Vauxhall Insignia sports all-seeing front camera system [w/VIDEO]

Safety technology has become a major selling point for car shoppers, and a new front-sensing camera co-developed by Vauxhall and Opel will give GM's European brands something to brag about. The new camera, which will be available on the Opel/Vauxhall Insignia beginning early 2009, is located between the wind screen and the rear-view mirror. The camera sees what's ahead at 30 frames per second and uses two processors to both read road signs and tell drivers when they're straying from a lane.
The road sign reader works by scanning the road ahead for recognizable shapes and signals, then displaying information like speed limits or no passing zone signs in the digital display in the middle of the gauge cluster. Depending on conditions, the camera can recognize signs up to 100 meters away.
The lane departure system works by sounding an alarm whenever the driver strays out of a chosen lane. The digital display will also show the driver that the vehicle is drifting, which can help drivers that may have a hearing impediment.
If the recent hand-me-down program between Opel and Saturn continues to blossom, we may have both the car and the camera Stateside before we know it. Hit the jump to see an animation showing how the camera works. You'll also scope out the Vauxhall press release.

Vauxhall/Opel front-sensing camera
PRESS RELEASE:
THE ALL-SEEING VAUXHALL: INSIGNIA FIRST WITH FRONT CAMERA SYSTEM

* Leading technology available in early '09
* Reads road signs, improves safety
* Warns drivers when they stray from their lane

Luton. Vauxhall introduces a first: a dual-function camera that not only reads speed limit and no-overtaking signs and displays them on the instrument panel, but also alerts drivers when they unintentionally veer out of their lane. Known as Traffic Sign Recognition and Lane Departure Warning, the two systems improve driving safety, reduce stress and can even prevent costly speeding tickets.

"These new features follow Vauxhall's philosophy of enhancing driving excitement by assisting drivers without reducing their level of control," explains Hans Demant, Managing Director of GME Engineering. "That means the system gives drivers information, but it doesn't intervene."

Known as the Front Camera System, the wide-angled, high-resolution camera and processors were jointly developed by Vauxhall/Opel engineers and specialists from supplier Hella. The camera, located between the windscreen and the rear-view mirror, detects road signs and lane markings. It's not much bigger than a mobile phone, yet can take 30 pictures per second. Two signal processors filter and read the photos.

Depending on light conditions, the Traffic Sign Recognition function begins to repeatedly read signs at 100 metres. It starts by focusing on circular patterns then identifies the numbers inside them via contour comparison. When a match is found in the car's software, the sign is displayed in the instrument panel; it will even prioritise a no-overtaking sign over a speed limit warning sign.

When the Lane Departure Warning function is turned on, it uses a second signal processor and software to read traffic lanes and record a driver's normal lane-changing behaviour, taking into account steering input and indicator usage. If any deviation is detected, an audible and visual warning is sent from the instrument panel, preventing hazardous situations, such as a driver falling asleep at the wheel.

The Front Camera System, featuring Traffic Sign Recognition and Lane Departure Warning will be available as an option on the new Insignia, with other Vauxhall models benefiting from the system in future.

[ Autoblog (Vauxhall) ]
[ Tag: front-sensing camera, Front-sensingCamera, Insignia, lane departure, LaneDeparture, opel, Vauxhall ]

Rendered Speculation: Vauxhall Astra VXR (Saturn Astra Redline?)

While sales of the newly-minted (at least for the U.S.) Saturn Astra aren't exactly setting the world on fire, we found it to be a rather good vehicle with a chassis capable of handling plenty more power when we had it in our garage. Auto Express has what they claim is an official picture of the next-gen Vauxhall Astra VXR, which is sold in its base-model form as a Saturn in the states, and it looks pretty good. Expected in Europe is a new 1.8-liter turbocharged engine sending around 240 horsepower to the front wheels and possibly a diesel as well. These engine are not currently certified for sale in the U.S., but GM's excellent 260 horsepower 2.0-liter Ecotec, as is available in the HHR SS, is ready and waiting -- and we'd love to see a Saturn Astra Redline powered by it. We'd be more than happy to see the attractive nineteen inch rims and aggressive body kit make it stateside too. As evidenced by today's current crop of hot hatches, such as the Volkswagen GTI and Mazdaspeed3, a small performance car, when done right, can sell in the U.S. Auto Express also indicates that this vehicle is likely to be shown in concept form at the upcoming Paris Motor Show in October.


[ Auto Express ]
[ Tag: astra vxr, astra xr, AstraVxr, AstraXr, saturn astra, saturn astra redline, SaturnAstra, SaturnAstraRedline, vauxhall astra vxr, VauxhallAstraVxr ]

VIDEO: Fifth Gear takes on the Vauxhall VXR8 (aka the Pontiac G8)

Jeremy Clarkson and Top Gear crew aren't the only car show on British television. In fact Top Gear was canceled by the BBC and the producers relaunched it as Fifth Gear before the Beeb eventually revived Top Gear as well. Fifth Gear is still around and they recently got a chance to spend some quality time on a race track with the Vauxhall VXR8.

If that car looks familiar, it's because we saw a lower-end version sporting a Pontiac grille at the Chicago Auto Show as the new G8. Fifth Gear spent a lot of time getting seriously sideways in the 414hp VXR8 and even got to do a top speed run. For a preview of what G8 buyers can expect whenever GM gets around to doing the all-but-inevitable GXP version, check out the video after the jump.

[Sources: YouTube, Fifth Gear]

[ Vauxhall ]
[ Tag: fifth gear,FifthGear,pontiac g8,PontiacG8,vauxhall vxr8,VauxhallVxr8 ]

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 ]

Brits get supercharger option for Vauxhall VXR8

GM loves to tease its American customers. While we patiently await the arrival of the Pontiac G8 GT, in Australia, multiple high-performance flavors of the VE Commodore its based on are available from HSV. In the UK, one of those cars, the HSV Clubsport R8, is offered as the Vauxhall VXR8.
With 412 horsepower (417 PS) and 405 lb-ft of torque on tap, one would think that the rebadged HSV would be sufficiently awesome for our former colonial overlords. One would also be incorrect. Carscoop reports the Brits will be offered a supercharger option that elevates power to a staggering 540 horses and adds 30-percent more torque (figure a new rating of 526 lb-ft or so). The non-supercharged VXR8 does 0-60 in 4.9 seconds, so you can expect the blown sedan to shave a few more tenths off that number while making expensive tires cry for their mothers. The cost of the kit is ?6,995.
Please, General: Pontiac G8 GXP Supercharged, okay?

[ Vauxhall ]
[ Tag: g8 gt,g8 gxp,G8Gt,G8Gxp,hsv clubsport r8,HsvClubsportR8,pontiac g8,PontiacG8,vxr8 ]