Opel at the 85th International Motor Show in Geneva
- Ready for market launch: Opel OnStar will provide drivers with state-of-the-art personal mobility services
- World premiere KARL: Attractive entrance into the Opel world from euro 9,500
- World premiere Corsa OPC: Fifth generation athlete ready available from euro 24,395
Opel is paving the way to the future by providing even more information, services and safety in cars. The Rüsselsheim-based carmaker is presenting the personal mobility services offered by Opel OnStar – after already announcing the intention to bring Opel OnStar to Europe last year – at the International Motor Show in Geneva (Hall 2, Stand number 2231). Opel will introduce the comprehensive carefree package with high-speed mobile network and numerous services across its passenger car range. Two world premieres also characterize Opel’s product offensive of a new dimension: The KARL takes center stage with its ideal combination of spaciousness and compact dimensions. The attractive five-door car is the perfect vehicle for price-conscious customers looking to combine everyday suitability with comfort and low consumption with modern technologies. Elsewhere, the second Opel debutant targets a completely different audience: The Corsa OPC is the dynamic spearhead of the new Corsa Generation. It impresses with its powerful turbocharged engine, agile handling and its sporty look. The roughly four-meter long powerhouse is just as suitable for the Nordschleife of the Nürburgring as for everyday use in the urban jungle.
“We have brought two world premieres and our trendsetting Opel OnStar service to Geneva,” said Opel Group CEO Dr. Karl-Thomas Neumann. “Opel OnStar will enable us to offer our customers connectivity with their digital surroundings and the highest degree of safety. In addition, we will extend our product portfolio with KARL and the Corsa OPC. Both cars fit perfectly with current times because they both appeal on a rational and emotional level. The small car, based on reason, offers driving fun and the racy OPC will be affordable. That is Opel! That is what makes us strong.”
Opel OnStar: Personal mobility and service assistant
In the second half of 2015, the time will come to introduce Opel OnStar across the passenger car range. Opel OnStar will represent the next step in automotive connectivity in Europe. In the USA, Canada, China and Mexico around seven million customers already count on the comprehensive carefree package with Wi-Fi hotspot and numerous mobile and emergency services. “Opel OnStar will make driving safer and more relaxed,” predicted Dr. Karl-Thomas Neumann. No matter what emergency confronts the driver – Opel OnStar can offer assistance, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. An advisor will always be available, and if the airbag deploys, Opel OnStar will be activated automatically.
Information on and access to the car is guaranteed. Vehicle data such as tire pressure or oil life can be accessed via the Opel OnStar smartphone app. Locking/unlocking can also be controlled via the app, and if the car is stolen Opel OnStar will work closely with the police to locate the stolen vehicle. The Vehicle Diagnostics functionality is also very convenient: Opel OnStar will send a monthly report with the most important vehicle data and information. Furthermore, a diagnostics check can be requested at any time at the push of a button.
With the introduction of Opel OnStar, each Opel will also become a powerful, mobile Wi-Fi hotspot. Up to seven mobile devices can be connected simultaneously allowing passengers to play games, stay in touch with family and friends via social media, stream movies or watch TV. The driver can also work while away from the office when stationary.
Compact, affordable, sophisticated: The small Opel KARL appeals to heart and brain
It is the ideal car for price-conscious customers: Make way for the new Opel KARL. For an entry-level price of euro 9,500 (RRP including VAT in Germany) customers can expect a five-door car with space for up to five people or optionally 940 liters of stowage area all packed in just 3.68 meters. Three trim levels and ten different bodywork colors are available. Following Opel’s design philosophy, the newcomer from Rüsselsheim is not just good looking, it also impresses with its inner values. Under the hood, it boasts the latest generation in Opel powertrain technology: the new 1.0 ECOTEC with 55 kW/75 hp. The all-aluminum one-liter, three-cylinder gasoline engine combined with a five-speed manual transmission and the ecoFlex package can reduce consumption to 4.3 liters of gasoline per 100 kilometers in the combined cycle, which is equivalent to 99 grams of CO2 per kilometer.
Furthermore, KARL comes fitted with numerous safety and comfort features that customers do not expect in this price category. In addition to standard Hill Start Assist, the Lane Departure Warning integrated in the front camera is a further safety feature highlight. Like the ADAM and Corsa, KARL also features the City mode that reduces steering effort at the push of a button (from Enjoy), greatly facilitating maneuvering in heavy city traffic. Park Assist is also available and Cruise Control with speed limiter comes as standard from the Enjoy trim. The fog lights guarantee improved illumination in adverse weather conditions whereas the integrated cornering light function ensure that turning maneuvers are safer for the driver and other road users. “It is a grown-up car that appeals to both heart and brain,” explained the Opel Group CEO.
Powerful, fast, sporty: The new Opel Corsa OPC is pure passion
The new Opel Corsa OPC lines up for its world premiere with experienced sport pilots in mind. Sticking to the OPC tradition the top-of-the-range Corsa in flash blue can immediately be identified as a true member of the Opel Performance Center. Recaro performance seats, the leather steering wheel, flattened at the bottom, the sports pedals along with large air intakes, a distinctive hood, bold sill side trims, a dominant rear spoiler and the twin-pipe exhaust with a diffusor around the tailpipes all show the power that the new generation Corsa OPC has to offer.
152 kW/207 hp are only waiting to be kicked into action. The 1.6-liter OPC unit offers maximum torque of 245 Nm– an additional 35 Nm are available when required with the overboost functionality. The OPC power is transferred to the front wheels via a six-speed transmission with short and sharp shifting travels. Thus, the new Corsa OPC races to 100 km/h from a standing start in a mere 6.8 seconds. A maximum speed of 230 km/h is possible. In order to deliver the power to the road in the best possible manner the Opel engineers teamed up with the specialists from Koni to develop a chassis that can boast innovative damping. The new Frequency Selective Damping (FSD) technology enables the damping forces to adapt to the frequency of the car, thus enabling the balancing act between uncompromising athleticism and an adequate level of comfort. Experienced drivers can even switch off the ESP completely when pushing the vehicle to its limits on racetracks. The twin-pipe Remus exhaust delivers the matching sound. “Our OPCs are the dynamic spearheads of our car ranges. The new Corsa OPC is the perfect example. It shows exactly what it is made of on the racetrack and in everyday use. It is so impressive that you do not want to get out of it anymore. Typical OPC – simply pure passion,” said Dr. Neumann. The latest addition to OPC family will be at dealerships from the spring and can already be ordered for euro 24,395 (RRP including VAT in Germany).
