Since the F-generation was released in 2019, it has become more popular in the European region among other hatchback car models. I’m familiar with the European streets, and I have observed the dominance of the Corsa in terms of sales. As a matter of fact, in recent years, it has ranked as the market leader selling cars in Germany for four consecutive years. Expansion of this success has been recorded in some other strategic markets, such as the United Kingdom, Croatia, the Netherlands, Norway, and Slovenia. In my view, it is a testimony to the fact that the car is loved by many people.

Personally, I always like the concept of the Opel brand, where they manage to produce symbolic cars that are unique and technological at the same time, and this is all in an affordable price bracket. This blend has indeed assisted in keeping the Corsa going to some extent. It is also offered as a mild-hybrid petrol as well as an all-electric model, which gives customers a choice when it comes to emissions and efficiency technologies. For example, I am an advocate for the environment, and thus, the electric variants are beneficial in their effort to lower emissions.

This particular model is produced in the factory in Zaragoza, Spain, and has undergone a model update for the year 2023. This has served to motivate the desire to work on the model once again among everyone who comes across it. Thus, as stated by Opel, the registrations of the Corsa in Europe grew by 18% in the first quarter of the year 2025. These are statistically significant numbers, as any car enthusiast would know that there is always a big market for this type of car.

During the production period of this car, more than fifteen million Corsas have rolled out of showrooms to various parts of the world, starting in 1982. That has been an interesting car, always in my diary for several years, and it has been amazing seeing its ‘success story’.

The Corsa is a compact car and is perfectly designed to fit most places and maneuver easily within confined spaces, a feature often associated with urban automobiles. I personally like that such a compact car has so much to offer, as is the case with the Opel. That is why this car is suitable for both the urban environment and long rides.

Thus, the journey of the Opel Corsa to a million units is a victory and versatility. Being a person who appreciates novelties in the field of the car industry and design in particular, I’d like to find out how the further development of the Corsa model will contribute to the leading position of this hatchback in the market. This is not only beneficial to Opel but is rather a testament to the Corsa’s continuing demand from people in Europe.

Source: Opel

From a visual standpoint, the new GSi Sports Tourer offers the same spectacular design language, adding however some new sporty elements, such as wide chrome air intakes, updated rear diffuser and much larger 20-inch wheels, wrapped in Michelin Pilot Sport 4 S tires.

Inside, the cabin is now enhanced with leather upholstery on the flat-bottom steering wheel, adding as well sports seats and the latest high-tech gadgetries, also found on the rest of the Insignia lineup.

Under the hood, there are two variants available for Europe, a petrol burner and a diesel. The first one is about a 2.0-liter flat-four twin-turbo mill, with 207 horsepower and 480 Nm of torque, being sent to the wheels via an all-wheel-drive system with torque vectoring, and helped by a high-performance eight-speed automatic transmission.

This lad here manages a sprint from 0 to 100 km/h in a good 7.9 seconds, at a top speed of 231 km/h. The petrol also proves extremely low in terms of consumption – 8.9l/100 km in the city, 6.1l/100 km outside the city, and 7.3l/100 km combined. The CO2 emissions are also standing at 192 g/km.

On the other hand, the diesel turbocharged sibling comes with 256 horsepower and 400 Nm of torque, and a 100 km/h sprint in 7.5 seconds. The top speed is set at 245 km/h.

According to Opel, the new Ampera-e is going to be extremely effective in terms of mileage, coming as well with the latest technology on-board. Speaking of technology, Dr. Karl-Thomas Neumann, CEO at Opel, has also declared:

“We are bringing an electric car fully suitable for everyday use to market in the Ampera-e. It is not eco-luxury, not a gadget and not just a second car. Opel is showing that electro-mobility is also achievable for a much broader audience thanks to the most innovative technology.”

This means the presence of a new 10.2-inch infotainment system display with lots of connectivity functions, like Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, voic control, Wi-Fi hotspot or wireless charging.

But the car`s main highlight remains the electric drivetrain under the hood. We are looking here at an electric motor developing an astonishing 210 horsepower and 360 Nm of torque, paired to a 60 kWh lithium-ion battery pack. This is actually the same drivetrain found on the Chevrolet Bolt as well.

According to Opel and based on the NEDC test cycle, the Opel Ampera-e comes with a total of 520 km range and a 30-minute full charge at a standard 50 kW fast charger. This also allows for a faster acceleration from 0 to 100 km/h, which again, according to the carmaker, stands at 7.3 seconds, at a top speed of 150 km/h.

Opel has already opened the order books for the new Ampera-e, with the model first reaching German dealerships and expanding throughout Europe as well.

But the German based carmaker doesn’t rest on its laurels and has also unveiled the long-expected 2017 Opel Insignia Grand Sport in the first official video.

The video is highlighting the car with Mark Adams, Vice-President at Opel, presenting its exquisite design and styling features. Here is what he stated about the all-new Insignia Grand Sport:

“Its design combines flowing lines and subtle surfaces with crisp, precise lines to even exaggerate its dramatic proportions: it looks longer, lower and wider than it actually is, and it definitely looks upscale. Every design feature conveys technical know-how and utmost precision. The new Insignia is an excellent value proposition with the aura of a car from the premium, upper class.”

Also, the video presents the interior as well, the cabin coming with improved rear shoulder and knee space, adding as well a total cargo capacity of 1,450 liters with the seats being folded down.

The 2017 Opel Insignia Grand Sport, which is the flagship model from the Insignia lineup, is due to be officially presented to the public at the 2017 Geneva Motor Show, with the model reaching dealerships a couple of months later.

Until further details concerning prices arrive, please feel free to take a look at the official presentation of the 2017 Opel Insignia Grand Sport! Would you buy the model once it will arrive on the market in Europe, the US or Australia?

It looks gorgeous with the new styling elements and can be had on the hot continent from the base AUD $21,990, becoming the main competitor of the new Hyundai i30, also set at AUD $22,990. The full price tags can be seen in the media gallery below.

The model comes fully-tweaked with a lot of goodies at the exterior, including the new LED taillights and the 17-inch alloy wheels, while inside, the interior comes with lots of interesting high-tech gizmos and features.

We should mention rear view camera, Holden MyLink infotainment system with seven-inch display, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, Siri Eyes Free, cruise control with speed limited, DAB+, leather steering wheel, and so on.

There are also optional packages available that add more characteristics. For instance, the Driver Assist Pack costs AUD $1,000 and adds leather steering wheel, electro-chromatic mirror, Holden Eye forward facing camera, or rain-sensing wipers.

On the other hand, the Touring Pack is available at AUD $1,990 and you get electric sunroof, adaptive cruise control and much more.

The safety features are also important and the new Holden Astra doesn’t like any of the most important, such as advanced park assist, automatic emergency braking, forward distance indicator, lane keep assist, forward collision alert, blind spot alert and more.

In the engine department, the entry-level gets the 1.4-liter engine with 147 horsepower and 245 Nm of torque, hooked to a six-speed manual, while the topper RS and RS-V get the 1.6-liter petrol with 197 horsepower and 300 Nm of torque.

The latter was recently was recently shot down by spy photographers from carscoops magazine, the test-mule undergoing some road tests in full camouflage, before ending up in dealerships in December.

Once it will arrive under the GM`s badges – Opel, Holden, Vauxhall and Buick – the new Insignia Sport Tourer will come with some new styling design that will bring it closer to the new Insignia standard version.

We are looking here with a sloping roofline, updated front and rear bumpers, new headlights and taillights and fresh wheels.

Another important aspect of the Insignia Sport Tourer will be the new architecture – the E2 from GM – which will shed off around 175 kg and will make it more high-performance than the previous generation. As a contradiction, this will also add 9cm to the wheelbase, which will make it visibly larger in dimensions.

Under the hood, the new platform will allow the fitting of new engines, one of the most important ones being the new 2.0-liter gasoline engine with 247 horsepower, which sends the power to all axles via an eight-speed automatic gearbox, set as standard.

Other engines also include the 1.5-liter turbo petrol, found on the same entry-level variants, adding a wide choice of diesels. The full details will arrive in December, just before Christmas time!

Some while ago, the high-end model was previewed in just a handful of details but now the carmaker has released a couple of easer images which showcases the car`s new headlights.

We are looking here at the car`s new-gen of IntelliLux LED headlights which will be extremely effective in all road conditions, thanks to 32 LED segments, which promise to turn “night into day without dazzling other road users.”
As the carmaker explains, the IntelliLux LEDs are “precisely adapted” and illuminates the asphalt for up to a distance of 400 meters, automatically switching themselves according to the road conditions up-ahead, from town to other types of roads, and so on.

Ingolf Schneider, Engineering Group Manager Exterior Lighting at Opel, has also declared that:

“From the Astra we know how much customers appreciate the benefits of IntelliLux LED matrix headlights. Now we are bringing the even more advanced second generation of this innovative technology onto the market in the all-new Insignia, with additional new functions that further improve visibility at night.”

Once it will arrive in the United Kingdom, the model will be marketed as the new Vauxhall Insignia Grand Sport, while in Australia the model will be launched as the new Holden Commodore. In North America, the model will be known as the next-gen Buick Regal.

The test mule is wearing full camouflage, which indicates some significant changes at the body styling. Even if it preserves the overall design, the new model will be much bigger than the present model, allowing increase space inside and a wide array of engines; despite its bigger platform, the model will be more lightweight.

We are looking here at a longer wheelbase by 9 cm, raised length by 5 cm and a total of 5.9 m. The tracks will be also wider by 1 cm while the roofline will be lower by 3 cm, making it wider and extremely stable on the roads.

The new Opel Insignia will sit on the company`s new modular E2 architecture, meaning that the use of more lightweight materials will make it lighter by 175 kg.

Under the hood, the new model will be equipped with a new 1.5-liter turbocharged petrol engine which replaces the 1.4-liter, hooked to a fresh manual transmission as standard. The top of the line Grand Sport will also come with a 2.0-liter turbocharged engine, with 247 horsepower and an eight-speed automatic transmission. Other petrol burners and diesels will be announced ahead the car`s debut in Geneva, next March.

The model will arrive in Australia under the Holden nameplate with reference to the new Commodore, which was also seen recently undergoing tests on the hot continent.

From a visual standpoint, the Opel Karl Rocks really “rocks” the boat with a nice body styling with influences from the Adam, the model being considered by the carmaker as “a mini car that can handle the daily challenges of the urban jungle while simultaneously dazzling onlookers with its trendy SUV look and feel.”

As we can depict from the official images, the Opel Karl Rocks is standing taller than the Adam, with a ride height increase of 0.7 inches, the model standing out from the crowd with silver roof rails, updated front and rear bumper with plastic cladding, protective side sills, all complemented with the 15-inch bi-volor alloy wheels.

Inside, the cabin welcomes you with new styling features, like Favo fabric upholstery on the seats, along with the latest gadgetry, like Radio R 4.0 IntelliLink system, infotainment system with CarPlay and AndroidAuto connectivity, satellite navigation via AppleMaps and so on.

The carmaker also brags with other advanced features, such as city steering mode with reduced steering by a push of a button, cruise control with speed limiter, park assist with acoustic warnings and so on.

In the engine department, the carmaker has not let any word out so far, but according to recent reports, the model might come with a 1.0-liter naturally-aspirated engine, with a front-wheel drive and five-speed manual gearbox.

However for the moment, the OPC Line Sport Pack is only available in Germany, the package costing €1,150 and coming with a lot of interesting goodies at the exterior and inside.

The Opel Astra K with the OPC package comes handy with the custom bumper with wide vents, horizontal lines, new side sills, freshly updated bumper, vertical lower lights, and so on.

According to Opel manufacturer, the new front apron and rear apron lip or side sills perfectly complements the exterior body color, being offered with a choice of six metallic colors.

In the engine department, the OPC Line Sport Pack can be fitted on all models that come with the Active, Dynamic and Innovation trims. The Astra Opel K with OPC Line Sport Pack will arrive in 2017 and will pack a 280-horsepowered engine.

On the other hand, the GSI is reported to come with an updated 1.6-liter turbocharged engine, that would develop more than 200 horsepower. Enjoy the photo gallery below with the Opel Astra K featuring the OPC Line Sport Pack!