Maiden Victory: Opel Corsa-e Wins FIA E-Rally Regularity Cup

• Agile and efficient: Opel Corsa-e wins 2020 FIA E-Rally Regularity Cup
• Opel dominant: Corsa-e finished on the podium at every event
• Unbeatable: Corsa-e’s 12.7 kWh average energy consumption unreachable for opposition

Opel Corsa-e wins 2020 FIA E-Rally Regularity Cup

Already the winner of numerous prizes awarded by expert juries, most recently the “Golden Steering Wheel 2020”, Opel Corsa-e has now established itself as a champion in motorsport. Entered for the first time in international competition, Opel Corsa-e has secured its first title – the 2020 FIA E-Rally Regularity Cup (ERRC).

Opel Corsa-e 

Conceived by the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA) to promote alternative energies in motorsport, the ERRC grows in importance every year. Reserved strictly for production cars, the competition combines a regularity rally timed to the tenth of a second with an efficiency classification where every Watt-hour (Wh) is counted.

Launched with a calendar of eight events, the 2020 FIA ERRC was adapted to the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic. Started during the summer, the shortened season turned out to be the toughest in history with the entry of five international champions, as many national champions from France, Italy, Spain and Portugal and from a dozen manufacturers including VW, Renault, BMW, Mercedes and Tesla.

Opel Corsa-e crewed by Artur Prusak and co-driver Thierry Benchetrit 

Opel Corsa-e crewed by Artur Prusak and co-driver Thierry Benchetrit took the lead in the first round with a dominant victory in Iceland. Opel clinched the title with two more podiums on the remaining events in Portugal and Spain.

Timed to the tenth of a second over hundreds of kilometres, Opel Corsa-e set a record-breaking average energy consumption of 12.7 kWh per 100 km during the championship. Over the season as a whole, no other model from the dozen or so brands involved was as efficient.

Opel Corsa-e

"FIA ERRC demands driving as smoothly as possible in order to maintain the average speeds specified by the regulations, without wasting energy," explains Artur Prusak, the champion driver in 2015, 2016 and 2020. "It is this balance that makes the championship so interesting and the reason why more and more competitors are entering it. We quickly gained the advantage thanks to the Opel Corsa-e and the lead grew after each rally."

"Thanks to its agility and technology, the Opel Corsa-e proved itself the most competitive car whatever the terrain," says Thierry Benchetrit, who is the first co-driver to be crowned four times in the ERRC. “In the mountains, on the plains, in the city, we were always at the forefront in terms of efficiency and regularity."

During the championship, Prusak and Benchetrit received logistical support from Opel in France and in the countries that hosted the rallies.

Opel Corsa-e is the electric car for everyone, offering state-of-the-art electric mobility. With a 100kW (136 hp) motor, 260 Newton metres of instantaneous torque and a range of up to 337 km according to WLTP 1, the five-seat Opel Corsa-e is suitable for every-day use. 50 kWh battery can be fast-charged to up to 80 per cent state-of-charge in 30 minutes.

Opel is also the first automobile manufacturer in the world to offer a battery-electric vehicle for customer rally sport. Opel Corsa-e Rally is based on the production model and specially developed for competition by engineers from Opel Motorsport. In 2021, Opel and the ADAC will start the ADAC Opel e-Rally Cup, the first one-make rally cup for electric cars in the world.

FIA E-Rally Regularity Cup 2020 – Final Classification

Rank               Carmaker                   Points

1                      Opel                            78

2                      Volkswagen                70.5

3                      Renault                       45

4                      MG                              36

5                      Peugeot                      24

6                      BMW                           22.5

7                      Hyundai                      18

8                      Kia                              18

9                      Nissan                        15

10                    Mercedes                    3

11                    Tesla                           1.5

[1] Range determined according to WLTP test procedure methodology (R (EC) No. 715/2007, R (EU) No. 2017/1151). The actual range can vary under everyday conditions and depends on various factors, in particular on personal driving style, route characteristics, outside temperature, use of heating and air conditioning and thermal preconditioning.

IAA Premiere: New Opel Corsa Meets Rare Opel Corsa GT

• Predecessor: rare first-generation Opel Corsa GT on Opel stand
• Time-travel: 1987 “young-timer” drives 2,700 km from Portugal to IAA
• World premiere: sixth-generation Opel Corsa in the spotlight at Frankfurt show
• In the tradition: from sporty Opel Corsa GT to battery-electric Opel Corsa-e Rally

New Opel Corsa meets rare Opel Corsa GT

Opel is celebrating three world premieres at this year’s IAA Frankfurt International Motor Show (public days September 12-22). New Opel Astra with high efficiency engines, Opel Grandland X Hybrid4 with e-All-Wheel Drive (WLTP fuel consumption, weighted, combined: 1.6 l/100 km, 37 g/km CO2; NEDC: 1.6 l/100 km, 36 g/km CO2) and the new sixth-generation Corsa in three versions. The best-selling small car (more than 13.6 million units) is going electric and with the Corsa-e Rally – also making its debut at the IAA – even forms the basis of an emissions-free competition car. At the IAA the new Opel Corsa will be joined by a special guest – a rare 1987 Opel Corsa GT in yellow, a testament to 37 years of fun and success. The not-so-old-timer was driven from its last home in Portugal to the Opel Classic Workshop in Rüsselsheim. From there it will drive to the IAA in Frankfurt, where it will contribute tradition and further excitement to the launch of the new Opel Corsa.

Opel the reliable: 2,700km from Porto to Rüsselsheim via Zaragoza

It took a while for Opel Classic to find a scarce first-generation Opel Corsa GT. This particular example, originally registered in Spain, was languishing, forgotten, in a garage in Portugal. Drive to Frankfurt for the small, unassuming Gran Turismo starts from a carpark at the harbour of Porto.

Opel offered the GT from April 1985 until autumn 1987. It was the successor of the Opel Corsa SR, with a 70hp 1.3-litre carburettor engine. Extra power and the subtle spoilers made the GT the sportsman of the first Corsa generation – until the more extrovert GSi arrived in 1988. A five-speed manual gearbox tamed the thirst and the rpm on longer trips.

Even today, keeping up with the traffic in the Opel Corsa GT is surprisingly quiet and effortless. There is no unnecessary firmness in the chassis, no slack in the steering and no superfluous information in the instrument panel: apart from the usual dials, only a rev counter and an oil pressure gauge. Fuel consumption matches the official figures of the time – more than six litres per 100 km is hardly ever burned. 750 kg kerb weight is a big help here, and also allows a power-to-weight ratio of 10.71 kg per horsepower.

On the way from Portugal to Rüsselsheim, GT drops in at Zaragoza, where it was built in 1987. The car is even allowed to visit the production plant. As the yellow Opel Corsa stops at the assembly line, lots of employees come over as if to greet a long lost friend.

Journey east goes past Barcelona, across France and from Basel along the Rhine. A total of 2,700km for a 32-year-old Opel Corsa that was ripped out of peaceful retirement in Portugal – without any repairs for the long road trip. As the GT pulls up in Rüsselsheim, the Opel Classic team is waiting eagerly.

Project “IAA 2019”: From plucky pensioner to show star

The warm sunshine in Spain and Portugal has been good for the Opel Corsa GT. A life without salty roads means no rust, no rot. Yellow oldie is still in good condition. TÜV agrees and after the check-up for German registration the inspectors put their precious sticker on the licence plate. But now comes the much higher hurdle: the experts from Opel Classic give the new arrival a thorough examination. Several pairs of beady eyes discover numerous more or less serious imperfections – dents in the roof, non-original badging, scratched glass, worn out seat cushions. Even the horn sounds wrong! In the end the car is taken apart completely.

Opel Classic team get together with their colleagues from the Service Workshop. “Project IAA 2019” is formed, under the leadership of Thorsten Götz and Dieter Eder. Piece by piece they rebuild the Corsa puzzle. First the reconditioned engine, followed by the suspension, shock absorbers and springs. Freshly painted body gets new trim and the correct GT badges. Then come the original light-alloy wheels. Finally the windows are installed, thanks to a friendly Opel dealer who has them in stock, of course.

Opel Corsa GT is now ready for its second life that will begin in grand style – at the 68th IAA Frankfurt International Motor Show. Visitors can admire the freshly restored Opel Corsa GT on the Opel stand D31 in hall 11.0. World premiere of the sixth-generation Opel Corsa is bound to benefit.

!NEW! And the Winner is… #ADAMyourself: Opel Online Campaign has Internet Abuzz

• Campaign has become internet event: More than 3.3 million visitors to website
• Exactly my style: Users create over 100,000 unique Opel ADAM variants
• An Opel ADAM model for every country: Twelve winners of online competition named 

Under the motto “Endless possibilities – exactly my style“, Opel has invited the internet and social media community to create its very own unique Opel ADAM on www.adamyourself.com since December. The goal is to turn the best Opel ADAM design into reality. The response to the campaign with ten creative lifestyle bloggers from different countries in Europe has been huge: to date, more than 3.3 million users from all over Europe have visited the website and spent an average of more than four minutes clicking through the various menus and stories. In the process, they have created more than 100,000 individual Opel ADAM styles, each exactly the way its creator wanted it. And now the twelve country winners have been named (two of the ten bloggers have each created styles for two countries). Opel ADAM designs will already begin rolling off the assembly line in their respective country from this fall.

“With #ADAMyourself we went straight to where the Opel ADAM clientele is – the internet. The young bloggers were always part of the action and posted a lot of fun and interesting stories about our bold city car on social media channels. And the community submitted a total of over 2.6 million votes for the different ADAM designs. The campaign is the best example of how much enthusiasm the car and lifestyle combination can create – and how individuals can make their dream car become reality,” says Elsa Touchard, brand manager strategy and sponsoring, about the online campaign’s success to date.

So much creativity made it a real challenge for Opel representatives and the ten European bloggers to choose the winner from each country’s ten most popular ADAM variants. In Germany, Vanessa S. won with her stylish “Red Velvet Cake” ADAM. The new design variant will be exclusively produced for the German market – and as winner of the competition, Vanessa S. will be the official “advertising face” for “her” Opel ADAM.

Germany: And the winner is “Red Velvet Cake”. 

But before that, the national winners will head to Berlin in mid-April for the winners’ event.

There the group of twelve will stay in an exclusive ADAM loft and take part in video and photo shoots. Of course Opel ADAM fans will be kept updated on all news on social media channels and on www.adamyourself.com.

!NEW! Pre-Season Testing: Countless Kilometers for Opel Astra TCR

• Development of Opel’s new customer racing touring car right on schedule
• Positive findings after five-day test drives in Estoril, Portugal
• Delivery of first cars to customer teams at end of February 

For customer racing: Opel Astra TCR is built in accordance with the regulations of the Touring Car Racing Series.

The Opel Astra TCR development program is going at full speed. Last week, the new customer racing touring car built in accordance with the TCR (Touring Car Racing Series) regulations covered countless kilometers over five test days on the Circuito do Estoril in Portugal. “It was a very good test,” says Opel Motorsport Director Jörg Schrott. “The timeline is still very tight, but we are on schedule. Opel Astra TCR ran reliably at the last test drives in Zandvoort and Estoril, it’s performing well. Now we’re working on fine-tuning details before the first vehicles are delivered to our customer teams at the end of February.” The Opel Astra TCR makes it public premiere at the Geneva Motor Show (March 3 – 13, 2016).

Pre-season testing: Countless kilometers for the Opel Astra TCR on the race circuits in Zandvoort and Estoril.

Opel Motorsport Technical Director Dietmar Metrich and the team at Opel development partner Kissling Motorsport paid special attention to the front axle’s sophisticated concept. “On a racing car with around 330 hp and front-wheel drive, this is a key component. All the longitudinal and lateral forces of a TCR car, so in addition to braking and steering this also means acceleration, affect the front wheels,” explains Dietmar Metrich. “And this is not only about the lap times, it is also about tire wear. So whoever has a car with a well-performing front axle has a clear advantage in tough competition. And because the front-wheel suspension pivot point is not specified in the TCR guidelines, we have some leeway in the design of the front axle.”

During the last test drives, the technicians concentrated on the basic setup to draw out the Opel Astra TCR’s maximum performance. This is in line with Dietmar Metrich’s credo: “It’s always easier to make a fast racing car solid than to make a solid one fast. But ultimately the best of both has to be at hand.” What is extremely important in the process is the meticulous balancing of the mechanical grip of the chassis and wheels as well as the aerodynamic grip, which is mainly created by the rear wing and front splitter. Both give the racing car fast and easy-to-drive handling. The racing car driver’s information on the car’s driving behavior is as significant as the lap times. Finely tuned vehicle balance is also especially important for brake performance. Opel Astra TCR’s brake system from the renowned manufacturer AP enables extremely late braking points. This is ensured by 378 mm brake discs and six-piston brake calipers at the front along with 265 mm brake discs and two-piston brake calipers at the back. The driver can modulate the braking balance from the cockpit.

Opel Astra TCR is also top in terms of dynamic strength. The sequential, six-speed racing transmission operated by a paddle shift located on the steering wheel from the French specialists Sadev works without difficulty. And the four-cylinder, two-liter turbocharged engine with two overhead camshafts and multi-point injection has already proved its strength and endurance in long-distance events. The 16 valve 330 hp unit with maximum torque of around 420 Nm also delivers impressive figures in its TCR trim. In this case it is boundaries set by the guidelines that limit the engine’s potential performance.

The key concept here is “Balance of Performance”. To ensure that every automaker – regardless of the technical basis of their production series platform – can bring a competitive racing car to the racetrack while also putting an end to cost-intensive technical spin-off pursuits, the regulation guardians balance the racing cars using a tried and tested system. The two “Balance of Performance” adjustment points in the TCR are engine performance and weight, whereby the engine performance is controlled via electronics or so-called mapping. The TCR guidelines thus enable exciting customer racing with maximum cost control.

“We still have lots of work ahead of us before our TCR debut,” says Jörg Schrott. “But I’m already looking forward to the coming season. The TCR is exactly what the teams and fans want. Thrilling, breathtakingly close motorsport featuring cars the spectators can identify with – this approach is a surefire success.” 

!NEW! Opel’s European Sales Increase by Almost 13 Percent in August

• Opel outgrows the market more than threefold in August
• Sales increase of around four percent in the first eight months
• New registrations up in more than 19 European countries

Hot summer: Opel increased sales in August by more than 7,300 vehicles or 12.8 percent compared to the same period of 2014 to around 64,500 units.

Opel added another chapter to its ongoing success story in August with strong growth across Europe. 

According to preliminary numbers, the Rüsselsheim-based carmaker increased sales in August by more than 7,300 vehicles or 12.8 percent compared to the same period of 2014 to around 64,500 units. Opel therefore outgrew the overall European vehicle market (plus 4.1 percent) more than threefold. Opel’s market share is up by more than 0.4 percentage points to 5.71 percent. The overall result for the first eight months of the year is also positive – despite Opel pulling out of the Russian market. From January to August, the brand sold over 735,000 vehicles – around four percent or 27,300 units more than during the same period of last year. This is equivalent to a market share of 5.83 percent.

Insignia and co.: Opel and its British sister brand Vauxhall posted an increase in volume in more than 19 European markets for the first eight months of 2015.

“This sales success is mainly down to our new models that are extremely popular with the customers across Europe. The new Astra, which will celebrate its world premiere at the Frankfurt Motor Show and is a real quantum leap, will add additional drive to our sales,” said Peter Christian Küspert, Vice President Sales and Aftersales of the Opel Group.

Opel and its British sister brand Vauxhall posted an increase in volume in more than 19 European markets for the first eight months of 2015 including Germany (+3 percent), the UK (+3 percent), France (+6 percent), Spain (+17 percent), Portugal (+18 percent), Poland (+18 percent), Italy (+20 percent) and Turkey (+34 percent).

Opel recorded its highest market share for August on its home market Germany since 2011 – with a 7.2 percent share of the overall vehicle market and a 7.5 percent share of the passenger car market. Opel also achieved its best market share for August since 2011 in the Netherlands (5.8 percent) and in the Czech Republic, the company recorded its best market share for August since 2001 (5.31 percent). The brand with the Blitz claimed top spot on the Hungarian passenger car market in August with a market share of 12.31 percent. Opel’s sister brand Vauxhall was the second on the UK passenger car market in August (11.27 percent market share) and for the first eight months of the year (10.29 percent market share). Furthermore, Opel took second place on the Spanish passenger car market in August.

!NEW! Opel Continues Successful Course in Europa

• Opel posts Europe-wide growth of nine percent in June
• Sales increase of three percent in first six months of the year
• Registrations up in 20 European countries

Opel Mokka SUV

Opel remains on a successful course in Europe: according to the preliminary numbers for June, new car registrations increased by more than 9,800 vehicles compared to the same month of last year – an increase of 9 percent, resulting in new registrations of 118,600. The market share was at 6.35 percent. Opel’s result for the first six months of 2015 is also positive – despite the exit from the Russian market. From January to June, the carmaker sold 582,300 vehicles, an increase of three percent or around 18,400 units more than in the same period of 2014. This is equivalent to a slightly improved market share of 5.9 percent.

New Opel Corsa

Opel ADAM 

“The increase in volume in more than 20 markets in the first six months shows that our models appeal to the customers. The new Opel KARL, for which we have already received 30,000 orders, our personal connectivity and service assistant Opel OnStar and the new Astra K will create additional impetus for further growth,” said Peter Christian Küspert, Vice President Sales & Aftersales Opel Group.

In the first half of 2015 Opel registered an increase in registrations in 20 European markets including Germany (+ 2 percent), the United Kingdom (+4 percent), France (+7 percent), Spain (+18 percent), Italy (+17 percent), Portugal (+21 percent), Poland (+20 percent) and Turkey (+ 36 percent). The brand registered an increase of market shares in more than 13 European markets. Opel achieved its biggest market share gains in Macedonia, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Estonia, Bulgaria, Serbia and Poland.

In June, Opel conquered first place on the Hungarian passenger car market with a market share of 11.3 percent. The Rüsselsheim-based carmaker also took second place in the registration statistics in Austria (7.57 percent market share) and the Netherlands (8.1 percent market share. In addition, the Opel sister brand Vauxhall was the number two on the British market both in June (11.66 percent market share) and for the first six months of the year (10.35 percent market share).

Opel Mokka SUV once again led the way for the passenger car portfolio with an increase of more than 20,000 units or 28 percent.

Opel Corsa registrations were up by around 18,000 units or twelve percent followed by the Opel ADAM with more 2,500 units or nine percent.

!NEW! Opel Rallye Junior Team: Azores Adventure Ahead !

• ADAC Opel Rallye Junior Team well prepared for round three of FIA ERC Junior
• Opel works driver Emil Bergkvist heads to SATA Rallye Acores as ERC Junior leader
• Team colleague Marijan Griebel completed WRC round in Portugal as preparation

Thumbs up: The ADAC Opel Rallye Junior Team consisting of Stefan Clemens, Marijan Greibel, Emil Bergkvist and Joakim Sjöberg (from left to right) is optimistic ahead of the SATA Rallye Acores.

Highly motivated and full of confidence, the ADAC Opel Rallye Junior Team is eagerly heading to the gravel adventure at the SATA Rallye Acores with its two works ADAM R2 machines. After victories at both previous FIA ERC Junior rounds, Swedish Opel works driver Emil Bergkvist (20, from Torsåker) has a solid lead with 78 points and a 42-point advantage over his closest competitor. After coming in second at the Rallye Circuit of Ireland, his German team colleague Marijan Griebel (26, from Hahnweiler) is now in fifth place in the FIA ERC Junior rankings.

Upwards trend: Marijan Greibel and his Copilot Stefan Clemens want to continue to impress in their Opel ADAM R2 at the SATA Rallye Acores after finishing second at the Rallye Circuit of Ireland.

The two drivers supported by ADAC and Opel have meticulously prepared for the third round of the FIA ERC Junior taking place on the Portuguese archipelago around 1,400 kilometers west of the European continent in the mid-Atlantic. Following intensive gravel training in Austria, the teams tackled individual test races. ERC Junior leader Bergkvist, who learned rallye driving on the gravel roads in his home country and feels right at home on this surface, easily won his class at the South Swedish Rallye with his co-driver Joakim Sjöberg in their ADAM R2. One week later, teammates Griebel and his co-driver Stefan Clemens were racing towards a podium finish in the extremely challenging Rallye de Portugal, part of the World Rallye Championship, when tire damage in the last stage led to suspension problems, forcing them to withdraw from the race. On the Monday before the Azores rallye, Bergkvist and Griebel were already on site for another test day in their race cars.

Serial winner: Opel-backed Emil Bergkvist has won both races in the FIA ERC Junior so far and is 42 points clear of his closest rival in the overall rankings.

So the ADAC Opel Rallye Junior Team drivers are full of optimism going into the third round of the season, which is already the mid-way point of the FIA ERC Junior 2015. “I am really looking forward to the Azores,” says Bergkvist. “I have watched a lot of on-board videos and can hardly wait to tackle this fantastic gravel track in my ADAM R2. Of course the competition is again going to be really tough. But the ADAM R2 has proven that it is a sensational rallye car on all surfaces. We are very well prepared and want to deliver a clean performance with as few mistakes as possible. If we manage that, then I am confident that we’ll again have a good shot at a podium spot.”

Team colleague Griebel adds: “To take part in a rallye in the fascinating countryside of the Azores is a dream come true for me. I’m expecting extremely challenging stages with constantly changing gravel surfaces. The quickly changing weather in the Azores can also play an important role. You have to be ready for everything. I wouldn’t go so far as to use the word routine after having raced in just one gravel rallye, but my two test runs and participation in the Portuguese WRC race were certainly very good preparation for the Azores. My main goal there is to successfully cross the finish line with the ADAM R2 and to score as many points as possible for the FIA ERC Junior.”

Taking part in the entire ERC Junior with a customer ADAM R2, Pole Aleks Zawada and his French co-driver Cathy Derousseaux are also racing under the Opel colors in the Azores.

The Rallye Acores covers a total distance of 725.8 kilometers, including 17 demanding gravel stages covering 216.6 kilometers. The rallye begins in Ponta Delgada on the largest island São Miguel on Thursday (June 4) at 3:45 p.m. local time (CEST minus 2 hours), and will be neutralized from 10:30 p.m. The next day the first leg will continue from 9 a.m. and finish around 9 p.m. The second leg starts on Saturday (June 6) at 8:30 a.m. and the finish line will be crossed around 7 p.m. Opel offers live timing on the website www.opel-motorsport.com.

!NEW! ADAC Opel Rallye Junior Team Ready to Rumble

Second season of ADAC Opel Rallye Junior Team with ADAM R2

Six EC races and ADAC Rallye Deutschland world championship race

Winning formula: The ADAC Opel Rallye Junior Team wants to repeat last season’s success with the ADAM R2. 

From Latvia’s snow over Northern Ireland’s asphalt to the Azore’s gravel roads – the junior European Rallye Championship (FIA ERC Junior) 2015 calendar covers the entire spectrum of challenging racing surfaces. The best rallye drivers born in 1988 or later are set to prove themselves in Europe’s toughest young talent league in vehicles from the RC4 category, also known as R2. The ADAC Opel Rallye Junior Team with two Opel ADAM R2 cars driven by Marijan Griebel and Emil Bergkvist are ready for the action to start.

Junior team: Marijan Griebel (right) and co-pilot Stefan Clemens (left) hope to get off to a successful start to the 2015 European Rallye championship in their Opel ADAM R2.

The competition is fully aware of the enormous potential of the 190 hp ADAM R2, and not just since Griebel’s outstanding second-place finish at the Barum Rallye in the Czech Republic last year. Griebel is accordingly optimistic before the season starts in Latvia: “In spite of the early start, we are going into the second season of the ADAC Opel Rallye Junior Team well prepared. Last year’s results show that we can hold our own against the competition in the ERC Junior. In the last months, we further developed not only the ADAM R2, but also ourselves as a team.”

Swedish duo: Emil Bergkvist (right) and his co-pilot Joakim Sjöberg (left) after looking forward to the start of the 2015 FIA Junior European Rallye Championship.

Emil Bergkvist, who advanced to the ADAC Opel Rallye Junior Team following his title win in the ADAC Opel Rallye Cup 2014, is also raring to go: “I learned so much in the ADAC Opel Rallye Cup. I’ll benefit from that in the ERC Junior. And as a Swede, I’m of course especially looking forward to the hopefully snowy races in Latvia.”

Open in Latvia: The pilots can look forward to some snowy stages at the Rallye Liepāja.

A special season highlight next to the six FIA ERC Junior races is participation in the ADAC Rallye Deutschland, where Marijan Griebel celebrated an overwhelming class victory last August. His new co-driver is Stefan Clemens. Bergkvist’s co-driver this season is again the Swede Joakim Sjöberg. The Opel works drivers will encounter two other ADAM R2 cars in the EC. German Julius Tannert and his Luxembourgish co-driver Jennifer Thielen will be in four of six races, including the Rallye Liepāja. Pole Aleks Zawada and his French co-driver Cathy Derousseaux are taking part the whole season. However, their car is being run privately, while the works ADAM R2 is, as usual, in the capable hands of Holzer Motorsport.

Calendar ADAC Opel Rallye Junior Team 2015

February 6 - 8            Rallye Liepāja, Liepāja/Latvia (gravel/ice/snow) *

April 2 - 4                  Circuit of Ireland Rally, Belfast/Northern Ireland (asphalt) *

June 4 - 6                  SATA Rallye Açores, Ponta Delgada/Azores/Portugal (gravel) *

June 25 - 27              Geko Ypres Rally, Ypern/Belgium (asphalt) *

July 17 -19                auto24 Rally Estonia, Otepää/Estonia (gravel) *

August 20 - 23           ADAC Rallye Deutschland, Trier (asphalt)

August 28 - 30           Barum Czech Rally, Zlín/Czech Republic (asphalt) *

* Race in FIA ERC Junior

New Corsavan Celebrates World Premiere at Brussels Motor Show

• Economical 1.3 CDTI ecoFlex engine and more payload capacity than predecessor
• Excellent connectivity with IntelliLink Infotainment System
• Numerous safety features thanks to close relationship with passenger car

Exciting combination: The new Opel Corsavan combines the comfort, safety features and performance of a passenger car with the transport capacity of a small van.

Following the successful launch of the new Opel Corsa at the Paris Motor Show in October of last year, the new Corsavan will make its debut at the Brussels Motor Show (January 16 to 25, 2015). The small but capable van will be on show at the Opel stand in Hall 9 of the Brussels Expo and is part of Opel’s new light commercial vehicle strategy. Based on the new three-door Corsa, the nippy city delivery van, which combines the comfort, safety features and performance of a passenger car with the transport capacity of a small van can be ordered now and will be at dealerships in the first quarter of this year.

The new Corsavan is even more practical than its predecessor, offering 21 kilograms more maximum payload. Furthermore, it also comes with numerous safety features such as the award-winning Side Blind Spot Alert or the second-generation Opel Eye front camera, with Traffic Sign Recognition, Lane Departure Warning, High Beam Assist, Following Distance Indication and Forward Collision Warning. To top things off, the optional IntelliLink Infotainment System guarantees excellent connectivity. Compatible with Android and Apple devices it makes the Corsavan the best-connected city delivery van on the market.

“The Corsavan offers small businesses the comfort and practicality of a van combined with the most up-to-date safety and connectivity features of its passenger car sibling at an extremely attractive price,” said Steffen Raschig, Director of Opel Commercial Vehicles. Raschig expects the Corsavan to be especially popular in Portugal, Spain and the United Kingdom, where the predecessor model also enjoys great success.

Dynamic and practical

Economical advantage: The servicing intervals guarantee that the vehicles spend even more time on the road. 

From the outside, the Corsavan barely looks like a commercial vehicle at all. It shares the new Corsa’s dynamic appearance and fits easily into tight parking spaces thanks to its compact dimensions (4021 mm long, 1944 mm wide including exterior mirrors and 1479 mm high, turning circle 9.9 meters) and speed sensitive power steering. Its spacious and modern interior offers generous leg and headroom. The ergonomic design puts every switch and control within easy reach. The cabin feels more like an office and allows owners/drivers to get some paperwork done between appointments. Contoured, supportive seats provide ample comfort throughout the day.

More payload: New Opel Corsavan’s large, flat loading area provides a capacity of 920 liters with a maximum payload of 571 kilograms.

The compact proportions in no way detract from the agile city van’s great transport capacity. The Corsavan’s large, flat loading area provides a capacity of 920 liters with a maximum payload of 571 kilograms. Standard features such as a solid steel floor and half-height steel bulkhead along with half-height sidewall paneling and load restraint lashing eyes all serve to protect and stabilize cargo. Additionally, upper load restraint mesh, fitted rubber floor mat and four-piece load compartment cover are optional for even more load protection.

New Opel Corsavan: Safe transportation: Load restraint lashing eyes serve to protect and stabilize cargo.

Economical and lively

The engine lineup consists of 1.4 liter gasoline engines and 1.3 liter diesel aggregates with outputs ranging from 70 to 95 hp. The 1.3 CDTI ecoFlex engine with 95 hp is the pick of the diesel aggregates and has undergone comprehensive redevelopment for use in the new Corsavan. It delivers 190 Nm torque, comes with Start/Stop as standard and is Euro-6 compliant. While delivering a lively drive it also keeps fuel consumption at an outstanding 3.3 liters per 100 kilometers for the combined cycle, with CO2 emissions down to an impressive 88 grams per kilometer.

The servicing intervals also represent an economical advantage. Main services intervals have been set to every two years or 60.000 km (whatever comes first) with an interim service interval of every 30.000 km or yearly. This guarantees that the vehicles spend even more time representing the client on the road.

Outstanding connectivity

Elsewhere, the optional IntelliLink infotainment system’s 7-inch color touchscreen is located on the center stack. Opel’s award-winning infotainment system offers optimum connectivity opportunities. It is compatible with Apple and Android devices and makes the Corsavan the best-connected small van on the market. The driver can use apps like BringGo for navigation as well as Stitcher and TuneIn for worldwide radio and podcast reception. With IntelliLink, a driver can plan his entire day without having to return to the office. Emails, contacts or the personal calendar are all easily accessible. The integration of Apple iOS devices within IntelliLink enables Siri Eyes Free voice control. This makes it possible for drivers to hear an incoming SMS read aloud or dictate an SMS and emails – all while keeping their hands on the wheel and their eyes on the road ahead.

Comprehensive Safety & Comfort Package

When it comes to safety, the Corsavan benefits greatly from its close relationship with its passenger car sibling and comes with a generous package of safety features. The highlight is Opel’s award-winning Side Blind Spot Alert, which uses ultrasonic sensors to warn the driver of an imminent collision when changing lanes, overtaking or turning a corner. The sensors have a range of three meters to the left and right of the vehicle, and detect objects or other vehicles in the driver’s blind spots. Whenever another vehicle comes within range of the sensors, a warning LED illuminates in the relevant exterior door mirror. Side Blind Spot Alert works in speeds ranging from 10 km/h to 140 km/h.

The second-generation Opel Eye front camera, with Traffic Sign Recognition, Lane Departure Warning, High Beam Assist, Following Distance Indication and Forward Collision Warning, also further increases driving safety. Traffic Sign Recognition reads speed limit- and no-passing signs and displays them on the instrument panel. Lane Departure Warning alerts drivers when they unintentionally stray out of their lane. High Beam Assist offers a considerable safety advantage when driving in the dark automatically activating the high beam light for better road illumination and improved visibility. Following Distance Indication, which is activated automatically at speeds from 40 km/h, not only helps to prevent collisions, but also helps to avoid possible fines for not maintaining sufficient safety distance to the vehicle in front. If the vehicle gets into a critical situation where a collision with the preceding vehicle is imminent, Forward Collision Warning alerts the driver with a loud alarm as well as a visual warning on the instrument cluster.

At the touch of a button, the City mode of the steering system, fitted as standard except when the Opel Eye front camera is chosen, increases power assistance at lower speeds, which is particularly useful when maneuvering in congested urban areas. Hill Start Assist also comes as standard. It maintains the brake function for about two seconds. This prevents the Corsavan from rolling back when starting on a slope. On cold days, owners benefit from the heated ThermaTec windscreen that ensures perfect visibility and the heated steering wheel.

!NEW! Opel/Vauxhall Sell Almost 1.1 Million Vehicles in 2014

• Sales and market share increased in Europe in 2014 despite difficult environment
• Company expects further increase this year due to model offensive
• 85,000 orders for the new Corsa E

Driving force: New Opel Corsa E, which has already been ordered 85,000 times, is on its way to the dealers

In spite of the difficult economic environment, 2014 ended on a high for Opel/Vauxhall with the carmaker recording its best sales figures in recent years. According to preliminary figures, the company delivered around 1.076 million vehicles in Europe last year. This is equivalent to an increase of 35,000 cars or three percent. Opel thereby outgrew the overall European market that only registered growth of two percent. Opel’s share of the overall European vehicle market was up for the second year running – by 0.1 percentage points to 5.74 percent. Opel achieved its best sales figures and market share since 2011.

Successful: Opel ADAM has impressed in the trendy small car segment

“We recorded growth in more than 15 markets. Our modern range of cars managed to impress especially in the most important European markets,” said Peter Christian Küspert, Vice President Sales & Aftersales Opel Group. Amongst others, Opel grew in Germany, the United Kingdom, France, Italy and Spain. Opel booked its largest sales volume increases in Poland (+ 42 percent), Ireland (+ 33 percent) and Portugal (+ 28 percent). The market share grew in more than twelve European countries.

Bestseller: Opel Mokka is the star in the sub-compact SUV segment

The economic situation in Russia where sales of the entire industry were down considerably in 2014 had a negative impact on the overall result. “Russia is one of our most important markets. Opel is obviously suffering from the ruble devaluation and buying resistance. The fact that we managed to increase our sales on a pan-European level in 2014 fuels our optimism for this year. We will definitely not rest on our laurels,” added Küspert.

Flagship: Opel Insignia played an important role in the good sales figures of 2014

Opel will continue its model offensive this year. The new Corsa E, which has already been ordered 85,000 times, will be at the dealers later this month. The new entry-level model KARL will follow in the summer and the compact model Astra will arrive at the end of the year.

“We will be able to offer our customers the best small car portfolio of all time with KARL, Corsa and ADAM. And our bestsellers, Corsa and Astra, which make up 50 percent of our sales will be renewed,” explained Küspert.

Opel’s large-scale product offensive will see 27 new models and 17 new engines brought to market by 2018 and the company wants to increase its sales figures further in the years to come. The carmaker has targeted a market share of eight percent in Europe by 2022.

!NEW! Opel Astra GTC 1.6 Turbo arrives in Portugal

• New version 'Black OPC Line' is highlight of the sporty Astra GTC model
• 1.6 Turbo Opel's new generation engine with Direct Injection delivers 200 hp
• Specific output of 125 hp / liter becomes the absolute reference in this class
• Price from 30,800 euros

New Opel Astra 1.6 Turbo Black OPC Line (200 hp): Now available in the Portuguese market

The Opel Astra GTC 1.6 Turbo is now available in the Portuguese market. The new Direct Injection engine 1.6 Turbo 200 hp is the most powerful of the new generation of engines with the Opel will renew most of its range by the end of year 2014. With a price of 30,800 euros, this true sporting constitutes an alternative more affordable compared to OPC 280 hp. Besides the new engine with the latest technology and front suspension high 'performance' HiPerStrut contributing decisively to a remarkable dynamic behavior, the Astra GTC 1.6 Turbo has a unique visual OPC Black Line.

New Opel Astra 1.6 Turbo Black OPC Line (200 hp) with two tail pipes

The main differences of the new GTC 1.6 Turbo are the two tailpipes and a number of elements from the most sporty versions of the Astra OPC and lines, forming a combination that is unique to this version for Portugal. The massive front bumper, which brings large air intakes, and the 'spoiler' back on top of the tailgate improve aerodynamics. At the same time, the side skirts and rear bumper Extended contribute to the special identity of this powerful GTC, which is accented by painting the roof of alloy wheels and exterior mirror covers in black. Cabin in stand-up type sports seats 'bucket seat', wheel and lever handle of the OPC box, and the pillars and roof lining in black fabric.

New Opel Astra 1.6 Turbo Black OPC Line (200 hp)

Unlike many three-door versions of models of the compact segment, the GTC occupies a prominent position in the range of models of Opel Astra variant being the most refined aesthetic and dynamic behavior.Despite the similarities with the other Astra GTC owns a design only: not sharing any exterior element with other members of the Astra family, except houses for the exterior mirrors and antenna.

Performance with Economy

The new Opel Astra GTC 1.6 Turbo can reach a speed of 230 km / h and accelerates from zero to 100 km / h in just 7.9 seconds. Recovery 80-120 km / h in 5th gear is also accomplished in 7.9 seconds in a show of great elasticity thanks to the high output of 300 Nm (with 'overboost') of torque. It is noted that the torque remains at the maximum level in a wider rpm range, from as early as 1750 rpm up to 4700 rpm. This, together with the peculiarity that the power of 200 hp remain in peak between 4700 rpm and 5500 rpm, gives the 1.6 Turbo new generation of Opel unusual resilience and acceleration at any engine speed.

The specific output of 125 hp / liter becomes the reference in this level of displacement engines. With careful construction for best results in a variety of parameters, including the 'performance' and consumption - where they play key role the system of direct injection and variable valve timing - this new engine, the GTC, consumes only average of 6.6 l/100 km in the combined cycle, the corresponding emissions of 154 g / km.

Opel Astra GTC 1.6 Turbo extends the range of options ranging from high 'performance' of the GTC range, joining the 2.0 BiTurbo CDTI 195 hp and 400 Nm The only engine that exceeds performance in these two is the 2.0 Turbo OPC, which delivers 280 horsepower.

New IntelliLink and complete standard equipment

Opel Astra GTC - Navi 950 with IntelliLink

The new Opel infotainment system is now available across the GTC range. The IntelliLink simplifies all commands, showing them a large seven-inch color screen, high definition, which also display the images captured by the rear camera parking aid. The IntelliLink system can be controlled by voice, while enabling Bluetooth connections to smartphones and streaming audio. The flagship model Navi 950 IntelliLink features detailed throughout Europe, the updates can be downloaded via the Internet maps. The system can verbalize text messages since, in addition to voice recognition itself, IntelliLink can also integrate voice functions of smartphones connected to it.

 Opel Astra GTC -  Steel Cage and Airbag Protection System

The complete standard equipment is one of the highlights of the new Opel Astra GTC 1.6 Turbo. In addition to all the safety devices - seat belts with pretensioners and force limiters, dual front airbags , side and curtain airbags, notice allotment of seat belts, ABS with brake force distribution and ESP Plus evolved - the new Opel offers series: 18-inch wheels, fog lamps, automatic switching between low and high beams, hill start assistance, light sensor, rain sensor, trip computer, cruise control, air conditioning with control electronic dual-zone system, Bluetooth hands-free phone and rear parking sensors.

The Astra GTC offers a wide range of dynamical systems driving assistance from the front chamber of the second generation Opel Eye with improved and extended functionalities to the suspension with electronic control FlexRide, through the new system of fourth generation system AFL + of adaptive Bi-Xenon headlights (Adaptive Forward Lighting).

Focus on dynamic

The debut of the new engine 1.6 Turbo 200 hp is in increased model that was designed to offer the best performance on the road at all dynamic levels.

Much of the development work on the chassis of the Astra GTC focused on the integration of HiPerStrut suspension. This unique front suspension, similar to the Insignia OPC, and until now only available in sports cars, top notch improves the dynamic behavior and offers greater steering precision.

The HiPerStrut architecture incorporates a fork which supports the shaft sleeve assembly, disengaging the directional movement of the wheels of all the suspension tower. The advantages in terms of sensitivity and accuracy of direction are evident. The HiPerStrut suspension reduces the variations of camber on the wheels when cornering front of the GTC, with considerable gains in grip. Another benefit of this configuration is that it permits the mounting of wheels up to 20 inches in diameter.

Compared with the Astra 5-door, the GTC’s ride-height has been lowered by 10 to 15 mm, while the wheelbase has grown by 10 mm, from 2685 mm to 2695 mm. Both tracks are wider, too, at 1584 mm (+40 mm) front and 1585 mm (+30 mm) rear.