Is this the 2012 Opel / Vauxhall Corsa Facelift?

We were tipped off this morning by an attentive reader from Chile about images of the facelifted Opel Corsa (Vauxhall in the UK) that were posted by a user on Opel's dedicated Facebook page. The back story is that the refreshed Corsa was found momentarily on the official configurator on Opel's German site, but was abruptly removed shortly after the posting. We checked on the webpage but didn't find anything.

Now, unless we have a photoshop-wiz in our hands, we'd say the images look pretty real. The cosmetic changes over the current model (at least the ones we can see from these angles) are concentrated on the front end that takes styling cues from both the new Meriva and latest Astra, including a crispier front grille, reshaped headlamps and a new design for the bumper with a wider lower grille and taller housings for the fog lamps on either side.

We'll keep an eye on Opel's site to see if these pictures turn out to be real or fake and post an update on any new developments.

Muchas gracias Javier for the tip!

Via: Opel Facebook

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New Opel Ampera to Sell for €42,900 or US$59,100 in Europe

General Motors announced today that the European version of its extended-range Chevrolet Volt electric car, the Ampera, will go on sale in the fourth quarter of 2011 as an Opel in mainland Europe and as a Vauxhall in the UK, with prices -including tax- starting from €42,900.

At the current exchange rates, that comes to around US$59,100, which is significantly higher than the base price of the Volt in the USA that sells for US$41,000 (€29,800) not including a $7,500 federal tax credit.

Opel noted that in Germany, with 19 percent VAT, the Ampera net price is €36,050, adding that, because trim levels may be different in each market, prices in each country may also differ.

"The Ampera defines a new class of e-mobility. No other electric vehicle provides the freedom of individual transportation as the Opel Ampera," said Alain Visser, Vice President of Sales, Marketing and Aftersales at Opel. "We have compromised on nothing. The Ampera is a beautiful car that is as fun to drive as it is packed with premium content."

Even though the exterior and interior design have been slightly modified over the Volt, everything else remains the same with the North American model, meaning that the Ampera can be driven in pure electric mode for 40-80km before the petrol engine kicks in to produce electricity and / or motivate (we still haven't figured that out...) the front driving wheels.

When the 16-kWh, lithium-ion battery runs low, it can be recharged in about three hours at 230v by plugging the vehicle's on-board charge system into a standard outlet. Together, the battery and gasoline-fueled engine/generator can extend the total driving range to over 500 kilometers on a full tank.

Those interested to reserve the Ampera can head over to General Motors' dedicated site at "opel-ampera.com".

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Vauxhall Sports Cars Red Victor 3 V8 Engine

The Vauxhall sports car Red Victor 3 will appear at the CXR Power Festival this year which takes place at the Silverstone Circuit on August 28-29. General Motors’ Vauxhall  sports cars division is to enthusiasts while breathing a new life into a classic 1967 Victor FD by turning it to get a 3,000-hp. This is three times as much as a Veyron sports car! The Vauxhall sports car Red Victor 3 is based on the original 1967 Victor FD.

The sports car is named as the Red Victor 3 and it’ll be powered by an 8.8 liter twin-turbocharged GM V8 engine that churns out a whopping 3000hp. The 3000HP Vauxhall Red Victor 3 is expected to be able to reach a maximum speed of 240 mph, and a quarter mile run shouldn't take more than 6.5 seconds. Note that the Vauxhall sports car Red Victor 2 was able to accelerate from 0 to 153 mph in 4.8 seconds and reach top speeds of 200 mph.

The Vauxhall’s sports car Red Victor 3 will compete at 2011 MSA Pro-Modified Drag Racing season at Silverstone Circuit in Northamptonshire this Bank Holiday, August 28-29, and it’s supposed to be street-legal.

Press Release:

“We’re sure visitors to the Power Festival will make a B-line for the Victor,” said Stuart Harris, Vauxhall’s Group Product Manager. “We’re really looking forward to working with Andy Frost, Red Victor’s creator, and his team next year and see this as a great match for the VXR brand.”

Vauxhall’s VXR Power Events, which has run through 2010 to raise money for Help for Heroes, reaches its zenith with the two-day Power Festival at Silverstone this Bank Holiday. Thousands are expected to attend the event, which aims to raise further funds for H4H through high-octane activities like 0-60 challenges, autotesting, karting and VXR track tuition with pro-drivers. VXR and Vauxhall V8 owners can even pay to take to Silverstone’s famous track in their own cars.

But if you’d rather just sit back and watch the action, don’t miss the Pro-Am Pursuit, in which famous racing drivers from Vauxhall’s past, like Fabrizio Giovanardi, Jason Plato and James Thompson take on celebrities such as TV chef, James Martin, ex-England footballer, Luther Blisset and Eastenders’ Kara Tointon. And if that isn’t enough, then Paul Swift will be there to perform some unbelievable stunts in a Vauxhall road car.

Vauxhall Sports Cars Red Victor 3 V8 Engine

What the VXR Power Festival won’t do is cost you the earth. With adult tickets costing just £10 and children under five entering for free, the whole family can enjoy an action-packed day without breaking the bank. Even the on-site challenges only cost between £5-10, with all proceeds going to one of the UK’s most worthy causes.

Vauxhall Sports Cars Red Victor 3 V8 Engine

The Vauxhall sports car Red Victor 3 will appear at the CXR Power Festival this year which takes place at the Silverstone Circuit on August 28-29. General Motors’ Vauxhall  sports cars division is to enthusiasts while breathing a new life into a classic 1967 Victor FD by turning it to get a 3,000-hp. This is three times as much as a Veyron sports car! The Vauxhall sports car Red Victor 3 is based on the original 1967 Victor FD.

The sports car is named as the Red Victor 3 and it’ll be powered by an 8.8 liter twin-turbocharged GM V8 engine that churns out a whopping 3000hp. The 3000HP Vauxhall Red Victor 3 is expected to be able to reach a maximum speed of 240 mph, and a quarter mile run shouldn't take more than 6.5 seconds. Note that the Vauxhall sports car Red Victor 2 was able to accelerate from 0 to 153 mph in 4.8 seconds and reach top speeds of 200 mph.

The Vauxhall’s sports car Red Victor 3 will compete at 2011 MSA Pro-Modified Drag Racing season at Silverstone Circuit in Northamptonshire this Bank Holiday, August 28-29, and it’s supposed to be street-legal.

Press Release:

“We’re sure visitors to the Power Festival will make a B-line for the Victor,” said Stuart Harris, Vauxhall’s Group Product Manager. “We’re really looking forward to working with Andy Frost, Red Victor’s creator, and his team next year and see this as a great match for the VXR brand.”

Vauxhall’s VXR Power Events, which has run through 2010 to raise money for Help for Heroes, reaches its zenith with the two-day Power Festival at Silverstone this Bank Holiday. Thousands are expected to attend the event, which aims to raise further funds for H4H through high-octane activities like 0-60 challenges, autotesting, karting and VXR track tuition with pro-drivers. VXR and Vauxhall V8 owners can even pay to take to Silverstone’s famous track in their own cars.

But if you’d rather just sit back and watch the action, don’t miss the Pro-Am Pursuit, in which famous racing drivers from Vauxhall’s past, like Fabrizio Giovanardi, Jason Plato and James Thompson take on celebrities such as TV chef, James Martin, ex-England footballer, Luther Blisset and Eastenders’ Kara Tointon. And if that isn’t enough, then Paul Swift will be there to perform some unbelievable stunts in a Vauxhall road car.

Vauxhall Sports Cars Red Victor 3 V8 Engine

What the VXR Power Festival won’t do is cost you the earth. With adult tickets costing just £10 and children under five entering for free, the whole family can enjoy an action-packed day without breaking the bank. Even the on-site challenges only cost between £5-10, with all proceeds going to one of the UK’s most worthy causes.

2011 Opel Meriva AKA Vauxhall Meriva Unveiled

• Unique-in-class FlexDoors offer unrivalled occupant access and convenience

• FlexRail and FlexSpace features bring new levels of cabin versatility to class

• Fuel consumption reduced by 15% vs current range; ecoFLEX version to be offered

Luton – These are the first official pictures of Vauxhall’s new Meriva, which is set to turn the conventional concept of family-car usability on its head with a combination of clever, rear-hinged back doors which radically improve access/egress, and a raft of unique cabin features that boost interior versatility.
The new Meriva, which will be unveiled at the Geneva Motor Show in March this year, is the first Vauxhall to feature FlexDoors, showcased in 2008’s Meriva design concept.
FlexDoors are rear-hinged back doors which swing open towards the back of the car at an angle of nearly 90 degrees, vastly improving the ease with which occupants enter and leave the cabin. Rather than having to step back, or to one side, as one would using a normal front-hinged door, the FlexDoor allows unimpeded forward access/egress to and from the cabin, enhanced further by the Meriva’s exceptionally high roof line.


For parents with children, there are further benefits. Due to the larger door opening and free space around the B-pillar, parents can lift small children forwards in to rear-mounted, second-stage child seats without having to contort themselves around a door. And with both the front and rear doors open (the fronts open at a similar angle to the rear FlexDoors) a ‘parent-friendly’ zone is created with no door barrier between front and rear occupants.
Crucially, the FlexDoors can only be opened by occupants while the car is stationary, an automatic lock engaging as soon as the car pulls away.
While the concept of two rear-hinged back doors is not new in the motor industry, the Meriva’s FlexDoor system is the first time it has been used on a family car in recent years. But unlike other rear-hinged door applications (Rolls Royce Phantom/Ghost and Mazda RX8), the Meriva benefits from front and rear doors that open independently, and does not require rear passengers to sit behind the door opening.


Class-leading in-cabin flexibility
Once inside the new Meriva, buyers benefit from two further groundbreaking innovations. The FlexRail adopts a completely fresh approach to the design of a car’s centre console, and provides owners with a variety of modular storage and comfort solutions that fix on to an ingenious dual-rail base. The new Meriva’s storage bin and cubby count has also increased, meaning that owners now benefit from one of the most practical cabins in class.
In addition, the current Meriva’s much-praised FlexSpace system has evolved with even greater practicality. Now more intuitive to use, the new Meriva’s FlexSpace allows easier fold-down of the rear seats, while moving the rear seats to create more boot, leg or shoulder room is simpler than ever.
The new Meriva’s seat comfort has also advanced, with the adoption of front seat technology from the Insignia and Astra. Like these cars, the Meriva offers the biggest range of seat adjustment in class, extending to 240mm in length and 65mm in height.


New Meriva adopts design language from Insignia and new Astra
The current Meriva effectively created the compact monocab sector when it was launched in 2003, but since then Vauxhall’s design language has evolved steadily, with big strides being made with the European Car of the Year-winning Insignia and more recently with the launch of the all-new Astra.
No surprise, then, that the new Meriva has adopted a more expressive and dynamic silhouette to its basic cab-forward monocab design. Like the Insignia and Astra, a ‘blade’ features down the side of the body, complementing a window line with a distinct ‘wave’ accentuating the FlexDoors, allowing panoramic views for rear passengers.
The design theme continues in the Meriva’s cabin, with cues taken from the Insignia and Astra enhancing the perceived quality of the materials.


Advanced chassis and more efficient powertrains
With a longer wheelbase and wider front and rear tracks, buyers will see a marked improvement in the new Meriva’s ride and handling qualities.
They’ll also see a reduction in running costs, since the engine line-up – which features six turbocharged units and power outputs from 75 to 140PS – benefits from an average fuel consumption/CO2 reduction of 15 per cent, or -25g/km across the range. A high mpg/low CO2 ecoFLEX model will also be available.
More information will be available closer to the Meriva’s debut at Geneva.



Source:Vauxhall