Photo: Automedia
When the financial crisis struck, a number of GM projects, like the cross-brand compact SUV that turned into the Opel Mokka recently, were delayed or postponed. Another affected car was the subcompact known as the Opel Junior, which will rival the Fiat 500, but also the the upcoming Citroen DS1. Production of the Junior will take place at the Eisenach plant in Germany starting late 2012, with sales beginning in 2013.
Nick Reilly, GM Europe president, said one this was one of his biggest concerns when he was appointed was to get this project back on track. “It’s a chic and stylish minicar that fits with today’s hip, urban spirit. It is not a low-cost version of the Corsa,” says Reilly.
“We want to show we are not in a straightjacket,” says design chief Mark Adams. “Cars like the Junior will make people realize we are really pushing the Opel brand. If we’d have tried to introduce it before Insignia, it probably wouldn’t have worked. Now we have the quality, and we’re flirting with more character and personality.”
“We want to show we are not in a straightjacket,” says design chief Mark Adams. “Cars like the Junior will make people realize we are really pushing the Opel brand. If we’d have tried to introduce it before Insignia, it probably wouldn’t have worked. Now we have the quality, and we’re flirting with more character and personality.”
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