 |  |  |  |  |
 |  |  |  |  |
 |  |  |  |  |
Image credits: © Opel. GM Corp
2000 Opel Speedster news, pictures, and information | ||
| Tweet | ||
Making its world debut at the 70th Geneva International Motor Show 2000, the Opel Speedster is the essence of pure driving excitement. Powered by a new, 2.2-liter, aluminum ECOTEC engine wîth 108 kW/147 hp, the lightweight, two-seater sports car races from 0 to 100 km/h in under six exhilarating seconds and on to a top speed of 220 km/h. Enthusiasts will relish the Speedster's exceptionally responsive §teering and sure-footed cornering, made possible by the mid-engined configuration and aluminum sports chassis wîth independent, double wishbone suspension at all four wheels. The clean, technical styling of the composite body is a poignant outward expression of the Speedster's sporting prowess.
'The Speedster is the natural conclusion of our philosophy of creating an unadulterated sports car,' says Dr. Doris Bernhardt, who headed the Speedster project at Opel's International Technical Development Center in Rsselsheim, Germany. 'Every decision hinged on the same question: Will this make the Speedster a more dynamic drive?' As a result, the open two-seater has a roll-over bar, ABS, a driver-side airbag and seat-belt tensioners as a matter of course but is unburdened by conveniences like power §teering, air conditioning, seat warmers or central locking - features that would add weight and clash wîth its uncompromising character.
The production version of the Speedster features the same taut surfaces, muscular wheel arches and sheer flanks as its concept car predecessor, presented to great acclaim in Geneva only a year ago. Integrated into the car's body, the sculpted, three-dimensional headlamps and tail lights are as striking as the large air intake ducts behind the doors - which provide additional engine cooling - and the two vertically arranged exhaust pipes. Director of Design, Hans Seer, describes the Speedster as 'Opel's first production car to bring to life the technically oriented design language we demonstrated on the G90 and Zafira Snowtrekker concepts'.
Inside, the two-seater Speedster confirms its uncompromisingly sporty character wîth a high-tech look and feel. The dominating feature is the visible aluminum chassis. Instruments are kept to the bare essentials wîth two dials - a revolution counter and a speed gauge - and LCD displays which are activated when needed. Sculpted sports seats are complemented by a leather §teering wheel, aluminum gear knob and a starter button, all of which underline the Speedster's purist personality. The optional leather interior is available in black, blue, red or beige.
The fold-away roof of the Speedster is easy to handle and, stowed away in a special bag, fits neatly behind the seats. A silver-colored hard-top is available as an option. The Speedster's trunk, located behind the engine, is larger than it looks from the outside wîth enough space (206 liters) for two people?s weekend luggage.
The Speedster's bonded aluminum chassis guarantees exceptionally high torsional rigidity despite the car?s low weight - a pre-condition for precise control. Composite crash structures ensure optimal crash worthiness in case of a frontal or side impact. An integrated, steel roll-over bar provides additional protection. The Speedster?s powerful engine and its kerb weight of only around 850 kilograms combine to give Opel?s newcomer top-of-the-class specific performance figures of 5.8 kg/hp and 4.2 kg/Nm.
The compactly dimensioned, composite body (length x width x height: 3790 x 1711x 1112 millimeters) rides on double wishbone suspension. Advanced geometry and compliance tuning optimizes wheel control to maximize grip and handling performance. The Speedster's high-speed cornering capabilities are further enhanced by its wide track (1450 mm at the front, 1488 at the rear), its low center of gravity and precise §teering. Four ventilated, 288-millimeter disc brakes provide excellent deceleration. ABS is standard. The Speedster's 17-inch-diameter aluminum wheels (5.5' and 7.5' wide at the front and rear respectively) retain the striking, five-spoke design seen on the 1999 concept and carry specially developed Bridgestone Potenza tires (175/55 at the front, 225/45 R17 at the rear).
Low weight combined wîth high performance is the essence of the Speedster's powertrain, too. A 2.2-liter, four cylinder engine from the new aluminum ECOTEC family - which will premiere in Europe in the Astra Coup? - also powers the Speedster. The engine is constructed from aluminum alloy and weighs a mere 138 kilograms. It produces 108 kW (147hp) at 5800 rpm wîth a maximum torque figure of 203 Nm, whereby 90 percent of this is available at 1800 rpm. According to the MVEG standard the Speedster's fuel consumption is around eight liters per 100km and it also complies wîth the future Euro IV emissions standard. The transmission is the compact, new, five-speed gearbox wîth cable-operated shift first seen on the 1999 Vectra.
Production of the Opel Speedster will begin this summer at the Hethel plant (near Norwich, England) of the British sports car manufacturer, Lotus. The limited-edition two-seater goes on sale this fall.Source - Opel
'The Speedster is the natural conclusion of our philosophy of creating an unadulterated sports car,' says Dr. Doris Bernhardt, who headed the Speedster project at Opel's International Technical Development Center in Rsselsheim, Germany. 'Every decision hinged on the same question: Will this make the Speedster a more dynamic drive?' As a result, the open two-seater has a roll-over bar, ABS, a driver-side airbag and seat-belt tensioners as a matter of course but is unburdened by conveniences like power §teering, air conditioning, seat warmers or central locking - features that would add weight and clash wîth its uncompromising character.
The production version of the Speedster features the same taut surfaces, muscular wheel arches and sheer flanks as its concept car predecessor, presented to great acclaim in Geneva only a year ago. Integrated into the car's body, the sculpted, three-dimensional headlamps and tail lights are as striking as the large air intake ducts behind the doors - which provide additional engine cooling - and the two vertically arranged exhaust pipes. Director of Design, Hans Seer, describes the Speedster as 'Opel's first production car to bring to life the technically oriented design language we demonstrated on the G90 and Zafira Snowtrekker concepts'.
Inside, the two-seater Speedster confirms its uncompromisingly sporty character wîth a high-tech look and feel. The dominating feature is the visible aluminum chassis. Instruments are kept to the bare essentials wîth two dials - a revolution counter and a speed gauge - and LCD displays which are activated when needed. Sculpted sports seats are complemented by a leather §teering wheel, aluminum gear knob and a starter button, all of which underline the Speedster's purist personality. The optional leather interior is available in black, blue, red or beige. The fold-away roof of the Speedster is easy to handle and, stowed away in a special bag, fits neatly behind the seats. A silver-colored hard-top is available as an option. The Speedster's trunk, located behind the engine, is larger than it looks from the outside wîth enough space (206 liters) for two people?s weekend luggage.
The Speedster's bonded aluminum chassis guarantees exceptionally high torsional rigidity despite the car?s low weight - a pre-condition for precise control. Composite crash structures ensure optimal crash worthiness in case of a frontal or side impact. An integrated, steel roll-over bar provides additional protection. The Speedster?s powerful engine and its kerb weight of only around 850 kilograms combine to give Opel?s newcomer top-of-the-class specific performance figures of 5.8 kg/hp and 4.2 kg/Nm.
The compactly dimensioned, composite body (length x width x height: 3790 x 1711x 1112 millimeters) rides on double wishbone suspension. Advanced geometry and compliance tuning optimizes wheel control to maximize grip and handling performance. The Speedster's high-speed cornering capabilities are further enhanced by its wide track (1450 mm at the front, 1488 at the rear), its low center of gravity and precise §teering. Four ventilated, 288-millimeter disc brakes provide excellent deceleration. ABS is standard. The Speedster's 17-inch-diameter aluminum wheels (5.5' and 7.5' wide at the front and rear respectively) retain the striking, five-spoke design seen on the 1999 concept and carry specially developed Bridgestone Potenza tires (175/55 at the front, 225/45 R17 at the rear). Low weight combined wîth high performance is the essence of the Speedster's powertrain, too. A 2.2-liter, four cylinder engine from the new aluminum ECOTEC family - which will premiere in Europe in the Astra Coup? - also powers the Speedster. The engine is constructed from aluminum alloy and weighs a mere 138 kilograms. It produces 108 kW (147hp) at 5800 rpm wîth a maximum torque figure of 203 Nm, whereby 90 percent of this is available at 1800 rpm. According to the MVEG standard the Speedster's fuel consumption is around eight liters per 100km and it also complies wîth the future Euro IV emissions standard. The transmission is the compact, new, five-speed gearbox wîth cable-operated shift first seen on the 1999 Vectra.
Production of the Opel Speedster will begin this summer at the Hethel plant (near Norwich, England) of the British sports car manufacturer, Lotus. The limited-edition two-seater goes on sale this fall.Source - Opel
| Mazda Cx-5 Named 'Top Family Choice Vehicle' By Greater Atlanta Automotive Media Association | |
| WASHINGTON, April 29, 2013 -- The Greater Atlanta Automotive Media Association (GAAMA) yesterday named the 2013 Mazda CX-5 its 'Top Family Choice Vehicle' and the all-new 2014 Mazda6 'Best Green Family Choice Vehicle' at its first annual Family Choice Challenge. GAAMA President Nick Palermo said, 'The CX-5 was the clear winner for the overall 'Top Family Choice Vehicle' award. It's stylish, affordable, has comfortable seating and great fuel economy and is fun to drive.' The 2013 CX-...[Read more...] | |
| FIVE MILLION AUDI QUATTRO DRIVE SYSTEMS | |
 | VICTORY LAP FOR A SUPERIOR TECHNOLOGY - Five millionth Audi with permanent all-wheel drive rolls off the assembly line - A successful 33 years for quattro on the road and in motorsport AUDI AG celebrates a very special event today – the five millionth Audi with a quattro drive system. The car is a white Audi A6 allroad 3.0 TDI; it rolled off the assembly line at the Neckarsulm plant. The record is a testament to the leading role played by the pioneering all-wheel drive – no other ...[Read more...] |
| PORSCHE BOXSTER RANKED AMONG CAR AND DRIVER MAGAZINE'S 10 BEST CARS FOR 2013 | |
 | • Boxster makes coveted 10Best List Atlanta. The Porsche Boxster has once again been selected for Car and Driver magazine's list of the 10Best cars sold in America. This year marks the 12th time in 14 years that either a Boxster or Cayman model has been selected for this honor, which was announced during the press days of the Los Angeles International Auto Show. The all-new, third-generation Boxster was unveiled at the Geneva Motor Show in March and has been on sale in the U.S. fo...[Read more...] |
| Audi factory drivers look into the future with a digital rear-view mirror | |
 | • Advanced AMOLED technology provides clear vision • Significant contribution to active safety in the Audi R18 • Three more weeks to go before the start of the Le Mans 24 Hours Ingolstadt, May 24, 2012 – When the Audi factory drivers tackle the Le Mans 24 Hours (June 16/17, 2012) a very special technology will enhance their vision. Used for the first time in a closed LMP sports prototype, the digital rear-view mirror provides a clear view of the rear and thus ...[Read more...] |
| Chevy Indycar Engine Offers Promise For passenger Cars | |
 | The unbeaten track performance of the new Chevrolet IndyCar V-6 engine is bringing acclaim to the engineers who created it and hope for its significant technology to find its way into passenger cars. Engineers Mark Kent and Matt Wiles, along with Steve Miller and Steve O'Connor from Ilmor Engineering, took home the 46th annual BorgWarner Louis Schwitzer Award on Monday for their work on the Chevrolet IndyCar V-6 engine. The award recognizes individuals for innovation and engineering excellen...[Read more...] |
 2000
Opel
models |
| Opel Astra |
| Opel Zafira Snowtrekker |
| Similar Automakers | |
| Alfa Romeo | Citroen |
| Fiat | Lancia |
| Morgan | Peugeot |
| Renault | Seat |
| Skoda | Vauxhall |
| Similarly Sized Vehicles from 2000 |
| Acura Integra Type R |
| BMW Z3 |
| Bowler Wildcat |
| Chevrolet Metro |
| Chevrolet Prizm |
| Chevrolet S-10 |
| Chevrolet Tracker |
| Chrysler Panel Cruiser |
| Chrysler PT Cruiser |
| Citroen Xanae |
| Opel: 1990-2000 |
| Similar Automakers |
| Opel History |
| Other models by Opel |
| Manufacturer Website |
| Related Articles and Event Coverage |
| 2000 Geneva Auto Show |
| GT Kadett Manta |
© 1998-2012. All rights reserved. The material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
