Opel Vectra

Opel Vectra Overview Manufacturer General Motors Also called Chevrolet Vectra Holden Vectra Vauxhall Vectra Production 1988– present Body and chassis Class Large family car Chronology Predecessor Opel Ascona Successor Incumbent

Vectra A Opel Vectra A Overview Production 1988–1994 Body and chassis Body style 4-door sedan 5-door hatchback Platform FF/AWD GM2900 Related Opel Calibra Saab 900 Vauxhall Cavalier

Vectra B Overview Production 1995–2002 Body and chassis Body style 4-door sedan 4-door station wagon 5-door hatchback Platform FF GM2900 Related Saab 9-3 Saab 9-5 Saturn L-Series

Vectra C Overview Production 2002–2009 Body and chassis Body style 4-door sedan 4-door station wagon 5-door hatchback Platform FF Epsilon Related Cadillac BLS Chevrolet Malibu Fiat Croma Pontiac G6 Opel Signum Saab 9-3 Saturn Aura

The Opel Vectra is a large family car produced by Opel, the main European subsidiary of General Motors. In the United Kingdom, it is sold as a Vauxhall. It is also sold in Australasia as a Holden and in Latin America as a Chevrolet, although in Brazil, it has been replaced by a locally developed sedan based on the underpinnings of the Astra. It is not uncommon that the same model comes in different brand names in the same country usually with a few years difference in release date.

The car is produced at the Opel factory headquarters in Rüsselsheim, Germany.

Vectra A / Cavalier

The first Vectra, known as the Vectra A, was introduced in 1988 as a sedan and hatchback, replacing the Opel Ascona C. A coupe based on the Vectra, called the Calibra, was also sold. Both cars were designed by then-Opel design chief Wayne Cherry. Vauxhall, the name for GM in the UK, did not use the Vectra name initially, calling the car the Cavalier until 1995.

Engines ranged initially from a 75 PS (55 kW) 1.4 L to a 130 PS (96 kW) 2.0 L Family II.

With the introduction of Euro I emissions regulations, the base model was replaced by a 1.6 L with the same output, while the top of the line was given to a 16-valve version of the 2.0 L engine, which powered the GT version and had 150 PS (110 kW). All-wheel drive versions were added to the lineup in 1990, and in 1993, the car received a limited edition turbocharged version with 204 PS (150 kW). The 1.4-litre engine was not available in all markets, and even then, it was only available in basic trims (Base/L in United Kingdom, LS/GL in Europe)

There were a choice of two Diesel engines one was an Isuzu 1.7 L Circle-L unit, in both naturally-aspirated and turbocharged form (1686cc), this one capable of achieving 82 PS (60 kW), and a GM designed 1.7 "low blow" turbo-diesel (1699cc), and naturally-aspirated diesel unit, delivering up to 76PS. Both units have a reputation for longevity, especially Isuzu developed units, which where also regarded as some of the most refined diesels available at the time.

The Vectra also received a refreshing in 1993. The Vectra gave birth to a coupé version, the Opel Calibra, which shared the Vectra's underpinnings, including the most powerful engines (115 PS and up) and transmissions.

In New Zealand, the Vectra A was offered initially as an Opel, but it wore Holden badges from 1994. It was not sold in Australia, where Holden instead offered a rebadged Toyota Camry called Apollo until 1997.

In Brazil, the Chevrolet-badged Vectra A was not introduced until 1993, when it replaced the Chevrolet Monza, a restyled version of the last Ascona.

Vectra B

The second model, the Vectra B, was introduced in 1995, and the model range included a station wagon (estate) version for the first time. This model replaced the Vauxhall Cavalier in the UK, and the Holden Apollo in Australia. In 1998, Holden began assembly of the Vectra for export to other right-hand drive markets in the region, although this was aversely affected by the Asian economic crisis, and ended in 2001.

Engines started from the 75 PS (55 kW) 1.6 L, Family 1 but eventually the 8-valve engines were all replaced by 16-valve powerplants. The 2.0 L Family II engine, with 136 PS (100 kW) was developed as a basis for touring car racing, but the top of the line was a 2.5 L V6 with 170 PS (125 kW). Diesel power came once again from Isuzu, but now featured direct injection and a 16-valve head.

In 1999 the Vectra was updated, receiving a mildly modified body (that can be identified by the single piece headlight units and body-coloured bumpers) together with somewhat improved handling characteristics and better equipment.

Sporting limited edition models included the touring car championship inspired i500, Super Touring and GSi. The first model was developed in Germany by Opel Motorsport, with the V6 engine's power increased to 195 PS (143 kW), and the other two were created in Milton Keynes by Motor Sport Developments, the team that run the Vectras in the BTCC. Only 3900 GSi models were ever produced, mostly in saloon and hatchback guise. With only 317 estate versions produced during this time, they became one of the rarest production Vauxhalls ever.

A related model sold in the United States was the Saturn L-Series, introduced in 2000 but dropped from the lineup in 2005. It was replaced by the 2007 Saturn Aura, which is based on the current Vectra.

Vectra C

Introduced in the summer of 2002, the current model, the Vectra C, is built in Germany, Belgium, and the United Kingdom, and is based on the GM Epsilon platform. The Vectra is not assembled in Egypt anymore but currently Vectra C is on sale in only one version which is 1.6 L manual transmission and is sold for L.E 160,000. It is available as a four-door saloon, while the five-door hatchback, known as the Vectra GTS, is meant to recall cult models from Opel in the past such as the Commodore GTE of the 1970s.

The engine range was substantially modified to account for an increased curb weight. While a 122 PS (90 kW) 1.8  Family 1 Ecotec engine was the base model, a 2.0 L turbocharged Family II engine with 175 PS (129 kW) and a new 3.2 L V6, with 211 PS (155 kW) was also offered. Diesel power, now important for commercial success in Europe, was first provided by Isuzu (a 3.0 L V6 is still retained), but the four-cylinder diesel engines were replaced by Ecotec CDTI (Fiat-designed MultiJet) units with 1.9 L, capable of 150 PS (110 kW), in 2004.

The Vectra received a facelift near the end of 2005, and the V6 engine was replaced by an Australian-built 2.8 V6 Turbo unit, similar to the one used in the Saab 9-3. More importantly, Holden introduced, for the first time, an OPC (VXR in the UK) version the Vectra, available only in the hatchback and estate bodies. Power on the Saab V6 Turbo was increased to 255 PS (188 kW), and maximum speed just falls short of 250 km/h (155 mph).

In the UK, the hatchback is not considered a specialty model. In Australasia, the rebadged Holden Vectra ZC is considered more upmarket, though not to the same extent as in Europe. A station wagon version, called the Caravan in Germany, was released in 2003.

Sales of the Vauxhall Vectra in the UK have not been as strong as its predecessor's. For much of its production life, the original Vectra was the fourth best selling car in the country, yet the current model has never come higher than eleventh in the country's car sales charts, though it is still the second best selling car in its sector behind the Ford Mondeo.

Signum

Based partly on the Vectra C, the Opel Signum is an 'executive hatchback' with a completely different layout in the rear, along with a few more refinements than the Vectra C.

Chevrolet Vectra and Holden Vectra

While the Vectra C is sold in Mexico and Chile as a Chevrolet, it is not marketed in Brazil, where a new, locally designed Vectra sedan, based on the current Astra was released in October 2005. This model replaced the Vectra B, which was still available in Brazil until that date. This new model will also be sold in Eastern Europe as Opel Astra and Mexico as the Astra Maxx.

2005 Chevrolet Vectra Elite (Brazil)

Similarly, in Australia (and possibly New Zealand), the European-sourced Vectra is to be dropped and replaced with the Holden Epica, a rebadged Daewoo Tosca in December 2006. The Australian Vectras didn't get the late 2005 facelift, the 2006 models still get the original Vectra C front.

Proposed name change

The British counterpart of Opel, Vauxhall Motors, is considering changing the name of the Vectra to Insignia for the 2008 model year [1]. This would come in time for the debut of the next-generation Vectra/Insignia, which showed up in concept form (the Opel GTC) at the Geneva Auto Show in 2007, and be on sale in 2008. It is already confirmed that it will debut at the London Motor Show in July 2008.

Criticism

The old Vauxhall Vectra built from 1995-2002, was vastly criticized during its seven year run. Main criticisms were the uninspiring handling with a severe tendency to understeer, numb steering, poor interior ergonomics, the appalling reliability as demonstrated in satisfaction surveys provided by Auto Express, Top Gear, Which? magazines, and the generic unresolved styling.

When the Vectra was launched, Top Gear's Jeremy Clarkson made what The Independent described as a "characteristically clever" film, which it judged may have damaged its sales. Clarkson has since described the Vectra as "designed in a coffee break by people who couldn't care less about cars".

The old Vauxhall Vectra scored only 89% up to 2 years old breakdown-free over previous 12 months in a satisfaction survey provided by Which?in 2004. Based on the survey results, Which? verdict on the old Vauxhall Vectra was:

"Disappointment on wheels. A slightly depressing driving experience and woeful build quality."

The current model launched in 2002 and face-lifted in 2005, garnered much better reviews and the Estate version even won an award from What Car? magazine in 2007 as "Estate Car of the Year 2007". Handling is reported to be much better than the old car, but reviews still criticize the overlight feel of the steering, torque-steer on the VXR model, complicated indicator switches and the rather ungainly styling of the Saloon version.

Trivia

• Famous owners of the first generation (Cavalier) models include Welsh rap group Goldie Looking Chain. Their Burberry painted model often accompanies them to live performances.

External links

• Official Opel Vectra page
• EpsilonSport - Featuring forums and information covering all 2003+ Epsilon Platform Vehicles.
• Used Car Safety Ratings - Holden Vectra
• [2]- Car-by-Car breakdown: Vauxhall Vectra (1995-1999)
• [3]- Car-by-Car breakdown: Vauxhall Vectra (1999-2002)
• [4]- Vectra C / Signum Owners' Club