar restructuring plan dubbed Drive! 2022. The plan, which was which was approved six weeks ago by GM's board, would take place in three phases. Phase one would see the company “cut the cash flow gap” between expenditure and income Phase two will involve the company launching twenty-three new vehicles, thirteen new engines, and technologies to break even in 2016 Phase three will see the company introduce new comm…

William Maley Staff Writer - CheersandGears.com August 21, 2013 Opel pulled the veil back on the Monza concept before its official debut at the Frankfurt Motor Show next month and its something different to say in the least. The design is a mashup of coupe and wagon with large gullwing doors and very sleek lines. Opel says the Monza's design will influence future models such as the next-generation Astra and Insignia. Also, the Monza is huge. The overall length is 15.38 feet. Opel has tried its best to disguise this fact by making it seem 'light'. The style "conveys athletic efficiency rather than pure muscle power," Opel says. Under the sleek and 'light' skin, the Mo…

Previous Page Next Page It was a couple of months ago that Opel/Vauxhall/Holden unveiled the brand new Insignia Grand Sport/Commodore to the world. Today, the three automakers revealed the sister model, the Insignia Sports Tourer/Commodore Sportwagon. Basically, the Insignia Sports Tourer/Commodore Sportwagon follows the same the design as the Grand Sport/Commodore albeit with a longer roofline. This allows for an increase in cargo space with 520 liters (about 18.3 cubic feet) on offer behind the rear seats and 1,638 liters (about 57.8 cubic feet) when folded. Like the new Grand Sport/Commodore, the Insignia Sports Tourer/Comm…

William Maley Staff Writer - CheersandGears.com September 6, 2012 The General Motors, PSA alliance has hit a wall. According to German news magazine, Der Spiegel, one part of GM-PSA alliance has been taken out. The part dealt with GM sharing the Insignia platform with Citroën and Peugeot to build their next-generation midsize sedans.That would also allow Citroën and Peugeot vehicles to roll off the line at the Rüsselsheim plant, thus allowing the plant to use up all available capacity. Why was this part taken out? Der Spiegel says Buick and GM China complained, stating the deal would cause the vehicles to compete too closely. Managers are also questioning the coopera…

William Maley Staff Writer - CheersandGears.com September 6, 2012 The General Motors, PSA alliance has hit a wall. According to German news magazine, Der Spiegel, one part of GM-PSA alliance has been taken out. The part dealt with GM sharing the Insignia platform with Citroën and Peugeot to build their next-generation midsize sedans.That would also allow Citroën and Peugeot vehicles to roll off the line at the Rüsselsheim plant, thus allowing the plant to use up all available capacity. Why was this part taken out? Der Spiegel says Buick and GM China complained, stating the deal would cause the vehicles to compete too closely. Managers are also questioning the coopera…

How much is Opel worth? According to Bloomberg, the valuation being discussed by General Motors and PSA Group puts it around $2 billion dollars. According to sources, the total comprises about $1 billion in cash and about $1 billion in liabilities. The amount could change as two are still assessing a number of items such as the value of brand rights and savings potential. The sources also the framework for PSA to buy Opel could be finished by Thursday. This would be the same day when PSA Group reports full-year earnings. The sources go on to caution this could be pushed back because of the complex nature of the deal such us finding ways to reduce costs while keeping …

As General Motors and PSA Group continue their discussions (and damage control) on the possible sale of Opel/Vauxhall, a secret plan being developed by Opel CEO Karl-Thomas Neumann has been put on the back burner for the time being. German magazine manager magazin reports that Neumann had been working on a plan that would see Opel transition to selling electric vehicles only in an effort to ensure the brand's survival. GM Europe has been losing money for the past 15 years. In 2016, the branch posted a $257 million loss. Neumann was worried that Opel didn't have the resources to develop both combustion engine and electric drivetrains. The plan would see Opel end …

Only a few weeks after first learning about the talks between General Motors and PSA Group on the possible purchase of Opel/Vauxhall, Reuters reports that a deal has been reached. This afternoon, two sources told the news service the board of PSA Group approved the deal. An announcement about the purchase is expected on Monday. Also, Opel cut short a town hall meeting today at their headquarters in Ruesselsheim, Germany due to management being unable to discuss details about the potential acquisition. A town hall meeting possibly discussing this will take place on Monday morning. Details about the deal are being kept under wraps, but earlier in the week, sources…

The next-generation Opel Insignia has been caught for the first time as it ventures out into the real world. We only tell so much from the spy shots since Opel has done a decent job of fitting a fair amount of camouflage to the vehicle. But there is one element we can pull out of the shots. It seems Opel has taken a liking to the Audi A7's styling that they are copying the distinctive roofline for the Insignia. Along with the A7 inspired roofline, Opel is adding around four inches to the overall length to better compete with the Skoda Superb - a Volkswagen Passat sized model. Now this brings up an interesting question for the U.S. market. Buick sells the Insignia …

William Maley Staff Writer - CheersandGears.com August 11, 2012 Some new spy shots of a refreshed version of the Opel Insignia OPC have been caught. Starting up front, the Insignia OPC appears to get a new bumper, small air intakes, and a new grille. Around back, there are minimal changes. The only thing of note is a set of restyled taillights. Inside, there appears to be a larger screen for infotainment and navigation and a restyled center console. Now, we wondering if the Buick Regal GS will see any of these changes. Both vehicles share many items, except the drivetrain. Source: Autoblog William Maley is a staff writer for Cheers & Gears. He can be reached a…

As Opel and Vauxhall get ready to introduce the all-new Insignia Grand Sport and Sports Tourer for Geneva, a new set of spy shots reveals Opel is working on the next member of the Insignia family, the new Country Tourer. The mule seen in the photos obtained by Motor1 and The Truth About Cars reveal some noticeable changes from the standard Sports Tourer. First off, there are new bumpers and plastic body cladding to give it a more rugged look. It also appears the ride height has been raised, though how much is unknown at this time. All-wheel drive is expected, though there is talk about offering front-wheel drive to provide better fuel economy. As for power, expect so…

G. Noble Editor/Reporter - CheersandGears.com April 12th, 2012 The Opel Insignia is certainly a well-traveled piece of automotive design. Currently, the German mid-sized sedan is sold in mainland Europe as, obviously, the Opel Insignia, in the UK as the Vauxhall Insignia, and in China and North America as the Buick Regal. For 2013, you can add Australia to the list of countries the Insignia has been to as Opel prepares to introduce the brand to the market there for the first time, but before that takes place, the German automaker plans to give its award-winning sedan a bit of a makeover. Spy photographers snapped these shots of the refreshed Insignia undergoing testin…

Usually, we don't report on wagons in our spying reports because there are no chances they are coming to the U.S. But with the recent rumors of the next-generation Buick Regal possibly getting a wagon variant. we tend to pay attention. Which brings us nicely to a set of spy photos of the 2017 Opel/Vauxhall Insignia Sports Tourer. Compared to the current Sports Tourer, the new one shown in these pictures looks to be slightly longer and wider. Up front, the nose looks to be more upright and there are new headlights. Opel has attached body panels behind the c-pillar to try and disguise the slope of the roof and window shape. How does this connect to the Buick Rega…

The Vauxhall Astra was the final 'Star in a Reasonably Priced Car' before the whole Jeremy Clarkson 'fracas' imploded the show. Now you have the chance to own this vehicle. Vauxhall put the vehicle up for sale this week on eBay, describing the model as a 1.5L TechLine hatchback with 115 horsepower. The Astra is fitted with a full roll cage along with two Corbeau Sprint Racing seats and five-point safety harnesses. It should be noted the airbags are disabled due to the rollcage. Mileage is listed at 2,908 miles. But considering how much abuse this Astra was put through, we think it should read 2,908,000 miles. During the Astra's time as the 'Reasonably Priced Car',…

Opel/Vauxhall Working On A Insignia Crossover William Maley - Editor/Reporter - CheersandGears.com June 15, 2011 Opel and Vauxhall are busy working on a new flagship, but it's not what you're thinking. Opel CEO, Karl-Friedrich Stracke said the company is working on new SUV that will become the brand's flagship. The vehicle will be based on the Epsilon II platform (Same one as the Insignia), come with the choice of front-wheel or all-wheel drive, and have seven seats. It will be competing with the upcoming Citroen DS5 Crossover and it's Peugeot platform mate. The crossover is expected to come out sometime in 2015. Source: Auto Express

Shortly after rejoining GM in late 2001, Bob Lutz initiated a program to provide sub-Cadillac rear-drive cars in the United States developed from the Australian Holden brand. Unlike previous GM product chiefs in Detroit, Lutz was impressed with what the Australians had achieved with modest engineering budgets and saw the opportunity to transform the Holden rear-drive platforms into the sporty products he believed Chevy and Pontiac desperately needed. It was a sound concept -- and one successive Holden execs had been pushing on and off since the 1990s and a project called GMX127, a proposal to build a Holden Commodore rear-drive sedan in Australia for Buick that was repor…

1976 Mazda Roadpacer Note, the prices on the web site are in AUD not USD. The Mazda RoadPacer, was a 1976 Holden Premier model, assembled by Mazda in Japan, and powered by a Mazda 13B rotary engine. Even when they were new, these things were rare (and most of them were sold to the Japanese government), but with Japan's strict vehicle testing regime, the availability of a 30 year old Japanese-market-only vehicle in Japan is nothing short of amazing. Although Mazda and Ford had a financial tie, back in the mid 70's GM was doing rotary engine research, and had bought some technology from Mazda. As part (possibly full) payment for the technology transfer, GM arranged for a…

Reuters today reported five potential outcomes for Opel. To read the story, click here.

[source: Wall Street Journal] RHJ Will Sweeten Bid for GM's European Unit By DANA CIMILLUCA Belgian investment firm RHJ International plans to sweeten its bid for General Motors Co.'s European unit in an effort to overcome German government opposition to its bid. RHJ is developing a revised bid for GM's Opel/Vauxhall operations that would lower the amount of German taxpayer-funded loan guarantees required from €3.8 billion ($5.38 billion) to as little as €3.6 billion, people familiar with the matter said Friday. That would be €900 million below the amount of state aid envisioned in a rival offer from car-parts maker Magn…

Hey found this while reading autoblog.com this morning, enjoy. GM ups pressure on German Opel plant: report