1970 Opel Gt on 2040-cars

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GM, Peugeot cease tie-up talks over French bailout issue

The partnership General Motors (via Opel) and PSA Peugeot/Citroën began in February has produced more declarations and revisions than easily identifiable positive movement. A deeper collaboration between Opel and Peugeot has been mentioned a few times, perhaps even a sale of one to the other, and a report in October laid out joint plans like a small MPV for Opel/Vauxhall, a small car for both Opel and Citroën and two new platforms for small and midsize cars.
What observers can't glean from the proclamations is how all this can happen with Peugeot in constant, and worsening, financial trouble. The French company just accepted a bailout from the French government, the cash position at its lending arm so bad that the interest rates it had to charge were pricing it out of the car-loan market, and a new report in Reuters says that Peugeot is losing $200 million per month.
That cash-burn rate is better than a few months ago, but the Reuters report explains that the French government loan is "sabotaging" any chance of a closer tie-up between the two companies, said to include the possibility of "a full combination of Peugeot with GM's European unit Opel." That particular option, with a $5-billion buy-in from GM, could have allowed GM to get Opel off its books by making it part of a separate entity. The French government's terms for the loan, however, mean that Peugeot can't shed workers and factories as it would need to in order to make the new entity, and any deeper ties with Opel, viable.

Opel Insignia Country Tourer goes the Outback route

The last piece in the Opel Insignia family puzzle is this: the Insignia Country Tourer. Whereas the Insignia Sports Tourer is honed for urbanites, the Country Tourer beefs up the wagon for gravel-minded folk with larger tires and higher ground clearance, underbody protection panels and body cladding. A Haldex all-wheel drive and electronically-controlled limited-slip differential can shift torque between the front and rear axles, and between the rear wheels.
Three engines will feature on the options sheet, the top choice being a 2.0-liter turbocharged gas engine with 250 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque. Next on the list is a 2.0-liter, twin-turbo diesel with 195 hp and 295 lb-ft, then comes another 2.0-liter diesel with 163 hp and 258 lb-ft. The twin-turbo diesel can only be had with a six-speed automatic, the other two can be fitted with either that or a six-speed manual.
The new Opel will debut at the Frankfurt Motor Show this September, pricing will be announced closer to the date. Have a read of the press release below to find out more.

Opel 3-cyl headed for 2016 Chevy Volt?

The Chevrolet Volt could be in for a significant redo in the next 18 to 24 months, according to a report from Automotive News. When the new model comes on line in late 2015 or early 2016, besides the regular spate of interior and exterior styling tweaks, the next Volt could feature a three-cylinder engine under its aerodynamic hood.
While AN thinks it's a 1.0- or 1.2-liter three-pot, Motor Trend is more definitive, claiming the new mill is the all-aluminum, turbocharged three that will arrive in the Opel Adam in 2014. In that setting, it will generate 115 horsepower and 122 pound-feet of torque. That's 31 horsepower more than the 1.4-liter, naturally aspirated four-cylinder in the current Volt.
New engines aren't the only change Automotive News thinks is coming to the Volt - a bespoke, lightweight platform will underpin the second-generation model. The hybrid currently shares its bones with the Chevy Cruze and Buick Verano, but a dedicated platform could help the Volt hit its future fuel economy targets.