An Opel Calibra this way comes, inspired by the GTC Concept

Grumblings about a new Opel Calibra have been around for years, and now there’s some substance behind the rumors. In 2007 Opel spoke of developing a Calibra based on the Opel GTC Concept shown at the 2007Geneva Auto Show. Now GM Europe chief Nick Reilly has waved his wand and said, “I believe we should have one, so we will have one.”

Although Reilly has said, “Make it so,” issue remain. When the matter was brought up earlier this year, the question was whether to think of this as a Calibra or an Insignia Coupe, since the GTC Concept was quite a bit longer than the two-door Opel of yore. And if the 30,000-units-per-year is still the number to justify a Calibra, would it make sense for the brand to make a much smaller coupe that compromises the Insignia’s roominess?

Engines are already being mentioned as Vauxhall’s smaller displacement, turbo powerplants. The top trim could get some variant of the 320-horsepower motor in the Insignia GXR, and have all-wheel drive.

Honda CR-Z Convertible available… as a diecast model

Are you clamoring for a droptop version of the Honda CR-Z hybrid? We didn’t think so. But even so, just because Honda won’t build you one (though that hasn’t been ruled out completely) doesn’t mean you can’t get your kicks elsewhere.

The gang at CarScoop has stumbled upon this diecast model of a CR-Z convertible, giving us a glimpse at what an open-top version of Honda’s two-seat hybrid could look like. It certainly isn’t the prettiest of scale models, and we dread to think about what the cabrio’s rear end looks like with the roof (and hatch) lopped off, but it might be enough to stave off your hybrid/coupe/convertible pangs.

Fiat to build Jeeps in Italy

It’s beginning to look like Fiat’s plan for Chrysler includes heavier use of the C-EVO platform that underpins the Alfa Romeo Giulietta. There’s already going to be a Dodge based off the C-EVO, and Fiat has just laid out plans to build a new Jeep model on the platform at the company’s Mirafiori plant in Italy. 

The Jeep model will share the production line with Alfa models, and Fiat is trying to get the work rules tweaked to help support the 280,000 vehicle per year volume. The Detroit News reports that Italian unions are pleased with the plan that bumps volume by about 100,000 cars versus 2009 output.

Most of the Italian-built Jeeps will be exported, mainly to the United States. Engines and transmissions will come from Chrysler’s U.S. operations, at least for vehicles headed here. Fiat and Chrysler are sharing plants and volume with apparent ease, with a planned Maserati SUV coming out of Detroit’s Jefferson North plant and sharing much with the excellent Jeep Grand Cherokee. 

A mid-size Fiat SUV is also expected to use theDodge Journey as a canvas; all moves that underscore how stingy things were under Daimler.

Volkswagen rules out use of two-cylinder engine in Up! city car?

Fiat’s recent introduction of the two-cylinder TwinAir engine in the 500 has not swayed Volkswagen to reconsider placing a two-piston mill in its own Up city car. If anything, Fiat’s TwinAir debut has convinced VW that two-cylinder engines are simply too costly and complicated to develop.

VW actively pursues engine downsizing, witnessed by its use of three-cylinder gasoline engines and sub-2.0-liter diesel mills but, according to the company’s research and development chief, Ulrich Hackenburg, downsizing is nearing the limits and dropping the cylinder count to just two is not in the automaker’s near-term plans.

Hackenberg told Autocar that further downsizing is not practical, framing it:

Improvements can now only be made in performance and economy, not in making the engines any smaller. Instead, the Up will make use of three-cylinder engines that will really advance the technology and make strong use of it.

VW technical boss, Michael Hinz, added that even three-cylinder engines can be challenging to develop, stating:

I’ve seen two-cylinder cars running, but from a production point of view it’d be very hard. Even three-cylinder engines are very expensive as they’re not as smooth or refined as we’d like. But we’re not going to abandon them.

If Fiat can produce a two-cylinder engine, then other automakers could, too. However, VW displays no immediate interest in tackling the complicated development of a two-pot engine, instead electing to stick with motors packing three pistons or more.

A closer look at the Nissan iV Design Concept

For us, one of the most interesting parts of the LA Auto Show is the Design Challenge, in which automakers are invited to rack their brains, sharpen their pencils and crank out a concept that best matches a set of predetermined parameters. This year, manufacturers were challenged to come up with a concept that was stylish, engaging to drive, and easy on the environment, all wrapped in a 1,000-lb. package. Automakers fromHonda to Maybach rolled out their ideas of what said vehicle should look like, and while the judges crowned both Cadillac and Smart as this year’s winners, we were intrigued by the Nissan iV.

Fortunately, Nissan has been kind enough to give us a closer look at the vehicle. The spec sheet for the iV reads like a who’s who of concept fantasy, with building materials sourced from fast-growing ivy and spider silk, plus a propulsion and steering system that makes use of clever electromagnets. While a bio-battery stores energy for your commute, the iV also makes use of a supercapacitor to recover energy that would otherwise be lost during braking. Hit the jump to take a look at a video of the concept.

Ginetta releases official renderings of new G55

The Ginetta G50 has so far been the star of the Ginetta GT Supercup, a one-make support series for the British Touring Car Championship. There’s a brighter star on the way next year, though, when Ginetta introduces the G55. The new car will compete alongside the G50 in next year’s races but in its own class and with separate a points system and podium ceremony.

To go along with its more aggressive looks and aero, the G55′s Ford engine is 3.7 liters instead of the G50′s 3.5, and it puts out 370 horsepower – 70 horses more than the G50. Other tweaks include beefier brakes front and back and a new exhaust. Current G50 owners can upgrade to the G55 for £25,000 ($39,219 U.S.), or privateers can buy the car new for £75,000 ($117,661 U.S.).

Ginetta’s latest will be publicly unveiled at Autosport International on January 13 in Birmingham, England. Follow the jump for the press release, and get a couple of glimpses in the gallery of images below.

First U.S. ad for the Fiat 500 is… kinda bland

The enthusiast hordes have been gearing up for the arrival of the Fiat 500 for some time now. At last, Fiat has prepared its ad campaign to let the more casual car fan know what’s about to hit, and the initial result feels, to us, a lot less exciting than the car itself. 

Think Anthony Robbins meets a Target commercial, with a little bit of a white 500 thrown in. Or just think Moby since, with no disrespect to the musician himself, his tunes have become the soundtrack to tapioca advertising.

The 1:47 spot you’ll find after the jump will supposedly be cut up to provide more TV-friendly commercial spots of various lengths. Have a look and let us know if you think the Fiat 500 is well served, or deserves more.

Ford adding 100 dealers in China

According to Ford, 70 percent of the company’s growth in the next decade will come from the Asia-Pacific region and Africa. The Blue Oval had only planned to have 310 dealerships in China at the end of 2010, but having sold nearly half a million cars this year and expecting the boom to continue, the number has jumped to 340 dealers. This is part of Ford’s larger plan to add 100 new dealerships in China, mostly in smaller cities and inland provinces where new car demand is high.

Ford is planning a new plant with its Chinese joint venture partner, Changan, and will introduce four more models into the Chinese market next year, including the 2011 Edge. 

Elsewhere in the Asia-Pacific market, Ford has already spent $500 million on increasing production capacity in India, where it now sells the Figo subcompact.

Iran’s Ahmadinejad auctioning his ’77 Peugeot 504 for charity

Given the manner is which demonstrations are put down by the Islamic Republic, populism may not seem like a key element in Iran’s political system. But in an effort to gain support from lower classes during his campaign, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad rode around in his modest 1977 Peugeot 504. Not an extravagant car by any means, but one that became a symbol for the despotic ruler.

Part of his campaign pledge was to create housing for low-income Iranians, and to that end the president is selling his Peugeot. Proceeds from the car’s sale are earmarked to benefit the Mehr housing project. The vintage French sedan is actually registered to the president’s wife, but given the association, this particular example is sure to sell for more than the modest sum it would otherwise fetch.

Oshkosh Light Concept Vehicle competes in Baja 1000

Yep, that’s a diesel hybrid Light Concept Vehicle (LCV) from the Oshkosh Extreme Racing team competing in the 43rd running of the Tecate SCORE Baja 1000. “Light” in this case is relative, of course. Oshkosh builds a large variety of bigger machines, ranging from fire trucks to rigs capable of hauling up to 70 tons.

Now, the Oshkosh outfit didn’t win the event. In fact, only one of its two entries finished, and it was six and a half hours too late to be scored. It was, though, an opportunity to see how Oshkosh’s ProPulse hybrid system would hold up to the rigors of off-road abuse. In that department the race was a success.

According to the Oshkosh, the hybrid system uses a diesel engine to send power to a generator which, in turn, directly powers the wheels (Though not stated, we imagine there’s an electric motor involved for each set of wheels.) In place of batteries, the setup relies on ultracapacitors to store and deliver energy. The arrangement is said to reduce fuel consumption by 20 percent thanks to the elimination of components such as the torque converter, automatic transmission, transfer case and driveshafts. To get a better look at this beast, check out the gallery below or the video of it in action after the break.

Jaguar recalling nearly 6,500 XJs due to defective windshield wipers

Jaguar has issued a recall covering 6,475 2010-11 XJ sedans built between July 28, 2009 and November 3, 2010 due to defective windshield wipers. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration details the exact problem with these XJs, saying:

“The front wiper arms to spindle fixings were not torqued to specification during manufacturing. As a result, the securing nuts could fail to perform as intended, resulting in a loss of wiper arm synchronization and a clash of the wiper arms.”

Clashing wiper arms mean they could detach from the vehicle altogether, which is perhaps the last thing any driver would want to have to deal with on a rainy (or snowy) day. The full recall is expected to commence on or before December 13, and dealers will ensure that the wiper arms are securely fitted to the spindle. To read the full details, follow the jump for NHTSA’s release.

Jaguar recalling nearly 6,500 XJs due to defective windshield wipers

Jaguar has issued a recall covering 6,475 2010-11 XJ sedans built between July 28, 2009 and November 3, 2010 due to defective windshield wipers. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration details the exact problem with these XJs, saying:

“The front wiper arms to spindle fixings were not torqued to specification during manufacturing. As a result, the securing nuts could fail to perform as intended, resulting in a loss of wiper arm synchronization and a clash of the wiper arms.”

Clashing wiper arms mean they could detach from the vehicle altogether, which is perhaps the last thing any driver would want to have to deal with on a rainy (or snowy) day. The full recall is expected to commence on or before December 13, and dealers will ensure that the wiper arms are securely fitted to the spindle. To read the full details, follow the jump for NHTSA’s release.