The high-performance version of the Opel /Vauxhall Insignia will make its first appearance in Britain at this year's Goodwood Festival of Speed that runs from July 3-5. The 325HP Insignia VXR (OPC for the rest of Europe) will run the famous hillclimb course twice a day. Joining the Insignia will be the most powerful production model in Vauxhall's history, the rear-wheel-drive, 6.2-litre supercharged V8 engined VXR8 Bathurst S Edition 560HP that will be performing a 'Smoke Gets in Your Eyes' display in front of the Goodwood House.

GM's British arm will also showcase two concept studies from the past, the gullwing-door XVR that was displayed at the 1966 Geneva Salon and the SRV that made its debut at the 1970 Earls Court Motor Show.

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You may think that we're horsing around with the controversial subject of the AVUS Audi RS6 Avant, but honestly, we're not. Now, what you seen in these photos is not an official model from the German automaker but a cool initiative from an Opel dealer in the Netherlands that decided to create a blacked out version of the Astra OPC Nurburgring Edition. Aside from the black matte finish, the modified Astra OPC also features a carbon-fiber-like finish for the hood and rooftop and dark alloy wheels.

There aren't any changes under the bonnet with the OPC retaining the stock 2.0-liter turbo engine that cranks out 240 horsepower launching the sporty hatch from zero to 100 km/h (62mph) in 6.4 seconds and to a top speed of 244 km/h or 151mph. As with the standard OPC, the front-wheel drive model comes with a six-speed manual gearbox.

Via: Autoblog.nl

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The development of the next-generation Opel Meriva is moving ahead as planned with the German automaker removing more and more camouflage off the prototype models. In these latest scoop photos, the prototype Meriva has lost the confusing chequered black and white taping revealing many details on its design. Even though Opel has attempted to mislead us with a pair of fake rear-door handles, the new Meriva will retain the 2008 Geneva Show car's rear-hinged suicide doors called FlexDoors.

While the front doors are conventionally designed with front hinges, the Meriva's rear doors swing open towards the back of the car to a 90-degree angle. Another feature of the FlexDoors is that the front and rear doors can open independently of each other. GM's people support that the patented FlexDoors will make the Meriva more comfortable, versatile and safer than the current model.

The new Meriva will borrow several design cues from the Insignia including the front-end styling and the delta-wing blade on its flanks. While it won't be as exciting as the concept study, Opel's second-generation mini-MPV looks like it will be far more stylish than today's Meriva.

Same goes for the interior that is stylistically inspired from - you guessed it- the Insignia. Even though the car's design was a high-priority, GM did not forget about the Meriva's functional and practical side. Among other features, the 2010 Meriva will be equipped with Opel's variable FlexSpace rear seating system that allows the transformation of the vehicle from a five-seater to a four, three, two or even single seat vehicle without the need to remove seats.

The 2010 Meriva will adopt the latest version of GM's Gama platform sharing many of its underpinning with the new Corsa. It is expected that the new Meriva will grow in size offering improved space for passengers and their luggage.

While we don't have the full Monty on the powertrain options, it is anticipated that apart from the usual gasoline and diesel engines found in the Corsa, the new Meriva will also be available with GM's brand-new 1.4-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder petrol unit with outputs ranging from 120 hp to 140 HP.

Unlike its chief rivals that include the Honda Jazz and Citroen C3 Picasso, the Meriva's range will also feature a high-performance OPC version powered by a turbocharged 1.6-liter gasoline unit with an output of around 180-horsepower.

Sales of the new Meriva will begin in Europe in 2010. As for any chances seeing the Meriva in the U.S., for the time being, your guess is as good as ours.

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For the second time in the past few months, the forthcoming Opel Insignia OPC or as it will be called in the U.K., the Vauxhall Insignia VXR, has been photographed without any camouflage whatsoever. These new photos that were shot in Barcelona, Spain,come courtesy of a keen reader over from our friends at Motorpasion. The most promising version of the Insignia features a GTC Concept Coupe style nose as well as a new rear bumper and beefy alloy wheels.

The high-performance Insignia will most likely be powered by a twin-turbocharged V6 engine developing somewhere in the area of 300-320HP. Unlike today's front-wheel drive Vectra OPC, the range-topping Insignia will benefit from a four-wheel drive system that incorporates a torque-splitting electronic rear differential, complements of the new Saab 9-3 Turbo X.

We should expect to see the production Opel Insignia OPC making its world debut at this fall's Frankfurt Motor Show with sales starting towards the end of the year.

Via: Motorpasion

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