1972 Opel Gt on 2040-cars

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Opel gets crossover cute with the Adam Rocks Concept [w/video]

Looking to inject some machismo into its cute and lovable Adam, Opel rolled out a new concept version of its Fiat 500 fighter, called the Adam Rocks. This concept makes the Adam look a little meatier with a taller and wider stance while the plastic lower body cladding adds a crossover-like ruggedness to the small hatchback's design.
Another key part of Adam Rocks Concept is the sliding fabric top, which creates a large opening in the roof without eliminating the side rails - similar to the Fiat 500C. For now, Opel is just calling the Adam Rocks Concept a design study, but it definitely looks like it could make for a fun little vehicle for European buyers. Scroll down for a short video and press release from Opel.

Stellantis mega-merger gets approval from FCA, PSA shareholders

MILAN — Shareholders of Fiat Chrysler and PSA Peugeot decisively voted Monday to merge the U.S.-Italian and French carmakers to create worldÂ’s 4th-largest auto company. Addressing separate meetings, both PSA Peugeot CEO Carlos Tavares and Fiat Chrysler Chairman John Elkann spoke of the “historic” importance of the vote, which combines legacy car companies that helped write the industrial histories of the United States, France and Italy. Before the merger is finalized, shares in the new company, to be called Stellantis, must the launched. It will be traded in Milan, New York and Paris. The marriage of PSA Peugeot and Fiat Chrysler Automobiles is built on the promise of cost-savings in the capital-hungry industry, but what remains to be seen is if it will be able to preserve jobs and heritage brands in a global market still suffering from the pandemic. The deal will create the worldÂ’s fourth-largest carmaker, with the capacity to produce 8.7 million cars a year, behind Volkswagen, Toyota and Renault-Nissan, and create 5 billion euros in annual synergies.  “We are fully aware of the fact that together we will be stronger than individually,'' PSA CEO Carlos Tavares told a virtual gathering of eligible shareholders. “The two companies are in good health. These two companies have strong positions in their markets.” The new company will put together under one roof French mass-market carmakers Peugeot and Citroen, top-selling Jeep and Italian luxury and sports brands Maserati and Alfa Romeo - pooling companies that have helped define the industry in the United States, France and Italy. While the tie-up is billed as a merger of equals, the power advantage goes to PSA, with Tavares running Stellantis and holding the tie-breaking vote on the 11-seat board. Tavares is set to take full control of the company early this year, possibly by the end of January. Fiat Chrysler chairman John Elkann, heir to the Fiat-founding Agnelli family and Fiat ChryslerÂ’s biggest shareholder, will be the Stellantis chairman. Fiat Chrysler CEO Mike Manley will head North American operations, which is key to Tavares' long-time goal of getting a U.S. foothold for the French carmaker he has run since 2014, and the clear money-maker for Fiat Chrysler. Such a deal was long wanted by Fiat ChryslerÂ’s long-time CEO Sergio Marchionne, who had predicted the necessity of consolidation in the industry. He was unable to find a deal before his sudden death in July 2018.

Scrapyard Gem: 2005 Vauxhall Tigra TwinTop

DERBY, England — There was a time when American car shoppers could buy sporty little convertibles based on the platforms of econo-commuters, but that was back during the era of the 1991-1994 Mercury Capri and open-air versions of the Geo Metro and Yugo GV. Those good times continued in Europe, though, and Peugeot had a sales hit with the retracting-hardtop 206 CC starting with the 2000 model year. For today's Junkyard Scrapyard Find, we're heading across the Atlantic for a look at a discarded example of Vauxhall's 206 CC competitor. The main purpose of my four-day trip to England was to visit the scrapyards around York and Leeds, but I stopped at an old-school breaker's yard near Derby on the drive up from Heathrow. Albert Looms Ltd has a fascinating selection of European machinery plus the occasional American-made vehicle. Check in later to see many more Scrapyard Gems from England. (That's what they call junkyards over here). Vauxhall became part of the far-flung GM Empire back in 1925, and it remained there until being sold to the PSA Group in 2017. With the merger of Fiat Chrysler and PSA to form Stellantis in 2021, Vauxhall now gets its marching orders from Amsterdam. The General took a shot at selling new Vauxhalls in the United States during the late 1950s and early 1960s, without much success (though I have managed to find a Victor Super Estate in a Colorado car graveyard). Starting in the early 1970s, most Vauxhall models were closely related to Opel counterparts; some of those cars also had U.S.-market cousins or siblings (with varying amounts of Isuzu and Daewoo DNA finding their way into the mix from time to time). In Australia, plenty of Vauxhall models were sold with Holden badging. The Opel/Vauxhall/Holden/Chevrolet Tigra was built in two generations, both based on the Opel Corsa (yes, I've found a Corsa in an American junkyard). The 1994-2000 generation was a coupe, while the 2004-2009 was a convertible with a hardtop that retracted into the boot. Being Corsas under the skin, these cars all had small engines and front-wheel-drive. Two gasoline engines were available (a 1.4-liter and a 1.8-liter) plus a 1.3-liter diesel. This one is the 1.4, rated at 90 horsepower and 92 pound-feet. With a curb weight of 2,557 pounds, this car would have been slow but not intolerably so. At least it has the five-speed manual. A fender-bender just bad enough to fire the airbags took it off the street.