!NEW! Vauxhall announces All-New Viva

Vauxhall will launch an all-new five-door entry-level model called Viva in Summer next year.

All-New Vauxhall Viva 

The Viva will be the latest edition to Vauxhall’s small car range joining the fashionable A-sector ADAM and the popular Corsa supermini.

Offering an extremely attractive price point, the Viva will have a five-door body style with either four or five seats. Viva will be well specified and come in a range of trims and equipment levels, which will hold great appeal in this rapidly growing sector.

“This bold, radical name will attract attention and engender curiosity in the car,” said Peter Hope, Vauxhall’s Marketing Director.

The five-door model’s name also pays homage to Vauxhall’s original Viva available from 1963 to 1979. Over 1.5 million Vivas were manufactured at Vauxhall’s plant in Ellesmere Port, Cheshire.

Designed for modern, everyday life, the all-new model will share the original’s clean lines, durability and practicality.

Opel will use a different name to Viva which will be announced tomorrow (Thursday 11th September 2014).

!NEW! GM and Opel reveal groundbreaking technology for automated driving

• GM to put its first V2V-enabled car on the road in about two years
• Opel Insignia demonstrates low speed and highway speed automated driving 

Opel Insignia Research Vehicle: Demonstrates low speed and highway speed automated driving

General Motors and Opel are demonstrating their commitment to the future of automated driving and connected mobility at the Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS) World Congress (September 7-11) by showcasing an Opel Insignia research vehicle, an automated Chevrolet EN-V 2.0 concept vehicle and a Chevrolet Cruze equipped with vehicle-to-pedestrian (V2P) connectivity.

“GM will put its first V2V-enabled car on the road in about two years. What’s more I am announcing that we will bring an advanced, highly-automated driving technology to the market in the same time frame,” said GM CEO Mary Barra.

“At GM, we have a renewed passion, the financial resources, the technology and the talent to think big, to step up our investments and take calculated risks. I am listening to customers and they want unfettered personal mobility. They expect us to help mitigate if not eliminate the congestion, pollution and traffic accidents. To me, these aren’t noble causes but imperatives,” continued Barra.

Opel Insignia Research Vehicle

An Opel Insignia will demonstrate intelligent and connected technologies on the south side of the city island. This vehicle, equipped with cameras, LiDAR sensors (Light Detection And Ranging), vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) and vehicle-to-infrastructure (V2I) communication technologies, demonstrates a future vehicle that can handle both low-speed, stop-and-go city driving and highway-speed automated driving.

For automated driving: Opel Insignia equipped with cameras, Lidar sensors, vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) and vehicle-to-infrastructure (V2I) communication technologies

The six LiDAR sensors in the bumpers of the Insignia constantly use light scanning to identify objects around the car. The forward pointing camera on top of the car reads lane markings and detects other objects. The V2V and V2I technologies located in an antenna on top of the car work to communicate with other objects that the vehicle encounters. The car also uses GPS satellite to constantly remain aware of its position on the roadways. All of these inputs are fused through GM’s sensor fusion technology to enable 360 degrees of awareness and object detection.

EN-V 2.0 Concept

The Electric Networked-Vehicle (EN-V) 2.0 showcases the latest in intelligent and connected automotive technologies. After debuting the original two-wheeled EN-V concept in 2010 at Shanghai World Expo, this iteration offers a four-wheeled drive system that combines cameras, Lidar and V2X to offer a hands-free, low-speed electric driving experience.

Chevrolet Electric Networked-Vehicle (EN-V) 2.0 

The EN-V 2.0 has many of the same technologies that power the Opel Insignia research vehicle at low speeds. The small electric concept vehicle, however, is built strictly for low speeds. The EN-V 2.0 and the Opel Insignia research vehicle will interact on the same road on Belle Isle.

Vehicle-to-Pedestrian (V2P) Technology Demonstration

GM is demonstrating other potential uses of V2X communication technology by presenting a Chevrolet Cruze equipped with vehicle-to-pedestrian (V2P) communication technology.

 Chevrolet Cruze with V2X technology 

At Belle Isle, mock construction sites are set up on the road course, and participants will be driven in the Cruze toward the work areas. Mannequin “workers” in the construction area are blocked from the view of the driver and passengers, however, they are equipped with arm bands that communicate their location to the oncoming Cruze via warning lights blinking on the “head’s up” windshield display. In the future, V2P communication technology could be integrated into more aspects of pedestrian life, enhancing driver awareness of pedestrians.

“Being at the vanguard, we clearly have a lot of work ahead of us. But we will put the time to good use by accelerating our R&D and vehicle engineering efforts, engaging with regulators around the world and most importantly, talking to the customers,” concluded Barra.

!NEW! 25 Years of Opel Calibra: From Aerodynamic Champion to Cult Coupé

• Big splash: World premiere at 1989 Frankfurt Motor Show
• Slippery shape: Low 0.26 Cd, best value among series production cars
• Affordable dream: Thanks to volume production technology, 115 hp for 33,900 marks
• Sporting highlight: All-wheel drive Calibra V6 wins 1996 ITC Championship
• Most successful sports coupé of 1990s: 238,647 units produced in seven years

Calibra: Real cult coupés come from Opel

Real cult coupés come from Opel. Following the successes of the Manta, Opel GT and Monza, the sleek Calibra continued Opel’s winning formula when it premiered at the Frankfurt Motor Show (IAA) in 1989, exactly 25 years ago. It was an extremely progressive concept way ahead of its time, with the best drag coefficient of all series production cars, independent wheel suspension and semi-trailing arm rear axle, optional all-wheel drive and ultra-modern gasoline engines with closed-loop-controlled catalytic converters fitted as standard. These attributes were recognized in 1990 when the Calibra won the coveted Golden Steering Wheel, Germany’s most prestigious automobile award.

Opel Calibra 2.0: Entry-level engine with 115 hp

The 2.0 liter entry-level engine with 85 kW/115 hp propelled Opel’s aerodynamic world champion to a top speed of 203 km/h, while the 150 hp, four-valve version went on to 223 km/h. Despite such impressive performance, the Calibra 16V was still able to return 7.7 l/100 km combined cycle fuel consumption. In other words, this was sporty looks and performance with no compromises – typical Opel, just like the low entry-level price of 33,900 marks.

This kind of value is, of course, a tradition for coupés from Rüsselsheim. The legendary Manta already benefitted from the high volume production technology of the Ascona, and the Calibra leveraged a similar gain from its close relative, the Opel Vectra. As a result, the Manta and the Calibra were both affordable dream cars that became cult coupés thanks to their successful recipe of sportiness with economy and reliability, and both are now much sought-after classic cars.

Design lesson: Form follows function

Opel Calibra: Wind tunnel testing 

Opel Calibra united exciting design with optimized aerodynamics and uncompromised everyday practicality. The wide-opening tailgate gave easy access to a versatile, 980 liter luggage compartment. And despite its coupé format, the Calibra’s long wheelbase ensured all four occupants had plenty of space and comfort. Generous standard equipment included power steering, a five-speed close-ration gearbox, a six-speaker audio system and tinted windows. Air conditioning, a four-speed automatic transmission and an electric tilt/slide sunroof were among the options.

Top priority: Safety first

In developing the Calibra, Opel engineers were already focused on pedestrian protection, a top issue today. Trend-setting features such as the slippery body shape, rounded edges, the hidden windshield wipers and concealed roof drip moldings would become part of future vehicle design.

Safety first: Opel Calibra new ellipsoid headlamps with higher light output

Electronic ABS and sleek, new ellipsoid headlamps with a higher light output, sharp contrast and reduced light scatter improved active safety. And the large, beautifully integrated front and rear bumpers were designed to absorb plenty of impact energy in the event of an accident.

The most important models: As you like it

Powerhorse: Opel Calibra Turbo with 204 hp

At market launch in 1990, a high-quality all-wheel drive system was optionally available in addition to the standard front-wheel drive for both 2.0 liter gasoline engines. The Calibra 4x4 impressed with excellent traction, superb braking stability and ultra-safe driving behavior. They were qualities that deserved even more power under the hood – and in March 1992 Opel made waves when the Calibra Turbo entered dealerships at a highly-competitive price of 49,800 marks. All-wheel drive, a six-speed gearbox, sports seats and 16-inch light alloy wheels with wide, 205/50 tires all came as standard. But the big story was the 2.0 liter turbo engine pumping out 204 hp (150 kW) with a massive torque ‘curve’ that resembled the elevated plateau of Table Mountain in Cape Town. In short, whenever the driver of a Calibra Turbo knocked on the door, there was always someone at home!

Six pointer: Opel Calibra 2.5 V6 with 170 hp

The Calibra’s Keke Rosberg Edition is, of course, legendary. Just in time for its works debut in the German Touring Car Masters (1993/94), Opel introduced  the new 125 kW/170 hp, 2.5 V6 Calibra, together with 2.0 liter four-cylinder  variants in Opel’s white-yellow DTM look. Customers who chose a Calibra Cliff Motorsport Edition in May 1996 were way ahead of the game. Its paintwork was the same as the Class 1 racing car in which Manuel Reuter would win the ITC championship – successor series to the DTM with World Championship status – for Opel at the end of the season. The street-legal Cliff racer had a 20 mm lower sports chassis, BBS light alloy wheels (7J x 16) and a price advantage of 3,601 marks.

For real fans: Opel Calibra Cliff Motorsport Edition

Grand finale: Last Edition

Just one year after its ITC success, the Calibra entered another home stretch, this time towards the end of production. After 222,000 registrations since 1990, a special limited volume Last Edition was created as a final chapter in the Calibra story. It could be ordered until the end of April 1997 and came with a sports chassis, BBS wheels, leather trim and air conditioning to provide a luxurious experience. The engine choice comprised the 2.5 liter V6 or a 136 hp/100 kW, 2.0 liter, four-cylinder unit.

Last but not least: Opel Calibra Last Edition

August 29, 1997 marked the official end of production. After seven years, 238,647 Calibras had been produced at the main plant in Rüsselsheim, and also at Valmet in Uusikaupunki, Finland. To meet high customer demand, the production run in 1990 was increased to 60,000 units from a planned volume of 20,000, with part of this being produced at Valmet Automotive.

The Calibra’s biggest markets were Germany, the UK, Italy, Spain and France. The 115 hp entry-level model led the sales charts with production totaling more than 130,000 units, followed by the 150 hp, 2.0 liter version, of which more than 61,000 were built.

Opel Calibra was most successful sports coupé of 1990s: 238,647 units produced in seven years

Fittingly, it was a black Last Edition with a 2.0 liter, four-valve engine which rolled off the assembly line as the final Calibra to be made. Today, Opel Classic enjoys showing this car at many Youngtimer events, where the beautiful coupé always ends up a crowd favorite.