The new Agila is the youngest member of the highly successful Opel monocab family.
A monocab is distinguishable by its hood line that flows without a visible break into the combined passenger and luggage compartment. Thanks to this design and clever innovative details, the fully fledged five-door, five-seat Mini monocab can set standards in space economy and variability – just like the small Meriva and compact Zafira monocab have already done. The Meriva has been the top-selling small monocab in Europe since its launch in 2003, and leads the overall monocab segment together with the Zafira.
The new Agila is not only very affordable, but also boasts low fuel consumption and emissions: the Agila 1.0 with 48 kW/65 hp requires an average of five liters of gasoline per 100 km, while the 1.3 CDTI with 55 kW/75 hp and diesel particulate filter as standard consumes just 4.5 liters of diesel per 100 km. Both variants produce just 120 g CO2/km.
The entry-level Agila comes with a wide range of standard safety equipment. For less than 10,000 euros, customers get ABS, front and side airbags for both front passengers and ISOFIX child Seat mountings. Also on board ex works is speed-dependant power steering, height-adjustable front seats, rear window wiper with interval control and power tailgate with touchpad. Customers who order the new Agila ahead of its official market launch in early April 2008 will receive a Styling package from Opel as a bonus with their new car.
Sunday, December 16, 2007
New Opel Agila: Mini Monocab Starts from 9,990 Euros
Friday, December 14, 2007
2008 Opel Agila Mini Monocab Starts from 9,990 Euros
Featuring high practicality at an affordable price, the new Opel Agila can now be ordered from 9,990 euros and will be available at dealerships from spring 2008. The new Opel mini monocab offers plenty of feel-good space for family and friends, as well as up to 1050 liters of cargo capacity despite the car’s compact exterior length of 3.74 meters.
2008 Opel Agila: © GM Corp.
The new Opel Agila is the youngest member of the highly successful Opel monocab family. A monocab is distinguishable by its hood line that flows without a visible break into the combined passenger and luggage compartment. Thanks to this design and clever innovative details, the fully fledged five-door, five-seat mini monocab can set standards in space economy and variability – just like the small Opel Meriva and compact Opel Zafira monocab have already done. The Meriva has been the top-selling small monocab in Europe since its launch in 2003, and leads the overall monocab segment together with the Opel Zafira.
The new Opel Agila is not only very affordable, but also boasts low fuel consumption and emissions: the Agila 1.0 with 48 kW/65 hp requires an average of five liters of gasoline per 100 km, while the 1.3 CDTI with 55 kW/75 hp and diesel particulate filter as standard consumes just 4.5 liters of diesel per 100 km. Both variants produce just 120 g CO2/km.
The entry-level Agila comes with a wide range of standard safety equipment. For less than 10,000 euros, customers get ABS, front and side airbags for both front passengers and ISOFIX child seat mountings. Also on board ex works is speed-dependant power steering, height-adjustable front seats, rear window wiper with interval control and power tailgate with touchpad. Customers who order the new Agila ahead of its official market launch in early April 2008 will receive a Styling package from Opel as a bonus with their new car.
Tuesday, December 11, 2007
Fresh Drive for Opel Monocab Range
Opel’s model range at the Bologna Motor Show (December 7 – 16, 2007) features no less than 17 seats and up to 4280 liters of load volume capacity. This is no illusion, but rather the combined characteristics of Opel’s three quick-change artists.
The automaker from Rüsselsheim highlights its monocab designs – body models where the hood and trunk are not visibly separate from the cabin – which enable plenty of interior flexibility. Opel consistently sends a clear signal with these models’ market success and innovative ideas.
Opel monocab range
The top attraction in Bologna is the world premiere of the new Zafira. The benchmark for fully variable seven-seaters in the compact monocab class, the new Zafira boasts fresh design accents and three additional engines with improved fuel economy. From February 2008, the European record of two million units sold since 1999 will be within reach.
Opel’s new monocab highlights continue with the Italian premiere of the brand-new Agila. The flexible five-seater with up to 1050 liters of load space and exterior length of just 3.74 meters establishes Opel in the mini monocab segment.
Completing the monocab trio is the spacious Meriva, which has been the top seller in the small monocab class in Europe since its market launch in 2003. A total of around 280,000 Meriva (120,000) and Europe’s top-selling seven-seater Zafira (160,000) models were sold from January through November 2007. The launch of the new Agila in spring 2008 will put Opel in an even better position to defend its top market position in the coming years.
Alain Visser, Chief Marketing Officer GM Europe, praised the monocab trio as ideal brand ambassadors: “Opel stands for maximum variability in affordable cars, and we realize this democratization of intelligent vehicle concepts right across our model classes. The new Agila continues the outstanding flexibility of the Zafira and Meriva models, whose extraordinary qualities have helped shape Opel’s brand profile.”
Opel’s principle of optimal use of space
Opel’s strategy for success with its monocab range is to offer as much space and practicality as possible within the most compact dimensions conceivable, and to adapt this concept to various model size classes. The patented Flex7 seating system in the 4.47-meter long Zafira is considered the benchmark among technological solutions for maximum interior variability. Europe’s top-selling seven-seater can easily be transformed into a two-seater with a cargo capacity of up to 1820 liters without cumbersome removal of the seats. With the FlexSpace concept, the Meriva brings an iteration of this successful innovation to the small monocab segment. The 4.05-meter long quick-change artist can be configured in every conceivable way – as a five, four, three, two or one-seater with 2.40-meter load-floor length and cargo capacity of 1410 liters. The new 3.74-meter long Agila echoes this flexibility and brilliant simplicity. Folding the 60:40-split rear bench seat back down creates a flat load floor and boosts the luggage compartment volume from 225 to 1050 liters - a capacity unrivalled by the Agila’s competitors.
Besides the efficient use of space, other monocab success factors include the high seating position for good visibility and the ease of entry and exit. Currently 13 percent of new passenger car registrations in Europe are for vehicles in this category. Frank Leopold, Manager Innovation, Advanced Package & Concept Cars, Adam Opel GmbH, sees a bright future for monocabs: “In the past, cars were just made longer and wider to create more space. But Flex7, which is incorporated in the monocab design, presented an alternative. And as just making cars bigger is also not very environmentally friendly, the trend toward efficient innovations à la Opel will continue.”
Intelligent space concept reduces per-head consumption
The intelligent design concept of providing maximum variability and plenty of space despite compact dimensions and less weight are key to the Opel monocabs’ environmental compatibility and economy. The new mini monocab is the latest proof of this, as the Agila 1.0 and 1.3 CDTI require just 5.0 and 4.5 liters of fuel respectively per 100 kilometers. The corresponding CO2 value of 120 g/km means when fully occupied, the Agila emits an extremely environmentally friendly 24 g CO2/km and seat. The Zafira 1.6 CNG (Compressed Natural Gas) has an even more impressive emission value: its five-kilogram consumption of H-gas per 100 km results in just 138 g CO2/km. With six passengers plus driver, the Zafira 1.6 CNG – available as an Opel ecoFLEX model from spring 2008 – produces just 20 g CO2/km and seat.
The addition of the new 1.6-liter gasoline engine (85 kW/115 hp) and two 1.7 CDTI common-rail turbo-diesels (81 kW/110 hp and 92 kW/125 hp) expands the Zafira engine range with more economical units that provide greater output but consume less fuel. Aside from the CNG unit, there is a total of five gasoline and four diesel engines with displacements from 1.6 to 2.2 liters and an output range of 85 to 177 kW (115 to 240 hp). The Meriva also boasts a broad engine range, with four gasoline and three common-rail turbo-diesel ECOTEC units. Their displacements range from 1.3 to 1.8 liters, with outputs from 55 to 132 kW (75 to 180 hp). The models that attract the greatest attention, however, are the turbo-charged top-of-the line Zafira and Meriva OPCs. Buyers enjoy maximum flexibility combined with maximum performance, as the Zafira and Meriva OPC models come with Flex7 or FlexSpace coupled with a top speed of 231 or 222 km/h respectively.
Unique technology features
The Zafira is not just monocab pioneer in interior flexibility, but also in technology. The IDSPlus (Interactive Driving System) with electronic Continuous Dampening Control (CDC) is unique in this segment, and the Trailer Stability Assist (TSA) sets standards, providing a significant boost in safety for car-trailer drivers. While the bi-xenon AFL (Adaptive Forward Lighting) headlamps with dynamic curve light ensure considerably improved road illumination, the panorama roof system offers two benefits for Zafira passengers: it provides a pleasant feeling of spaciousness on board, and helps keep the interior tidy thanks to the roof console running the entire length of the cabin.
“Our monocab range, with its high levels of flexibility, state-of-the-art technology at affordable prices and innovative ideas, is rounded off perfectly by the new Agila. This new model will further strengthen our leading position in this segment,” says Alain Visser.
2008 Koenigseder Opel GT'Aime
Desire for an affair?
Kцnigseder makes his own motor show - not in Essen - but with his work on Opel GT. Women finally know what they want: 300 sleek-tuned PS.
The affair Koenigseder and Opel takes place.
With aerodynamic accents - frontspoiler and rear wing - race wins over mass and causes exactly the tension which an affair consists of. They emphasize the soft silhouette on the one hand and power the dynamic character of the car on the other hand.
A KW coilover suspension version 3 guarantees sporty driving and lap records through individual damper adjustmest - also due to the Yokohama tires.
Las Vegas: 20" Giovanna Dalar rims remind of Elvis' best times with rivet belts and match the car like chalk and cheese. Two American giants meet at Konigseder. Why not earlier?
The custom made Brembo brake system provides excellent deceleration and the 332mm brake discs with red 4 pistons calipers underline the exciting erotic style of this convertible.
The climax of the affair - naturally - takes place in the interior:
Very special: Hand made wooden car floor in black and red with GT`aime writing.
Tuesday, July 17, 2007
2007 Opel GT with KW Coilover Suspension V3
Sportier appearance and better handling: KW coilover suspension V3 for Opel GT
* Racing-technology for the road
* Customised lowering of suspension up to 45 mm
* Coilover suspensions produced in stainless steel "inox-line" technology
"Only flying is more beautiful" was the old commercial slogan in the late 1960s, when the first Opel GT was presented to the public. In terms of driving dynamics there are worlds between the new generation of the Opel GT and its predecessor. And there are even more between them, if you use a KW coilover suspension V3. With it one can lower the car in a range from 20 to 40 mm at the front axle and from 20 to 45 mm at the rear. The KW coilover suspension V3 for the Opel GT is available with immediate effect.
KW coilover suspensions - 3 damping variants for every type of driver
Coilover suspension V1 with preset damper setting permits customised lowering of the suspension and creates an optimised balance of sportiness, comfort and safety. Damping variant V2 is the ideal system for sporty drivers, who also wish to make modifications in the set-up to achieve a more customised lowering of the suspension. Thanks to the adjustable rebound damping, it is possible to adapt the driving comfort to suit the driver's personal taste.
With its separately adjustable pressure and rebound damping functions, coilover suspension V3 permits an even higher degree of customisation to the suspension and provides the perfect solution for those truly technically demanding drivers.
All KW coilover suspensions are produced in the unique stainless steel "inox line" technology. This assures the extremely high quality and durability of the suspensions plus a long-lasting perfect finish to match.
Wednesday, July 11, 2007
New Opel Agila: Friendly, dynamic, flexible
Its passengers still sit high and upright, but the roofline has been dynamically lowered and now blends into a smooth arc toward the rear. This helps create the Agila’s aerodynamic drag
coefficient of 0.35 – a relatively low figure for a vehicle of this size. The urban car is now 20 centimeters longer, six centimeters wider, but seven centimeters lower than its predecessor.
The front boasts typical Opel styling. With its round headlamps integrated into almond-shaped lamp units that echo the new Corsa, the Agila sees the world through wide eyes. The tapering of the front and rear bumpers are also typical Opel elements, just like the crease in the hood. The rear also features several rounded details. The positioning of the narrow vertical light units, which are accented by the spherically styled rear lights, allowed designers to create a large, easy load-through tailgate.
The same is true for the interior: the boring days are over. A wide selection of fresh colors and modern styles create an ambience that’s enhanced even more by the spacious headroom. The versatile five-seater’s high seating position ensures good visibility, while the high placed gear stick and height-adjustable steering wheel with radio remote controls ensure easy operation. The rev counter is housed separately on the instrument panel. All other information readouts are given on large, distinctive, round instruments.
As an urban car it also offers plenty of compartments and boxes for storing all passengers’ belongings. But it’s not just car essentials that the new Agila stows away easily. Despite its compact exterior dimensions, the new Opel urban car boasts a surprisingly large luggage compartment. Its standard capacity up to the luggage compartment cover is 225 liters, large enough for a stroller, for example. One turn of a handle drops the rear bench Seat back, increasing the load volume to an impressive 1050 liters – a top value in this segment. The rear bench Seat and back also splits 60:40 for even greater versatility.
All Agila models have a wide range of standard equipment, including safety features such as ABS, front and side airbags for driver and front passenger, front passenger airbag deactivation and mountings for the ISOFIX child Seat system. And thanks to the five doors as standard, small children can be secured into a child Seat quickly and safely. Standard comfort features in the entry-level version include speed-dependent power steering, height-adjustable driver and front passenger seats, rear window washer with interval selection and power tailgate with touchpad. The Enjoy model boasts an even greater range of standard features.
Two gasoline engines make their world premiere in the new Agila. Supplied by cooperation partner Suzuki, they share the same design - aluminum cylinder block and head, as well as two overhead camshafts.
The entry-level unit is the almost one-liter, three-cylinder gasoline engine. The four-valve unit produces 65 hp (48 kW) and has a top speed of 160 km/h1. The 1.2-liter four-cylinder gasoline engine produces 86 hp (63 kW), accelerates from zero to 100 km/h in less than 12 seconds and has a top speed of 174 km/h (values for five-speed manual version). This engine is now optionally available with a four-speed automatic transmission – an especially attractive alternative for city driving.
The fuel-saving master among the Agila engines is the 1.3-liter common-rail turbo-diesel. Developed by GM Powertrain, the diesel engine is a true multi-talent and also offers an especially efficient alternative in the Corsa and Astra model lines. In the new Agila it produces 75 hp (55 kW), has a top speed of 162 km/h and a zero to 100 km/h sprint of 13.5 seconds. The powerful diesel unit with a maximum torque of 190 Nm is very economical: on average it consumes less than five liters per 100 km, which represents a CO2 per kilometer value of under 130 g (finalized values not yet available).
Make the Agila even more agile – that was the aim during chassis development. The new dynamic look is also reflected in the car’s responsiveness. The Agila’s chassis, which features A-arms and McPherson struts in front and a torsion beam axle in the rear, is tuned for driving fun. Depending on the market and equipment variant, the Agila also features an Electronic Stability Program (ESP).
Monday, May 14, 2007
Opel’s new Agila ready to hit the road
The theme with carmakers across Europe seams to be ‘going small’, with the minicar segment seriously heating up with new entrants due from most of the major labels. Pictured here is the new Opel/Vauxhall Agila five door hatch that’s due to hit showrooms by spring next year. Its versatile design allows users to fold down the back seats to accommodate a class-leading 1150L of storage space.
The next-gen Agila will offer three new engines and an automatic gearbox option will be available for the first time but only for 1.2L versions. The most popular will be the two petrol units, a 1.0L three-cylinder with 65hp and a 1.2L four-cylinder with 86hp. Diesel fans will get an updated 1.3L CDTi, as seen in the Corsa, with 75hp on tap.
The vehicle’s safety package comprises of comprising four airbags as well as an optional Electronic Stability Program. New Agila will make its debut at the Frankfurt motor show in September with final pricing expected to be announced closer to the vehicle’s launch in the first half of next year.
Via motorauthority.com
