Massive Sports Car Crash on the Nordschleife, BMW's M3 'Ring Taxi Involved

A fun track day at the notorious Nürburgring Nordschleife circuit turned into a nightmare for eight drivers this past Sunday.

The vehicles involved in the crash included a BMW E30 3-Series, a BMW E36 3-Series, a BMW E92 M3, a Chevrolet Corvette Z06, a pair of Vauxhall VX220 / Opel Speedster roadsters, a Porsche 911 (964 series) and the official BMW M3 'Ring Taxi.

According to a police report, the drivers came from several European countries, while the accident apparently took place in two phases.

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SCOOP: Opel's New Junior Mini Spotted Out in the Wild a Year Before Launch

It has been known for a while now that General Motor's European subsidiary Opel, is preparing to enter the increasingly popular mini car category with a new model currently codenamed Junior.

Taken during testing on public roads in Germany, these are some of the best spy shots we have of the upcoming Opel / Vauxhall Junior that will launch as a three-door hatchback.

The baby Opel model will slot beneath the Corsa supermini and is expected to measure around 3,700mm, meaning that it will be slightly longer than the Fiat 500 (3,546mm) which is believed to be one of its closest rivals.

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Report: New Opel Astra GTC May Make it to the States as a Buick

The sporty-looking Opel Astra GTC was only just introduced in Frankfurt last week, but there are already reports suggesting that it could be one of the compact cars General Motors said it would build at an unspecified plant in the U.S. under the details released Tuesday of its tentative pact with the United Auto Workers (UAW).

According to Auto Observer, in a meeting with journalists and analysts at Opel’s Rüsselsheim headquarters in Germany, the firm's CEO, Karl-Friedrich Stracke, said "I could easily see it as a Buick" referring to the Astra GTC.

It would make sense from a marketing standpoint since Buick would automatically gain a new contender in the small sports car segment against the likes of the Hyundai Veloster, while also widening the reach of the brand to a younger audience.

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IAA 2011: Opel Envisions an Affordable Urban Commuter with the RAK e Concept

Not to be outdone by its German counterparts, Opel displayed its vision for a low-cost urban commuter with the two-seater RAK e concept car. According to GM's German subsidiary, the study has "production potential".

The battery-operated vehicle with the exposed wheels is based on a steel space-frame structure beneath a skin of conventional synthetic material.

The reason why Opel avoided the use of exotic materials is to keep the RAK e as affordable as possible. Nevertheless, Opel managed to keep the weight down to just 380kg (837 lbs) or about 80kg (176 lbs) less than VW's NILS concept.

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IAA 2011: New Opel Astra GTC Takes the Stage in Frankfurt

We've already given you the full scoop on the all-new Astra GTC, but in Frankfurt, Opel held the world premiere of its latest C-segment model that blurs the line between three-door hatchbacks and coupes.

Based on the five-door Astra, the low-slung GTC sports a unique body shell as well as different platform dimensions as it has a 10mm longer wheelbase and wider tracks (+40mm up front and +30mm at the rear).

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Chrysler to Sell Fiat Doblo in the U.S. and Canada under the Ram Brand

In a move that perhaps shows more than anything else how intertwined the automotive industry is today, the Fiat and Chrysler Alliance announced today plans to sell the Fiat Doblo van in the U.S. and Canadian markets under the Ram brand.

You may recall that GM's European division Opel, will debut its own rebadged version of the Fiat Doblo called the Combo at next week's Frankfurt Motor Show .

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IAA 2011: Radical New Opel Concept "Has Production Potential"

The wait for the Opel's Frankfurt Motor Show surprise concept is almost over as General Motors' European subsidiary has just published the first photos of the as-of-yet-unnamed study.

The ultra-compact model from GM's Opel and Vauxhall divisions is very similar in philosophy to Audi's duo of Urban Concept cars that will also have their world premiere in Germany next week.

The rakish study seats two people in a tandem layout with power being provided by an electric motor and a battery that offer a driving range of around 60 miles (96 kilometers) and a top speed of 75mph (120km/h).

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Opel Teases Frankfurt-Bound Concept Model through Invitation

An electronic invitation to the press conference that Opel and sister company Vauxhall will hold at the 64th Frankfurt International Motor Show on September 13 gives us our first sneak peek at the firm's upcoming concept model. Read more »