AMG reveals concept, new ‘Commodore’ wagon at Geneva
The sale of Opel to France’s PSA Group on the eve of the Geneva motor show did little to hinder the impressive array of new vehicles revealed today at Europe’s first auto event of the year.
General Motors has sold it’s European divisions, Opel and Vauxall, to the PSA group for a planned 2.2billion Euro, which will eventually impact Holden NZ’s new line up of products.
With the closure of manufacturing in Australia this year, Holden announced that it would be adding to its lineup with products from the GM family, including Opel’s Astra hatch and sedan, and the Commodore replacement, the Insignia, still badged Commodore Downunder.
The Opel/Holden Insignia.
But with the PSA-Opel deal only just signed, even GM executives where unsure of the long-term impact.
GM president, New Zealander Dan Ammann, told Automotive News that, “the European automotive market has become so different from GM’s other major regions that only 20 per cent of the vehicles in Opel’s future portfolio would have been shared with the rest of GM”.
PSA’s CEO, Carlos Tavares, told The Associated Press at the Geneva show, that Britain's vote to leave the European Union was "completely marginal" in PSA's decision to strike the deal.
Tavares said PSA, the maker of Peugeot and Citroen cars, wants to create a "European champion" that could sell Opel and Vauxhall vehicles outside the continent, something GM hasn't done.
After the Opel sale, Brexit was the next most popular topic at the Geneva motor show while US President Trump’s proposed boarder tax also impacted the Swiss event, especially for automakers who import into the U.S. from plants in Mexico.
But the Geneva motor show’s products distracted from the Opel-Brexit-Trump undercurrents.
Mercedes-Benz used the event to show the E-Class cabriolet, plus the AMG GT Concept, a four-door sports sedan from its performance wing.
The Mercedes-Benz C-Class convertible.
Mercedes boss, Dr Dieter Zetsche, revealed the vehicle that celebrates AMGs 50th year.
Just a few months after the launch of the 5 Series sedan, BMW showed off the wagon version, known as Touring by the German company, with the company saying it covers family, business and leisure duties.
The BMW 5-Series Touring.
For the Kiwi buyers, Opel’s reveal of the Insignia sportsback, that will replace the Commodore, was a highlight at the show.
Opel also had the new wagon on display with both products showing a sporty attitude.
The Open/Holden Insignia/Commodore Sportsback wagon
Volkswagen revealed the Sports Coupe Concept GTE two years ago in Geneva, but today had the real deal on show, the Arteon.
The sleek sports hatchback shows the design direction the company is going in.
The Volkswagen Arteon.
Just as Infiniti open shops in New Zealand, the company had the Q30 on display with the compact SUV sure to do well with Kiwi buyers.
* Watch out for Driven's hits and misses of the show, plus the best of the concepts