Opel Astra OPC Limited Edition Black - No Pun Intended

You may think that we're horsing around with the controversial subject of the AVUS Audi RS6 Avant, but honestly, we're not. Now, what you seen in these photos is not an official model from the German automaker but a cool initiative from an Opel dealer in the Netherlands that decided to create a blacked out version of the Astra OPC Nurburgring Edition. Aside from the black matte finish, the modified Astra OPC also features a carbon-fiber-like finish for the hood and rooftop and dark alloy wheels.

There aren't any changes under the bonnet with the OPC retaining the stock 2.0-liter turbo engine that cranks out 240 horsepower launching the sporty hatch from zero to 100 km/h (62mph) in 6.4 seconds and to a top speed of 244 km/h or 151mph. As with the standard OPC, the front-wheel drive model comes with a six-speed manual gearbox.

Via: Autoblog.nl

By the Numbers: Chrysler LLC vs Fiat Group

So now that the alliance deal between Chrysler LLC and Fiat S.p.A. has been sealed, let's take a quick look at some of the numbers concerning the two companies starting off from sales and their corresponding market shares. In 2008, the Fiat Group that includes the Fiat, Lancia, Alfa Romeo, Iveco, Maserati and Ferrari brands sold around 2.4 million vehicles compared to 2.0 million units of Chrysler LLC that consists of the Chrysler, Jeep and Dodge brands. The Chrysler-Fiat combination is the world's sixth- largest by vehicle sales, behind Ford Motor Co.

Surprisingly, even though Fiat sold only 20 percent more cars than its American counterpart, it has more than triple the number of employees according to the data provided by the two companies (Fiat: 180,227 employees at the end of December 2007, Chrysler: 54,007 employees at the end of December 2008).

As for regional market shares, North America aside where Chrysler dominates with 11.3 percent of the market compared to Fiat's or shall we say, Maserati's and Ferrari's combined 0.1 percent share, the Italians are better everywhere else.

	FIAT GROUP	CHRYSLER LLC
Worldwide Sales	2.4 Million	2.0 Million
North American Market Share	0.10%	11.30%
South American Market Share	19.10%	0.70%
European Market Share	7.60%	0.50%
Distribution	190 Countries	125 Countries
Worldwide Employees	185,227 (12/07)	54,007 (12/08)

Manufacturing Facilities Chrysler LLC: Overall, the Chrysler group operates twelve assembly, five engine, six stamping and seven transmission / casting / machining / axle plants (January 2009)

Manufacturing Facilities Fiat S.p.A.: Fiat has manufacturing operations in Italy (five plants), Poland (one plant), Brazil (two plants) and Argentina (one plant). Manufacturing also is performed through either joint ventures or licensing agreements in Italy (three), France (one), Turkey (one), India (one), Russia (one), Serbia (one) and Hungary (one).

Data: Fiat S.p.A and Chrysler LLC