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6.3.2002
New Opel Vectra premieres at Geneva

The new Opel Vectra enjoyed its world premiere at the 2002 Geneva Motor Show. The model range is a completely new, driver-oriented design with pioneering technology, high comfort and a particularly spacious interior. The distinctive new styling will characterize the appearance of Opel cars in the future.

The all-new Vectra opens an impressive new chapter in Opel's successful history in the midsize market segment. The model range is a completely new, driver-oriented design with pioneering technology, high comfort and a particularly spacious interior. The distinctive new styling will characterize the appearance of Opel cars in the future. Following investments of 750 million Euros, production began on January 7, 2002 in Rüsselsheim, in the world's most modern automobile plant. Featuring IDS (Interactive Driving System), an innovative chassis system, the new Vectra will be available for sale in the spring.

Opel's new midsize model will be available first as a four-door sedan with four-cylinder ECOTEC engines, ranging in power output from 90 kW/122 hp to 108 kW/147 hp (gasoline) and from 74 kW/100 hp to 92 kW/125 hp (diesel). Opel will offer a five-speed automatic transmission with "Active Select "Function for the first time on the Vectra. The sporty Vectra GTS will join the line-up this summer, extending the choice of engines to include a 155 kW/211 hp 3.2-liter V6. The coupé-like GTS will be the most powerful Vectra ever with 300 Nm of torque and a top speed of 248 km/h.

The new Vectra model range will be extended next year with the introduction of two additional, innovative body styles as well as new engines and transmissions. Just like the new four-door sedan and the coupé-like sport sedan Vectra GTS, the new models will appeal both to traditional as well as totally new Opel customers. Together with the progressive increase in production capacity, including assembly at the modernized Ellesmere Port plant in England, these will pave the way for the Vectra's return to the top of the European midsize market.

Opel's worldwide success in this segment dates back to 1970, as documented by three generations of the Ascona (4.4 million units) and two of the Vectra (4.5 million). The Vectra was not only the national best-seller in its class in many countries, it also led the total European midsize segment from 1996 to 1998.

Innovative IDS (Interactive Driving System) chassis concept
The new IDS chassis system consolidates the advanced control and safety functions of the individual chassis components. Fundamentally, it consists of a McPherson strut front suspension and a new multi-link, independent rear axle, both with aluminum components to reduce unsprung weight. In addition, there is map-controlled electro-hydraulic power-steering and a four channel ABS with CBC (Cornering Brake Control) and EBD (Electronic Brake Force Distribution). The result: significantly improved handling and ride comfort with high safety reserves. An even greater degree of driving stability is provided by a further technical highlight on the third-generation Vectra: ESPPlus . In contrast to conventional electronic stability programs, which prevent severe understeer by braking the rear wheel on the inside of the corner only, the Vectra's standard ESPPlus enhances stability by applying the brakes at up to three wheels. The stabilizing correction is therefore significantly more progressive and effective.

Spacious interior, comprehensive comfort and safety equipment
The body of Opel's new midsize contender meets the highest demands in its class for stability, safety, comfort and quality, thanks to lightweight, high-grade materials such as boron-alloy press hardened steel, dual phase steel and high-strength steel alloys, as well as magnesium and aluminum. Compared with the previous model, the torsional rigidity of the new Vectra has thus increased by a significant 74 percent to 18,000 Nm/degree and the bending rigidity by 62 percent.

The new Vectra's confident, distinctive design is a template for future Opel models. Its clear-cut contours emphasize the larger dimensions: Thanks to the longer 2.70-meter wheelbase (+ 63 millimeters), wider tread and the higher roof, the new model offers significantly more interior space than its predecessor. The aerodynamic form (drag coefficient: 0.28) and sophisticated sound-attenuation measures make the new Vectra especially quiet, both inside and out.

The Vectra's ambitions are reflected in the design and selection of the interior materials and in the variety of equipment aimed at improving the comfort and safety of the driver and passengers. For example, the new Vectra features an all-new integrated electronics system, intelligent Electronic Climate Control with air quality sensor, a wide range of communication and entertainment systems, eight-way adjustable front seats, a tire-pressure monitoring system, a rain sensor and "Park Pilot".

In addition to the stable passenger compartment, the passive safety equipment includes as standard front, side and Full-Size Curtain Head Airbags, Opel's patented Pedal Release System, and further improved Active Head Restraints for protection from whiplash injuries.

So that owners benefit from minimal running costs, Opel has also paid special attention to such areas as strict quality control in the plants, easy-to-repair design and achieving moderate insurance classification. These measures are backed up by a two-year warranty with unlimited mileage, extensive galvanization of the body (12-year anti-perforation warranty) and extended service intervals (24 months/30,000 km gasoline engines; 24 months/50,000 km diesel). Technical Data (Overview)

Model	Length (mm)	Width (mm)	Height (mm)	Wheel-base (mm)	Turning circle* (m)	Trunk volume (liters)	Kerb weight (kg)	Payload (kg)
Sedan	4596	1798	1460	2700	10.89	Min. 500	1395	475
GTS	4596	1798	1460	2700	10.89	Min. 480	1393	492

Width without exterior mirrors, trunk volume according to ECIE, kerb weight (70/156/EWG) and payload refer to base version. *Curb clearance circle

Gasoline Engines	ECOTEC 1.8 16V	ECOTEC 2.2 16V	ECOTEC 3.2 V6
Cylinders	4	4	6
Displacement (cm3)	1796	2198	3175
Power output max. (kW/PS @ rpm)	90/122 @ 6000	108/147 @ 5600	155/211 @ 6200
Torque max. (Nm @ rpm)	167 @ 3800	203 @ 4000	300 @ 4000
Top speed {km/h) Sedan GTS	203 205	216 (210) 216 (210)	- 248 (246)
Acceleration (0-100 km/h, s) Sedan GTS	11.2 11.2	10.2 (10.8) 10.2 (10.8)	- 7.5 (8.0)
Elasticity (80-120 km/h, 5th gear, s) Sedan GTS	19.0 15.5	14.5 14.5	- 11.3
Fuel consumption (l/100 km) Sedan GTS	7.7 7.9	8.6 (9.4) 8.6 (9.4)	- 10.1 (10.7)
Emission standard	Euro 4	Euro 4	Euro 4

Diesel Engines	ECOTE 2.0 DTI 16V	ECOTEC 2.2 DTI 16V
Cylinders	4	4
Displacement (cm3)	1994	2171
Power output (kW/PS @ rpm)	74/100 @ 4000	92/125 @ 4000
Torque (Nm rpm)	230 @ 1500 - 2500	280 @ 1500 - 2750
Top speed (km/h) Sedan/GTS*	13.0	10.8 (11.8)
Elasticity (80-120 km/h, 5th gear, s) Sedan/GTS*	14.8	12.5
Fuel consumption (l/100 km) Sedan/GTS*	5.9	6.5 (7.4)**
Emission standard	Euro 3	Euro 3

( ) = with 5-speed automatic (2.2 DTI 16V: available as of summer 2002)
Fuel consumption according to MVEG (99/100/EG), combined
* Vectra GTS not available with 2.0 DTI 16V engine ( )** preliminary