Opel Plans New SUV And More Electric Vehicles

Meet the new Opel, same as the old Opel but different. General Motors has decided to rid itself of its European operations, but the man at the helm of Opel will remain the same and he has some ideas about what the future will look like.

Opel CEO Karl-Thomas Neumann, told Germany’s Auto Motor und Sport last week the brand will continue to design and develop its own cars. He has been the CEO of Opel since 2013 and will continue in that position. From this point forward, Opel products will be based on chassis supplied by PSA Group, which is buying Opel from GM. Making the transition to new platforms will take several years, Neumann says.

While Opel was still under GM’s wing, it was considering changing over to a lineup featuring only cars with plugs. That’s not surprising. The European Union has carbon emissions rules in place that will be difficult if not impossible to meet using only internal combustion engines.

That may have been part of GM’s reasoning when it decided to sell off Opel. Apparently it just didn’t want to play the EU’s game. Much easier to concentrate on building high profit gasoline powered Suburbans and Silverados.

Despite its Volt and Bolt offerings, GM remains a company that is deeply committed to the four stroke philosophy that has sustained the automotive business for over 100 years. It is neatly summarized by the T shirts Harley Davidson rides like to wear — Suck, Squeeze, Bang, Blow. Perhaps that will be the epitaph on GM’s grave stone.

When the German Bundesrat voted last fall to ban internal combustion engines by 2030, GM apparently decided it was time to pull up stakes and head for the hills.

There are reports that Opel has 7 new or updated models in the works, including an all new SUV that will become the new face of the brand. And why not? Europeans are almost as crazy for SUVs as Americans are (and most of the rest of the world).

There might be light at the end of the tunnel for Opel yet. It seems a version of the Ampera-e — Opel’s version of the Chevy Bolt — is still a possibility. Being unshackled from GM’s corporate culture may turn out to be a good thing in the end. GM destroyed Saab by forcing it to sell rebadged Subarus and Trail Blazers. Subaru thrived when it was cut loose by The General.

Perhaps the same will happen at Opel. Americans are largely unfamiliar with Peugeots and Citroens, but the two companies make some very tasty automobiles. There’s even a possibility that Opel may lead a re-entry into the American market after a long absence. Who knows? Maybe one day PSA may buy GM the next time it flirts with bankruptcy?

Source: Motor Trend

General Motors Confirms Sale Of Opel And Vauxhall To PSA For $2.3 Billion

Three weeks ago, rumors started circulating on the internet that General Motors was considering the sale of its Opel and Vauxhall operations in Europe to PSA, the holding group that owns Peugeot and Citroen. Today, those rumors were confirmed. PSA is buying Opel and Vauxhall for $2.3 billion.

The deal will make PSA the second largest automaker by volume in Europe behind Volkswagen. “We want to create a European automotive champion,” said PSA Groupe Chairman Carlos Tavares. “We will totally unleash the potential of the Opel and Vauxhall brands.”

Opel has been part of General Motors for 90 years. Letting it go is a bittersweet moment for The General. “This was a difficult decision for General Motors,” CEO Mary Barra said. “But we are unified in our belief that it is the right one.” GM has been losing money on its European operations for the past two decades.

GM will now limit its focus to North America and China. “For GM, this represents another major step in the ongoing work that is driving our improved performance and accelerating our momentum,” Barra says. “We are reshaping our company and delivering consistent, record results for our owners through disciplined capital allocation to our higher-return investments in our core automotive business and in new technologies that are enabling us to lead the future of personal mobility.

PSA’s Tavares was quick to assure Opel and Vauxhall workers that their jobs are not at risk. “We respect all that Opel/Vauxhall’s talented people have achieved as well as the company’s fine brands and strong heritage. We intend to manage PSA and Opel/Vauxhall capitalizing on their respective brand identities.”

PSA will continue to supply some models to Buick in the US and Holden in Australia. The Buick Encore small crossover vehicle and Buick Regal sedan are both based on Opel engineering. There is no word on how the agreement will affect sales of the Chevy Bolt in Europe, where it is known as the Opel Ampera-E. Reservations for the Ampera-E have been particularly strong in Norway.

The deal means that GM now has only 8 total brands in the global marketplace. Three of them are exclusive to China. PSA and GM will continue to cooperate on the development of battery electric and fuel cell vehicles. What no one is talking about is whether the deal could open a path for PSA to resume sales in America, a market it abandoned more than 20 years ago.

Source: Autoblog

Strong Demand In Norway For Ampera-E Moves Delivery Schedule Forward

Demand for the Chevy Bolt — known as the Opel Ampera-E in Europe — has exceeded all expectations in Norway. That country is a hotbed of EV activity, thanks to a package of strong government incentives including tax exemptions, free public charging, preferential parking in congested urban areas, and free tolls on some bridges, tunnels, and ferries. Norway has a higher percentage of electric and plug-in hybrid cars on the road than any other country (by far). Right now, sales of EVs account for more than 25% of all new car purchases in the country.

Ever since the Chevy Bolt was announced, interest from Norwegian customers has been high. Stein Pettersen, public relations manager for Opel in Norway, tells local news source Side 3 that several thousand orders for the car have been taken. Although electric cars are popular in the country, most of them have a useful range less than half that offered by the Ampera-E. That extra range is a big selling point. So is the suggested retail price of 299,900 Kroner — equivalent to $36,340. (The Ampera-E is only available in Europe in the fully loaded Premium trim configuration.)

Two option packages are available — the Comfort Package with perforated leather seats, Bose audio, and heated rear seats; and a Driver Assistance Package that adds sign recognition, blind spot warning, and a rear-view camera. A premium paint option is an additional $300.

The good news for Norwegian customers is that the strong demand for the car has convinced General Motors to begin delivering cars to customers in Norway in June. That is fully 3 months before the Chevy Bolt will be available in all 50 US states. The Opel website contains an interesting graphic about how many miles of range can be added for each 30 minutes of charging using various chargers.

Speaking of range, Opel lists the official range for the Ampera-E as 520 kilometers — about 320 miles. But that is using the wildly optimistic New European Driving Cycle test protocol. When the more realistic Worldwide Harmonized Light Vehicles Test Procedure (WLTP) standard is used, the range comes out to be 232 miles, which is right in line with the EPA rating of 238 miles. No matter how you slice it, it’s a lot more range than any electric car available in the Norwegian market except for the Tesla Model S and Model X, both of which cost twice as much as the Ampera-E or more. (Teslascenti will argue that both are twice the car the Ampera-E is.)

The Opel website goes on to say, “We estimated a combined WLTP range larger than 380 km based on development tests approximated to the speed profile defined in the WLTP driving cycle (shortened test procedure). The WLTP driving cycle is based on real driving profiles and is there the closer two real life than the legally binding New European Driving Cycle (NEDC). However, the range in your everyday use will vary. In practice, factors suchlike as road characteristics, weather conditions, driving style or additional load Influence the range.”

Range calculations vary considerably around the world. The NEDC is useless when it comes to telling drivers what they can expect when they actually drive a car in the real world. The Japanese standard is even worse and the standard China uses is also highly inaccurate. Many car manufacturers would be delighted if the nations of the world could agree on common standards for measuring mileage, fuel economy, and emissions. Some industry officials estimate the cost of cars is 10 to 15 percent higher than it needs to be just because manufacturers must spend so much time and money complying with differing standards. Adopting the WLTP would go a long way towards alleviating that situation.

Source: Side 3

Opel Ampera e — Chevy Bolt Clone — Starts at USD $33,650 In Norway

The Opel Ampera e — which is a clone of the Chevy Bolt — will start at $33,650 in Norway. That price includes 17 inch alloy wheels, heated leather steering wheel, electronic climate control, IntelliLink infotainment with 10.2-inch touch screen, rain sensor, Opel Eye, Opel OnStar, and Bi-Xenon headlights. The price is $3,500 less than expected by potential customers in Norway.

Opel Ampera e. Credti: BilNorge.no

Options will include a comfort package with Bose sound system, leather seats, and heated rear seats for $2,000 and a driver assistance package with automatic sign recognition, lane departure warning, rear view camera, and advanced parallel parking for an additional $1,500. Several dealers in Norway took deposits for the car even before the pricing was known. The price with all options is what Norwegians expected the base price of the car to be.

Because of Norway’s aggressive electric car incentives, it is a leader among European nations when it comes to the percentage of electric or plug-in hybrids on its roads. They are the reason the Ampera e will be offered first to customers in Norway this June before sales are expanded to other nations with significant green car credentials.

With a 60 kWh battery and a stated range of 500 kilometers in the admittedly generous European testing cycle, the Ampera e has more range than any other electric car for sale to European buyers other than the Tesla Model S and Model X. Range in the new testing protocol that will be introduced across Europe soon will be more like 380 kilometers. What is important to customers in Norway, though, is that range should not be less than 300 kilometers (180 miles), even in winter.

The Ampera e is engineered and produced in the US. General Motors has not set any expected sales targets but Norwegian news site VG is suggesting that 2,000 to 2,500 may find there way to that country. With the Ampera e’s long range and lower than anticipated price, VG thinks the demand will exceed the supply.

“We have been aware that the production volume from the start would be limited. Therefore we have decided to introduce Ampera e in countries where the infrastructure for electric cars is already in place, or who have shown a clear desire to become a leading supplier of electric mobility. That means we are introducing the car in Norway first. Then will come Germany, the Netherlands, France, and Switzerland,” says Peter Christian Küspert, vice president of sales and service market for Opel. “Production is planned and allocated month by month and week by week,” adds Bernt G. Jessen, Opel CEO of Norway.

Source: VG.no  Hat tip to Leif Hansen   Translation by Google

Opel launching Euro cousin of Chevy Bolt EV next year: Ampera-e

Opel will introduce a five-door, five-seat battery electric vehicle next year in Europe. Cousin to the US Chevy Bolt, the new Ampera-e will be “affordably priced”, Opel said.

Opel Ampera-e Click to enlarge.

The compact proportions of the Ampera-e are driven by the battery pack being mounted flat, under the vehicle floor. The efficient packaging of the battery also enables a roomy interior providing comfortable seating for five passengers and trunk space comparable with that of a car in the compact class.

The Ampera-e will also offer the personal connectivity and service assistant, Opel OnStar, and connectivity and infotainment technologies that will integrate smartphones and other electronic devices seamlessly into the vehicle.

Opel GT Returns! Coming To Geneva In March

Many people were not even born yet when the last Opel GT roamed the world’s roadways. Compared to today’s automobiles, the tiny little two seater was crude in a way that only those who had drivers licenses in the 60s can understand. But for the times, it stirred a lot of passion in the souls of auto enthusiasts. It was sometimes known as a “baby Corvette.”

When I say crude, I mean stone age technology. The base car came with a wimpy 1.1 liter push rod engine which made 67 horsepower at 6,000 rpm. Not surprisingly, most buyers went with the optional 1.9 liter overhead cam engine that produced 102 hp at 5400 rpm. When emissions regulations first went into effect in 1971, Opel reduced the compression ratio of the 1.9  liter engine used in the US, which knocked output back to a meager 83 horsepower.

The attractively styled coupe came with a 4 speed manual transmission as standard equipment. That was pretty hot stuff for its day. The car was in production from 1968 through 1973. A version of an updated car was introduced in 2007 and sold in America as the Pontiac Solstice and the Saturn Sky until 2010. If you can find a Sky with the turbo engine, grab it. They are much in demand by collectors.

Now Opel is back with an all new, thoroughly modern and highly innovative GT that will debut at the Geneva auto show in March. “Purebred, pared down, yet unashamedly avant garde, the GT Concept is even shorn of door handles and door mirrors, its breathtaking form clothing a classic front mid-engined, rear-wheel drive chassis that will appeal to driving enthusiasts,” reads the official Opel press release.

Mark Adams, GM’s vice president of design for Europe says, ”We created the GT Concept to capture the bold, emotional spirit of both the Vauxhall and Opel brands. It is dramatic, sculptural and full of innovations, which is our great tradition that we intend to continue…..[T]his GT Concept today [is] absolutely pure, minimalistic, yet bold and uncompromising. This coupe impressively demonstrates the continuous development of our design philosophy.”

The first thing you will notice about the new Opel GT is a prominent red stripe that begins behind the front wheels and flows up and over the doors to the rear of the car. Hidden within that stripe is a touchpad that operates the doors, which are hinged behind the front wheels rather than beneath the A pillars. It is unlikely the goofy red front tires will be included in the production car, assuming there is one.

The new concept will not be challenging many Teslas at the local drag strip. According to AutoBlog, it will come with a 1.0 liter turbocharged three cylinder engine in front driving the rear wheels through a 6 speed sequential gearbox. The triple makes 143 horsepower and 151 ft-lb of torquea, enough to propel the 2,200 lb car to 60 mph in under 8 seconds. It has a calculated top speed of 134 mph.

Not sure you can call such performance “exhilerating”, but its not far off the numbers for the latest generation Mazda Miata in terms of weight and power. Among enthusiasts, this would be known as a “momentum car,” meaning slowing for corners is something you must never do. It is meant to be driven flat out, foot to the floor at all times. Screaming up through the gears can be its own reward, even if overall forward progress is leisurely, relatively speaking.

No production plans have been released. No doubt the folks at Opel and its English cousin, Vauxhall, are anxious to see what sort of reception it gets from show goers in Geneva. If Gas 2 would like to send me to that event, I would be delighted to give you all my full written report.

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Photo credit: Opal via Autoblog.

Despite hype, Nissan Leaf outsells Tesla Model S 2-to-1

All eyes continue to be on how quickly the Tesla Model S has been accepted by consumers, beating the expectations of critics who said it was too expensive and that the EV range would always be a hinderance in places other than California. But among other electric vehicles, how do its sales stack up?

According to Hybrid Cars, the Model S will pass the 100,000-sales mark in December and be this year's top-selling plug-in vehicle. Consider that this large luxury sedan that just happens to be electric typically sells for north of the $100,000 mark. And consider, as they do, that about 60 percent or so have gone to American buyers and that means roughly 60,000 US buyers have picked up a Model S - that beats the sales of other large gas-powered luxury sedans. Tesla does not officially release monthly sales figures.

Despite the excellent year-to-date numbers, the Model S still hasn't caught up to the other big names among electrics, the Chevrolet Volt and Nissan Leaf. And it's estimated that if you factor in the first-generation Volt and its Opel, Vauxhall, and Holden derivatives, General Motors has sold just over 100,000 of its range-extender EV since it first went on sale in December 2010. Sales have been off significantly this year, mostly due to production stopping in spring to retool for the 2016 Volt that recently went on sale in some states.

But since the Nissan Leaf went on sale around the same time as the Volt, it's maker has managed to move almost twice as many, or about 200,000 cars globally. This, even as the Leaf's US sales were off more than 40 percent through November. Blame that on the Leaf's age, the 2016 model's noticeably longer range and that used Leafs are dirt cheap these days.

The bottom line is that while the Tesla Model S has been a hit as far as electric vehicles are concerned, it hasn't caught up to the popularity of the Nissan Leaf yet. And with a second-generation Leaf due in the near future and the Tesla Model X possibly affecting Model S popularity, it's too soon to see where that car's momentum will stop.

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Opel further reduces fuel consumption on diesel Astra; up to 65 mpg

Opel has further optimized its new Astra equipped with the 81 kW/110 hp 1.6 CDTI diesel engine to deliver fuel consumption of 3.6 L/100km (65 mpg US), down 0.1 liters from before), which is equivalent to CO₂ emissions of 94 g/km. The improved 100 kW/136 hp output version now offers fuel consumption of 3.7 L/100km (64 mpg US)—0.2 liter less than before—or 99 grams of CO₂ per kilometer.

The Opel Astra with the 81 kW/110 hp 1.6 CDTI now only emits 94 grams of CO2 per kilometer (down 3g/km); with the 100 kW/136 hp 1.6 CDTI it only emits 99 grams of CO2 per kilometer (down 5g/km). Click to enlarge.

Over the last 18 months, Opel has completely renewed its diesel portfolio. The reworked and even more frugal Astra 1.6 CDTI models complete the trio around the new, 82 gram Corsa 1.3 CDTI ‘eco champion’ and the new Insignia 2.0 CDTI, which will both also hit the dealerships in the upcoming weeks.

The newly optimized Astra features new low-friction components in both the chassis and the bodywork: the optimized drive shafts or the especially low-rolling-resistance tires are just two examples. In addition, the Aero Package—including a lowered chassis and active radiator shutters—helps reduce aerodynamic drag. The active shutters open and close automatically depending on engine temperature and speed.

Opel offers safety relevant premium technologies such as the Opel Eye front camera with Following Distance Indication, Forward Collision Warning, Traffic Sign Recognition and Lane Departure Warning or the rearview camera, Park Assist with parking spot recognition and audiovisual parking assistance, Side Blind Spot Alert and the safety lighting system AFL+.

2016 Chevy Volt To Debut In January

Today GM released the first teaser image of the 2016 Chevy Volt, which will bring a litany of changes to the popular plug-in hybrid. GM also set the debut date for the Detroit Auto Show in January, with the new Volt to go on sale sometime in 2015.

Since it went on sale at the end of 2010, GM says it has sold more than 65,000 Chevy Volts in the US alone…though its European cousin, the Opel Ampera, has seen sales plummet, and will soon be discontinued. As for the teaser shot itself, it doesn’t reveal much about the new Volt, except that it will have a more-rounded rear decklid.

But the Volt will live on, and rumor has it that it will bring with it many improvements and asked-for features. Among the most-requested features among Volt owners was more range, more room, (five seats instead of the current four), and a lower price. GM could offer a Volt with as much as 200 miles of electric range if certain rumors are true, though more likely GM will offer different battery pack sizes to placate the masses who want to either pay less, or go farther between charges.

Not that the current Volt is all that bad, as 92% of current owners say they’d buy another one given the chance. It’s also one of the highest-scoring cars on the Consumer Reports customer satisfaction survey. Another key point GM likes to drive home is that more than 70% of Volt buyers are new to the Chevy brand, making it a powerful “conquest” car. Hopefully the 2016 model proves just as successful for GM, a company plagued by recall woes and questions about its corporate structure the past few months.

Perhaps the 2016 Chevy VOlt can change the conversation towards more positive vibes.

Source: GM

New Opel EV Will Replace the Ampera

Opel quietly announced the end of the Ampera – badge cousin to the Chevy Volt. The Ampera is going away due to poor sales. Only 332 have been sold this year, even thought the Volt is quite popular in the US market. But that doesn’t mean that Opel will have no EV to offer to buyers going forward. According to Opel CEO Karl-Thomas Neumann:

After the eventual run-out of the current generation Ampera, we’ll introduce a successor product in the electric vehicle segment. Our next electric vehicle will be part of our massive product offensive – with 27 new vehicles in the 2014-2018 time frame. We see eMobility as important part of the mobility of tomorrow and we will continue to drive down costs & deliver affordability.

The people at Autoblog expect the new Opel EV to be more than a rebadged Chevy Spark EV. Instead, they believe it will be a completely new electric model and that may signal yet another EV will appear shortly in the Chevy stable of cars, or perhaps even a version of the Sonic EV rumored to be in the works. For the moment, GM representatives aren’t giving out any more clues.

Source: Opel

Record Setting 376 MPG Opel

 

In the early 1970s the world got its first taste of peak oil, as OPEC turned off the spigot and gas prices shot through the roof almost overnight. This prompted an initial wave of research aimed at producing more efficient vehicles, as well as alternatives to oil. Shell even got in on the act, creating what still stands as the world’s most fuel-efficient car, and it can be yours for just $425,000.

Using a 1959 Opel Olympia Rekord three-door station wagon as the basis and renaming it the P1, Shell stripped the car to, well, a shell of its former self, even going so far as to lower the roof and windshield by several inches. You’d think something as radical as lopping off a chunk of the roofline would be enough, but Shell went way, way further.

For example, the rear differential was eliminated entirely, with builders opting for a simple chain system instead. The two rear wheels were moved in very close to each other, and the wheel well was sealed off. Under the hood was a four-cylinder, 1.5 liter engine with a small lawnmower carburetor and no radiator. Instead, the engine was wrapped in insulation and the water was allowed to boil, which in the long run would probably be very bad for the motor.

With just a single spartan seat to sit in, the the Opel managed to go an incredible 376 miles on a single gallon of gas. That was over 40 years ago though, and though the seller claims the Opel still runs, time has not been kind to the exterior of this car. It makes the $425,000 asking price seem all the more ridiculous.

Perhaps, in pristine, restored condition, this could be a valuable car given the green car renaissance we’re experiencing.. But I don’t think this particular car has achieved the kind of collectible status that asking price seems to suggest.

Source: Green Car Reports

Chevy Volt's Next Range Extender: New Opel 1.0-Liter Three-Cylinder Engine?

It's been rumored for a while that the next-generation Chevy Volt electric car would get a new, smaller, three-cylinder engine as a range extender.

Now we've seen what that engine could be, in the guise of a 1.0-liter turbocharged three-cylinder engine unveiled by GM's German arm, Opel, at this week's Frankfurt Auto Show.

The Opel Monza Concept that debuted in Frankfurt may point the way to the first major update of the Voltec range-extended electric powertrain, which will likely be launched in 2016 or so.

The Monza concept is a sporty shooting brake with gullwing doors that takes its name from Opel coupes of the Seventies and Eighties.

Opel Monza concept, 2013 Frankfurt Auto Show

While Opels all but vanished from the U.S. market more than 30 years ago, the German brand and its British Vauxhall equivalent remain GM's largest in Europe.

Its 115-horsepower turbocharged 1.0-liter three-cylinder engine is the first in a new series of direct-injected gasoline engines that will appear not only in Opels but in other General Motors vehicles globally.

Future range extender

If the next Volt follows the powertrain strategy of the current model launched for 2011, its gasoline range extender may be an adaptation of a turbocharged engine used in various gasoline cars--but with its turbo removed.

The current Volt engine is a 1.4-liter four that produces 85 hp, adapted from the 138-hp 1.4-liter turbo fitted to the Chevrolet Sonic subcompact and Cruzecompact sedan.

Opel gave very few specifics on the powertrain in the Monza Concept, aside from noting that the turbo 1.0-liter three in this case was powered by natural gas, which would further reduce its carbon emissions compared to running the same engine on gasoline.

In March, Edmunds reported that GM was considering a smaller, three-cylinder engine for a revised Volt to be released in 2016--though at that time, the substitution had not been officially approved.

GM's Opel 1.0-liter SIDI turbocharged three-cylinder engine - 2013 Frankfurt Auto Show

More torque, more refined

The engine block of the new 1.0-liter turbo three is entirely aluminum, reducing weight.

Nonetheless, GM expects the new three to be more refined than than the naturally-aspirated 1.6-liter fours it will replace--along with more torque and 20 percent betterfuel efficiency.

"We not only set out to minimize fuel consumption and CO₂ emissions," said Matthias Alt, who's chief engineer for small gasoline engines at Opel. "We also wanted to demonstrate that three cylinders can be just as refined as four or more."

"We’re confident customers will be pleasantly surprised by the results," Alt continued. "This is a very lively and refined three-cylinder engine [that] doesn’t compromise on driving fun.”

One of many new engines

As well as direct injection and variable timing for all 12 valves, the exhaust manifold is integrated into the engine head as a single casting, reducing parts count and making the engine more compact.

The new three-cylinder engine is the second of several new engines and powertrains that will be launched by GM over the next few years. The first was a new 1.6-liter turbodiesel.

2013 Opel Adam

Allied to a new six-speed manual gearbox, the 1.0-liter turbo three will be launched first in the Opel Adam minicar sometime next year.

It might also replace the current 1.2-liter four-cylinder engine used in the U.S. version of the Chevrolet Spark minicar built in Korea.

BMW, Ford, MINI, Mitsubishi, more

Meanwhile, more and more three-cylinder engines are being launched or added by major automakers.

BMW will the use its 1.5-liter three in not only the 2015 BMW i8 plug-in hybrid sports coupe, but also a wide range of next-generation MINI and small BMW vehicles to come. We test-drove a prototype of that engine earlier this year.

Ford said 10 days ago that it would double production of its own three-cylinder engine, the turbocharged 1.0-liter EcoBoost powerplant that will be offered in the 2014 Ford Fiesta subcompact.

We've driven a three-cylinder Fiesta prototype too.

And the upcoming 2014 Mitsubishi Mirage subcompact is offered with a 74-hp 1.2-liter three, without a turbocharger.

Source: Green Car Reports

Opel Adam LPG Can Go Up To 745 Cleaner-Burning Miles

Liquified Petroleum Gas, better known as propane, is a clean-burning alternative to compressed natural gas (CNG), though it gets little love in the U.S. But GM’s European arm, Opel, has just rolled out a LPG option for the new Opel Adam microcar. The gas/propane hybrid can get a combined 745 miles, while spewing fewer emissions and costing less money (at least in theory).

The Opel Adam LPG, has a 35-liter LPG tank under the hood that can offer an extra 310 miles of range on top of the 435 miles regular gasoline will get you. In Germany, LPG sells for about half the cost of gasoline, which is currently selling for around $8 a gallon. So even though the 86 horsepower, 1.4 liter ecoFlex engine only returns 34 mpg when running on LPG, compared to the 46 mpg it gets on gasoline, there is still potential for big savings if you can get by on LPG alone.

While the Opel Adam LPG starts at $21,565, about $4,000 higher than a base-model Opel, it’s apparently a cheaper alternative to the proposed Opel Adam EV, which was killed on the concept car floor. As for the U.S., the only LPG options open to us are expensive aftermarket conversions or to old-school, carburetor style, neither of which writer Jo Borras is a fan of.

His loss; propane burns cleaner, costs less, and is better for engine longevity than even the “cleanest” gasoline.

Source: Carscoops

Opel And Vauxhall Monza Concept Uses Volt’s Future Drivetrain

Even though the Frankfurt Auto Show doesn’t open its doors until mid-September, automakers are already rolling out the first official images and info of concepts that will make their debut. For GM the big news is the Monza Concept, shared by both Opel and Vauxhall, which will utilize a next-generation Voltec drivetrain, and could point the way forward for the plug-in hybrid.

Besides the questionable tactic of naming it after a subcompact car from the malaise era, I like what I see in the Monza Concept. A combination coupe, station wagon, and DeLorean, the Monza Concept is powered by a plug-in hybrid drivetrain similar to the one in the Chevy Volt and Vauxhall Ampera. But instead of the 1.4 liter four-cylinder generator, it uses an all-new 1.0 liter, three-cylinder all-aluminum turbo engine that is lighter and more efficient.

The 1.0 liter engine also forgoes gasoline for compressed natural gas (CNG). While popular in Europe, could be even more popular here in the U.S., the dangers of fracking be damned. No word on stats like fuel mileage or all-electric range, though the sweeping good-looks hopefully influence future Volt vehicles.

Also of note is a LED “projection technology that uses a door-to-door dashboard to display pertinent information. Drivers can customize this information to their tastes, and it looks pretty neat, though it is likely just vaporware for now. It certainly won’t contribute to the Volt’s promised price cut.

With the Monza Concept, we get one step closer to a next-generation Chevy Volt. What are your hopes for GM’s future plug-in hybrids?

Opel Insignia's LPG option delivers 1,000-mile full-tank capability

For anyone who wants to drive from Paris to Budapest without that pesky problem of filling-up, Opel has got the car for you.

General Motors' Opel division is offering its Insignia with an engine that can run on liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) as well as petrol, Green Car Congress reports.

The engine, which is available in all three of the Insignia's body styles, is a 1.4-liter turbocharged four-banger that delivers about 140 horsepower and uses 7.6 liters of gas per 100 kilometers, or about 31 miles per gallon, on the slightly more lenient European driving standards. More importantly, with both the gas tank and LPG tank filled, the car has a leg-cramp-inducing range of 1,056 miles, which will get you from the French to Hungarian capital cities with about 100 miles to spare. The Insignia with the LPG option starts at 28,150 euros ($34,266 U.S. at today's exchange rates).




Source: Autoblog Green