Auto Z

Frances government has secured its recently granted state aid in PSA greater influence. Now the state apparently crossed the redevelopment plans, the PSA and GM have forged together.

General Motors and PSA Peugeot Citroen have put their talks on closer cooperation put on hold. As the Reuters news agency claims to have learned from company sources, are the guarantees provided by the French government recently the main reason for the stop of the talks. The second reason the insider had given the deteriorating financial situation of the French car manufacturer.
Closer cooperation at the earliest in 2014

Because of the provided state guaranteed sum of seven billion euros, the two auto companies could no longer freely negotiate capacity adjustments. Because France will decide the future of the PSA Board and wants to avoid layoffs in large scale and reach location guarantees for PSA plants. But only at Opel drastic personnel action would be recognized in this country cause strong political resistance. According to an informant therefore closer cooperation is now drawn after 2014 into account as soon as the European car market has recovered significantly.

According to Reuters, GM and PSA discussed among other things the possibility to transfer Opel into a joint venture in order to stay out of the loss-making division of the GM balances can. In order to compensate for this new company, the first losses and allow restructuring, Detroit Opel would want to give a check for the equivalent of about 3.9 billion euros.

PSA is disappointed

According to the Financial Times Germany PSA is unhappy with the alliance. The French had hoped for from Detroit greater support for the expansion of China and Latin America business. General Motors, however, only interested in gaining a partner in rehabilitating its European business. "It is not impossible that the alliance fails," the paper quoted from group-related circles.

Four new vehicle platforms planned

Opel confirmed Meanwhile on Wednesday, the intention to develop, together with PSA initially four new vehicle platforms. The first cars should earlier reportedly come to the end of 2016 to the market. Through collaboration - especially in shopping - the companies want to save together after five years at around 1.5 billion euros annually. The consequences for the existing plants and employees, however, were not yet identified in detail. The decision will be at which locations in the future and develop the cars produced is apparently not yet been made final. In the joint projects is a van, two small cars and mid-range cars.

In mid-October it was revealed that talk about GM and PSA, in a second phase in March forged Conservation Alliance may merge their European vehicle production.

Already been agreed upon, is that the French side takes over from 2013 logistics services.

With the small SUV called Mokka, Opel is not only a new model on the market but also opens a new segment. From 18,990 euros, the compact all-rounder to have and has, despite its relatively small dimensions a good space.

Hardly any other vehicle category in recent years as successful as that of the SUV. Even with Opel this development have received attention. Therefore, the company builds lay on and make the Antara a smaller segment representative to the side. The mocha is a base price of 18,990 euros an affordable car. However, the customer will receive for this price, only the front-wheel drive model with the 1.6-liter vacuum cleaner and a five-speed gearbox. Nevertheless, also owns the 85 kW/115 hp gasoline and the ecoFLEX badge achieves fuel consumption of 6.5 liters in mixed operation with a CO2 output of 153 g / km.

Want the future owner a mocha-wheel drive, Opel offers this only in conjunction with the turbocharged 1.4-liter petrol engine or the 1.7 CDTi. Therefore, the buyer must also dig deeper into their pockets as the price increases to at least 23,790 euros for the 103 kW/140 hp turbo gasoline engine to be paid or 25,380 euros for the diesel with 96 kW/130 hp. After all, already has the basic package in addition to the full safety equipment air conditioning and a radio. Depending on the request, the mocha with numerous assistance systems are upgraded. These include a collision warning, lane-change warning system and license plate recognition for 700 euros extra in the package. Friends of automatic transmissions are heavily restricted in their choice. They must inevitably order the diesel and be satisfied with a front wheel drive. From 24,680 euros, the variant with six-speed torque converter automatic is available.
Compact on the outside and spacious on the inside

Given the compact dimensions (length: 4.28m, width: 1.78m, height: 1.66 meters Wheelbase: 2.56 meters) gives the mocha a generous spatial impression. In the passenger compartment, it offers plenty of space and even back it sits comfortably. The rear legroom is sufficient even for tall passengers. Moreover, there are good seats in the small SUV with tight but comfortable padding. The control console is similar to those in other current Opel models: a clear but filled with numerous buttons. After all, the supposedly less-used functions found on the right side control, while on the left the mundane things such as navigation or switch network for the various audio sources were positioned. A considerable workmanship characterizes also the Mocha interior. With such a balanced Opel those responsible are hopeful that attract customers.