Despite the puny U.S. dollar which is flirting with the 144 mark against the euro (Mon. Oct. 29, 2007), Opel has announced that it will raise production of the American Astras (badged as Saturn) by 33 percent. According to German news agency dpa-AFX, Opel had initially planned to export 30,000 Saturn Astras in 2008, but now the German carmaker expects to dispatch 40,000 units from its 
With the Las Vegas SEMA Show just around the corner –doors open on Tuesday, October 30, carmakers are letting out all their goodies today. Saturn on its behalf revealed a lightly customized version of the Opel based Astra. The 3door Astra combines an engine upgade kit that lifts the 1.8L unit’s output to 160 Hp (+20 Hp) with suspension revisions and cosmetic enhancements. Among other things, the customized Astra is equipped with OPC (Opel’s sport department) accessories like the 19-inch wheels and rocker panels, Recaro bucket seats and tinted headlamps, tail-lamps and windows. -Images and details after the jumpVehicle highlights:
GM Accessories (production and concept)
Saturn is offering the chance to the public to take a closed course test-drive of the 2008 Astra compact hatch in Scottsdale, Arizona at Westworld on October 22. The Astra won’t arrive in U.S. showrooms until January 2008, so this is a good opportunity for any of you that live near Scottsdale to get a taste of the German compact hatch that’ll be offered as a three-door coupe or a five-door hatchback, both versions equipped with a 140Hp 1.8-liter engine (details here). Registrants must be 21 or over with a valid driver's license and they can bring one guest to share the experience with them. As you can understand, participation in this event is limited, so if you’re interested don’t be late in enrolling at: http://www.saturnevents.com/AstraForm. Source: Saturn
Before you get horsepower-excited, the “Nurburgring Edition” is nothing more than a white stock Astra OPC with a paint job that will probably look in a decade as silly as some special editions of the 80’s. Yes, you also get weight optimized white rims, a two-millimeter wider track and high performance tires along with carbon-look décor, a badge on the glove compartment with engraved serial number and… an image of the race track engraved in the head rests. But it will look silly in a decade, trust us. Under those black and white hood stripes, the “Nurburgring Edition” gets the same 177 kW/240 hp 2.0-liter turbo gasoline engine as the stock OPC taking it from zero to 100 km/h (62 mph) in 6.4 seconds and to a top speed of 244 km/h – 152 mph. -Continued after the jump
Via: Motorpasion , Source: Opel
Opel Presents Astra OPC Nürburgring Edition
Limited special edition model with high-performance package
Fourth phase of racing driver casting launched
Rüsselsheim. At the start of the fourth round of the OPC Race Camp, Opel unveils the Astra OPC “Nürburgring Edition”, a limited special edition version of the successful three-door model. The “Nürburgring Edition” emphasizes the connection between the racetrack steeped in tradition and the Opel brand. The Nürburgring, and in particular the legendary Nordschleife, are rightfully known as Opel territory, as this is where Opel production cars are extensively tested during their development stage. Manuel Reuter first highlighted the OPC models’ performance power in 2005, when he set a circuit record with the Astra OPC in this vehicle class. With the special Astra OPC “Nürburgring Edition”, Opel now raises the connection to the Nordschleife to a new level.
The “Nürburgring Edition” is particularly eye-catching thanks to the sporty white lacquer, large rear spoiler, as well as exterior mirrors and B-pillars in carbon look. The racing circuit’s red signet also adorns the B-pillars. The second-generation IDSPlus2 chassis is familiar from the Vectra and Zafira OPC models and ensures even greater driving dynamics in the Astra OPC “Nürburgring Edition”. Weight optimized white rims, a two-millimeter wider track and ultra high performance tires complete the high-performance package. The interior features special full leather trim, carbon-look décor and a badge on the glove compartment with engraved serial number. An image of the race track is also engraved in the head rests. The special edition’s 177 kW/240 hp 2.0-liter turbo gasoline engine takes it from zero to 100 km/h in 6.4 seconds and to a top speed of 244 km/h. The front-wheel drive model comes with a sportily tuned six-speed manual transmission.
“The special edition model is a tribute to the Nürburgring and our customers, who have made the Astra OPC the best-selling OPC model of the current generation,” says Alain Visser, Executive Director Sales, Marketing and Aftersales, Adam Opel GmbH. The special edition Astra OPC “Nürburgring Edition” goes on sale in the first quarter of 2008.
OPC Race Camp makes racing dream come true
The fourth level of the OPC Race Camp that starts today on the Nordschleife is the perfect stage for presenting the Astra OPC “Nürburgring Edition”. Opel breaks new ground with the OPC Race Camp – a professional talent casting that helps ordinary drivers discover and develop their motor racing skills. 500 candidates were chosen from the almost 18,500 applicants in the first round, which took place in April. Since then, further selection has taken place and today, 20 racing talents go into the fourth round hoping to capture one of the coveted eight positions in the race team that will participate in the legendary 24-hour race on the Nürburgring in 2008.
With its sporty OPC model range (Opel Performance Center) and OPC Race Camp, Opel now opens up a new range of possibilities in its traditional domain of popular motorsport. Candidates must have the talent and determination to achieve their dream of race car driving, while Opel provides them with the cars, the professional training and the necessary organizational support. After all, the dream of being a racing driver often dissipates because of the high investments that are required. Alain Visser sees the OPC Race Camp as a motorsport venture with good prospects for the future: “With the OPC Race Camp, Opel opens a completely new dimension in motorsport. The Race Camp addresses friends of motorsport that would otherwise experience car racing from the sidelines at best. It is an ideal project for Opel’s participation in popular motorsport because we can get our fans even more directly involved.”
The concept includes several new ideas. Firstly, it is aimed at drivers looking for a special challenge, regardless of their age, sex or current brand of car. The only condition is that they may not have any previous experience in motorsport. After all, the key question is: “Is it possible to professionally train performance-oriented drivers for a 24-hour race, and perhaps even guide them toward their dream job of being a racing driver?”
Opel racing driver star wanted
Another new idea is the focus on people and excitement at the OPC Race Camp. The fortune of the candidates at the various casting levels captivates both the media and outside observers, as do the demands of the thrilling selection processes and training stages. As a result, the OPC Race Camp has strong media partners in print and television, who accompany the entire project with regular and extensive coverage.
The Race Camp candidates use several 177 kW/240 hp Astra OPCs as training vehicles, and two racing versions of the compact sports car are ready for later competitive races. In addition, Opel has a long tradition associated with the Nürburgring. A few months after setting this record with the Astra OPC in 2005, Opel reproduced this feat with the Zafira OPC as one of the world’s fastest series production vans. Opel plans further record drives with its OPC models.
Because of the positive response to the OPC Race Camp – with almost 18,500 inquiries from German-speaking European countries – Opel is considering expanding the Race Camp concept to other European countries.
Thanks to a watchful reader, the guys over at Jalopnik managed to retrieve some cold hard evidence that the recently facelifted Opel Astra GTC is running around here at the States. Heading to the U.S. as a Saturn this fall, the Golf sized euro hatch is wrapping up its last minute road tests in what appeared to be Leadville, Colorado. As a personal fan of dozens of European cars, I can’t wait to see and drive this thing. With rumors of Alfa Romeo coming to the states, I hope to one-day see a 
Posted by Dani
Via: Jalopnik
"Revitalization in Action" or RIA for short is a group formed by bunch of guys at the GMInsiderNews (GMI) site who like to dream up entirely new product portfolios for various GM brands. This time the group that consist of GMI Staff Member ChevroletRevived, the Director/Writer of RIA, GMI Photoshop Artist fbodyrules who designs the vehicles, and GMI Administrator/Interior Photoshop Artist NSAP got their hands on Saturn. Good thing is that the guys at GMI took in consideration the fact that GM has tied Saturn’s future with Opel, thus creating a future line-up with a realistic twist in it. -Pictures after the jump Via: Autoblog.com , Source: GMInsiderNews Here’s RIA Proposal For Saturn’s Future Model Lineup:
Technorati: Saturn, auto+news, car+news, automobile, cars, automotive, vehicles, Carscoop, blogs, 2007
GM’s heavyweight contender in the European mid-sized compact category, the Opel Astra will snuggle its way into the According to GM, the Saturn Astra, which will make its premiere at the Chicago Auto Show in February 2007, will be nearly identical to the 2007 Opel Astra, unveiled this week at the Bologna Motor Show in
"The Astra is a great fit for Saturn, with its European style and driving dynamics," said Jill Lajdziak, Saturn general manager. "The Astra enables Saturn to occupy a unique position in the marketplace and to strategically broaden its appeal with consumers who usually have import brands on their shopping lists"
Let’s just hope that they throw in a few cup-holders and create more space for bit’s & things in the Astra’s interior cause European style and driving dynamics mean nothing to your average American car-buyer if he can’t find a damn place to put his Starbuck's frappuccino…
Technorati: Saturn+Astra, Opel+Astra, GM, autos, auto+news, car+news, automobile, cars, automotive, vehicles, Carscoop, images, pictures, 2007, Chicago+Auto+Show
