Opinion: What should happen to Saturn, Vauxhall and Opel during GM's reorganization?

Amidst all the recent bailout talk, one question being asked is what role GM's Opel division will serve in a new-and-hopefully-improved General Motors. More succinctly, will Vauxhall and Saturn soldier on unchanged or will they simply fade into automotive landscape? Automotive News seems to think the question of Opel and how it relates to Vauxhall and Saturn is so important that it's worth devoting three separate editorials to the issue, with varying levels of clarity.
Richard Truett maintains that shuttering Saturn would be a "monumental mistake that would alienate many of the most loyal buyers GM has," but thinks that "Saturn fans would be cool with a transition to Opel." We think that the cars might be well-received by Saturn buyers, but that the prices need to be more budget-minded and that the overall focus of the brand needs a thorough work-over. Some Autobloggers believe that shutting down Saturn altogether would be a mistake, while some are in favor of doing away with the brand as soon as possible. Regardless of where on that fence our staffers sit, we all expressed doubt that changing the name to Opel in the U.S. would serve any constructive purpose. Clearly, if it is going to keep Saturn, GM needs to show more support for the brand, as evidenced by the Malibu/Aura situation.
So what about killing off Vauxhall, which is essentially a UK-only rebadge of Opel? Well, here we see some dissent as well. Wim Oude Weernink says that the nameplate is superfluous and thinks GM should be reduced to just Cadillac, Opel and Chevrolet worldwide. That would leave GM with premium, near-premium, and mainstream lineups, placing it in line with other successful automakers like Toyota and Ford.
Colleague Mark Appleton, on the other hand, thinks it would be stupid to kill off Vauxhall. He argues that the General should keep the storied British marque, pointing out that there is no competition between Vauxhall and Opel and that the existing line-up would be very costly to replace with a brand that has never been successful in the UK. It's much like the Saturn/Opel equation except Saturn isn't as old, by a long shot.
This author thinks that Saturn could survive and possibly thrive as a rebadged Opel line, but recent history proves otherwise. The success of Vauxhall shows that the formula can work in other markets and now that smaller, more fuel-efficient Euro cars are gaining a foothold in the States, Saturn would be an ideal brand to market Opel's wares to American buyers who want to feel like they are ahead of the curve. And the same philosophy could be applied to Ford, with Mercury getting an infusion of the Blue Oval's Euro models.
It's expensive to shut down dealerships and to change brands, and the added cost of marketing a new or unfamiliar marque is considerably more expensive than manufacturing extra badges. So keeping Vauxhall and Saturn but streamlining the offerings and manufacturing some of the cars here could help bring jobs to America and stabilize prices when the dollar and euro (or pound) are going in opposite directions. Of course there are still some who think Saturn should just die already, but Alex is always cranky after a Knight Rider liveblog, and we don't know what to make of Paukert just yet. What say you?
[ Automotive News ]
[ Tag: bailout, gm bailout, gm bankruptcy, GmBailout, GmBankruptcy, opel, reorganization, restructuring, vauxhall ]

Rendered Speculation: Saab MINI-fighter

Automotive journalists visiting a GM design studio recently got an eyeful of something interesting: a MINI rival from the General, leaving the door open to speculation over which GM division could make it work. While the drawings spotted reportedly featured Chevy bow-ties, the scribes over at Motor Trend venture that Chevrolet couldn't sell it at high enough a price-point to make it a viable option. It'd be too small for Buick or Cadillac, and too European-flavored for Pontiac. (We don't need to point out that HUMMER and GMC wouldn't be a fit, either.) That leaves Saab and Saturn, either or both of which (in possible collaboration with Vauxhall/Opel) could present an intriguing alternative to the fashionable Anglo-Saxon retro-hatch, whose monopoly is coming to an end thanks to Fiat's hot-selling 500 and Alfa Romeo upcoming "Junior" model. It was nice while it lasted, wasn't it, MINI?


[ Tag: gm mini, GmMini, opel mini, OpelMini, saab mini, SaabMini, saturn mini, SaturnMini, vauxhall mini, VauxhallMini ]

GM bringing more 'Green' to Frankfurt, new Opel concept to bow

During this year's Frankfurt Motor Show in September, GM will be taking the wraps of its latest eco-minded concept, in the form of a new Opel-branded vehicle. The E-Flex-equipped concept will feature an electric motor that sends power to the wheels, which can be charged via either a household power outlet or the concept's ultra-efficient diesel mill.
Along with the aforementioned concept, GM will be unveiling a Opel/Vauxhall Corsa equipped with a 1.3-liter common rail diesel that produces 75 HP and releases 119 grams of carbon dioxide per kilometer traveled. The show stand will also hold the E85-capable Cadillac BLS and the HydroGen4, a Euro-spec version of the Chevy Equinox fuel cell vehicle.


[ Tag: bls, cadillac, chevrolet, chevy, corsa, e-flex, e85, general motors, GeneralMotors, gm, opel, vauxhall ]

Lutz: No Beat for the U.S., smaller CUVs on the way, Insignia stalled

General Motor's car czar, Bob Lutz, sat down with the little people of the blogosphere after GM's announcement that it would be reducing white collar expenditures by 20-percent, cutting truck production and eliminating retired health care for salaried workers over 65, all in an effort to boost its liquidity by $15 billion by the end of 2009.
Maximum Bob addressed questions about GM's entire brand portfolio, saying, "Pontiac will be nourished with products" and confirming that GM is in talks with financial institutions about HUMMER, and that, "If we could sell the brand, we'd be interested in doing that."

Predictably, much of the conversation centered on fuel efficiency and the General's plans to address the growing demand for miserly transport in the U.S. Lutz made it clear that "as fuel costs in the U.S. begin to resemble those in the rest of the world" it will be easier for GM to realign its products on a global scale.
[Photo: David McNew/Getty]

So what about the Chevy Beat? The subcompact hatch is slated to arrive in Europe next year as the Spark, replacing the vehicle that shares the same name. However, GM didn't intend for the Beat (or Spark) to be offered in the U.S., so it doesn't meet federal safety and crash standards. It would take too much money and about two years to bring the Beat up to snuff for sales in the U.S., so Lutz conceded that it wouldn't be coming to the U.S. until the next generation arrives... whenever that is.

In more unfortunate news, the Chevrolet Cruze, set to debut in Paris and with sales beginning next year in Europe, won't be replacing the Cobalt in the U.S. anytime soon. Lutz maintains that the current Cobalt is "no where near the end of its life-cycle" and that it's "finally coming into its own" in the U.S. market. When the Cruze does debut, expect an interior that's a cross between the Cobalt and the Malibu, and powered by a turbocharged 1.4-liter four-pot that will get 40+ mpg.

When asked about Saturn, Lutz was insistent that GM "likes the brand," but is concerned that the franchise isn't generating enough volume. While earlier reports suggested that Saturn would short-cycle the Aura and replace it with the Opel/Vauxhall Insignia, Lutz says that it won't be coming forthright.

When the 2008/2009 show season ramps up, expect GM to debut several new compact crossovers that are significantly smaller than the Lambda CUVs currently on sale. Lutz wouldn't elaborate on what brands would be getting these new cute 'utes, but expect them to span GM's portfolio.

On a completely unrelated tangent, Lutz divulged a few tidbits about his personal rides, which include a Saturn Sky Redline, an Aura and four (count 'em, four) Segways. Go figure...

[ Autoblog (Vauxhall) ]
[ Tag: beat, bob lutz, BobLutz, breaking, cruza, cruze, general motors, GeneralMotors, gm, gmc, hummer, saturn ]

British Motor Show Preview: Opel Insignia to debut in hatch and sedan forms

click the Insignia for a high-res gallery
GM's European branch is planning a big debut later this month at the British Motor Show in London for one of its most important mainstream models. The new Insignia is replacing the venerable Vectra name plate and brings with it a whole new design language. We got our first preview of the new look on last years GTC and Flextreme concepts. In London Opel will be displaying hatchback and sedan variants of the Epsilon II based Insignia. The sharp edged look of the last Vectra is replaced with smoother flowing lines and scooped out side panels. European drivers will have seven engines to choose from including four gas and three diesel models all with six speed gearboxes. The four and six cylinder gas engines range from 115hp to 260hp while the 2.0L diesel fours get 110-160hp variants. The Insignia will also be available with a version of the Haldex torque vectoring all wheel drive system used on the Saab Turbo-X. GM plans to announce pricing for the new model on July 22 in London with sales later this fall. The translated Opel press release is after the jump.

[ Autoblog (Vauxhall) ]
[ Tag: british motor show, BritishMotorShow, opel insignia, OpelInsignia ]

First official shots of Opel Insignia interior released

The first official look at the Opel Insignia's interior leaves us with the impression that Opel / Vauxhall's new sedan is going to be a nice place in which to log some miles. Put simply, the cockpit is identical to the one first shown in the slick-looking Opel GTC concept that debuted last year. Simple, attractive gauges are joined by amber lighting and a nice blend of plastics, brightwork, and other trim to create a driver-focused cockpit meant to be as usable as it is attractive. One of the little elements that's kind of cool is how the gauge lighting shifts from white to red when the car is put into sport mode. Expect even more info on the Insignia and plenty of closer looks at the cabin when the car debuts in London next month at the British International Motor Show. If you can't make it to London, just exercise a little patience, cross those fingers, and wait. This car will likely come Stateside as the next Saturn Aura at some point in the future. GM's official PR is pasted after the jump.

[ Autoblog (Vauxhall) ]
[ Tag: BIMS, british motor show, BritishMotorShow, insignia, insignia interior, InsigniaInterior, interior, london motor show, LondonMotorShow, opel, opel insignia, OpelInsignia, vauxhall ]

Spy Shots: Next Opel Vectra, inside and out

Autogespot has spy shots of the 2008 Opel Vectra doing duty in the rain somewhere in Europe. There are a lot of tidbits swirling around the car that carry design cues from the Opel GTC/Insignia show cars under all that black zebra stripe. Riding on the Epsilon II platform, it looks to be taller and wider than its predecessor, allowing more interior room and a wider track. Engine options will include a 200bhp 2.7-liter V6 turbodiesel, a gas-powered 2.8-liter V6, and, for the first time, a 4WD version is in the cards. Inside, the car also gets a major revamp and upgrade.
In Britain, the Vauxhall version of the car will possibly be called the Insignia. It's even been reported that it will be able to drive itself -- entirely without input from the driver -- up to 60 mph, using lasers and cameras. Yum. The car should bow at the Frankfurt Auto Show later this year. Later on, the Vectra will arrive in the U.S. as the next-gen Saturn Aura.
Thanks for the tip, Sander!

[ Vauxhall ]
[ Tag: 2008, epsilon, opel, vectra ]

Barcelona Motor Show: GM unveils Opel Corsa GSi

The Barcelona Motor Show kicks off today, and GM will use the Spanish venue to show off its new Opel Corsa GSi (its UK twin, the Vauxhall Corsa SRi, has also been announced). Positioned below the range-topping Corsa OPC, the GSi gets a detuned version of the OPC's 1.6L 192-horsepower turbo four In GSi guise, the little hatch is good for 150 horsepower. That'll still be enough to let it do 0-62 in 8.1 seconds and top out at 130 mph, all while pulling down nearly 30 mpg (US) in the combined cycle.
In the UK, the Vauxhall Corsa SRi will also be available with 1.7L CDTi diesel, which will drop the acceleration time to 9.1 seconds and increase fuel economy to over 49 mpg US.
Available in 3-door and 5-door variants, the Corsa GSi gets sporty bodywork, an attractive set of 17" five-spoke wheels, and two-tone seats. It goes on sale in Europe this September. We'll have to wait for the next-gen Corsa to arrive, which will be sold here as a Saturn.

[ Vauxhall ]
[ Tag: 1.6,corsa,corsa gsi,corsa sri,CorsaGsi,CorsaSri,turbo ]

Geneva '08 Preview: Opel/Vauxhall Meriva Concept rendered

We've already seen a rough sketch of the new Meriva concept from Opel/Vauxhall, but after a rendered image began leaking out onto the interwebs this week, GM's European division decided to put out a new image and a more extensive press release. The Meriva concept, set to make its debut in Geneva early next month, is being touted by GM as the future of flexibility and practicality. The automaker is heavily pitching the Meriva's major innovation dubbed FlexDoors, which are what we've all come to know and love as "suicide doors." The rear-hinged back doors supposedly offer easier ingress and egress, better aesthetics and greater safety for the little ones when you're strapping them down in thier child seats. Cool, but hardly what we'd consider truly innovative. We'll let you know how innovative this concept truly is in a couple weeks when we touch down in Switzerland.
PRESS RELEASE

MERIVA CONCEPT: NEXT LEVEL OF FLEXIBILITY

• World premiere: FlexDoors make monocabs more comfortable, versatile and safer
  
• Design: Dynamic lines with no concessions in practicality
  
• Lifestyle: Exit the rear of the car in style
  

With the dynamically styled Meriva Concept, Opel/Vauxhall presents the next level of monocab flexibility at the International Motor Show in Geneva (March 6 – 16, 2008). The concept car features rear-hinged rear doors on both sides of the car called FlexDoors. While the front doors are conventionally designed with front hinges, the rear doors swing open towards the back of the car. Another feature of the family-oriented Meriva Concept is that the front and rear doors can open independently of each other. Rear-hinged rear doors already on the market can only be opened after the front door has been opened, which severely limits their practicality.

GM's patented FlexDoors innovation offers a wide range of benefits:

* Greater functionality: entering and exiting the vehicle is more convenient as the rear doors open to a 90-degree angle, creating a much wider aperture than standard car doors. Thanks to the high roofline, rear passengers also have more headroom when getting in and out of the car. The interior is much more accessible, so stowing a briefcase behind the front seat, for instance, is considerably easier.
* Higher level of safety: securing children in the back seats is much easier. The rear-hinged rear doors also improve control over children exiting the car, as they can be better seen from the different seating positions. The "safety zone" created between both doors also makes it much more difficult for them to step out into traffic than with conventional doors.
* More style: entering and exiting the rear of the vehicle not only looks cool and elegant, but also feels much more natural.

FlexDoors' smooth operation is backed up by an array of patented innovations developed by GM engineers. A safety system ensures the doors can only be opened from the inside or outside when there is no risk to the passengers. The Meriva Concept also features an automatic electronic child lock, which supplements the conventional mechanical system. The concept car also has B-pillars not only for independent opening but also for side-impact safety reasons.

The Meriva Concept's design is distinguished by its attractive combination of practicality and spaciousness with very dynamic and cool styling. The concept car's distinctive window line, arched roof, wide track and impressively sculpted body give a good indication of what is to be expected from future Opel/Vauxhall production monocabs.

"The Meriva Concept clearly illustrates how our new Opel/Vauxhall design language can be adapted to create bold, fresh design solutions for the monocab segment," says Mark Adams, Vice President of Design, General Motors Europe. Especially eye-catching is the dynamic 'wave' of the window line just behind the B-pillars, which provides an excellent all-round view for rear passengers. This also enabled designers to create a dynamic and unique silhouette and still provide good visibility for children in the rear. The body also boasts the distinctive "blade" bodyside form, which was a design element of the GTC Coupe and Flextreme. Another feature is the U-shaped windshield, which stretches up and back over the rear passengers' heads. Rear section elements – in particular the rear lights – echo the Insignia, Opel/Vauxhall's new upper mid-size class car due to be unveiled in the summer. The monocab's roof slopes gently downward towards the rear, underlining its dynamic character.

"The FlexDoors concept is a logical enhancement of our monocabs' flexibility," explains Alain Visser, Chief Marketing Officer, General Motors Europe. "With the Zafira's Flex7® seating system and the Meriva's FlexSpace concept, we took on a similar pioneering role in interior flexibility."

Opel/Vauxhall is enjoying great success with its monocab designs: in 2007, almost 335,000 Zafira and Meriva models were sold. And with the new Agila, monocab experts Opel/Vauxhall now also offer an entry-level monocab in the mini-car segment. Every fifth Opel/Vauxhall model sold today is a monocab, while in the total market it is just every eighth car.


[ Vauxhall ]
[ Tag: ]

Geneva '08 Preview: Opel/Vauxhall Meriva Concept

GM's European divisions are preparing to unveil their latest show car at the 2008 Geneva Motor Show next month. The Meriva Concept is Opel and Vauxhall's study for what form the next Euro minivan could take. The Meriva Concept, as previewed by the concept sketch above, draws on the previous GTC Coupe and Flextreme concepts and applies the theme to a monocab form, a segment in which Opel and Vauxhall account for one fifth of continental sales between the Zafira, Meriva and Agila MPVs. Expect the Meriva Concept to preview the direction that GM's European tall wagons will take in the near future, which could end up finding its way into a Saturn model or two on our side of the Atlantic.
[ Vauxhall ]
[ Tag: geneva,geneva 2008,geneva auto show,geneva general motors,geneva motor show,Geneva2008,GenevaAutoShow,GenevaGeneralMotors,GenevaMotorShow,gm europe,gm geneva,GmEurope,GmGeneva,meriva concept,MerivaConcept,opel,opel meriva,OpelMeriva,vauxhall,vauxhall meriva,VauxhallMeriva ]

Next gen. Vauxhall Vectra to get AWD, twin-turbo V6

Here's what the Saturn Aura Red Line should be, courtesy of Vauxhall. The Vectra is being replaced by an Epsilon 2-based car called the Insignia. The Epsilon 2 will also serve as the basis for the second-generation Saturn Aura. That platform sharing will no doubt be good in workaday trim, but Vauxhall's turning up the wick for the Insignia VXR, and we're crossing our fingers that Saturn is hanging out in the gym with its cousin. The VXR will gain visual horsepower and there will be real output from the powertrain to back up the appearance. A twin-turbocharged 2.8-liter V6 laying down 300 horsepower through the all wheel drive system that debuted with the GTC concept car in Geneva. The suspension will be able to cope with the power by using a revised version of the Vectra VXR's adaptive dampers, and the AWD system carries at least one limited slip differential. A 0-60 time in the mid 5-second range sure sounds good, as does the 165 mph top speed.
Just as exciting to us diesel-starved US consumers is the 2.9 liter V6 turbodiesel variant of the Insignia. The diesel packs a not-insignificant 247 horsepower, and both cars get a six-speed manual transmission standard. What will we do if both versions make it Stateside? We'd have a hard time choosing, but it would be amusing to see what Saturn calls the diesel. The Aura Grey Line? Brown Line? The Insignia VXR is about a year and a half away, with lesser models arriving sooner. Cost will be ?25,000 -- which we hope doesn't translate into a $50,000 range-topper Epsilon 2.

[ Vauxhall ]
[ Tag: epsilon,epsilon 2,epsilon II,Epsilon2,EpsilonIi,europe,general motors,GeneralMotors,gm,insignia,insignia vxr,InsigniaVxr,vauxhall,vectra,vectra vxr,VectraVxr,vxr ]

Opel Meriva concept leaks out (again) ahead of Geneva

Beyond the first sketch that surfaced and a sort-of leaked teaser last week, Opel has kept the Meriva out of the lime light until now. Courtesy of a few sites in Europe, we've been provided the first official unofficial images of the Meriva concept.
The squat people mover is more anonymous than absorbing, with a rather bland profile and somewhat forgettable front end. The concept's show piece is its FlexDoors; essentially rear-hinged "suicide" doors for back seat passengers.
We're just a week away from the official unveiling in the land of foie and schnitzel, so we'd expect more details to be revealed shortly.

[ Autoweek.nl ]
[ Tag: meriva,opel,vauxhill ]

Zak attack: New head of GM's European exterior design team

American designer Phillip A. Zak has just been appointed to head the design team for General Motors Europe, where he'll be taking the reigns of the Opel, Vauxhall and Saab brands. The man behind the Chevy Cobalt, Pontiac G6 and the "Excitement" division's GXP line, will also have a hand in designing "certain Saturn products for North America."
In addition to the aforementioned production models, Zak has also stuffed his portfolio with several concept cars including the Pontiac REV and the Saturn Prevue, two designs that have had a direct influence on the styling direction of both brands.
We're interested to see what will come out of the GM's European studio with Zak at the helm, especially considering the recent propagation of Euro designs in the Saturn lineup.

[ Vauxhall ]
[ Tag: chevy cobalt,ChevyCobalt,general motors europe,GeneralMotorsEurope,gm,gx,gxp,opel,phillip a. zak,PhillipA.Zak,pontiac,saab,vauxhall ]