Opel on the move again
Photo: newspress.co.uk Next year is expected to be a big year for Opel, what with the carmaker announcing that seven new models, three of them being derivatives of the same model, will make their international entrance.
However, General Motors South Africa has remained quiet about which of these models will reach our shores.
A particular highlight of the collection and a design remi- niscent of the 2013 Monza Concept, the Insignia Grand Sport is set to take on the likes of the Volkswagen Passat and Ford Fusion when it’s released at the Geneva Motor Show in March. However, given that South African’s tend to overlook offers from this segment other than the big German three, we sadly can’t expect to see this one on our roads.
The same can also be said for the Sports Tourer and Country Tourer, station wagon and crossover versions of the Insignia, as well as the all-new Opel Vivaro, given that the current model is not sold here.
But there are glimmers of hope. A newcomer to their Bsegment line-up, The Crossland X, a crossover version of the Mokka X, is a strong contender for a South African introduction. Opel has yet to explain how the Crossland coincides with its available sibling, noting only that it is a shift towards offering sporty and spacious CUVs.
Another potential for Opel in South Africa is its new Ampera-e, an Astra-sized electric hatchback reported to have a range of 500km between charges. While electric cars may not be the biggest of business in South Africa, it’s possible for the carmaker to consider following the lead of the Nissan Leaf and BMW’s i3.