Tuesday 1 March 2016

!NEW! Opel at the Geneva Motor Show: GT Concept, Mokka X and Astra

  • Opel CEO Dr. Neumann presents the future of the brand
  •  Exciting world premieres: Visionary Opel GT Concept and robust Opel Mokka X
  • Europe’s best: New Opel Astra “Car of the Year 2016
  • Lightning start: 130,000 Astra orders, Sports Tourer at dealers soon
  • Up close to the touring car: New Opel Astra TCR for customer sport

Sportscar of the future: Opel CEO Dr. Karl-Thomas Neumann presents new Opel GT Concept in Geneva. 
“Opel is more emotional, more innovative and stronger than ever before. Opel is back,” said Opel Group CEO Dr. Karl-Thomas Neumann when opening the Opel stand (Hall 2, number 2231) at the 86th Geneva Motor Show (open to the public form March 3 to 13) earlier today. Dr. Neumann revealed two world premieres during the press conference: the sportscar of the future – Opel GT Concept and Opel Mokka X compact SUV. In addition, Opel Astra TCR touring car, another member of the new Astra family, also features prominently. “Since we started selling the Astra in the fall of 2015, we have received more than 130,000 orders,” said the Opel CEO of the highly successful launch of the new generation Astra. He also went on to add the following after the newcomer received the highest possible accolade: “After dominating several national Car of the Year awards across Europe, the new Opel Astra was also named the European Car of the Year 2016 yesterday afternoon!” Opel Astra Sports Tourer station wagon will be at dealers in just a few weeks and just like its five-door sibling it is lighter and more efficient than ever before and comes with ultra-modern technologies.

Sportscar of the future: World premiere for the Opel GT Concept

 World premiere for the Opel GT Concept 
Opel once again means pure emotions. This was clearly demonstrated by the world premiere of the GT Concept. The concept car combines the past with future. However, the GT Concept does not try to imitate its famous predecessor. Instead, it offers a new interpretation of the original’s exciting style. “This is one of the most exciting concept cars I have seen in my entire life. Pure passion! It shows who we are: confident, bold and innovative,” said Dr. Neumann when revealing the breathtaking thoroughbred with a front mid-engine and rear-wheel drive.

Confident, bold and innovative: Opel CEO Dr. Karl-Thomas Neumann proudly presents the GT Concept.
The GT Concept is just as avant-garde as it is puristic – only the form counts. Long hood, extremely short overhangs, the bold red signature line and neither door handles nor door mirrors nor superfluous decorative elements – it is a pure sportscar. It takes Opel’s sculptural design philosophy to the next level. “We created the GT Concept to capture the bold, emotional spirit of the Opel brand. It is dramatic, sculptural and full of innovations,” explained Mark Adams, Vice President Design.

Bestseller even more desirable: Opel Mokka X world premiere

World premiere for SUV bestseller: Opel CEO Dr. Thomas Neumann also presented the new Opel Mokka X to the media for the first time.
The Opel Mokka has been inspiring emotions ever since its market launch three years ago – more than 500,000 Mokka owners across Europe cannot be wrong. But now the adventurous SUV will be even more desirable: “The new Opel Mokka X is bolder on the outside with refined elegance on the inside,” said Dr. Neumann of the next step in the evolution of the compact SUV bestseller. Opel Mokka X has a characteristic design with a dominant, sharp double wing signature of the LED daytime running lights. In addition, it comes with a refined interior and latest generation infotainment systems, making it one of the best-connected SUVs available when it goes on sale in the summer. IntelliLink will bring the world of smartphones to the car via both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto; Opel OnStar is also available as an option. However, that is not all. Opel will extend the powertrain portfolio by added a new direct injection 1.4-liter gasoline engine. The ultra-modern engine comes in combination with six-speed automatic transmission, Start/Stop and all-wheel drive (preliminary fuel consumption and CO2 emissions for the combined cycle: 6.6 l/100 km, 154 g/km). “Our new small SUV is exciting, affordable, innovative and approachable. In one word: It’s an Opel.”

Light, efficient, practical, sporty: All-New Opel Astra

Congratulations: Hakan Matson (right), chairman of the “Car of the Year” jury, with Opel CEO Dr. Karl-Thomas Neumann and the new Opel Astra. 
Lighter, more efficient, agile and comfortable – “New Opel Astra is the best car we have ever built. And it is leading its class again,” said Dr. Karl-Thomas Neumann. This is not only substantiated by the customer orders but also by the numerous comparison tests that the Astra has won across Europe. The five-door variant is up to 200 kilograms, the Sports Tourer up to 190 kilograms lighter than the previous model resulting in noticeably improved agility and driving comfort. The latest generation engines guarantee ample driving fun. Furthermore, the new Astra comes with numerous technologies and assistance systems ranging from the awarding winning adaptive matrix light IntelliLux LED® to Forward Collision Alert with Collision Imminent Braking. “That’s why Astra annoys the upper class,” explain Dr. Neumann. 

Winners: Opel CEO Dr. Karl-Thomas Neumann with the “Car of the Year 2016” – the new Opel Astra.
The Astra powertrain line-up also plays a big role in this enhanced driving experience: each new Astra features a member of Opel’s completely new engine portfolio. The gasoline and diesel engines with a displacement of up to 1.6 liters all combine highest efficiency with excellent responsiveness. In Geneva, a new two-stage turbocharged top-of-the-range diesel will make its debut. The 1.6 BiTurbo CDTI has an output of 118 kW/160 hp and delivers maximum torque of 350 Nm. In combination with six-speed manual transmission, Start/Stop and low-rolling resistance tires, it cuts fuel consumption of the Sports Tourer to 4.1 liters of diesel per 100 kilometers (109 grams of CO2 per kilometer – 108 grams in the five-door sedan).


Both the five-door and the Sports Tourer variant can also boast increased interior spaciousness despite the exterior dimensions have been reduced (five-door) or maintained (Sports Tourer) with especially the rear-seat passengers enjoying 35 millimeters and 28 millimeters more legroom respectively. In addition, the Astra Sports Tourer can carry more luggage than before – now up to 1,630 liters, 80 liters more than its predecessor can. The extensive load area is also easier to access than ever before thanks to the new power tailgate that can be opened and shut with a simple kicking motion under the bumper.


Apart from the GT Concept, Dr. Karl-Thomas Neumann also showed another highlight for motorsports fans – the new Astra TCR. Propelled by a 2.0 liter engine with 330 hp and 420 Nm it will be one of the new contenders in the Touring Car Racing Series 2016. He also had a clear statement: “The Astra TCR will continue a long motorsport tradition at Opel.”

Ready for season: The new Opel Astra TCR 

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