Tuesday, March 1, 2011

Rita Forst: We focus on small vehicles

"We are now all on the small vehicles," explains Rita Forst, Executive Board member, Adam Opel AG Vice President Engineering Europe, on the first press day of the Motor Show in Geneva. Thus it takes the issue off the table, whether Opel vehicles could also imagine above the current Insignia. One could imagine the already, because the General Motors group and large platforms are available.

But now it is only once around the smaller classes. Rita Forst is convinced that the market will give Opel law. An example of the conviction, the study of the new Opel Zafira, which we shall see in the summer for the first time on the road. The following new line outside the new group with all the elements, beginning with the Insignia and the new Meriva and the Opel van in rampage.

In the series, the Zafira is perfect. As far as he will bring few surprises. The wow effect is created in the study after opening the door. Inside opens up a world as you've seen them at Opel is not so, neither in terms of design, or with respect to the claim. Opel calls it a lounge concept - a car to feel like the lobby of a luxury hotel.

Leather everywhere, all in soft, warm brown tones, multi-adjustable seats, lots of leg room, even living room, when operating as a four-seater Zafira these. Of the customers - so Rita Forst - have you learned that for them the third row of seats was important only in exceptional cases. The Opel was the space for the luxury you in this class and also in Rüsselsheim expect not.

Rita Forst is the Zafira Lounge one of the ways to adapt to market changes. It looks like many others in the scene: Downsizing is called for when buying a car. It may still be a little smaller, but you will miss nothing on board. This philosophy is at Opel also especially for the small car.

A vehicle under the Opel Corsa is in the pipeline. Everything in the plan, said Rita Forst. He is safe as a sedan and probably also as a compact SUV. And the Opel Antara, there could be a smaller version, probably 2013th For a new product philosophy right motor generation is on its way.

The 1.6-liter turbo diesel from the new Opel Antara Rita Forst, known as precursors. Quiet should be, and be economical. Rita Frost's emphasis on the finding that the Ampera will not be the only vehicle with an electric drive. Opel dominant - even in the context of the global interconnection of General Motors - for all technologies.

It will also provide hybrid vehicles and those with power from fuel cells. Specifically, it announced a small battery-electric city car. Frost shares the opinion that had to get the electric car concerning the number of new designs and better manufacturing. But she believes no doubt that the lithium ion battery can make a significant contribution here.

Therefore, it considers it necessary to keep the grounds of price, but also the battery of the vehicle weight as small as possible. Opel in Europe has so many plans, the company is obviously a lot of money for the development of new models, alternative drives and an expansion of the model range in the hand.

But right now the mother filed for General Motors Europe, a loss of 600 million U.S. dollars. What do these figures achieve the development board? "Motivation", the answer comes spontaneously. One can indeed imagine how General Motors wanted to give up his European. That would cut the small and compact car road now is sitting on the U.S.

manufacturer, if he wants to take the trend toward compact vehicle. (Ampnet / Sm)

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