2010 saab 9-3

2010 Saab 9-3: We Speculate, You Decide

Opel's release of the Vectra-replacing 2009 Opel Insignia is bringing with it speculation on other GM products built atop the Vectra's Epsilon platform, including the Saab 9-3. Which is where we think the impetus for the above potential p-shop, appearing on the Vince Burlapp Car Page just below those Mazda3 renders from earlier, may have come from. The 9-3's been built on the same Epsilon platform as the Vectra since 2003 and is getting seriously long in the tooth, even in the admittedly capable 2008 Saab 9-3 Turbo X form. So, we're really hoping the Aeronaut wannabes from Trollhättan get a chance to build the 2010 Saab 9-3 on something new. Especially because the Swedes have been holding things down so well on the concept front as of late, we're expecting big things from the new 9-3's styling, if not its mechanicals. More »

2009 opel insignia

2009 Opel Insignia Interior Revealed, Officially, Sort Of

We haven't gotten official photos of the 2009 Opel Insignia, yet, but we're going to guess that the 2009 Vauxhall Insignia, its British counterpart, is going to have the same interior and we have those official pictures. Following the Opel DNA, there's the long center console leading up to a center-mounted display screen. Hopefully, you like this design as it could influence one or two future cars that could be built off this platform. Nothing important, just the 2011 Saturn Aura, 2011 Pontiac G6, 2010 Chevy Malibu and a couple of others. The best feature is the "sport" button, which changes the gauge cluster illumination from white to red for when you get... angry? Press release below the jump.

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2009 opel insignia

2009 Opel Insignia Revealed, Officially

The General's German brand saw the sign it needed to replace the aged Vectra, so they opened up their eyes — and came up with this — the new 2009 Opel Insignia. It's a new name, a new car and yes, a new badge for the brand preciously misspelled from the name of a gem and it's being revealed in July at the London Motor Show. We're guessing Opel decided to drop this load of shots and details early due to, you know, all the leakage everywhere — both manufactured, silly and otherwise. This new Vectra-replacing four-door will hit the market with a pickup truck-like selection of engine options and powertrains. Buyers of the new Insignia will be able to choose from seven different engines — four gasoline engines ranging from a four-banger 115 HP unit to a V6 with an output of 260 horses and three new direct-injection diesels displacing 2.0 liters and with outputs spanning from 110 to 160 HP. And when you're done choosing your boring engines, you'll have a choice between either front-wheel or all-wheel drive. What else would we expect from a four-door that's 7.9 inches longer than the current Vectra and is built on the General's new globe-spanning Epsilon II platform. Of course we'd expect a variety of available options — this sculpted boat's going to need to play the role of like, every car in GM's multi-brand lineup. And that's why we should care about this new Euro sedan — because everything else with an Opel badge gets sent state-wide as a Saturn, so we're under the impression we'll be seeing this as the 2011 Saturn Aura. But the platform prostitution doesn't end there — the bones underneath will hold the skin and meat of the 2011 Pontiac G6 and the 2012 Chevy Malibu. Rumor is we'll also see it as the 2010 Buick LaCrosse and the 2010 Saab 9-3. Yes, that means the 2010 LaCrosse would actually get an AWD platform — hmm, maybe there's some life in that old brand. Yeah, right. Full press release after the jump.

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2009 opel insignia

2009 Opel Insignia Revealed Early, Sans Carefully Placed Tape

It's a shame the folks at Opel went through all that trouble to tape up the 2009 Opel Insignia, just to have the cover blown a few days later by the crew at AutoWeek.nl. Here it is, your future Opel Insignia in all its watermarked glory. Why should you care? This curvy sedan is likely to be the new Saturn Aura sometime down the line. The Insignia is scheduled for a big public unveiling at the London Motor Show in July with full details coming in a few days.

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spy photos

2009 Opel Insignia Spy Photos Released... By Opel?

In what seems to be a burgeoning trend, Opel joins the ranks of automakers that are releasing their own versions of professionally shot spy photos to whet the appetites of the motoring press. In this case we have the 2009 Open Insignia (and possibly the future Saturn Aura), which is based on GM's Epsilon-2 global platform. It's been taped up fairly well and, just for laughs, they guide us through the process of taping up a test mule. You clever buggers!

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london motor show

Many Spy Photographers Died to Bring us This Picture of the Taillight of the New Opel Insignia

Much as we expected when we noticed some very Insignia concept car-like testers out this summer, Opel's just announced that Insignia will be the Vectra's replacement name for the new version of the mid-size set to debut at the 2008 London Motor Show. Opel revealed the name — and a taillight — by taking a page right from Hyundai's playbook, revealing a humorous video that reveals nothing but the driver's side taillight of the new Opel Insignia. Well, we guess we'll just add that shot to the other ones we've been collecting below. We kinda wish the General's German brand had actually hired the same lass from the Hyundai Genesis Coupe concept reveal we showed you earlier today. But we do have to give Opel some credit for coming up with a cool way to show off their new-look and new-name mid-size — although now we think we know why Jim Dunne retired. Actually wait, Jim Dunne's still alive? Who knew? Full press release below the jump.

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