IAA 2011: Opel Envisions the RAK e Concept

Not to be outdone by its German counterparts, Opel displayed its vision for a low-cost urban commuter with the two-seater RAK e concept car. According to GM's German subsidiary, the study has "production potential".
The battery-operated vehicle with the exposed wheels is based on a steel space-frame structure beneath a skin of conventional synthetic material.
The reason why Opel avoided the use of exotic materials is to keep the RAK e as affordable as possible. Nevertheless, Opel managed to keep the weight down to just 380kg (837 lbs) or about 80kg (176 lbs) less than VW's NILS concept.
The RAK e measures around three meters long and 1,190mm high and can seat two people, including the driver, in a tandem layout.
Powering the concept is an electric motor that generates a peak output of 49HP (36.5kW) and a continuous 14HP (10.5kW), while energy is drawn from a 5kWh battery. According to the German automaker, after charging the battery for three hours at a cost of about one euro (equal to US$1.37), the experimental vehicle has a range of up to 100 kilometers (62 miles).
The company claims that over an annual 10,000 kilometers (6,200 miles), the RAK e’s energy consumption would be 525 kWh, which could be supplied by a five square-meter, 500-Watt solar panel mounted on the roof of the garage.
Opel added that the RAK e has a projected top speed of 120 km/h (75mph) and zero to 100 km/h (62mph) acceleration in less than 13 seconds.
"We want to develop electric vehicles that everyone can afford," said Karl-Friedrich Stracke, Opel CEO, in Frankfurt.
"The range-extending concept of the Ampera demonstrates our leadership in electrification of the automobile, the RAK e experimental vehicle aims to deliver pricing that even younger customers can afford. The RAK e has cool looks and production-potential." Stracke added.

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IAA 2011: New Opel Astra GTC

We've already given you the full scoop on the all-new Astra GTC, but in Frankfurt, Opel held the world premiere of its latest C-segment model that blurs the line between three-door hatchbacks and coupes.
Based on the five-door Astra, the low-slung GTC sports a unique body shell as well as different platform dimensions as it has a 10mm longer wheelbase and wider tracks (+40mm up front and +30mm at the rear).
Opel says it has also fine-tuned the chassis with an exclusive HiPerStrut front wheel suspension and a Watt’s link rear axle to further hone the car's driving dynamics.
Initially, the Astra GTC will be offered in Europe with a choice of five engines delivering between 100HP and 180HP, including a 1.7-liter CDTI exoFLEX diesel available with 110HP and 130HP, both fitted with a fuel-saving Start/Stop system.
Future plans include the introduction of a high-performance OPC (called the VXR in the United Kingdom) model believed to be equipped with a turbocharged four-pot generating close to 300-horsepower.

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Opel Teases Frankfurt-Bound Concept Model by Invitation

An electronic invitation to the press conference that Opel and sister company Vauxhall will hold at the 64th Frankfurt International Motor Showon September 13 gives us our first sneak peek at the firm's upcoming concept model.

General Motors' European arm is keeping details surrounding the prototype model under wraps for now, as the only bits of information we get is that it is a "sexy experimental vehicle" that "continues Opel’s pioneering spirit" and explores "a new interpretation of mobility".
Along with the concept model, Opel will also stage the world premieres of the new Opel Astra GTC sport hatch, the Zafira 7-seat MPV, and theFiat-based Combo Van in Frankfurt.

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Opel Says Second Generation Ampera Will be Cheaper

Even though deliveries of Opel’s extended-range hybrid aren’t expected to begin until early 2012, the company is already planning the successor to the Chevy Volt’s European alter-ego.
According to British magazine Autocar, the second generation of the Opel / Vauxhall Ampera is scheduled for release in 2015 and, if sources from within the company are reliable, it feature a more radical design and a lower starting price than the current model.
In the UK for example, the Vauxhall Ampera, which is already available to order, costs a rather steep £28,995 –and that is after the government’s £5,000 rebate. Opel engineers say that the battery pack alone costs around £7,000 but improvements in technology in the next four years will enable the company to reduce the cost by 50%.
However, that’s not enough. Opel CEO Nick Reilly said the price of the Ampera will be further reduced by economies of scale due to increased demand and more localized production: “We have an education job to do on the technology of the Ampera, but that will come in time. We hope that it will establish itself as a market leader and we’ll be able to capitalize on that with a cheaper, more expressively designed second generation model”.
Economies of scale could also come from fitting the Ampera’s extended-range powertrain in other Opel and Vauxhall models. If this happens, then the cost of tooling and manufacturing would drop significantly further lowering the costs.
Nevertheless, GM has to first assess sales of the model before it goes ahead with any decision, such as manufacturing its next generation in Europe, as it currently builds it alongside the Volt at its Warren, Michigan plant in the US. So far, things are looking good since 7,000 of the 10,000 units allocated for 2012 are already presold, with 75% of the sales going to fleet customers.
Opel would also like to give the next-gen Ampera a more aggressive style that will be more in line with the other models in its range.
The German firm's designers didn’t have a lot of freedom in the first generation because of the restraints forced on them by the car being a rebadged Volt. If they get the green light, the 2015 model will follow the company's new design “language” , recently previewed in the brand-new Opel Zafira Tourer.

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