Detroit Automakers Launch Critical Euro Models in London
July 29, 2008
By Pal Negyesi
LONDON -- Two years ago, General Motors launched its then-new Opel Corsa at the inaugural British International Motor Show. The car became a runaway success. Now GM hopes for a similar performance from its new flagship, the Opel Insignia, unveiled in spectacular fashion prior to this year's London show.
Indeed, the Insignia, by far, was the star of the show, in part, for the way it was introduced. GM literally lowered an Insignia from London's famous Tower Bridge.
And GM is looking for towering things from its new flagship.
In stark contrast to GM North America, where sales are falling and market share is at historic lows, GM Europe has enjoyed record sales of more than 1.1 million units in the first half of this year. But its Vectra, while successful with the fleet market, has been forever associated with the word "dull." The Insignia that replaces it is far from dull, patterned after a striking concept revealed at the 2003 Frankfurt Motor Show and borrowing styling cues from the GTC concept from the Geneva show last year.
The Insignia rides on the updated version of GM's global midsize platform known as Epsilon. The current Epsilon serves as the basis for the hot-selling Chevrolet Malibu, the Saab 9-3 and the Saturn Aura, which eventually will be replaced by the new Insignia, though the timing for its U.S. debut has been pushed into the more distant future.
At the London show, the Insignia drew inevitable comparisons with the new Ford Mondeo. Both target the same demographics. Both are offered as a five-door liftback or four-door sedan. The Insignia station wagon is reportedly set to arrive next year.
The general consensus by media attending the show's press days was that the Insignia looked okay but is no game-changer as the Mondeo was. The real test comes in September when the first test drives of the Insignia occur.
The Insignia will be launched first in several key European markets, including the U.K., Switzerland, Germany and France with a base price of 22,700 Euros (about $35,000 at today's exchange rates).
The Insignia's seven-strong engine lineup includes: four gas engines with power ranging from 115 horsepower to 260 horsepower; and three variants of a new 2-liter turbodiesel with power ranging from 110 hp to 160 hp. Standard equipment includes stability control, automatic headlights, a height-adjustable driver seat with four-way lumbar support adjustment. Optional equipment includes the "Opel Eye" that alerts drivers by interpreting traffic signs.
Ford: The Global Fiesta
At the opposite end of the same hall, Ford showed three new Fiesta subcompact
hatchbacks.
While Ford didn't drop the Fiesta from the sky for its introduction, it did tap the talents of a star -- singer Alesha Dixon, who sang her track "Fired Up" surrounded by dancers and pyrotechnics.
The Fiesta is hardly a new name for Ford -- it's been around for 32 years and more than 12 million have been sold. However, this Fiesta, on sale in Europe in October, eventually goes on sale worldwide. The Fiesta later goes on sale in China. A U.S. version, to be built in Mexico, hits the market in 2010. In European Fiesta will be available in seven versions, base prices range from 8,695 Euro ($13,673) to 11,845 ($18,627).
Alfa Romeo: MiTo Displayed
Alfa Romeo displayed its new MiTo, a rival to BMW's Mini Cooper that goes on sale across Europe later this summer and reportedly is being considered for the U.S. market where the Alfa Romeo marque will return next year.
The Rest of the Pack
A number of major automakers were noticeable for their absence. Rolls-Royce, Volkswagen, Volvo and BMW were no-shows in London.
Still, as is usual at British events, sports cars and sporting models made a splash, including a Honda roadster concept, a fire-breathing Ford Focus RS, the even more powerful Renault Megane R26R and the new Porsche Cayman.
Britain is renowned as home for kit- and specialist-cars, and representatives of this breed included a company with a rather international display: a Porsche look-alike from France, an MG-replica from Malaysia and a prototype from Mexico. Elsewhere, a Spaniard was flaunting his sports car as a Bugatti Veyron beater, though its styling turned people away.
Surprisingly, the London show featured a remarkable display of alternative-energy vehicles, particularly electric ones. The stunning Lightning on display was designed by a quintessential British bloke, Arthur Wolstenholme. He previously produced plastic-bodied racing sports cars that mimicked 1950s styling cues sold under the name of Ronart. He followed in 2001 with the Lightning that used a V8 Ford engine. His newest one uses electric power with AltairNano's NanoSafe technology, employing nano titanite materials for increased thermal stability and lightning-quick recharging time. The 700-hp all-electric Lightning is to go on sale next year, priced at a cool GBP 150,000.
More down to earth were the Nice Car Company that exhibited an electric-powered Fiat 500, featured alongside a Chinese Changhe Ideal hatch shell housing an electric powertrain. The Quiet Car Company displayed a similarly configured electric-powered Chinese Hafei Lobo. Both the Ideal and Lobo are sensible, Italian-designed popular family cars in China.
London Show: Still a Local Spectacle
While the British International Motor Show emphasizes the international in its name, the show has not yet achieved the A-list global status of Geneva, Frankfurt and Paris but ranks more among the smaller local shows of Amsterdam, Brussels and Bucharest with Bologna's December show somewhere in between.
The show's roots go way back to when the local dealer association organized the first exhibition in 1903. More recently, the show moved to a new location at the ExCel Exhibition Center in the redeveloped Docklands.
Photos by manufacturers
1 - General Motors "dropped" the Opel Insignia from London's Tower Bridge to make its spectacular debut.
2 - Singer Alesha Dixon ushers in the Ford Fiesta.
3 - The Alfa Romeo MiTo may go on sale next year in the U.S.
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