News from GM Europe

Innovative Flex-Fix system makes transporting bicycles easier than ever before

Bicycle riding is in. Be it for sightseeing in the city, recreation along the river bank, or cross-country sport: Europe is riding bicycles. In Germany alone, 4.7 million bicycles are sold every year. But the leaders in riding distance, as expected, are the Danes, with an average of 954 kilometers per year, followed by the Dutch with 879 km per person. With an average annual riding distance of 298 km, Germany is almost on par with Belgium, the traditional bicycling country with 329 km per year.



But how to effortlessly get the bicycles to the start of the route? Transporting bicycles has never been as easy as with the new bicycle carrier Flex-Fix, which Opel now also offers for the new Antara. While conventional systems require the cumbersome mounting of a bicycle carrier on the tow hitch or car roof, Flex-Fix in the Opel Antara is ready to go simply by pulling it into place.

The optional integrated carrier system for the Opel crossover is always on board. It goes without saying that no tools are necessary, and no parts need to be stored in the garage or basement. The unbeatably practical integrated carrier system Flex-Fix can transport two bicycles, stows away almost invisibly in the rear bumper and can be easily pulled out like a drawer. The Flex-Fix carrier’s unlocking lever is located directly on the edge of the luggage compartment sill, ensuring easy access even when the trunk is full.



The innovative system’s recent production premiere in the new Corsa was a resounding success: depending on the market, up to ten percent of all Corsas were ordered with this option since the start of production in October. Now Flex-Fix is also available for the Antara, for an added cost of 650 euros. Just like the crossover itself, this clever option appeals to customers who are particularly active and sporty, and so often have bicycles to transport.

With the new Antara, which combines dynamic, elegant design with intelligent four-wheel drive as standard, Opel again stakes a claim as a leader among volume manufacturers in the SUV and crossover segment. The high-tech five-seat four-wheel drive crossover boasts the handling of a passenger car, generous interior space yet compact dimensions, innovative transport features such as Flex-Fix, high levels of functionality and a raised seat position. Prices for the Antara start at 27,750 euros.

Three transverse engines with four valves per cylinder are available for the Antara. The most powerful is a V6 gasoline engine with a displacement of 3.2 liters and output of 167 kW/227 hp. As expected, the top seller is the 2.0-liter common-rail turbo-diesel with 110 kW/150 hp and maintenance-free particulate filter as standard. This diesel was refined in model year 2007 and thanks to optimized engine calibration now offers improved starting performance. The entry-level engine is a 2.4-liter, 103 kW/140 hp four cylinder gasoline unit.

The Antara’s intelligent four-wheel drive system combines the benefits of front-wheel drive – such as tractional stability when accelerating and increased driving dynamics – with those of permanent four-wheel drive. It features an electronically controlled electro-hydraulic differential which ensures optimal torque distribution between the front and rear axles in all situations. The drivetrain is fully integrated in the ABS and ESP systems, enhancing vehicle control and active safety.

The crossover trend is in both two and four-wheel markets, as characteristics of various segments are often combined in new models. Just as versatile, sporty SUVs like the Opel Antara have established themselves next to the classic, robust off-roaders in the automotive market, there are now real alternatives to purebred mountain bikes with trekking and all-terrain models.

It is no surprise that it was Opel who moved the integrated bicycle carrier to production maturity. With innovations like the Flex7 seating system in the Zafira, Opel has in recent years often set the benchmark for new mobility concepts. And the bicycle is solidly anchored in the brand’s history: Opel’s rise to the largest bicycle manufacturer in the world began in 1886. In 1937 the company stopped producing bicycles to fully concentrate on automobile manufacturing.

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