!NEW! Holden unveils sleek next-gen Commodore Supercar concept

• Next-generation Holden Commodore to debut in 2018 Virgin Australia Supercars Championship
• Details to ensure ease of transition to next-gen Commodore for all Holden teams revealed

2018 Holden Commodore Supercar concept

Holden has revealed the first official concept image of the next generation Commodore race car, which will be introduced into the Virgin Australia Supercars Championship in 2018.

The stunning computer-generated image is the work of talented GM Design Australia Exterior Design Manager Peter Hughes.

2018 Holden Commodore Supercar concept

“What an incredible-looking race car, it carries on the tradition of Commodores looking awesome on and off the track and ushers in a new era for our brand,” Holden’s Executive Director – Marketing, Mark Harland said.

“I can’t wait to see it out on the track claiming race wins next year.”

The Supercars version of the cutting-edge next-gen Commodore is currently undergoing an intensive and rigorous design and development process being undertaken in partnership between Holden and its official factory racing team, Triple Eight Race Engineering.

The design work to compliment the sleek and sophisticated design of the road-going Holden Commodore includes advanced simulation and aerodynamic evaluation using sophisticated Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) modelling.

In releasing the Supercars concept, Holden has also confirmed the next-gen Commodore will be homologated with the current, successful V8 engine for the 2018 season only.

A new, twin-turbocharged V6 engine, suitable for Supercars’ Gen 2 regulations, is currently undergoing development in partnership with the General Motors Performance and Racing Center, in Pontiac, Michigan.

Triple Eight Race Engineering will seek approval from Supercars to run a V6 powered Commodore as a wild card entry at selected rounds next season before a full rollout for the 2019 season.

The V6 engine will then be accessible to all Holden teams via a favourable leasing program.

The staggered introduction ensures a greater ease in transition to the new model Commodore bodywork for all Holden teams.

It also allows Holden and Triple Eight Race Engineering to assist Supercars’ technical department with development of its programs ensuring the turbocharged V6 can achieve parity with the existing, naturally aspirated V8s.

This will maintain the competition’s integrity with the introduction of Supercars’ new Gen 2 regulations.

“Our sport prides itself on Supercars being the closest competition in the world, and the phased introduction of the next-generation Commodore will ensure that is maintained,” Triple Eight Race Engineering team principal, Roland Dane said.

Supercars Australia Chief Executive Officer James Warburton applauded Holden on the stunning new 2018 Commodore and the manufacturer’s V6 engine development program for Gen 2.

“It is a pragmatic and sensible approach by Holden and Triple Eight Race Engineering in introducing the new Commodore and a twin-turbocharged V6 powered engine to the sport,” Warburton said.

“Importantly it is a win for all the current Teams in terms of the simplicity and market relevance for an easy transition to the new Commodore in 2018.

“This phased introduction sets a clear path forward for not only Holden but existing and new manufacturers in the sport.”

Development of the new Commodore Supercar continues, with construction of the first car well underway and ready to undertake Supercars Aero Validation in the fourth quarter of 2017.

!NEW! Opel Astra 1.6 BiTurbo CDTI Hatchback: The Spicy One

• Powerful: 1.6 BiTurbo CDTI with 118 kW/160 hp
• Major plus-point: Maximum 350 Nm torque from only 1,500 rpm
• Agile and efficient combination: Lightweight architecture and latest diesel technology

New Opel Astra is one of the lightest cars in its segment and with the new 1.6-liter twin-turbo engine, few cars can match the Astra 1.6 BiTurbo CDTI for power, performance, refinement and fuel economy

If you are the kind of person who likes hot chili sauce on his toast and you are in the market for a sensible yet spicy five-door hatchback, the Opel Astra with the all-new 1.6-liter BiTurbo diesel engine is the car for you (NEDC combined cycle fuel consumption: 4.1-4.0 l/100 km; 109-106g/km CO2). The Astra 1.6 BiTurbo CDTI sprints from zero to 100 km/h in 8.6 seconds; accelerates from 80 to 120 km/h in 7.5 seconds; and keeps loping on to a maximum speed of 220 km/h. This blend of high performance and modest fuel consumption makes the twin-turbo Astra one of the most fuel-efficient cars in the compact class.

Despite the high performance, the modest fuel consumption of the twin-turbo engine makes the new Opel Astra 1.6 BiTurbo CDTI one of the most fuel-efficient cars in the compact class.

In addition to outstanding fuel efficiency, flexibility (or pulling power) is the major plus-point of the top-of-the-line 118 kW/160 hp engine. The maximum 350 Newton meters of torque are available at only 1,500 rpm. In combination with low mass – the new Astra is up to 200 kg lighter than the previous model – and good throttle response, the BiTurbo gains speed quickly from low rpm. Mated to a six-speed manual gearbox, the four-cylinder engine with sequential, two-stage turbocharging revs smoothly and progressively up to the maximum power output at 4,000 rpm. The engine is also very refined, making the Astra’s passenger compartment a particularly quiet, comfortable and roomy space in which to travel.

“When we launched the Astra last year, its combination of space, equipment, comfort and connectivity shook up the competition in the compact class”, says Dr. Karl-Thomas Neumann, Opel CEO. “The new Astra is one of the lightest cars in its segment and with the new 1.6 liter twin-turbo engine, few cars can match the BiTurbo’s unique blend of power, performance, refinement and fuel economy.”

In addition to outstanding fuel efficiency, flexibility is the highlight of the new 118 kW/160 hp Opel Astra 1.6 BiTurbo CDTI engine. The maximum 350 Newton meters of torque are available at only 1,500 rpm

An all-new lightweight architecture provides the basis for both the five-door Astra hatchback and the Sports Tourer.

Smartphone integration and the groundbreaking personal connectivity and service assistant Opel OnStar enable ultra-modern connectivity. The Astra also continues Opel’s tradition of bringing features previously only available in higher market segments into the compact class, such as IntelliLux LED Matrix lights.

These qualities have already won the Astra many prizes. In addition to the 2016 European Car Of The Year title, the new Astra has picked up international awards such as SAFETYBEST 2015 and the 2015 Golden Steering Wheel. It also received the maximum five stars for its performance in the Euro NCAP crash test. Opel Astra BiTurbo hatchback is a winner of important comparison tests in the automotive media too. In Germany, Auto Zeitung (edition 10/2016) headlined, “Opel Astra beats the premium league” after the new Astra’s victory over the Mercedes A 220d and BMW 118d ; and Europe’s biggest car magazine, AutoBild (edition 17/2016) announced that the Opel Astra “even leaves BMW behind.”

Prices for the new five-door Astra 1.6 BiTurbo CDTI begin at € 27,310.

!NEW! Buick Introduces Avista Concept

Design elegance, performance heritage conveyed in turbocharged 2+2 coupe 

2016 Buick Avista Concept 

Ahead of its public debut at the North American International Auto Show, Buick today revealed the Avista concept – a 2+2 coupe that pushes the brand’s contemporary design ethos and rekindles its historic performance roots.

A sleek, sweeping proportion is the foundation for this vision of a contemporary grand tourer, with a 400 horsepower twin-turbocharged V6 driving the rear wheels and a driver-focused cockpit offering a comfortable, connected center of control.

“The Avista embodies the dynamic soul of Buick,” said Duncan Aldred, vice president of Global Buick Sales, Service and Marketing. “It is a modern expression of the brand’s heritage of sophisticated performance, communicated with beautiful elegance.”

The Avista’s uninterrupted body lines stretch front to rear, suggesting motion – resembling Buick’s design language introduced on the Avenir concept and carried into production on the 2017 LaCrosse. The absence of conventional B-pillars between the doors and rear side windows enhances the flowing profile.

“There is elegant simplicity in the Avista’s surfaces, which speak to the purity of the car’s performance, and a timeless beauty that’s a hallmark of Buick design,” said Bryan Nesbitt, executive director Global Buick Design. “It was designed to capture the spirit of the perfect drive.”

Marking the front and rear, Buick evolves its signature wing-shaped lighting with “soft curtain” elements that create illuminated “halos” around lamps’ edges, suggesting a three-dimensional shape and sculpture. Their design forecasts the evolution of Buick’s production lighting features, while the Avista’s grille features the brand’s new winged tri-shield insignia set against a three-dimensional mesh background.

Additional exterior features include:

• A 110.7 inch (2,811 mm) wheelbase and 63 inch (1,601 mm) front/62.9 inch (1,598 mm) rear tracks for sporty proportions and an aggressive stance
• Twenty-inch aluminum wheels with color-toned accents match the car’s Dark Sapphire Jewel exterior
• Front fender vents with chrome accents evolve Buick’s signature fender ports.

Performance-oriented, modern cockpit

Like the exterior, the Avista’s 2+2 interior is defined by flowing, uninterrupted lines conveying elegance through simplicity – with intense technical and surfaces details, in everything from 3D-printed door and seat trim to a future vision of Buick’s IntelliLink, with touchscreen controls on a widescreen instrument panel display.

The center console also incorporates touchscreen controls and extends to the rear seating area. Open side storage compartments built into the front of the console are enabled by the new Electronic Precision Shift, similar to the 2017 LaCrosse.

A Superior Blue foundation color echoes the exterior and is complemented with Mist Gray leather seating inserts, console trim and door trim. Exposed carbon fiber and aluminum accents throughout reinforce the precision of the performance-oriented driving experience. The fading pattern on the seats, console and doors were inspired by waves receding at a beach’s edge.

“Waves, whether from the sea or in the sand, are all about motion and flow,” said Nesbitt. “That’s exactly what this concept is all about – flowing design and the purity of the driving experience.”

Buick designers enhanced the passengers’ sensory experiences with next-generation QuietTuning and air-quality control, including advanced noise cancellation technology, ionic air purifiers and aromatherapy.

The Avista also advances Buick’s legacy of turbocharged performance, which carries forward in the 2016 Regal GS and other models. Similar to the 2017 LaCrosse, the concept twin-turbocharged 3.0L V6 features fuel-saving Active Fuel Management (cylinder deactivation) and Stop/Start technology to complement its power with efficiency. The engine is backed by an eight-speed automatic transmission and Magnetic Ride Control delivers more precise body motion control.