Opel KARL and Corsa OPC complete strongest small-car portfolio of all time
Opel OnStar sets new standards in digital connectivity, service and safety
Opel News - Namesakes: Opel Group CEO Dr. Karl-Thomas Neumann was proud to celebrate the world premiere of the new Opel KARL at the International Motor Show in Geneva
Rüsselsheim/Geneva. Impressive start to the 85th Geneva Motor Show (public days from March 5 to 15): on the first press day, Opel Group CEO Dr. Karl-Thomas Neumann opened the Rüsselsheim automaker’s stand (Hall 2, No. 2231) with the world premieres of the new small car KARL and the super-sporty Corsa OPC – the powerhouse version of the fifth generation of Opel’s bestseller. Dr. Neumann highlighted how strongly Opel stands for its models’ superb value for money.
“The Opel KARL is the perfect car for price-conscious customers looking to combine everyday suitability with comfort and modern technologies. Customers will be able to purchase an attractive five-door car for as little as 9,500 euros in Germany. Our German dealers alone have already ordered 15,000 cars, even though the KARL will not be at dealerships until June. So the KARL is really off to a flying start,” said Dr. Neumann at the Opel press conference in Geneva. “Our new-generation Corsa just came to market a few weeks ago and we have already sold over 130,000 cars. Now we’re putting the icing on the cake with the new Corsa OPC: it is a high-performance car for driving enthusiasts looking for passion and excitement – and very affordable at prices starting just slightly above 24,000 euros. With KARL, ADAM and the new Corsa we now have the strongest small-car offer in our history and the youngest portfolio on the market.”
World premiere Opel KARL: Smallest star with great potential
The all-new KARL is a fully-fledged Opel with space for up to five occupants – plus two large beverage crates in the luggage compartment – for an entry-level price of just 9,500 euros (in Germany). For more comfort and safety, the 3.68-meter long five-door car can also be equipped with high-quality assistance systems that have only been available in considerably more expensive vehicle classes to date. These include the Opel Eye front camera with integrated Lane Departure Warning, power steering with City Mode, Park Assist and automatic cruise control with speed limiter.
World premiere Opel Corsa OPC: Nürburgring-tested and suitable for everyday use
The new Corsa OPC that was developed on the legendary Nürburgring Nordschleife is now available for only 24,395 euros. 152 kW/207 hp are just waiting to be let loose. The 1.6-liter turbo engine delivers maximum torque of 280 Nm with overboost – pure torque power. A short ratio six-speed gearbox sends OPC power to the front wheels. Thus equipped, Opel‘s new small athlete sprints from zero to 100 in less than seven seconds and reaches up to 230 km/h top speed. In light of such impressive driving performance, the athlete’s fuel consumption remains very low at 7.5 liters in the combined cycle. And innovative Frequency Selective Damping (FSD) technology effortlessly merges uncompromising sportiness with a high level of comfort.
Europe premiere Opel OnStar: Begins in August in 13 markets
Opel takes the next step forward in automotive connectivity by introducing Opel OnStar. OnStar is already the leading global provider of connected safety and security solutions, value-added mobility services and advanced information technology in the automobile industry. Opel will bring the system to the European market in 2015. Starting this August, Opel OnStar will be rolled out across the company’s passenger car range. The 13 European premiere markets are Austria, Belgium, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Luxemburg, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Spain, Switzerland and the UK, with additional markets following later. Today, OnStar already connects around seven million customers in the U.S.A., Canada, China and Mexico and offers features such as a 4G LTE connection that turns the car into a powerful, mobile Wi-Fi hotspot. In addition, it offers an automatic connection to emergency services and smartphone remote control.
“Connectivity is one of Opel’s unique selling points as seen with our award-winning IntelliLink infotainment system. Opel OnStar, for which we have already received a Connected Car Award, is further proof that we want to deliver trendsetting innovations in connectivity to a wider audience,” said Opel Group CEO Dr. Karl-Thomas Neumann. “Opel OnStar is a ground-breaking technology: Driving will be simply much more relaxed. The direct dialogue with our customers will create stronger ties with the brand. All this will convince even more new buyers that Opel is the right choice.”
