Le Casse gives the viewer all those things and more! Omar Sharif behind the wheel of that all-time great high-speed chase vehicle- the Opel Rekord- and Jean-Paul Balmondo trying to escape him in his screamin' Fiat 124. You may have to suspend your disbelief a touch, as that 124's rear suspension manages to survive a dozen or so death-blow curb impacts, but that's what movies are all about! Thanks to Stefan for the tip.

If you read our review of the 2011 Buick Regal, it was pretty plain to see we liked the car a lot. It's probably the most fun, nicest-looking, sporty FWD mid-size sedan in the market. And we're saying that about a Buick, not an Acura TSX or Mazda6.

The Regal is more or less exactly the same as the Euro-spec Opel Insignia, which means by commutative property, since we like the Regal, we like the Opel Insignia. When GM takes that enjoyable, 220 HP front wheel drive car and puts a stonkin' 325 HP, 2.8-liter turbocharged V6 with a six speed manual and a Haldex all-wheel-drive system in it capable of rear-axle torque vectoring, it's a fair bet we'll be giddy with excitement. Then they add 14-inch (front) Brembo binders, Recaro bucket seats, 20 inch wheels and body work so aggressive it makes one's inner hoon squeal. GM brought one along during the Regal drive and let us have a crack at it.

It might not be the fastest, hardest cornering, most extreme factory tuner in the world, but God damn it looks good. This could have the three-cylinder wheeze-fest from an old Geo Metro and we'd still want to roll around naked on it. That's not to say it isn't fast, 0-60 MPH takes 5.8 seconds, which is impressive for a car that weighs 3,990 Lbs.

But lifting off the accelerator is a high crime. Maybe it's the super-grippy Recaro buckets, the Darth Vader meets Tron interior graphics or the knowledge that you're driving one of the only OPC's to ever grace these shores, but you can't help but drop the transmission down a couple cogs and obliterate the speed limit with dangerous regularity. It's easy to find oneself hunting for even the slightest bend in the road to exaggerate into a high speed corner. The car's good, but more importantly, it's involving.

The OPC bases much of its greasy bits on the Saab 9-3 Turbo X powertrain, though it's tuned to a higher level, it makes many of the same moves. That Saab had only 280 HP, but the torque vectoring AWD system is identical.

Compared to the Regal, the Insignia OPC is more of a boy racer, such things are obvious based on the obnoxious body work and giant wheels, but it lives at an interesting intersection of hooligan and grown up. The car is tighter in corners, but doesn't punish you over jarring bumps, turn-in is faster, but it isn't tiresome. Should you lose your mind and want a more sedate experience, you can turn the car down a couple notches with three different suspension settings, each progressively softer until its throttle response and damping rate is rather pedestrian.

The fact that GM brought this car to a Buick Regal media launch is not a signal lost on us. We aren't saying GM is preparing a version for the United States, but the shoulder shrugs and veiled smirks from GM engineers say they're at least thinking about it. Although there was much talk of the letters "G," "N," and "X" but none of it coming from anyone wearing a GM badge — and unfortunately, GM's CEO's already nixed the idea. Still, a car fan-boy can dream, can't we?

Currently, Buick is selling the Daewoo Lacetti-based Buick Excelle in China. Yes, this is the same car the Suzuki Forenza was based on. But this is getting replaced! Not by a Daewoo product, but rather by the Buick Ying Lang, which is going to be a rebadged Opel Astra likely built on the Delta II platform. If it is Delta II then this will also be a relative of the Chevy Volt.

And what happens to Daewoo? They're going to be getting a new sedan that's basically a re-badged 2010 Buick LaCrosse, which is built on the Epsilon II platform that underpins the new Opel Insignia and Saab 9-5.

We hope this clears everything up.

GM Board Decides to Retain Opel

* New GM supports restructuring of Opel
* GM restructuring plan involves lower investment compared to investor proposals
* Discussions with stakeholders on restructuring to begin in earnest

DETROIT – Given an improving business environment for GM over the past few months, and the importance of Opel//Vauxhall to GM's global strategy, the GM Board of Directors has decided to retain Opel and will initiate a restructuring of its European operations in earnest.

"GM will soon present its restructuring plan to Germany and other governments and hopes for its favorable consideration," said Fritz Henderson, president and CEO. "We understand the complexity and length of this issue has been draining for all involved. However, from the outset, our goal has been to secure the best long term solution for our customers, employee, suppliers, and dealers, which is reflected in the decision reached today. This was deemed to be the most stable and least costly approach for securing Opel/Vauxhall's long-term future."

On a preliminary basis, the GM plan entails total restructuring expenses of about €3 billion, significantly lower than all bids submitted as part of the investor solicitation. GM will work with all European labor unions to develop a plan for meaningful contributions to Opel's restructuring. While Opel continues to outperform against its viability plan assumptions and immediate liquidity is stable, time is of the essence.

"While strained, the business environment in Europe has improved." Henderson said. "At the same time, GM's overall financial health and stability have improved significantly over the past few months, giving us confidence that the European business can be successfully restructured. We are grateful for the hard work of the German and other EU governments in navigating this difficult economic period. We're also appreciative of the effort put forward by Magna and its partners in Russia in trying to reach an equitable agreement."

Henderson added that GM also hopes to build on its already significant business in Russia and to resume work directly with GAZ to contribute to both the modernization of its operations and the joint development of the Russian vehicle market on a mutually attractive basis. More details on the next steps in the restructuring will be provided as the plans and developments warrant.

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About General Motors: General Motors, one of the world's largest automakers, traces its roots back to 1908. With its global headquarters in Detroit, GM employs 209,000 people in every major region of the world and does business in some 140 countries. GM and its strategic partners produce cars and trucks in 34 countries, and sell and service these vehicles through the following brands: Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet, GMC, GM Daewoo, Holden, Opel, Vauxhall and Wuling. GM's largest national market is the United States, followed by China, Brazil, the United Kingdom, Canada, Russia and Germany. GM's OnStar subsidiary is the industry leader in vehicle safety, security and information services. General Motors acquired operations from General Motors Corporation on July 10, 2009, and references to prior periods in this and other press materials refer to operations of the old General Motors Corporation. More information on the new General Motors can be found at www.gm.com.

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We're a little disappointed that GM didn't recycle the "Mini-Brute" name for later vehicles. What if the Vega Kammback had been the Vega Mini-Brute instead?

The Maserati-powered Model T definitely made an impression at the last Billetproof Nor-Cal, which is totally understandable. After all, the [flawless Model A, B, or T] + [Chevy or Ford OHV V8] formula has been done so often and so well that you need a body machined from pure plutonium to really stand out these days, while the [rusty-ass ancient non-Ford] + [weird yet hypnotically cool engine] formula still offers plenty of fun for each pint of blood you spill in the Hell Garage. Tonight, we're going to look at a total of nine possible vehicle+engine combos, any one of which would draw vast crowds of Bettie Page lookalikes at the next Billetproof. Hear the rusty iron doors of the Hell Garage swinging open for you? Once closed, they'll be welded shut until you're done... or insane!

Every time I see the amazing DOTS '47 Plymouth rumbling through my neighborhood, I realize anew that old suicide-door Plymouth sedans let you roll in the purest Hell Garage style. Affordable examples are quite easy to find in diamond-in-the-rough condition, too. Say f'r'example, this 1937 Plymouth sedan, which has a no-doubt-negotiable $1,000 price tag. The patina is already perfect, and the "toast" interior should be viewed as an opportunity to commission a special burlap-and-studded-pleather extravaganza!

It's tough to argue with the appeal of a 62-year-old sedan, but an elderly pickup made by a farm equipment manufacturer might make you forget all about that Plymouth. This '38 IHC pickup, which has been sitting in an Iowa field since Syngman Rhee was in office, has the perfect paint finish for Billetproof stardom, though we're not sure that "no bullet holes" is really a selling point. No matter, though- you can always make your own bullet holes!

Sedans? Trucks? Don't forget station wagons! Sure, you'd like a two-door wagon, and a Ford Ranch Wagon would be an excellent choice... but even that might veer uncomfortably close to the overchromed aesthetic behind those hyper-sanitary Chevy Nomads we see at mainstream car shows. Don't worry, because LeMons Rabbit racer Casadelshawn has tipped us off about this Opel Olympia Caravan, which is priced right in LeMons territory... which isn't relevant, because you know that mini-Euro-Nomad will be just the car to receive the engine of your deepest fears dreams! And, speaking of engines...

Now that you've picked out your chassis, what would you say to a 317-horse, DOHC/4-valve aluminum V8 that should be making good power until the Sun goes supernova? You can get this Nissan VK56DE out of a Nissan Titan pickup for well under two grand, though you'll need to spend many a few more bucks setting it up with an octet of Weber carbs and some sort of transmission.

A Nissan 5.6 liter V8 would be fun, but imagine all the wild Teutonic Maltese-cross decor you could put on your Opel, Plymouth, or IHC if you were to drop a Mercedes-Benz 5.6 liter V8 into the engine compartment? An M117, freshly torn from the still-twitching corpse of a big ol' Cocaine Dealer Grade 560SEL, would be just the ticket, and here's a 69,000-mile specimen for a mere 710 bucks! You'll need to ditch that irritatingly modern fuel-injection system and replace it with some carburetors, of course, and we recommend a homemade pipe-organ-style intake manifold made from galvanized plumbing fittings and sucking fuel from as many updraft Cessna carburetors as you can obtain. Then you'll start your junkyard quest for a functional junkyard transmission. How hard could it be?

Is there some rule that states you've got to have a V8? No? Well, how about one of GM's coolest engines ever, a high-performance inline six that struggled to get attention while in the shadow of big-inch monster V8s during the Muscle Car Golden Age? Yes, we mean the Pontiac OHC six-cylinder, which was a Chevrolet 230 or 250 six equipped with a futuristic (for 1960s Detroit) belt-driven overhead-cam cylinder head. The high-performance Sprint version, installed in regrettably few Firebirds and Tempests, could hold its own against V8s with vastly more displacement... but real Sprints are hard to find. No problem, though, because you can build your own Sprint from this Pontiac OHC 250, which is sitting with a top bid of just 150 bucks.

Ready to decide? Let's vote!

This one of a kind vehicle was built from a 1969 Opel GT, a 1985 CJ7 Jeep frame and a 1978 CJ5 Jeep drive train. The engine is a new crate engine, a 258 cubic inch straight 6 cylinder with 200 miles clocked since building the vehicle. Transmission and transfer case is original 78 CJ5 (3 speed).

List of new parts: 258 cubic inch straight 6 cylinder, oil pump, electric fan speed control, all new gaskets, distributor, cap, rotor, plugs, wires starter, clutch and pressure plate, U-joints, steering box, poer steering lines, carburator rebuild kit, 3in suspension lift kit(springs, shackles, shocks, U-bolts), brake shoes and pads, calipers(front), wheel cylinders and drums(rear), stainless steel braided caliper brake hoses, stainless steel brake lines with protective spring steel, master cylinder, vaccum booster, 35 inch tires, chrome wheels and lugs, windshield and rear window rubber, door and door window rubber, wiper blades, racing style seats, carpet, dash mat, bumpers(welded 3 inch schedule 40 pipe), 2 sets fog lights, red underglo kit, 11 inch high rear spoiler.

Title is "Modified". The car is inspected and street legal.

[via eBay] Thanks for the tip, Ben!

This new Vauxhall, much like its Opel twin, evolves the current design to something much more mature for the times, borrowing heavily from Volkswagen's clean friendly designs of recent. Inside though it's very much Opel/Vauxhall Insignia, with common design elements abound. It looks to us like a great place to do some major driving. You'll be able to test out that new car smell in the latest Astra if you're in the neighborhood for its official unveiling at the 2009 Frankfurt Motor Show, until then, here's the latest and greatest in press releases:

Fiat, the other potential buyer, elected not to attend today's talks. GM is expected to declare Chapter 11 bankruptcy on Monday.

The German government will be meeting later today to discuss whether to approve the deal. The hesitation comes due to reports that it may be cheaper to allow GM Europe to enter insolvency before its purchase. Germany wants to keep GM Europe alive to protect manufacturing in that country, but doesn't want to spend anything like the tens of billions of dollars the US government has invested. Germany has already issued nearly $2 billion in loan guarantees to the company. [via BBC]

The 2010 Opel Astra is scheduled to make its world premiere in September at the Frankfurt Motor Show, but we've got the full scoop on the new Insignia-inspired, compact, 5-door hatchback. Riding on the same Global Delta platform as the Chevy Cruze and Volt, the Astra will be propelled by either an entry level 1.4-liter four-cylinder engine with various power options, 120-horsepower to 140-horsepower, or an Insignia-derived 1.6-liter turbocharged gas engine with 180 horsepower. According to GM, the smaller 1.4-liter turbo engine is capable of an 8 percent gain in fuel economy over the replaced 1.6- and 1.8-liter engines from the current Astra. Also available at launch is a range of diesel engines delivering added fuel efficiency through an optional 1.3-, 1.7 or 2.0-liter turbocharged engine. Expect to also see an ecoFlex low CO2 model in 2010 with even more of an increase in fuel economy.

The 2010 Opel (and Vauxhall) Astra 5-door will go on sale in Europe shortly after its Frankfurt debut this fall with a sportier 3-door and a wagon version following in early 2011. With Saturn having been scraped off GM's collective brand plate, is there a chance for us on this side of the pond to ever get the new Astra? We'll be keeping our eyes and ears open for even the slightest possibility with our fingers and toes fully crossed. [via GM]

We don't get to see much detail of the new Astra which will likely debut at the Frankfurt Motor Show this September.

Opel will be offering several body-style versions for the upcoming Astra, including a coupe-inspired 3-door hatch named the GTC, a 4-door sedan, a wagon, a coupe/convertible and, of course, the standard 5-door hatch.

The new Astra is based on the GM's Delta II architecture, the same as the Chevy Volt. But don't expect the Astra to come as a plug-in or standard hybrid, at least, not at first. Do expect to see a new 1.4-liter, turbocharged gasoline/petrol engine with various power outputs.

Opel will likely be reserving its 2.0-liter engine for an OPC version (or the Astra VRX for Vauxhall) to rival the Golf GTI and other hot hatches, with that engine currently available in a 240 HP turbo configuration.
[Opel via carscoop via WCF]

The Sacramento-to-Tahoe Snowball is open to pre-1974 sports and touring cars (the rules specifically prohibit forklifts and steamrollers) and offers participants the joy of climbing the Sierra Nevada mountains on funky back roads during snow season. Much Jalopnik-approved machinery took part, including at least one Opel GT, the usual cast of beater seasoned Alfa Romeos, some MGs, etc.






Along the way, the rallyers passed the kind of mountain junkyard we dream about. Citroëns were just part of the goodness.

As we have posted earlier, Opel is in dire straits, needing $4 billion to survive the Carpocalypse. The German state has thus far avoided a bailout, offering instead state support for potential investors.

Here is where Fiat enters the fray. The Wall Street Journal’s Stacy Meichtry reports:

Fiat’s board of directors met Sunday and authorized Mr. Marchionne to seek a potential merger between Fiat and GM’s European operations, including Opel and its U.K. unit Vauxhall, according to a statement issued by Fiat on Sunday. If a deal is reached, Fiat will consider creating a new publicly traded company that combines the auto maker's car unit, Fiat Group Automobiles, with GM’s European operations, the statement said. The three-way alliance is expected to generate €80 billion ($105.84 billion) in revenue a year.

Fiat has been in talks with GM for months over the purchase of a majority stake in Opel, according to people familiar with the negotiations. Mr. Marchionne believes Fiat needs to sharply increase its current production of 2.2 million cars a year to gain economies of scale that could make Fiat viable in the future. Merging with Opel, in addition to Fiat’s alliance with Chrysler, would allow the Italian auto maker to reach Mr. Marchionne's goal of producing at least 5.5 million cars a year.

A deal with Opel isn't expected to alter the Chrysler partnership. Fiat sees the two deals as complementary—Chrysler forming the backbone of Fiat's reentry into the U.S. market, while a deal with Opel would make Fiat one the biggest auto makers in Europe.

Unlike with future Chrysler-Fiats, we won’t need Photoshop to imagine future Opel-Fiats. General Motors and Fiat were in a partnership between 2000 and 2005 and the fruits of their dissolved marriage include cars like the Alfa Romeo Brera. A coupé comically Italian on the surface, yet built on GM’s Premium platform and powered by GM’s High Feature engine.

Source: The Wall Street Journal, Photo Credit: DAMIEN MEYER/AFP/Getty Images

The European Car of the Year-winning Insignia officially got the OPC treatment earlier this month, but we're told a SportTourer version will soon follow. The Opel Insignia sedan already jockeys for position with Audi's S4 sedan, and the SportTourer OPC can expect similar competition from the Avant. Using the same 2.8-liter V6 turbo ECOTEC engine, the SportTourer OPC will pump at 325 HP and 295 lb-ft or torque, likely giving it a similar 0-to-60 MPH time of 5.8 seconds and 155 MPH top speed. What's that you say? We need milk? Okay, I suppose I'll go get some. Vrooom!

The chassis will also receive some performance tuning to go with its stiffer HiPerStrut suspension and 10mm lower ride height. The SportTourer OPC will also receive the Haldex IV all-wheel-drive system that debuted on the Saab 9-3 Turbo X last year along with an electronic limited slip differential (eLSD) in the rear with techy active torque vectoring to allow for a more stable and dynamic cornering profile.

Expect to see the same Brembo brake pacakge, with 320mm rotors on the front, and deep 19- or 20-inch forged alloy wheels wrapped in sandpaper like grippy rubber.

Around the same time as the Opel version, Vauxhall will also release their version; the 2010 Vauxhall Insignia SportTourer VXR. What about us in the States you ask? That's yet to be seen, but as we mentioned earlier in the month, China might receive a Regal GNX version pending how sales ride on the newly revealed 2.0 Turbo version. That doesn't exactly answer the question, but we have heard that GM is pondering whether or not to bring the Insignia over here as a Buick, but with the current financial situation being faced by the General, we won't believe anything until we see it. While we're asking questions — How about an Audi RS4 fighter, or is that asking waaaay too much? [illustration via KORSdesign]

Steinmetz has essentially taken its Insignia package and applied it the the much more (in our opinion) desirable SportTourer body style, including a hopped up engine performance tune. They've added a Klasen-Motors diesel performance upgrade to the stock 2.0-liter CDTI, which brings a 3-inch exhaust, sportier catalyst, intercooler and a re-tuned ecu. The entire package bumps the stock numbers up from 220 horsepower to 295 horsepower and 310 lb-ft or torque, or enough to excite even the most hardened family man.

Not content with just a performance boost, Steinmetz also added some tasteful kit to the SportTourer, including an agro lower front spoiler and a murdered-out grille, two-piece roof spoiler, chrome exhaust tips. The whole package is lowered down 1-inch to ride on big-boy 20-inch ST7 rollers which are available in either black or white.

If you're so lucky as to be in Germany from April 30th - May 3rd, you'll be able to see the Steinmetz Insignia SportTourer in person at the Bodenese Tuning World 2009 exhibition.

[via Steinmetz]