!NEW! Shanghai GM Reveals All-New Buick Excelle GT

Mainstream mid-range sedan has new design, interior and powertrains

The all-new Buick Excelle GT exterior

Shanghai GM has revealed photos of the exterior and interior of the all-new Buick Excelle GT in advance of its upcoming domestic launch. It will strengthen the presence of Buick – Shanghai GM’s most popular brand – in China’s mid-range mainstream sedan segment.

The all-new Excelle GT reflects Buick's efficiency-oriented philosophy that caters to the preferences of local consumers. Inspired by the Buick Riviera II concept car, the all-new Excelle GT carries forward Buick's "dynamic and sleek" design language, with styling that projects an image of simplicity and sportiness.

The sedan’s interior boasts Buick's iconic 360-degree wraparound cabin layout, with exquisitely crafted and high-quality materials. It offers significantly more head and knee room than its predecessor, segment-leading room in back courtesy of short front and rear overhangs, and an ergonomic design.

The all-new Buick Excelle GT interior

Two new-generation 18T and 15N powertrain combinations will be offered. The 18T includes a 1.4T DVVT engine and an intelligent seven-speed DCG transmission, while the 15N offers a 1.5L DVVT in-line four-cylinder engine and a new six-speed DSS transmission. Both provide strong, seamless power output and segment-leading fuel economy thanks to the standard start/stop feature.

The all-new Excelle GT’s independent rear suspension ensures agile handling. Its lightweight body consists of over 65 percent high-strength steel. It comes standard with Bosch's latest ESC 9.1 system, ensuring maximum protection for occupants.

The model is also packed with segment-leading and exclusive user-friendly technology such as rear-seat air vents, LED daytime running lights and a nanometer-grade PM2.5 air filter.

The all-new Buick Excelle GT will be manufactured at Shanghai GM's new plant in Wuhan, which has adopted world-class manufacturing processes and technologies.

!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! Opel Insignia Sports Tourers 2.0 CDTi BiTurbo ‘Beat’ Traffic

• 20 custom specified Opel Insignia Sports Tourer’s to join Garda Traffic Corps in 2015
• 2.0 CDTi BiTurbo high performance diesel engine featured with 195hp

Custom specified Opel Insignia Sports Tourers Delivered to An Garda Siochana

Coming to a rear view mirror near you soon could be one of 20 new high performance Opel Insignia Sports Tourers that have just been delivered to An Garda Siochana. These custom specified Insignia’s feature a 2.0 CDTi BiTurbo diesel engine with an output of 195hp that ensures rapid engine response from low revs, making them ideal for high performance driving and policing.

Dave Sheeran, Managing Director, Opel Ireland said; “Opel have a vast experience in developing cars that provide surefooted performance and with the specifications that we have provided with these Insignia Sports Tourers, they are ideally equipped to support the safe and efficient patrolling of our Irish Motorways.”

The vehicles, which are wrapped in the traditional Traffic Corps livery, were unveiled at a press event with the Taoiseach and An Garda Siochana Traffic Corps last week at their headquarters in the Phoenix Park and will be provided to Garda traffic units around the country.

With a long history of supplying Opel’s to An Garda Siochana, Opel’s Fleet Department worked in close partnership with the team in the Transport Department to deliver the perfect specification to cater for their unique requirements for policing.

Opel ECOTEC 2.0 CDTI BiTurbo 

The 2.0 CDTi BiTurbo diesel engine is equipped with two turbos, one larger than the other. They operate separately or together as required to ensure quick engine response from low revs: 400Nm of torque is developed from only 1750Nm (with 350Nm from only 1500rpm). The smaller turbo uses an efficient water-cooled intercooler to minimise turbo lag, while the larger turbo uses a larger air-cooled intercooler at higher engine speeds. Compared to single-turbo Insignia 2.0 CDTi engines, the BiTurbo has higher performance pistons, cylinder head and gasket and camshafts to deal with the extra power. Despite all this performance-focussed technology, it is extremely fuel-efficient and boasts combined CO2 emissions of only 129g/km.

Suspension

Independent front and rear suspension has been fitted to these Insignia’s with lowered, uprated sports suspension along with FlexRide, Opel’s Adaptive Chassis System. FlexRide uses multiple sensors and instantly adjusts the dampers to suit the driving conditions to optimise ride and handling in all situations. Pressing the “Sport” button stiffens the dampers, quickens the throttle response and gives more direct feeling to the steering for higher speed driving situations. FlexRide works with the ESP, ABS, electronic brake-force distribution and traction control systems to optimise driving safety.

Brakes

High performance brakes are fitted, with the larger diameter front discs being ventilated and gaining 4-piston brake callipers with larger pads for superior braking ability. Manual handbrakes replace the normal electric handbrakes for operational effectiveness reasons. Meanwhile the 17-inch alloy wheels maximise air-flow for effective brake cooling.

Interior

Gardaí who will have responsibility of these Insignia’s will travel in the utmost comfort as Opel’s award winning Ergonomic Sports Seats have been fitted. These feature electrically adjustable lumbar support and height adjustment which are perfect for spending long periods in the car while also providing support during high speed manoeuvers. A leather sports steering wheel with integrated cruise control and speed limiter buttons and audio controls improve steering feel and performance while minimising time with hands off-wheel. A 4.2” colour dashboard displays trip computer information in a clear easy-to-see format, with the info pages also controllable via steering wheel buttons. Climate control, remote central locking with deadlocks as well as privacy glass on all rear windows for operational reasons, of course.

Safety

Of course the Insignia is fitted with the highest safety features with front, side and curtain airbags and seatbelt pre-tensioners. Active safety front head restraints ensure minimal impact to the neck in the unlikely event of an incident.  Meanwhile LED Daytime running lights and front fog-lights have been fitted to enhance the already highly visible livery.