gute Gründe
- Mit seinem Potenzial ist der Opel Astra Electric nicht nur als Stadtauto interessant. Mit einer Reichweite von mehr als 400 Kilometern und Schnellladetechnik bringt das Elektroauto 2023 Technik für alle Zwecke.
- Elektro-Pickups sind noch selten, wenn der Opel Astra-e Sports Tourer Electric auf den Markt kommt. Zudem bietet er den Vorteil, dass er über genügend Platz verfügt, um als Familien- und Lastenwagen mit herkömmlichen 5-türigen Kombis oder Plug-in-Hybriden mithalten zu können.
- Mit ihrem Design verdeutlichen die Astra-Limousinen, dass Elektrotechnik im Auto auch für Fahrspaß steht. Damit werden junge Zielgruppen angesprochen, die eine GTI-Alternative mit klarem Image suchen.
- Die digitale Anmutung des Astra Electric wirkt frisch, strahlt aber vor allem in höher ausgestatteten Versionen Qualität aus. Das macht das kompakte Elektroauto von Opel für Premium-Kunden attraktiv und könnte Menschen zum Umstieg aus der Mittelklasse verleiten.
Technische Spezifikationen
Motorisierung
Astra Electric teilt sich die Antriebstechnik mit anderen Stromern des Mutterkonzerns Stellantis. Wie bei den Modellen der Schwestermarken Peugeot und Citroën kommt ein Elektromotor mit einer maximalen Leistung von 115 kW (156 PS) zum Einsatz, der den Opel Astra auf bis zu 170 Stundenkilometer antreiben kann. Das verschafft Rüsselsheimer beim Vergleich von Elektroautos in der Kompaktklasse einen leichten Vorsprung gegenüber der Konkurrenz.
Wenn es um Autonomie und Ladezeit geht, wichtige Kriterien beim Kauf eines Elektroautos, kann der Astra-e für den Alltag adäquate Werte bieten. Mit einer Reichweite von bis zu 416 Kilometern im kombinierten Messverfahren WLTP eignet sich der Kompakte nicht nur für den Stadteinsatz. Neben der DC-Batterie-Ladezeit von 54 kWh verspricht Opel auch kurze Tankstopps, die auch lange Fahrten praktisch machen.In gut 24 Minuten sollen die Batterien der CCS-Säule wieder zu 80 % gefüllt sein.
Maße
Opels Elektroauto der Kompaktklasse nutzt die gleiche Bauplattform wie der konventionell angetriebene Opel Astra L. Daher sind die Abmessungen im Vergleich zum Opel Astra identisch.Die 1,44 Meter hohe Elektrolimousine hat typisch kompakte Abmessungen von rund 4,37 Meter Länge und 1,86 Meter Breite. Mit einer guten Länge von 4,64 Metern bietet der Sports Tourer Electric viel Platz für Familien oder für Pendelaufgaben.
Ein Pluspunkt für Elektro-Transporter ist ein besonders flexibles Ladesystem, das Opel Intelli Space nennt. Dadurch lässt sich der geteilte Boden der Ladefläche des Astra auf zwei Höhen verstellen und ein separates Unterfach nutzen. Auch alltagstaugliche Details wie Kofferraumvorhänge, Fächer, Gepäcknetze oder Befestigungsösen gehören zum Space-System.
Bei hochgeklappten Sitzlehnen ist das Kofferraumvolumen des Astra Sports Tourer auf rund 516 Liter ausgelegt und kann sich damit in der Klasse der elektrischen Kompaktfahrzeuge durchaus sehen lassen. Zumal die separat umklappbaren Lehnen der Rücksitze die Möglichkeit bieten, den Gepäckraum auf knapp 1.555 Liter zu vergrößern. Zum Vergleich: Astra L-Transporter mit konventionellem Motor können zwischen 600 und knapp 1635 Liter transportieren.
| Technische Spezifikationen | Opel Astra-e |
|---|---|
| Abmessungen Länge x Breite x Höhe in Metern | 4,37/4,64 x 1,86 x 1,44 |
| Motor | elektrisch |
| Antrieb | Stirn |
| Leistung in kW (KS) | 115 (156) |
| Höchstgeschwindigkeit in km/h | 170 |
| Maximale elektrische Reichweite in Kilometern (WLTP) | 416 |
| DC-Ladezeit (80 % voll) | ca. 24 Minuten |
| Kombinierter Stromverbrauch pro 100 Kilometer (kWh) | Kalifornien. 14.9 |
| Batteriekapazität in kWh | 54 |
| Kombinierte CO2-Emissionen in g/km | 0 |
| Effizienzklasse | A+++ |
Varianten
Opel wird den Elektro-Astra voraussichtlich ebenso wie seine Pendants mit Verbrennungsmotor in verschiedenen Ausstattungsvarianten anbieten. Passend zu seinem jugendlichen Image wird der sportlichere Astra-e GS neben dem Standardmodell Elegance und auf Komfort getrimmten kommerziellen Versionen erhältlich sein. Als Topmodell könnte der Astra Electric Ultimate das Trio anführen.
Traditionell vereint der Hersteller Komfort- und Sportfeatures im Astra GS oder Ultimate. Neben den Business-Versionen gibt es auch Modelle, deren Ausstattung für den Langstreckenverkehr optimiert ist.Wenn Sie das Äußere aufwerten möchten, gibt es eine zweifarbige Variante mit schwarz lackiertem Dach.
Preis
Der Preisunterschied beim Basis-Corsa zwischen dem Basis-Benziner und dem günstigsten Elektroauto der Baureihe beträgt gut 15.600 Euro. Der Unterschied zum Opel Astra dürfte ebenso groß sein.So könnte der Opel Astra 2023 als Limousine zu einem Preis von rund 40.000 Euro starten, während für den Elektro-Van ab 2023 weitere 1.000 Euro eingeplant werden sollen. Beim Opel Astra Leasing ist mit monatlichen Beiträgen von unter 500 Euro zu rechnen.
Für Schnellentschlossene sind neben gebrauchten Opel Astra auch neue Modelle mit geringer Laufleistung interessant. In diesem Sinne ist Astra-e mit Tageszulassung eine Option. Aber auch Demoautos oder Jahreswagen können eine kostengünstige Alternative zu neuen Opel Astra-Autos sein.
Designen
Extern
Das Erscheinungsbild des Elektro-Astra orientiert sich an den Benzin- und Dieselmotoren der 2022 vorgestellten Astra-L-Generation. Das verspricht einen sportlichen Look für das Elektroauto von Opel. Dafür sorgen die schmale Vizor-Frontpartie mit integrierten LED-Scheinwerfern, ein glänzend schwarzer Kühlergrill und eine markante Frontlippe.
Eine Besonderheit stellen die optional erhältlichen LED-Matrix-Scheinwerfer mit Pixel-Lichtpunkten dar. Diese Technologie ist in der Kompaktklasse selten und hebt den Astra Stromer optisch von der Konkurrenz ab.
Von hinten sind die 5-Türer hingegen recht schlicht. Opel setzt auf schmale, schräge L-förmige Rückleuchten und einen dynamischen Spoiler-Akzent am Dachrand. Praktisch ist beispielsweise die große, bequem zu beladende Hecktür, die sich per Sensor öffnen lässt, beispielsweise beim Astra-e Kombi Ultimate.
Ultimate ist auch eine gute Option zur Anpassung. Für das Topmodell kombiniert der Hersteller Accessoires wie Schutzglas auf der Rückseite mit einem in Kontrastfarbe Schwarz lackierten Dach. Besonders gut kommt der Two-Tone-Look bei leuchtenden Farben wie Gelb oder Weiß zur Geltung. Im Übrigen gibt es neben Schwarz und zwei Silbertönen auch kräftigere Farben wie Rot oder Blau im Einführungsprogramm des Astra Electric.
Innere
Das Innendesign des Elektroautos Astra übernimmt weitgehend das konventionell angetriebene Modell der Baureihe, das 2022 nur wenige Monate vor dem Stromer auf den Markt kam. Die techno-coole Atmosphäre passt zum künftigen Erscheinungsbild des E-Modells, das mit seinen schräg gestellten 10-Zoll-Duo-Digitalbildschirmen im Innenraum für Aufmerksamkeit sorgt.
Für diejenigen, die viel Zeit am Steuer verbringen, ist der 5-Sitzer mit dem Ultimate-Paket eine sinnvolle Wahl. Denn in der Version der Top-Ausstattung bietet Opel seinen Elektrikern beheizbare Aktiv-Sportsitze in Lederoptik mit Lordosenstütze am Fahrersitz an.Mit 6-fach verstellbaren Sitzen bietet der Opel Astra Electric Ultimate auch mehr Komfort auf dem Beifahrersitz, der sich besser für mehr Personen einstellen lässt.
Das werkseitig eingebaute Standlicht ist für den alltäglichen Gebrauch eines Stadtautos nützlich. Darüber hinaus ist die Kombination mit einer 180-Grad-Kamera oder in mehreren Ausstattungsvarianten mit einer 360-Grad-Rückfahrkamera möglich.
Das Infotainmentsystem des Astra umfasst serienmäßig DAB+-Radio, Smartphone-Vernetzung, Sprachsteuerung und Touch-Steuerung über einen 10-Zoll-Farbbildschirm. Dies entspricht dem modernen Kompaktstandard, lässt sich aber dennoch durch praktisches Zubehör technisch aufrüsten. Beim Ultimate-Paket etwa verbauen die Rüsselsheimer neben Navigation und Hifi-Anlage auch ein Heads-up-Display, das mit seiner Projektion auf die Windschutzscheibe dabei hilft, den Blick auf die Straße zu richten.
Sicherheit
Bei der Serienausstattung mit elektronischen Assistenten kann der Opel Astra mit den Vertretern seiner Klasse mithalten. Da ab Werk die üblichen Assistenten installiert sind:
- Vorwärtskollisionswarnung
- Notbremssystem
- Bandhaltesystem
- Fußgängererkennung
- Verkehrszeichenerkennung
- Müdigkeitswarnung
- Tempomat mit Begrenzer.
Aus Sicherheitsgründen empfiehlt sich die Investition in das Opel Intelli-Drive-System, das beispielsweise im Ultimate zum Einsatz kommt. Außerdem gibt es eine Stoppfunktion für den Tempomatassistenten, was bei Staufahrten nützlich ist. Darüber hinaus sind ein Querverkehrs- und Totwinkelwarner sowie ein aktiver Spurhalteassistent enthalten.
Alternative
Wenn Sie Opel Astra kaufen möchten und zunächst nach Alternativen suchen, finden Sie bei Opel weitere Elektroautos. So fangen sie anOpel Rocas-eGOpel Corsa-einteressant währendOpel Combo-e LifeTransporter für jedes GeländeOpel Mokka-eSie haben das richtige Profil für Familien und Lifestyle-Enthusiasten.
Der Rüsselsheimer bekommt interne Konkurrenz durch die Schwestermodelle von Peugeot. Sie kommen 2023 als Peugeot e-308 auf den Markt und sind auch als Peugeot e-308 SW Limousine und Elektro-Van erhältlich.
Besonders große Auswahl an elektrischen Alternativen gibt es in der Klasse der kompakten SUV. Es gibt solche ModelleHyundai Kona Elektro, AnSkoda Enyak IVoder Breakout-PreisDatscha-FrühlingReisen. Konkurrenten kommen auch aus der ID-Familie von Volkswagen, woVW ID.3,VW ID.4ÖVW ID.5sie sind versammelt
AnAstra Sports TourerAndererseits ist er als Elektro-Pickup im Jahr 2023 immer noch ziemlich eigenständig. Denn in dieser Kategorie kann bisher nur der chinesische Hersteller SAIC mithaltenelektrischer MG MG4ein Modell gegen den Opel Astra zusammengestellt.
FAQs
Why was Opel Astra discontinued? ›
It was General Motor's first C-segment sedan in India. The production of the India-spec Opel Astra stopped in 2002. The Opel brand has been also discontinued in India from 2006 and replaced by Chevrolet. There were various reasons behind the discontinuation, one of which was the bad customer service.
What are the common faults with a Astra? ›- Gear linkage.
- Handbrake.
- Brake pedal travel.
- Camshaft sensor.
- Coolant temperature sensor.
- Mass air flow sensor.
- Clutch.
- Suspension.
It was founded by Adam Opel in 1862 in Rüsselsheim, Germany.
What is the most common problem with Vauxhall Astra? ›- Suspension and Wobbling. Problem: ...
- Juddering Clutch. Problem: ...
- Starting problems. Problem: ...
- Airbag and EML lights illuminated. Problem: ...
- Mass Airflow Sensor. Problem: ...
- Coil Pack failure. Problem: ...
- Coolant temperature Sensor. Problem: ...
- Idle Control Valve problems. Problem:
The Astra is branded the Vauxhall Astra in the United Kingdom. It was rebadged and sold as the Saturn Astra in North America between 2008 and 2009, as the Buick Excelle XT from 2009 until 2015 and as the Buick Verano/Hatchback GS in China from 2015 until 2021.
Why are Opel cars not sold in the US? ›The necessary investments, Opel says, normally result in such projects no longer being profitable. Specifically, the front end, roof and rear-end structures, along with the airbag system and the lights of the Adam, would all have to be changed in order for the vehicle to be sold in America.
Why was Astra so good? ›Astra has developed into the best controller in the game since she can provide any kind of assistance your team might need. Her utility can be combined with those of other Agents in dozens of ways. She is one of the agents with the strongest overall stats when played at a professional level, thanks to her versatility.
What is the best Astra engine? ›The best all-round engine for the Astra is the 125hp 1.4-litre petrol engine, and not just because it gets you a tasty Turbo badge on the boot.
Why is Astra so hard to play? ›So once you place a star with Astra, the enemy will be sure you'll use 1 of 3 abilities at that location. That makes Astra an even more difficult agent to play as you're basically giving free info to the enemy team about your actions!
What is Opel called in USA? ›It was owned by the American automaker General Motors from 1929 until 2017 and the PSA Group, a predecessor of Stellantis, from 2017 until 2021. Some Opel vehicles were badge-engineered in Australia under the Holden brand until 2020 and in North America and China under the Buick, Saturn, and Cadillac brands.
What engine does Opel Astra use? ›
The Opel Astra has 2 Petrol Engine on offer. The Petrol engine is 1598 cc and 1686 cc . It is available with Manual & Automatic transmission. Depending upon the variant and fuel type the Astra has a mileage of 13.1 kmpl & Ground clearance of Astra is 136mm.
Are Opel cars any good? ›This is also confirmed by the latest TÜV report, in which Opel's SUV flagship was ranked an excellent 11th overall out of all 128 models inspected. In addition, according to the 2022 ADAC breakdown statistics, Opel models in various market segments, from Grandland and Crossland to ADAM, stand out as reliable used cars.
Is it worth it to buy a Vauxhall Astra? ›If you're after a practical and good-looking family hatchback, then the Vauxhall Astra might well be worth a look in. It's been around for nearly 40 years now, but this latest one has plenty to help it take the fight to alternatives such as the Ford Focus, Volkswagen Golf and Honda Civic.
How many miles does a Vauxhall Astra do on a full tank? ›| Power | 147 bhp |
|---|---|
| Torque | 245 Nm, 181 ft-lb |
| CO2 Emissions | 134 g/km |
| Euro Emissions Standard | 6 |
| Miles Per Tank | 517 miles |
Vauxhall make pretty reliable cars, yes. They came fourth in the Telegraph's top 20 brands for reliability, with 90 problems per 100 vehicles. They came ninth last year with 98 problems per 100 vehicles, so not only have they done extremely well, they are also improving.
Can you get Opel cars in the US? ›There hasn't been a car sold in the U.S. wearing an Opel badge since the 1975 Manta, but that doesn't mean Opel's vehicles have been absent from American streets.
How reliable is Opel Astra? ›Reliability. The Astra gets a very good reliability score, even this journalist has owned one and found it to be virtually bulletproof eventually selling it on at over 350 000km. It is not known for any factory faults and as long as the maintenance schedule is kept too, the Astra can become a multi-generational vehicle ...
What is code 55 Opel Astra? ›A software weakness of the engine control unit or also a faulty regeneration process of the DPF (diesel particulate filter) could be considered for the message displayed in the DIC (Driver Information Center). The vehicle manufacturer has already addressed the issue and notified owners of all models affected.
Why is Opel so cheap? ›It's a simple element of both supply and demand (lots of Corsas out there means that there's a little over-supply in the market) and the brand image of the model and the make.
Is Opel made by Chevy? ›Acquisition By General Motors
In 1929, Opel became a public limited company, known as Aktiengesellschaft, or AG, in German. General Motors acquired a majority stake in the organization later on that year, and in 1931 assumed complete control. Today, Adam Opel AG is a wholly-owned subsidiary of General Motors Company.
What Buicks are made by Opel? ›
Buick recently revealed the 2018 Regal Sportback and Regal TourX, which are the first Opel-built vehicles to debut after the German-British brand was sold to PSA. In addition, Opel also revealed that it will consolidate its legal entities into a new company, Adam Opel GmbH.
Why is no one using Astra? ›The main reason behind Astra's unpopularity seems to be her utility kit type. When compared to her, Brimstone, Omen, and Viper seemingly feature much easier to deploy utilities. Players with the ability to plan ahead of execution do well with Astra's stars. On the other hand, Astra doesn't suit an impulsive playstyle.
What power does Astra have? ›Astra has four main abilities, and then her ultimate ability. Her four main abilities are Gravity Well, Nova Pulse, Nebula and Dissipate. Her ultimate ability is Astral Form/Cosmic Divide.
Who is the best Astra? ›1) mindfreak
Aaron 'mindfreak' Leonhart is an Indonesian esports player who plays for Paper Rex. He has fulfilled chiefly the role of a Controller for his team. His Astra pick rate was 33.6% in the past year.
Debuting at next week's Geneva motor show, the Astra OPC Extreme claims the title of the fastest front-wheel-drive Opel in history. Unsurprisingly, it's also the fastest car to ever wear the Astra badge.
What is the fastest Astra? ›It's called the Astra VXR 'Extreme', and is not a friendly Astra you can take to the garden centre, but one that would very much like to drive through the garden centre and set it on fire.
What is the most powerful Astra car? ›Astra VXR Nürburgring
Naming a car after the classic racing circuit was a bold move. But the Astra VXR Nürburgring stepped up to the mark. It hammered from 0-60mph in 6.2 seconds and achieved a top speed of 155mph. A Remus sports exhaust system increased performance by up to 15PS and added a throaty roar.
Once the smoke is deployed, it will last for about 14 seconds. Her smoke ability is designed to block vision and trick enemies, but as an Agent, Astra has a huge learning curve.
What map is Astra best on? ›Defending Split B Site is a great spot for Astra, as this Site has a tight choke attackers must push through where she can drop two stars in front of one another, with a smoke and a Gravity Well once attackers push through. With this set up, attackers who push the smoke won't be able to see the Gravity Well.
Why GM sold Opel? ›There were other factors that hampered the automaker in the region, such as the financial crisis as well as an ever tightening regulatory regime around emissions and fuel economy. So the automaker sold the business to PSA Group, the French automaker that owns the Peugeot and Citroen brands.
Where are Opel cars popular? ›
Opel is a German automobile manufacturer established in 1862, mainly serving the motor vehicle market in Europe, Asia and Africa and selling cars under its sister brand Vauxhall in the United Kingdom.
How much is an Opel car? ›Opel Pricing and Specs
We have all vehicles covered from the cheapest Opel model (Opel Corsa priced from $4,400) to the most expensive (Opel Insignia priced up to $24,420). You can also stay up to date with the latest & most comprehensive Opel reviews from our team of expert motoring journalists.
In Greek Baby Names the meaning of the name Astra is: Star.
Is Opel Astra fuel efficient? ›The Manual Petrol variant has a mileage of 13.1 kmpl. The Automatic Petrol variant has a mileage of 13.1 kmpl.
What fuel does Astra use? ›It is fueled by Kerosene and liquid oxygen (LOX). The first stage of Astra is powered by five Delphin engines of 28 kN thrust each driven by battery-powered pumps, the second stage uses an engine called Aether. It uses a minimum ground infrastructure, which can be set up in short term at different launch sites.
What is the most reliable Opel? ›The most reliable Opel – Opel Astra
The Opel Astra is more dependable than the more expensive and bigger Opel Insignia, which is known for costly timing-chain and AdBlue systems failures.
Opel AG, in full Adam Opel AG, German automotive company, a wholly owned subsidiary of Stellantis NV, specializing in the manufacture of passenger cars and light vans. Its headquarters are in Rüsselsheim, Germany.
Where is Opel engine made? ›Rüsselsheim: a centre for modern production
Opel's company headquarters is in Rüsselsheim, Germany, where the company was founded over 110 years ago. In 2002, a record investment of € 750 million made it one of the world's most modern car factories. The annual capacity of the new plant is 180,000 vehicles.
Advice for buyers
The Astra is the kind of car that often attracts high-mileage users, so it's always advisable to check any service history carefully, as well as examining closely the general condition of the interior and the tyres, and checking for any unwelcome or unusual noises.
About Vauxhall Timing Belt
It's recommended that you replace your timing belt every 60,000-100,000 miles depending on which Vauxhall model you own. If you hear a ticking noise coming from the engine, or your engine can't turn over, it's probably already time to get a replacement timing belt.
What is the market value of Astra? ›
Market cap: $17.41 Billion
As of June 2023 Astra International has a market cap of $17.41 Billion.
When it comes to running costs, all the Astra petrol engines have an official fuel economy figure of more than 50mpg. The diesel will achieve even more, with lower CO2 output, but its higher list price means you'll need to do a lot of miles for it to make financial sense.
Does fuel last longer with a full tank? ›Filling up a tank halfway compared to a full tank of fuel only reduces the weight by 2.5%. At this level it is likely to make very little difference on the vehicle fuel economy. We suggest if your drivers are regularly driving to advise them to fill the tank all the way to the top when they visit a petrol station.
Does a full tank of gas last longer? ›When all is said and done, there isn't a huge difference in fuel consumption, but there are some definite pros to filling your tank. The time savings of less frequent trips to the gas station and lower chances of running out of gas are enough to sway judgement on this one alone So how does it all stack up?
Are Vauxhalls expensive to repair? ›Any model by Ford or Vauxhall will be around in massive numbers due to popular demand, and as these are vehicles which are aimed at the fleet market, most parts are readily available and cheap to fix. Japanese car makes like Suzuki, Honda and Toyota are often affordable in the long run as they are world famous car ...
Is Vauxhall better than Ford? ›Safety and reliability
Both Ford and Vauxhall have a good reputation for reliability, although the J.D. Power 2019 UK Vehicle Dependability Study –an independent customer satisfaction survey – ranks Vauxhall a few places higher than Ford.
With regular oil & filter changes with quality parts all its life (probably much more regularly than Vauxhall specify) how about 200,000 miles plus. I adopted HJ'S oil and filter change regime when I got my 97 1.8 at 29,000 miles in 99. It's up to 220,000.
Why did GM buy Opel? ›In March 1929, General Motors (GM), impressed by Opel's modern production facilities, bought 80% of the company. The Opel family gained $33.3 million from the transaction.
What car did the Astra replace? ›The family hatchback arrived on UK shores in 1980, replacing the venerable Vauxhall Viva. Those earliest cars were right-hand-drive examples of the Opel Kadett built in Germany and Belgium, but from November 1981 Astra production moved to Vauxhall's UK Ellesmere Port factory, dubbed 'Home of the Astra'.
Will Opel come to America? ›French automaker PSA Group, which controls the Peugeot, Citroën, DS and Opel (Vauxhall) brands, plans to sell cars in the United States no later than 2026. In the coming months the automaker will make some key decisions surrounding how it plans to return, including what brand(s) will lead the charge.
What is the meaning of Opel? ›
Definitions of Opel. German industrialist who was the first in Germany to use an assembly line in manufacturing automobiles (1871-1948) synonyms: Wilhelm von Opel. example of: industrialist. someone who manages or has significant financial interest in an industrial enterprise.
Why is it called Opel? ›Summing Up. So, to summarise, Vauxhall is called Opel in Europe because that is where the cars are manufactured. While Vauxhall will make a few adjustments here and there, the overall design, for the most part, is identical. Yes, Vauxhall is a British brand, but the car itself is German.
When did Opel leave USA? ›While top-trim Opel Senators competed with Audis and even BMWs in Germany in the 1970s, Buick switched to Japanese-produced models in 1976, marketed as "Opel by Isuzu." A short while later, it was badged "Buick Opel," and then left the U.S. market after 1978. The British brand began building boats, then, in 1903, cars.
Who owns Opel brand? ›Opel AG, in full Adam Opel AG, German automotive company, a wholly owned subsidiary of Stellantis NV, specializing in the manufacture of passenger cars and light vans. Its headquarters are in Rüsselsheim, Germany.
Who buys Opel? ›PSA Group, the parent company of Peugeot and Citroen, is now the second largest car maker in Europe, with confirmation today that it will purchase German brand Opel and British brand Vauxhall from General Motors.