International Brands News
Geneva 2008: Opel Meriva Concept Revealed
Posted Mar 02, 2008 @ 10:32 pm
Prior to its unveiling at the 2008 Geneva Motor Show, Opel has released details and photos of the Opel Meriva Concept. The four door hatchback features Opel's new design language, first seen in the previous GTC and Flextreme concepts.
The Meriva concept features a few unique design elements including suicide doors, which Opel is calling "FlexDoors". Another notable design element is the windshield, which continues up onto the roof to create two long, narrow sun roofs.
The Meriva concept is a vast improvement over the current production Meriva, which is a pretty boring and forgettable hatch. Will we see the Meriva on US shores as a Saturn? Right now it looks doubtful, but if American consumer preferences continue to shift towards smaller cars, it's possible.
Category: GM International, Concept Cars
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Prior to its unveiling at the 2008 Geneva Motor Show, Opel has released details and photos of the Opel Meriva Concept. The four door hatchback features Opel's new design language, first seen in the previous GTC and Flextreme concepts.
The Meriva concept features a few unique design elements including suicide doors, which Opel is calling "FlexDoors". Another notable design element is the windshield, which continues up onto the roof to create two long, narrow sun roofs.
The Meriva concept is a vast improvement over the current production Meriva, which is a pretty boring and forgettable hatch. Will we see the Meriva on US shores as a Saturn? Right now it looks doubtful, but if American consumer preferences continue to shift towards smaller cars, it's possible.
Category: GM International, Concept Cars
Comments
Euro 3-Door Chevy Aveo Unveiled
Posted Feb 28, 2008 @ 9:46 pm
Chevy has taken the wraps off the next gen 3-Door Aveo bound for European show rooms. We've already seen the 5-door, and the 3 door is basically the same. Notable features include an enormous grille and some cheesy fender vents. While it is an improvement over the outgoing Aveo, it is by no means a world beater.
Don't exepct this vehicle to hit US shores anytime soon. Currently only the 5 door Aveo hatch is scheduled for North America.
Press release after the jump...
Continue reading Euro 3-Door Chevy Aveo Unveiled
Category: Chevy, GM International
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Chevy has taken the wraps off the next gen 3-Door Aveo bound for European show rooms. We've already seen the 5-door, and the 3 door is basically the same. Notable features include an enormous grille and some cheesy fender vents. While it is an improvement over the outgoing Aveo, it is by no means a world beater.
Don't exepct this vehicle to hit US shores anytime soon. Currently only the 5 door Aveo hatch is scheduled for North America.
Press release after the jump...
Continue reading Euro 3-Door Chevy Aveo Unveiled
Category: Chevy, GM International
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Geneva 2008: Opel/Vauxhall Meriva Concept
Posted Feb 08, 2008 @ 12:06 am
GM Europe's Opel/Vauxhall have given us a little teaser for a new concept to be shown at the Geneva Motor Show next month. The Meriva Concept fits in what GM calls the "monocab" segment and draws on the styling cues from two Opel concepts, the GTC and Flextreme. This concept should hint at what future MPVs from GM will look like. One of those MPVs, the Opel Zafira, is planned to be produced and sold in the US, likely as a Saturn.
The Meriva Concept is one of three GM world premieres that will take place in Geneva.
Press release after the jump...
Continue reading Geneva 2008: Opel/Vauxhall Meriva Concept
Category: GM International, Concept Cars
Comments
GM Europe's Opel/Vauxhall have given us a little teaser for a new concept to be shown at the Geneva Motor Show next month. The Meriva Concept fits in what GM calls the "monocab" segment and draws on the styling cues from two Opel concepts, the GTC and Flextreme. This concept should hint at what future MPVs from GM will look like. One of those MPVs, the Opel Zafira, is planned to be produced and sold in the US, likely as a Saturn.
The Meriva Concept is one of three GM world premieres that will take place in Geneva.
Press release after the jump...
Continue reading Geneva 2008: Opel/Vauxhall Meriva Concept
Category: GM International, Concept Cars
Comments
GM First To Hit 1 Million Vehicles In China
Posted Dec 22, 2007 @ 8:07 pm
GM has become the first global automaker to sell one million vehicles in China during one calendar year. GM China Group President and Managing Director Kevin Wale presented the one millionth vehicle, a Buick Park Avenue, to the customer today at Shanghai GM's corporate showroom in Shanghai.
China has become a cash cow for the General, with sales growing at a near exponential rate. GM's Chinese sales have grown by 10x since 2002 when the company sold just over 100,000 vehicles. Buick currently sells more vehicles per year in China than they do in the United States (although that might have to do with some of the cool models China gets, like the RWD Park Avenue!)
Kudos to the General for the company's great success in what is destined to become the world's largest auto market.
Press release after the jump...
Continue reading GM First To Hit 1 Million Vehicles In China
Category: GM International
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GM has become the first global automaker to sell one million vehicles in China during one calendar year. GM China Group President and Managing Director Kevin Wale presented the one millionth vehicle, a Buick Park Avenue, to the customer today at Shanghai GM's corporate showroom in Shanghai.
China has become a cash cow for the General, with sales growing at a near exponential rate. GM's Chinese sales have grown by 10x since 2002 when the company sold just over 100,000 vehicles. Buick currently sells more vehicles per year in China than they do in the United States (although that might have to do with some of the cool models China gets, like the RWD Park Avenue!)
Kudos to the General for the company's great success in what is destined to become the world's largest auto market.
Press release after the jump...
Continue reading GM First To Hit 1 Million Vehicles In China
Category: GM International
Comments (2)
China To Get LaCrosse Hybrid In Time For Olympics
Posted Dec 20, 2007 @ 12:38 pm
Sorry North American Buick fans, you now have one more reason to envy the Chinese LaCrosse. As if it wasn't bad enough that the Chinese LaCrosse is WAY cooler looking than the NA model, the Chinese version is also the first to get a hybrid powertrain.
That's right, China is about to be bestowed with its first hybrid from the General. Shortly before the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, a hybrid version of the Buick LaCrosse will come to market in China. The hybrid system used in the LaCrosse will be the belt alternator system (aka "mild hybrid") currently used on the Saturn Aura Hybrid.
The LaCrosse Hybrid will cost about $2,500 and will achieve roughly 25% better fuel economy than it's non-hybrid counterpart. While this is the first GM hybrid in China, it is by no means the first hybrid to hit the country, as Toyota and Honda already have them for sale in China.
Category: Buick, GM International, Green/Alternative Fuels
Comments (2)
Sorry North American Buick fans, you now have one more reason to envy the Chinese LaCrosse. As if it wasn't bad enough that the Chinese LaCrosse is WAY cooler looking than the NA model, the Chinese version is also the first to get a hybrid powertrain.
That's right, China is about to be bestowed with its first hybrid from the General. Shortly before the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, a hybrid version of the Buick LaCrosse will come to market in China. The hybrid system used in the LaCrosse will be the belt alternator system (aka "mild hybrid") currently used on the Saturn Aura Hybrid.
The LaCrosse Hybrid will cost about $2,500 and will achieve roughly 25% better fuel economy than it's non-hybrid counterpart. While this is the first GM hybrid in China, it is by no means the first hybrid to hit the country, as Toyota and Honda already have them for sale in China.
Category: Buick, GM International, Green/Alternative Fuels
Comments (2)
Chevy Lumina SS Snags Car Middle East Award
Posted Dec 14, 2007 @ 7:09 am
The Chevy Lumina SS has been named Sport Saloon of the year by Car Middle East. The Lumina SS is based off the zeta platform developed by Holden. Essentially, it is a rebadged Holden Commodore SV6, just like the Pontiac G8 GT.
After the Commodore was named car of the year in Australia and now this award, it just makes us that more excited for the G8!
Category: Chevy, GM International
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The Chevy Lumina SS has been named Sport Saloon of the year by Car Middle East. The Lumina SS is based off the zeta platform developed by Holden. Essentially, it is a rebadged Holden Commodore SV6, just like the Pontiac G8 GT.
After the Commodore was named car of the year in Australia and now this award, it just makes us that more excited for the G8!
Category: Chevy, GM International
Comments
H3 All Murdered Out For Europe
Posted Dec 07, 2007 @ 6:32 pm
Hummer is set to sell 50 all black limited edition H3's in Europe. The H3 Black Edition is based on the H3 Adventure and gets roughly €6,000 of extra equipment. Some of the equipment unique to the Black Edition includes matte-black grille, mirrors, door handles, side steps, roof bars, Kenwood navigation system and powder-coated wheels.
Hit the jump for the press release...
Continue reading H3 All Murdered Out For Europe
Category: Hummer, GM International
Hummer is set to sell 50 all black limited edition H3's in Europe. The H3 Black Edition is based on the H3 Adventure and gets roughly €6,000 of extra equipment. Some of the equipment unique to the Black Edition includes matte-black grille, mirrors, door handles, side steps, roof bars, Kenwood navigation system and powder-coated wheels.
Hit the jump for the press release...
Continue reading H3 All Murdered Out For Europe
Category: Hummer, GM International
Opel Flextreme Unveiled at Frankfurt
Posted Sep 10, 2007 @ 7:11 pm
Opel's FLEXtreme concept, which uses the E-Flex architecture, debuted today at the Frankfurt Motor Show. We showed you some renderings that leaked early, but now we've got this baby in the sheet metal.
Like the Chevy Volt concept, the Flextreme is an electrically driven vehicle with a range extender (In other words, it's a series hybrid). While the Volt uses a gasoline engine, the Flextreme's range extender is a 1.3L diesel engine.
The car has a pretty sleek and smooth design, aided by the use of cameras instead of side mirrors and no door handles. Presumably this will help aerodynamics and fuel economy. A key design element is the way the hatch opens. The hatch opens in two pieces in gull wing fashion (trust me it's hard to explain, just look at the pictures!)
The Flextreme also has a small luggage compartment located under the floor. In this compartment are two Segway scooters. Opel says this increases mobility as the Segways can go places cars can't. Is this a dumb gimmick or actually useful? I'm leaning towards the former...
Press release after the jump...
Continue reading Opel Flextreme Unveiled at Frankfurt
Category: GM International, Green/Alternative Fuels, Concept Cars
Opel's FLEXtreme concept, which uses the E-Flex architecture, debuted today at the Frankfurt Motor Show. We showed you some renderings that leaked early, but now we've got this baby in the sheet metal.
Like the Chevy Volt concept, the Flextreme is an electrically driven vehicle with a range extender (In other words, it's a series hybrid). While the Volt uses a gasoline engine, the Flextreme's range extender is a 1.3L diesel engine.
The car has a pretty sleek and smooth design, aided by the use of cameras instead of side mirrors and no door handles. Presumably this will help aerodynamics and fuel economy. A key design element is the way the hatch opens. The hatch opens in two pieces in gull wing fashion (trust me it's hard to explain, just look at the pictures!)
The Flextreme also has a small luggage compartment located under the floor. In this compartment are two Segway scooters. Opel says this increases mobility as the Segways can go places cars can't. Is this a dumb gimmick or actually useful? I'm leaning towards the former...
Press release after the jump...
Continue reading Opel Flextreme Unveiled at Frankfurt
Category: GM International, Green/Alternative Fuels, Concept Cars
Opel E-Flex Concept Renderings Leaked!
Posted Sep 07, 2007 @ 10:02 pm
Today renderings of the new Opel E-Flex concept emerged online. This concept was supposed to debut at the Frankfurt Motor Show, but someone leaked the photos. The Opel concept features the same E-Flex series hybrid system as the Chevy Volt, but uses a diesel engine instead of an internal combustion engine for the range extender.
The Opel concept has a sleek, curvey design. It looks like a hatchback, but the from the renderings it doesn't look like there actually is a hatch. Another interesting feature are the suicide doors (at least that's what it looks like!). Should be interesting to see this one in sheet metal.
Category: GM International, Green/Alternative Fuels, Concept Cars
Today renderings of the new Opel E-Flex concept emerged online. This concept was supposed to debut at the Frankfurt Motor Show, but someone leaked the photos. The Opel concept features the same E-Flex series hybrid system as the Chevy Volt, but uses a diesel engine instead of an internal combustion engine for the range extender.
The Opel concept has a sleek, curvey design. It looks like a hatchback, but the from the renderings it doesn't look like there actually is a hatch. Another interesting feature are the suicide doors (at least that's what it looks like!). Should be interesting to see this one in sheet metal.
Category: GM International, Green/Alternative Fuels, Concept Cars
Chrysler Snags Ex-GM China Chief
Posted Sep 07, 2007 @ 1:43 pm
After wooing Jim Press away from Toyota, Chrysler LLC has landed another exec from a competitor. This time it's Phil Murtaugh, former chief executive of General Motors' China operations. Murtaugh was a 32 year employee for General Motors and was most recently executive vice president of China's SAIC Motor Corp.
This is an important move for Chrysler as the company has struggled in developing markets such as China. With a vehicle market that will eclipse the US's in a number of years, China figures to be a large part in Chrysler's turn around efforts.
Category: GM International, Competitors
After wooing Jim Press away from Toyota, Chrysler LLC has landed another exec from a competitor. This time it's Phil Murtaugh, former chief executive of General Motors' China operations. Murtaugh was a 32 year employee for General Motors and was most recently executive vice president of China's SAIC Motor Corp.
This is an important move for Chrysler as the company has struggled in developing markets such as China. With a vehicle market that will eclipse the US's in a number of years, China figures to be a large part in Chrysler's turn around efforts.
Category: GM International, Competitors
