Mazda Shinari Concept

Mazda has releases its future design direction with the sleek Shinari concept car. which will make its public debut at the Paris Motor Show at the end of September. The stylish four-door coupe previews the look of the next generation of Mazdas and ushers in a new design language.

With the launch of the new concept, Mazda also announced that the company’s future design language will be described by the word Kodo, which is Japanese for soul of motion. Talking about the new design language, Ikuo Maeda, general manager of Mazda Motor Corp.’s design division said: "this design will lead to the next generation of Mazda design and will lead to other elements."

The coupe shows the future face of Mazda's family of vehicles -- an aluminum signature wing, the line that runs through the headlights and under the grille -- as well as the overall styling trend for future production models.

The Shinari as a four-door coupe is a clear signal that Mazda is targeting the premium segment where similar vehicles such as the Aston Martin Rapide, Porsche Panamera and upcoming Fisker Karma already reside. In order to do so Mazda officials ackowledged that interior quality levels must improve.

The company has not released any official information on the Mazda Shinari yet. When it will, we'll be able to show you high resolution images of the Mazda Shinari and to offer a full set of details on the new concept.



Source : Automotive News Europe

Paris Preview: 2011 Lotus Evora S and Evora IPS automatic

After Lotus’ recent e-mail malfunction, they have now officially unveiled details of both models. These are the Lotus Evora S and the Evora Intelligent Precision Shift (IPS), which will officially make its debut at the Paris Motor Show.

The Evora S has a 3.5-liter V6 engine that makes 345 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque. That compares with the standard Evora's 276 hp and 252 lb-ft. The Evora S also gets a retuned suspension for a more "instinctual" performance feel, Lotus says. Brakes are cross-drilled for better cooling, and there's a new active exhaust with a "dramatic" sound. A standard sport pack lets the driver control throttle response, change the dynamic stability control settings and activate the exhaust bypass, all by using a Sport button.

The Lotus Evora now comes with an IPS (Intelligent Precision Shift) option, which is a 6-speed automatic gearbox that is mated to the 3.5L V6 making 276-hp. 0-60 mph with the IPS option on the Lotus Evora comes in 5.3 seconds with a top speed of 155 mph. Evora’s with the IPS option will allow drivers to switch between manual paddle shift and automatic drive modes. A ‘sport’ mode is also available and allows the driver to feel each gear shift and be in complete control of the transmission.

Lotus has dubbed the automatic-equipped version the Evora IPS, for Intelligent Precision Shift. It’s equipped with a six-speed automatic transmission with automatic, sport, and full-manual modes, the latter involving wheel-mounted shift paddles. With a projected weight of 3166 pounds, Lotus says the Evora IPS will hit 60 mph in 5.3 seconds and manage a top speed of 155 mph.

But that's not the only thing Lotus revealed today: also coming to Paris is a new Intelligent Precision Shift option for the standard Evora. The IPS is a six-speed automatic transmission with manual paddle-shift mode. That's all we know for now. The rest of the details will have to wait for Paris.

Source: Lotus




Press Release

It's an Evora but not as you know it

Ahead of the official unveil at the Paris Motor Show on September 30th, Lotus announce the latest evolution of the award winning Evora - the Evora S and Evora IPS (Intelligent Precision Shift) option.

Lotus has taken the award winning* Evora and re-created it with a 350 PS 3.5l V6 engine to create the Evora S. Dany Bahar Lotus' Chief Executive Officer summed it up beautifully when he said: "You don't realise what you were missing from your driving experience until you get behind the wheel of the Evora S."

So apart from the obvious power difference, how is the Evora S different to the standard Evora? It's another question we put to the CEO (given that he's spent a little time behind the wheel, we thought he'd be best placed to answer questions). This is what he said: "It's the next level of Evora experience. It communicates with you better, the suspension setting has been fine tuned for added power and control so it responds even more to direction. It's an instinctual car, the experience is pure."

"We were proud of the Evora but we're even prouder of the Evora S, I feel like it does the true Lotus experience justice. The really great thing is that as we move forward the standard Evora should also benefit from some of these developments."

The Evora S comes with a sport pack as standard featuring a ‘sport' button which allows the driver to control throttle response and activate the exhaust by-pass valve. The sport button also raises the instantaneous rev limit and changes the dynamic stability control settings resulting in a total experience change. There are cross-drilled brakes for improved cooling. And here's a heads up for those who buy into the old adage ‘you can tell the men from the boys by the size of their toys': the external emotion of the Evora S has been improved with a completely new active exhaust which means that at the push of a button the car sounds just as dramatic as it feels.

Commenting on the Evora S, Lotus Chief Commercial Officer Andreas Prillmann said: "The Evora S is a natural progression for us but more than that, it's a taste of what people can come to expect from the next generation of Lotus cars. It retains core Lotus values such as performance through lightweight but it also gives more than that. It's the perfect combination of top performance, style and comfort. Form doesn't sacrifice function in the case of the Evora S."

So there you have it folks, the next generation of Lotus Evora, the Evora S, set to be unveiled at the Paris Motor Show.

But that's not all. In addition to the Evora S, Lotus also presents the IPS (Intelligent Precision Shift) option. This inception of the seven-time-award-winning (who's counting? We are!) Evora sees an automatic 6-speed gearbox with Lotus developed transmission control with a 3.5 l V6 engine delivering 280 PS assuring a superior automatic driving experience.

The IPS version of the Evora allows the driver to switch between manual paddle shift and automatic drive modes. The driver also has the option of selecting ‘sport' mode which showcases the Lotus sport driving experience allowing the driver to really feel each gear shift and be in complete control of the transmission.

Commenting on the development Dany Bahar said: "The Evora IPS is set to broaden the appeal of the Evora and reach out to a slightly different market. We hope it will be popular with established automatic locations such as Asia, the Middle East and the US. It's been a long time since Lotus created an automatic and we've spent a great deal of time refining this one to make sure that it perfectly complements the Evora drive experience."

Evora S Technical Specification
Model Evora S
Engine - Mid mounted, transverse 3.5 litre DOHC V6 VVT-I
Emissions see below due to wheel options
Transmission - 6 speed manual
Chassis - Modular lightweight bonded aluminium structure
Steering - Lotus tuned hydraulically-assisted power steering
Suspension - Forged aluminium double wishbone suspension
Bilstein high performance gas dampers
Eibach coaxial coil springs

Performance data
Standard wheel option
Fuel consumption - urban 14.5 l/100km
Fuel consumption - extra urban 7.4 l/100km
Fuel consumption - combined 10.0l/100km
CO2 Emissions 235 g/km

19/20" wheel option
Fuel consumption - urban 14.6 I/100km
Fuel consumption - extra urban 7.6 I/100km
Fuel consumption - combined 10.2 I/100km
CO2 Emissions 239 g/km

Max power - 350 PS / 257.5 kW @ 7000 rpm
Max torque - 400 Nm / 295 lb ft @ 4500 rpm
0-60 mph - 4.6s
0-100 km/h 4.8s
Maximum speed - 172mph
Vehicle mass (unladen) - 1437kg

Evora IPS Option Technical Specification
Engine - Mid mounted, transverse 3.5 litre DOHC V6 VVT-I
Emissions - 208 g/km
Transmission Electronically controlled 6 speed automatic
Chassis Modular lightweight bonded aluminium structure
Steering Lotus tuned hydraulically-assisted power steering
Suspension Forged aluminium double wishbone suspension
Bilstein high performance gas dampers
Eibach coaxial coil springs

Performance data
Fuel consumption - urban 12.6 l/100km
Fuel consumption - extra urban 6.6 l/100km
Fuel consumption - combined 8.8 l/100km
CO2 Emissions 208 g/km

Max power - 280 PS / 206 KW @ 6400rpm
Max torque - 350 Nm / 258 lb ft @ 4700rpm
0-60 mph - 5.3s
0-100 km/h - 5.5s
Maximum speed - 155mph
Vehicle mass (unladen) - 1436 kg

Official: 2012 Mercedes-Benz CLS-Class [Video]

Mercedes-Benz just took the wraps off its 2012 CLS-Class, showing these pictures here for the first time.



The new CLS is considerably more lined and creased, with contoured doors that echo the Shooting Brake concept revealed earlier this year at the China motor show. The fenders are also more rounded and flared, and it's fronted by a long hood and prominent grille with an SLS vibe.



The exterior remains instantly recognizable as the CLS profile, but adds some details from the new SLS AMG at the front end, with a separately formed grille, larger air inlets, and no fewer than 71 LEDs in the all-new full-LED headlights. New surface lines along the side and above the rear fender accent the car's shape without changing the outline.



Inside the CLS' cabin, a wraparound dash makes the cockpit feel tailored, while a high-gloss analog clock adds an upscale touch. Design, Mercedes-Benz points out, is only half the story inside. Material quality has been upgraded in a further effort to distinguish the CLS from other segment players. Semi-aniline leather is just 1.6 millimeters thick and has an especially soft feel, according to the automaker.



We can expect those engine details to be made public once the 2012 CLS-Class debuts at the Paris motor show which runs October 2 - 17, 2010.









Press Release

World premiere at the 2010 Paris motor show

August 22, 2010

• The CLS brings refined performance to life
• Embodiement of the Mercedes-Benz brand values
• Athletic proportions, strong design language
• Expressive front design features central star in the grille
• Dynamic character line flowing back towards the rear
• Elegance with handcrafted details in the interior

A generation ahead: The CLS-Class created a new vehicle category in 2003 by combining the elegance and expressiveness of a coupé with the comfort and functionality of a sedan. The CLS delighted the public, astounded the competition and created a new style icon: for years the CLS has endured as the only four-door coupé in its class, and since October 2004 it has been the car of choice for around 170,000 buyers worldwide. "Customers all over the world benefited from our bold move to launch a completely new vehicle concept onto the market", explains a delighted Dr. Joachim Schmidt, member of the board of Mercedes-Benz Cars, Sales & Marketing. "And with its exciting design, the new edition of the CLS also benefits from the fact that we are a whole generation ahead of the competition with our four-door Coupé."

Celebrating its world premiere at the Paris motor show (October 2 - 17, 2010), the 2012 CLS-Class builds on the pioneering role of its predecessor with a fresh new interpretation. "The new CLS points the way forward for the future perceptible design idiom of Mercedes-Benz", explains Professor Gorden Wagener, head of design at Mercedes-Benz. "At the same time it takes its inspiration from the great tradition of stylish, refined sportiness which has always been a feature of Mercedes coupés."

Exterior: classic Coupé styling with distinctive front

The proportions remain as spectacular as ever: long hood, tightly-styled frameless side windows and a dynamic roof sweeping back at an angle towards the rear. The four-door Coupé from Mercedes-Benz immediately made its mark in 2003 as a new style icon. Though the proportions are the same, the second generation of this design trendsetter has a completely new look.

What immediately strikes the eye is the innovative front design, which is reminiscent of the Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG. Visually, the radiator grille is not integrated into the hood but formed separately. This further highlights the long, sporty hood. The grille is dominated by the large central star, which unites the car with other Mercedes-Benz coupés and also enhances brand identity. The large, elongated dark air inlets with black grilles also add to the vehicle's athletic appearance.

Design brings high-tech features to life

Another distinguishing feature comes in the form of the full LED headlamps, which are the world's first to offer all of the dynamic light functions using LED technology. This innovation boasts an impressive design - inside they are divided into three arrow-shaped layers from top to bottom: the upper layer contains an LED indicator, beneath which is a striking LED side light offers LED low beam functions. The side light can also be seen when the high beam is activated, thereby creating a unique night-time design. The lowest level of the headlamp houses the main beam and nightview functions. A total of 71 LED's provide an unmistakable appearance as well as a significantly enhanced view of the road compared with previous systems.

The typical CLS outline, with its elegantly long proportions, is the dominating attribute of the new model. The effect of the dynamic, athletic form has been enhanced with a new interplay of lines and surfaces. A unique "dropping line", which begins above the front wheel-wells and slopes downward towards the rear, represents a new interpretation of a renowned design hallmark of historic Mercedes sports cars.

A distinctive and muscular sports car-like shoulder line above the rear axle highlights the athletic character of the 2012 CLS. The flared wheel arches resemble the powerful thighs of a feline predator waiting to pounce.

The side profile is rounded off with wide wrap-around tail lights featuring LED technology -- a linking element to the rear of the vehicle. The shape is emphasized by the broad shoulder line, which is clearly visible from behind and supports the flat roof. A wide metal insert adds a further visual highlight at the rear.

The interior: design brings quality to life

The interior of the 2012 CLS-Class is also distinguished by a timeless design which combines discreet elegance with innovative details and handcrafted perfection. The eye-catching cockpit features a wrap-around dashboard sweeping from the driver's door over the instrument panel support and across to the front passenger door. The central display has also been integrated seamlessly into the upper part of the instrument panel.

The CLS also lives up to its role as a design icon thanks to the innovative nature of the materials used, including a mixture of satin and high-gloss finishes used on the metal surfaces. Highlights also include matte galvanized air vents which ideally compliment a high-gloss-trimmed analogue clock.

Handcrafted perfection is reflected in details such as the stitched seat covers and dashboard. The individual parts of the leather dashboard are sewn together by hand in a process which takes several hours, after which they are fitted and upholstered with high-quality padding. Prior to this process, the leather is also heated to preshrink it, so that it will retain its shape even after extreme exposure to direct sunlight.

Around four animal skins are processed for each CLS. The particularly exclusive 1.6-millimetre thick semi-aniline premium leather meets the highest standards of both look and feel. The natural pore structure remains intact thanks to a light pigmentation, and the leather has an especially warm and soft feel to it. Premium leather requires a very precise manual selection process and therefore a high amount of raw leather.

The refined interior of the CLS is further reflected in the generous use of high-quality trim elements, located on the instrument panels, center console and door linings. Customers can choose between high-gloss brown burl walnut or high-gloss black ash. The wood has been perfectly fitted around difficult contours for a masterful handcrafted finish, and the wood trim has been matched according to grain as part of an sophisticated selection process to create a consistent overall impression.

For an even more progressive look, black piano lacquer or carbon fiber trim elements are also available. Handcrafted as well, up to seven layers are applied and polished for the piano lacquer trim until the high-gloss finish is achieved.

2010 Kia Electric POP Concept

Kia is presenting a car concept ‘POP’ new all-electric mini at the 2010 Paris Motor Show in September, The model will shows an all-new compact electric concept car.

Kia will bring this year at Paris Motor Show a new concept, already predicted by several teaser images. The South Korean automaker plans to attract the public attention to an electric vehicle for urban areas, but adopting a non-conformist design, drawn by the same Peter Schreyer.

The Kia Pop is 10 feet long and defined by such cues as pincer-like headlights, a panoramic roof and oval side windows mounted on the diagonal. The tiny concept has LED lights and a power point in the rear. It is slightly longer than the tiny Toyota iQ. The cabin features a purple interior with a front bench for two and a rear seat for one.

The new Kia Pop are sketchy, but at 3m long and with a triple-seat arrangement, it could be that Kia has its sights set on creating a rival to the Toyota iQ. In fact, we can see from the bird's-eye shot that the seating plan mimics that of Toyota's baby with two positions in a front bench and a single rear seat behind the front passenger. Whether the Pop can replicate the tiny-footprint practicality of the iQ remains untested for now.

For all its progress in recent times, the Korean maker is currently lacking an electric or hybrid model in its western line-up, and a battery-powered city car would allow it to take the fight to Mitsubishi's i-MiEV and the forthcoming Peugeot iON.




Press Release

ELECTRIC KIA POP CONCEPT TO SPARK INTEREST AT PARIS

Kia Motors will continue its tradition of unveiling convention-challenging and design-led concept vehicles at motor shows when it reveals an all-new electric concept car at the Paris Motor Show on the 30th September.

Called the 'POP', Kia's latest concept car boasts zero-emissions – whilst in use – and at three metres long, yet with a three seat layout, brings innovative design chic and dramatic styling to the city car segment.

Further information will be released in due course. The 2010 Paris Motor Show runs from the 30th September to the 17th October

ENDS

2010 Paris Auto Show: Chevrolet Spark Woody

The British division of Chevrolet has just released a one-off special version of its Spark supermini, an art car that will make its public debut at the upcoming Boardmasters surf, skate and music festival. Creative? Chevrolet! arts competition in Paris.

The Chevrolet Spark Woody was created using a three-quarter vinyl body wrap that creates the wood effect and also features retro style white rims and tires plus a surfboard on its roof.

The Spark Woody is one of a series of Art Sparks created by Chevrolet Europe in the past year. The first, a unique interpretation of the car by German fashion designer Smeilinener, made its debut at the final of the Young? Creative? Chevrolet Art Competition in Berlin last October, while other Art Sparks include a one-off WTCC leading car by Portuguese art student Jose Rocha, a YCC winner, and a Spark DJ Car – the world’s largest record turntable, created by Chevrolet UK this year.





Press Release

• Chevrolet unveils Spark Woody Wagon art car
• One-off created to coincide with Boardmasters festival
• Continues European ‘Art Spark' theme
• To feature at Paris Motor Show

Surf's up dudes - and here's the proof! Chevrolet, the manufacturer behind the market-leading 5-Year Promise aftercare package, has pulled the wraps off a one-off special version of its top-selling Spark supermini, created to celebrate the brand's American heritage and connection to youth culture.

Spotted driving around Newquay, Cornwall, at the start of the annual Boardmasters surf, skate and music festival, the Spark Woody will go on to star at the grand final of this year's Young? Creative? Chevrolet! arts competition, which takes place in Paris on the eve of the International Motor Show next month.

The car recalls the dawn of the surf movement in the USA, when, in the late Fifties and early Sixties, surfers bought ‘Woodies'. These were traditionally large estate cars based on mainstream models, but with timber framed bodywork, as they were both cheap and spacious enough to carry their boards and equipment.

Woody Wagons were immortalised in song, chiefly in The Beach Boys' Surfin Safari and Jan and Dean's Surf City, both widely regarded as two of the most famous surfing tunes ever.

Yet even when car makers stopped using wooden frames, an expensive and difficult production process, the Woody had become so much a part of American culture that its essence continued, with Chevrolet one of many US manufacturers who used Di-Noc woodgrained vinyl panelling to maintain the woody effect.

The Spark Woody was created in the UK for Chevrolet using a three-quarter vinyl body wrap provided by Pyramid Visuals of Weybridge, whose speciality is normally in vans and shop frontages. Its roof is adorned with an Escape Mini-Mal surfboard, made in Cornwall, as its wood-effect panelling was in keeping with the car's retro styling.

Chevrolet chose Newquay to show off the car for the first time, as the Cornish resort is famous across the world for its surfing culture - the Atlantic Ocean meets the British Isles at one of its narrowest peninsulas, which gives naturally excellent conditions for surfing.

The Spark Woody is one of a series of Art Sparks created by Chevrolet Europe in the past year. The first, a unique interpretation of the car by German fashion designer Smeilinener, made its debut at the final of the Young? Creative? Chevrolet Art Competition in Berlin last October, while other Art Sparks include a one-off WTCC leading car by Portuguese art student Jose Rocha, a YCC winner, and a Spark DJ Car - the world's largest record turntable, created by Chevrolet UK this year.

A further Art Spark, created by 27-year old British artist Ian Cook, will appear later this month at Silverstone Circuit to coincide with the British Touring Car Championship meeting there, while the Spark Woody will make its next public appearance this coming weekend at Snetterton, again tied in to the BTCC.

Paris Motor Show: Opel GTC Paris Concept

Opel has announced plans to introduce the GTC Paris concept at the Paris Motor Show. The company did not release any details regarding the new Opel GTC Paris Concept, except the fact that it will combine Speed and Beauty. The Opel GTC Paris Concept seems to be inspired by the words of Richard Bach from his famous novel Jonathan Livingston Seagull - "And the speed was pure beauty". GM says that these words are so in tone with the Opel GTC Paris Concept that they even laser-etched them in the upholstery of the seats.

The only official details are that the new concept will be a “sporty compact hatch with dramatic proportions and sculptural surfaces typical of Opel’s design language.” However, just by looking at the teaser, it’s evident that the concept is a preview for the new 2011 Opel Astra Sport Coupe that’s set to go on sale in Europe towards the end of the year.

Besides showing the GTC Paris concept, Opel will debut the 2011 Astra Sports Tourer. It features a FlexFold Rear Seat (which folds the rear seats at the press of a button), an Easy-Access Cargo Cover, AFL+ adaptive forward lighting, Opel Eye (a front camera which recognizes traffic signs and warns drivers when they inadvertently depart from their lane) and a boot that holds up to 1550 liters of cargo.


Press Release

Opel at the Paris Motor Show: Emotion and Motion for the Future

• World Debut: GTC Paris, Opel's New Concept Combines Speed and Beauty
• World Premiere: Astra Sports Tourer, The Athletic All-rounder
• New Meriva: Expanded Diesel Line-up On the Flexibility Champion
• ecoFLEX Family: New Entries that Further Lower CO2 Emissions
• Ampera: Extended-Range Electric Vehicle On Track for 2011 Production

Rüsselsheim. With two world premieres and several new exciting entries, Opel will bring emotion in motion and e-mobility to the Mondial de l'Automobile 2010 in Paris (October 2 - 17), the most visited motor show in the world.

Some 1.5 million visitors will get a chance to see the GTC Paris concept, the Astra Sports Tourer, a station wagon version of the successful compact; the new Meriva, with an expanded diesel range; and significant new entries in the Opel ecoFLEX line-up. And, they will learn about the latest development of the Ampera, Opel's revolutionary extended range electric vehicle.

World Debut: The GTC Paris, Opel's New Concept Combines Speed and Beauty

"And the speed was pure beauty." This simple line from Richard Bach's famous novel, Jonathan Livingston Seagull inspires the vision around Opel's newest concept car, the GTC Paris. The line is so integral that Opel has laser-etched the words in the upholstery of the seats.

The name, GTC Paris, evokes both the dynamic character of the vehicle and the fashionable city where it will have its debut. It is an expressive, sporty compact hatch with dramatic proportions and sculptural surfaces typical of Opel's design language.

World Premiere for Opel's Athletic All-Rounder, the Astra Sports Tourer

Launched at the 2009 IAA, the Astra five-door has been very well received with nearly 200,000 orders collected in less than one year. Now the Astra Sports Tourer model will be unveiled at the Paris Motor Show. This sleek station wagon features first-class practicality in an athletic and stylish shape.

While it shares the same Opel design DNA and Sports Tourer name as its larger counterpart the Insignia, the Astra Sports Tourer has its own dynamic yet practical appeal. Its good looks are combined with an ample flexible cargo carrying capability. An efficient trunk design and premium features enhance the functionality to effortlessly raise load space between 500 and 1550 liters. With the seatbacks down, the cargo load length is increased to 1835 mm, 28 mm more than the current Astra wagon.

The new Astra Sports Tourer has been designed for smooth loading, while the clean, flat wall linings of the carefully contoured cargo compartment optimize useable space by eliminating odd, hard-to-use corners. Opel engineers have taken great care to enhance functionality by incorporating features from premium station wagons with a rare sense of quality and precision.

They have developed a new FlexFold Rear Seat system, which allows each section of the 60/40 split-fold rear seatbacks to be folded forward at the press of a button located in the side walls of the cargo compartment: A spring is electrically released, automatically activating swift, remote folding of the seatbacks. The Astra Sports Tourer is the first compact wagon equipped with this convenience feature.

The Easy-Access Cargo Cover slides upward and out of the way with a simple tap. The cover retracts with a quick hand motion. Likewise, these two new features are borrowed from the luxury class.

Families and business professionals using the Astra Sports Tourer benefit from the same harmoniously sculpted cabin as in the five-door hatchback. The wraparound wing front fascia and the flowing forms of the cockpit provide a great sense of space and security.

The cabin is as practical as it is comfortable. Sports Tourer users wish to stow a range of items where they need them, not just in the trunk. To help achieve that, 25 liters of cabin storage space has been added, twice as much as in the previous generation wagon. For long distance driving comfort, customers can choose the only front ergonomic seats in the segment certified by independent back experts from the Aktion Gesunder Rucken (AGR).

The Astra Sports Tourer is presented with a high quality finish and incorporates exciting Opel innovations that make life more comfortable and driving safer. These include the adaptive mechatronic FlexRide chassis, the AFL+ adaptive forward lighting, the ergonomic front seating systems and the Opel Eye front view camera system that recognizes traffic signs and warns drivers when they inadvertently depart from their lane. In addition, Opel engineers are developing a next-generation FlexFix integrated rear bike carrier, which will be introduced for the Sports Tourer next year.

New Meriva: Expanded diesel line-up enhances efficient performance

In Paris Opel's new Flexibility Champion, the Meriva, will show off its complete powertrain range. Three new important diesel engines join the two diesels and three gasoline motors that already were available at launch. Customers now have eight powertrain choices ranging from 55 kW/75 hp to 103 kW/140 hp - far outnumbering competitors.

In tune with Opel's continuous efforts to reduce its eco footprint, the new 1.3 CDTI ecoFLEX version combines 21 percent more power (70 kW/95 hp) and 11.2 percent lower emissions (119 g/km CO2) than its ecoFLEX predecessor. Also new are two powerful versions of the 1.7 CDTI engine respectively developing 81 kW/110 hp and 96 kW/130 hp and up to 300 Nm of torque for an average combined fuel consumption of 5.2 liter/100 km.

All diesel engines in the Meriva are equipped with particulate filters as standard and comply with Euro 5 norms.

Along with this wide powertrain range, customers also benefit from a variety of innovative features that optimize the easy use of space and make the new Opel Meriva, the Flexibility Champion.

Significant new entries in Opel ecoFLEX line-up

As proof of Opel's continuous work improving the efficiency of its ecoFLEX family, the line-up has significantly changed in the last six months. New for Paris are the Corsa and Agila with Start/Stop technology; the Meriva 1.3 CDTI ecoFLEX and the Insignia 2.0 CDTI ecoFLEX.

Opel now offers Start/Stop technology on the Corsa 1.3 CDTI (55 kW/75 hp) and Agila 1.2 gasoline (69 kW/94 hp) together with a Euro 5 upgrade and a CO2 engine optimization package, delivering significant fuel economy in urban driving. By the end of 2011, all major carlines will offer the Start/Stop CO2-saving technology.

Fuel consumption and CO2-emissions have been reduced on the Insignia ecoFLEX model from 5.2 l/100 km and 136 grams to 4.9 l/100 km and 129 grams, showing that the brand is committed to working on a range of innovations that can reduce - and ultimately displace - oil dependency, minimize CO2 emissions and encourage energy diversity.

Premieres of the Opel ecoFLEX model range	Max. output (kW/hp)	Combined Fuel consumption (l/100 km)	Combined CO2 emissions (g/km)
Agila 1.2 gasoline ecoFLEX – Start/Stop	69/94	5.0	116
Corsa 1.3 CDTI – Start/Stop	55/75	4.0	105
Meriva 1.3 CDTI ecoFLEX	70/95	4.5	119
Insignia 2.0 CDTI ecoFLEX	118/160	4.9	129

Opel Ampera: Extended-Range Electric Vehicle Drives Anywhere, Any Time

Opel's goal is to offer the first extended-range electric vehicle in Europe. And the latest development car of the Opel Ampera, shown in Paris, proves that the brand is on schedule to start producing this revolutionary car in late 2011.

The Ampera extended-range electric vehicle will be the first emission-free, electrically driven car in Europe suitable for everyday driving. With its unique electric propulsion system providing lively acceleration and high levels of refinement, the five-door Ampera seats four passengers, offers ample trunk space, and features an extended range of more than 500 kilometers. The Ampera will be well-suited to the daily driving schedule of most European customers. For example, approximately 80 percent of German drivers travel less than 50 km daily.

The Ampera is powered by electricity at all times and speeds. For trips up to 60 km, power is supplied by the electricity stored in the 16-kWh, lithium-ion battery. While driving on electricity delivered by the battery, the Ampera emits zero CO2. When the battery runs low, gasoline-fueled engine/generator seamlessly extends the total driving range to more than 500 kilometers on a full tank. The battery is recharged (in about three hours at 230v) by plugging the vehicle's on-board charge system into a standard household outlet. Unlike a conventional battery-electric vehicle, the Ampera eliminates range anxiety. It gives drivers the confidence and peace of mind that a depleted battery will not strand them.

More than 280 lithium-ion cells in the T-shaped battery pack provide ample power. The nearly silent electric drive unit delivers 370 Nm of instant torque, the equivalent of 150 horsepower, zero to 100 km/h acceleration in around nine seconds, and a top speed of 161 km/h.

The Ampera will also be offered with right-hand drive in the United Kingdom by Vauxhall.