All over the world, Opel cars, the country of origin of which is Germany, enjoy love and respect. Unpretentious in service, high enough quality, affordable. They represent a whole era in mechanical engineering. Largely thanks to Opel passenger car from a luxury item has become a vehicle available to ordinary people.
Start
Among German car brands, Opel is the most democratic and inexpensive brand. Unlike BMW, Mercedes and Audi, the target consumers are workers and farmers, teachers and health workers, middle-income families. It all started with the production of sewing machines.
Adam Opel, the founder of the future auto giant, was born on a sunny May day in 1837 in the family of Philip Wilhelm, a locksmith. Having adopted invaluable experience from his father, Adam went on a trip to Europe, moonlighting here and there as an apprentice. His path ran through Paris, Liege and Brussels. Until the young man crossed over to England.
In Foggy Albion, Adam and his brother worked mainly in factories where they produced sewing machines. Having studied the technology thoroughly, Opel returned to his native Rüsselsheim in 1862 and opened his own workshop for sewing machines and wine cappers in a former cowshed.
Gradually the business expanded. In the 1880s, the enterprise annually produced up to 20 thousand pieces of equipment for various purposes.
All on wheels
Adam's wife Sophie was a passionate techie. She persuaded her husband for a long time to try to produce bicycles, and in 1886 the first model was assembled at the Opel plant in Germany. A decade later, it was the two-wheeled mode of transport that made it possible to survive the economic downturn caused by the overproduction of sewing machines. By the time of his death in 1895, Adam Opel was largest manufacturer speed bikes.
Actually, the company began to assemble cars in 1899. The original design of the engineer Friedrich Lutzmann, who became the first manager of the new car factory in Dessau, was chosen as the model. Thus, Germany became the manufacturing country of Opel, one of the first automobile brands in the world.
Competition
From the very beginning, Opel produced cars with various body and engine options, including vans. The power plant allowed to accelerate to 40 km / h. However, the German company could not compete on equal terms with the then leaders in the automotive industry - the French.
In 1902, Opel signed a cooperation agreement with the French manufacturer Darrac and produced Voiturette cars under the Opel-Darracq brand. In the same 1902, the Germans managed to create a successful 10/12 hp model. with., which was equipped with a 1.9-liter two-cylinder engine. However, developments continued further. The company introduced its first car with a four-cylinder engine in 1904. It was an Opel-Darracq 30/32 l. With.
Gradually the company gained respect and recognition. This was facilitated by the successful performance of the factory team in 1907 on the Imperial race track. Sporting success allowed Opel to become the best among all German car brands.
In 1909, the Opel 4/8 PS double cabriolet was released, which was very popular. In 1912, 3,000 workers produced 30,000 bicycles and 3,000 cars. The area of the plant was about 73 thousand m².
Motorcycle manufacturing
In Germany (the manufacturing country), Opel collected not only cars. In 1901, experiments began on the creation of a two-wheeled motorized vehicle. The first motorcycle that left the factory gate was low-powered - only 2 horsepower. He did not have much demand, and production was curtailed in 1907.
After the First World War, Opel resumed the production of motorcycles. The expanding network of concrete roads contributed to the popularization of this mode of transport. In 1922 it was developed sports model. For lovers of careful driving, a two-wheeled vehicle with a capacity of 1.5 liters was produced. With.
Extension
In the mid-1920s, the manufacturing company Opel moved the assembly of motorcycles to Saxony. In 1928, the company bought shares in the bicycle manufacturer Elite Diamant in Reichenbrand.
The elite plant in Brand-Erbisdorf (Saxony) under the Opel logo produced a 16-horsepower Diamant-Werke model with a Kuehne engine and an engine displacement of 500 cm³. A little later, the Motoclub 500 motorcycle was released, equipped with a pressed steel frame. However, this direction was not a priority for the company.
Under the wing of GM
In 1928, Opel was the largest car manufacturer in the German Reich, accounting for 44% of all cars made. In 1929, the owners sold 80% of the shares to the American automobile group General Motors. By 1931, GM completely took over the company. main reason was the coming global economic crisis. The sale price was 33.352 million dollars, which at that time was an impressive amount. The Opel family remained at the helm of the company. In addition, the Opel name and independent model policy were retained.
In 1935, the 100,000th car was produced. In 1938 Adam Opel AG became Germany's leading exporter and main supplier of foreign exchange. Most of the cars were delivered to Sweden and Denmark. Before World War II the lineup consisted of four-cylinder:
- "Cadet" (1.1 liters / 23 hp).
- "Olympia" (1.5 l / 37 hp).
In the premium segment, models with six-cylinder engine:
- "Captain" (2.5 l / 55 hp).
- "Admiral" (3.5 l / 75 hp).
During the war, civilian equipment was not produced. In 1941, General Motors formally remained the owner, but in fact curtailed its presence in Germany.
Post-war development
1945 went down in the history of the company as the year when not a single Opel car was produced. The production facilities were badly damaged by the bombings. The first post-war Opel was the Blitz truck with a carrying capacity of 1.5 tons, which left the factory on 07/15/1946. However, at the end of 1947, 8147 people were already working in Rüsselsheim, at the end of 1951 - 19,585 people.
Starting in the 1950s, Opel focused on the middle-class passenger cars available to most families in Germany. The most popular cars in the country were the Olympia, Olympic Record and Record P1 models (since 1957). In the upper segment, the Opel Kapitan continued to hold the lead, which received 6 modifications over the next decade.
1960 - 1980s
This is the heyday of the company, as one of the world leaders in the automotive industry. The focus on the middle class made it possible first to win the mass consumer in Europe, and later in many regions of the world. On July 9, 1964, Opel delivered the five millionth car. Half a million Kadett A units were produced in Bochum in 1965. 21 months later, its successor Kadett B sold in a million copies. In 1966 a branch office was opened in Kaiserslautern.
In the 70s, Europe was flooded with Opel Ascona. Together with various modifications by the summer of 1975, more than 3.2 million cars had been produced. Thus, the Opel lineup has become one of the most successful in the history of the company.
The oil crisis of the 1980s led to the stagnation of the industry. For the first time since 1950, Opel suffered a loss: DM 4 million in 1980. Only the new front wheel drive Kadett D sold satisfactorily. Since the mid-1970s, the German car market has been dominated by the Ford Fiesta and VW Polo. The release of the Opel Corsa in 1983 turned the tide.
Nowadays
In 1990, Opel (manufacturing country Germany) employed 57,400 employees with an annual turnover of 23.708 billion marks. As the wealth of Europeans increased, their focus gradually shifted towards more expensive brands. At this time, design problems suddenly appeared and poor quality products. Mistakes in marketing, design, manufacturing and quality assurance resulted in the most serious crisis in corporate history. Opel laid off many employees. This led to a personnel reshuffle. Mistakes cost the auto giant a loss of market share to 6.93% in 2012.
However, the company maintains a strong position in the family car segment. Minivans and station wagons of the eminent Zafira and Meriva brands are traditionally in stable demand.
Effective July 1, 2014, General Motors transferred all activities in Europe and Russia to the newly created Opel Group GmbH. And in March 2017, the French automaker group PSA announced that it would acquire a European financial business G.M. As a result, Opel Automobile GmbH came under the jurisdiction of French colleagues.
As I have repeatedly written, I am a car designer by education. In our country, the profession is unclaimed. We studied at Moscow State University "MAMI" on Semenovskaya. For the entire course, there were only 35 of us, of which 20 graduated. Of these twenty, only a few became intelligent designers, and I do not consider myself one of them. All dispersed into different sides: in architecture, in managers, in designers, in photographers and in Euroset ... But none of us works in domestic auto industry. Ivan Babich, for example, is currently designing yachts in Monaco. And only Andrey Gusev works in his profession - in the Opel design bureau in Rüsselsheim.
I went to visit my old friend and walked around the workshops of the factory where the Insignia and Astra cars are made. And I also learned where the saying "Every car becomes an Opel" came from.
1. The Opel plant is a city-forming enterprise in Rüsselsheim. Here is the headquarters of the Opel Haus. Many mistakenly believe that Opel's slogan is translated as "We love cars", but the correct translation is "We live for cars".
2. At first I thought that these were demonstration electric cars, but it turned out that they were working - the top management moves on Amperes, which are charged during the day near the entrance to the building. I've been thinking about driving the Ampere around Europe for a long time. Such cars are not delivered to Russia, because there is no necessary infrastructure, and our brains are not yet ready to take care of the environment, as they do in Europe or the USA.
3. The building itself is equipped with a clever climate control system that automatically opens and closes the windows, adjusts the tilt of the blinds, which saves energy on heating and air conditioning.
4. Part of the electricity for offices is generated by solar panels.
6. The world's first aircraft with rocket engine RAK1 is still in the air under the roof of the Opel House. On September 30, 1929, Fritz von Opel made his flight in the vicinity of Frankfurt.
8. Met old friends who spent 6 years sitting at the same desk. Andrey Gusev works as a creative car exterior designer in the Advanced Design department. He is working on the creation of concept cars for Opel cars. Andrey also participated in the development of the design of the new Astra.
9. Before walking around the factory, we went to the Visualization Room. This room is used for various presentations, project meetings and virtual model discussions.
10. On a special wall-sized screen, a life-size image of the car is projected, which simplifies the perception and evaluation of the object at the initial stages of development.
11. Negotiations are also underway here with other GM studios around the world (USA, Korea, Australia, Brazil) - it's like Skype, only not in front of a computer, but in a cinema. It is in this room that decisions are made about which model will or will not go into mass production.
12. In 1863, Adam Opel opened a sewing machine factory in Rüsselsheim, now one of the largest and oldest car factories in the world. It employs 16,000 people and produces 180,000 vehicles annually.
13. The largest blacksmith (stamping) shop Opel. During the operation of the presses, the floor trembles a little, as during a small earthquake. It looks like rolls of paper, but in fact - steel sheets for body parts.
14. Thicker sheets are shipped on pallets. After the Second World War, there was a shortage of metal, and for the production of Opel cars they used scrap metal melted down from old cars. This is where the saying "Every car becomes an Opel" comes from.
15. Forging presses.
16. German order is all around the factory. The technical passage is divided into three parts - for carts carrying dies for presses (orange structure on the left), an area for the movement of loaders and other equipment, and a path for cyclists and pedestrians.
17. Huge matrices that are installed in presses for stamping various bodies and elements.
19. Hundreds of matrices are dispersed throughout the workshop. All of them are marked different colors according to your car model.
20. In the blacksmith shop, people only perform the function of quality control.
21. Presses work loud and fast. No photographers who are trying to get a sharp shot, they are not waiting.
22. This machine stamps up to twenty small shapes per minute.
23. Such a machine costs 40 million euros. In one operation, he stamps the sidewall of the car. The press weighs 6500 tons.
24. Finished sidewall Opel Corsa.
25. Finished parts are sent for welding and painting.
27. Stand with reference samples. From each batch, a few parts are randomly selected and compared with the standard.
28. In Rüsselsheim, blanks are made for all models, which are then sent to other factories, including Russia.
31. The welding shop works in two shifts. There are 200 people on each shift.
32. 700 robots work on welding and body assembly, each of which costs 100,000 euros. Production is 98% automated.
The bare body weighs 400 kg, and it takes 8 kg of paint and varnish to paint. Unfortunately, the painting process was not allowed to be removed.
33. The assembly shop has 2,000 workers in two shifts. They work in groups of 5 people. In this workshop, a special time step is 65 seconds. In 65 seconds, the worker must complete a certain stage of work. If he does not have time - the conveyor stops. Everywhere there are special ropes, pulling on which, the conveyor stops and music starts playing. Each brigade has its own melody, according to which the foreman determines who has a problem and helps to solve it faster.
34. In total, up to 40 types of motors are supplied to the conveyor.
35. I used to be sure that there is, for example, a conveyor line for the production of the yellow fret Kalina sedan with a 1.6 engine, automatic. The line works for several months, then it is changed and other cars are produced. And in Opel, on the same conveyor line, different cars of different configurations and configurations are assembled simultaneously one after another. The computer makes sure that every engine, every body part, finds exactly its car.
For me it was the discovery of the day. Up to 9 different models of machines can be produced on one conveyor!
36. If you really want to, you can come to the factory and see how your car is assembled.
38. All cars undergo a series of tests for body tightness, handling, braking, and operation of the main elements.
39. A railway line passes right through the territory of the plant.
40. About the new Astra GTC I already wrote:
41. And this is the first Opel car. The history of the brand began 150 years ago with the production of sewing machines.
42. The museum presents cars from different eras. The museum itself is more like a workshop. It is constantly working on the restoration of exhibits. The area does not allow to place all the exhibits, so more than half of the collection is stored in storerooms. In a few years the museum will move to a new building.
44. Concept cars are stored in the storerooms. This is, for example, the concept of Antara.
45. And this is Insignia.
47. Super car!
Manufacturer country: Germany
"Opel"(Adam Opel AG), a German automobile company that is part of the General Motors concern. Produces cars, minibuses, minivans. The headquarters is located in Rüsselheim, Germany.
The company was founded in 1898 by the five Opel brothers and named after their father, Adam Opel, founder and owner of a sewing machine and bicycle factory. After the death of his father, his sons began producing cars, having mastered production based on the chassis and engine of the French company Darracq.
The first original model "10/12PS" of the two-cylinder Opel appeared in 1902. Shortly thereafter, the "12/14" was created.
In 1903 "20/24PS" appeared.
In 1905, Opel began producing higher-class cars. The "35/40PS" model appears with a 6.9 liter engine.
Having established mass production, the Opel brothers won recognition in Germany, but a fire in 1911 destroyed their factory. However, the installation of modern equipment, made out of necessity, gave the company a significant advantage over its competitors. For the first time in Europe, a conveyor belt appeared at Opel enterprises.
In 1913, the company mastered the production of trucks. Sophisticated Opel Laubfrosch (Opel Laubfrosch, literally tree frog), so named because of the bright green color, was frankly similar to the Citroen 5 CV, but was much more successful due to a well-thought-out sales strategy through its own network.
1916 The prototype of the first Opel with a 6-cylinder engine is created.
Early 20s. Model "8/25" with a 2-liter engine has received wide acceptance. More powerful versions were created on its basis: "10/35" and "14/38" with 4-cylinder engines up to 3430 cc. cm.
The years of post-war inflation ruined the Opel brothers and in the late 1920s they ceded their enterprise to the American concern General Motors. With the help of overseas partners, Opel became the largest automotive company in Europe, concentrating its efforts on the production of small and medium-sized cars. The typical European features of the early Opels were preserved in the design of the cars: Opel Olympia (“Opel Olympia”) and Opel Kadett (“Opel Kadett”). These small class models have become a symbol of their time. The design of the three-ton Opel truck, produced in the 1930s and 1940s, was successful.
1924 The first conveyor began to work, on which "Laubfrosh" cars, identical to the "Citroen 5CV", were assembled.
1925 "Opel 10/14PS" appeared, equipped with a 4-cylinder 2.6-liter engine.
1927 The company launched a new series of comfortable cars, equipped with a 1735 cc 6-cylinder engine. cm.
1928 Shown sports car "Rak-2", a modernized version of which accelerated to 220 km / h. Opel became part of General Motors. New "Regent" model introduced.
1934 The "Olympia" was introduced and became the first mass car with load-bearing body.
1935 The "Kadett" model was launched and was very popular with the public.
1937 "Opel Super Six" launched. There was also a representative car "Admiral" ("Opel Admiral") with a 6-cylinder engine of 3626 cc. see, with its outlines creating the image of the “powerful beauty” of the reborn Reich.
1938 The company introduced the "Kapitan" middle-class sedan with a monocoque body.
During the period of Nazi rule, the enterprises were actually confiscated from General Motors and the company became state-owned.
After Germany's defeat in World War II, most production base"Opel" was exported to the USSR, where it formed the basis of the equipment of the Moscow plant of small cars (later AZLK), and some went to GAZ. However, Opel quickly restored and exceeded the pre-war level of production. In 1947, the company resumes production of the "Olympia" model.
1948 Modernized "Kapitan" with a 2.5-liter engine is produced.
The 1953 Opel Rekord led West Germany in terms of sales for ten years. In 1959, "Rekord" began to be produced with a new 4-door sedan, and a month later the "Opel-1200" appeared.
In the 1960s, the company introduces the Opel Kapitan ("Opel Captain"). In Frankfurt, at the 1965 Motor Show, a prototype of the Opel GT sports car with a coupe body was presented. These models were a reaction to the increased demand for expensive cars.
In 1967 "Commodore" appeared.
Since 1969, the "Kapitan", "Admiral" and "Diplomat" models have been equipped with fuel-injected engines.
The sports coupe Opel Manta ("Opel Manta") appeared in the 1970s.
In 1970, the production of the Ascona model began, after 5 years deep modernization this model.
Since 1982, the production of the small-sized Corsa model has been launched. In 1993, the presentation of the new generation "Corsa" took place.
1986 Classic layout "Omega" family shown.
1987 The presentation of the car "Senator" was made, which led the model range of the company.
1988 The "Vectra" model of the same type appeared.
The range of models in the 1990s was completely redesigned and expanded; the Astra model ("Astra"), which replaced the Cadet line, became the center of the production program.
In 1994, the same type of compact coupe "Tigra" was released.
1997 The 6-8 seat station wagon "Sintra" appeared.
Opel starts the new millennium by continuing the development of new products and the renewal of production. With the Agila microvan, the Speedster roadster, the new generation Corsa and the Astra Coupe, as well as the upcoming Astra being produced as the Eco 4, Opel is launching an unprecedented number of new models that include features such as navigation systems and mobile telecommunications.
Opel launches the Agila, a versatile microvan, the Astra Coupe and Astra ECO 4, the first 4-litre cars in the compact class, and the third generation of the Opel Corsa.
Opel introduces the two-seater, mid-engined sports car Speedster and the Zafira fuel cell concept car "HydroGen1" (Fuel Cell Zafira "HydroGen1"). Opel also presents the Zafira 1.6L engineering project. 16V CNG powered by compressed natural gas. This car has a power output of 74KW/100HP, maximum torque of 150Nm at 3800rpm. and maximum speed - 172 km / h.
The German brand Opel today is wholly owned by the American concern General Motors, is actively represented in Europe, and is especially loved in Britain. By the way, for the British, the company left the name of the Vauxhall brand, as well as simple and popular models of the corporation now and then appear in the model lines of small brands in a licensed version. Opel is one of the most open manufacturers, whose model range can satisfy both the student and the pensioner. Recently, the concern's proposals have been actively changed, which led to many questions from potential buyers. For example, when buying a vehicle, the question began to arise where Opel is assembled, how well the assembly is carried out.
The corporation is not so fast updating the lineup. Until recently, the corporation's lineup included the popular sedan, hatchback and station wagon Astra Classic, whose design is already over 15 years old. Nevertheless, the company is perceived as a European brand, many people want to buy cars from this particular manufacturer. Experts often say that American investments have made the German concern even better and saved it from unnecessary pickiness to trifles.
A bit of history and geography from the Opel automobile concern
Given the fact that the company is intended only for Europe, the geography of distribution of factory capacities is not so high. The company does not have production sites in Brazil, India and Africa, as well as in China, as is common among modern brands. The company concentrates its production in Europe as well as in Russia. Potential Buyers Opel cars in our country, it is the transport of domestic assembly that is purchased. Localization in the company is quite high, and the geography of the concern is as follows:
- in Germany, there are four main factories that produce motors and some premium models;
- production of almost all models is established at local enterprises throughout Europe;
- full-fledged production capacity present in Belgium, Spain, Austria, Hungary and Poland;
- in the UK there is a full-fledged production of Astra and some other models that are most popular in England;
- the Russian branch of Opel with factories in Shushary and Kaliningrad produces the entire model range;
- in Turkey and France, there is an assembly of Opel cars at the factories of third-party corporations in this area;
- The expansion of the corporation continues exclusively within Western Europe - here the concern sees its potential market.
The development of the brand is severely limited by the decisions of General Motors. For the sake of developing the Opel brand, the company is withdrawing Chevrolet from the European market, allowing the Germans to remain the only official representative GM in Europe. This promises a certain development of the corporation and the absence of internal competition. In Russia, the company was represented very widely, but in the last year some production functions were curtailed. The company partially left the market due to the crisis in the automotive sector. Not so long ago, plans were announced to partially transfer production to Belarus.
Model range - budget offers up to 1,000,000 rubles
Among the models presented on the Russian market, you can find both premium cars with excellent performance and the latest equipment, as well as rather old versions of equipment with a low price tag. The company tried to please all potential buyers, but its image in Russia was rather limited. Therefore, expensive cars manufactured by Opel are not yet very popular competitors to other premium brands. To understand all the features of budget transport from German company just consider the following suggestions:
- Astra Family - sedan, hatchback and station wagon in a classic form, which provide a low price (from 655,000 rubles) and classic design, good technology with somewhat outdated characteristics;
- Zafira Family is an old version of a family minivan that looks quite adequate for quiet operation in a large family, good engine and good equipment make this car great buy, cost from 830,000;
- Meriva - another family car, but from a new lineup, has modern design, a more compact interior and not too powerful power units, costs from 780,000 rubles;
- Astra new generation in hatchback, sedan and station wagon bodies - a completely new car with modern characteristics and attractive design, excellent endurance and low fuel consumption, the model costs from 741,000 rubles for a hatchback;
- Astra GTC - a sports 3-door version of the hatchback, which is perfect for youth active use or for a young family, a good design is combined with an affordable price of 819,000;
- Mokka is a compact youth crossover with a successful design and excellent performance, a completely modern execution of every detail, up-to-date technology and good interior design features, as well as a good price of 830,000 rubles.
This is what the range of budget vehicles from Opel looks like. Recently, the influence of designers and engineers of General Motors on the appearance and technical equipment of Opel cars has become very obvious. If earlier the German concern remained authentic, today, in terms of inexpensive cars, all equipment and many design features are taken from the American models of the corporation. However, in Europe, Opel is perceived very positively. Unfortunately, the Adam model is not yet presented in Russia - a small hatchback with excellent design and a host of branded features.
Expensive Opel lineup - completely different moods
If you have more than 1,000,000 rubles to buy a car, you can look at the expensive offers of Opel. The concern really can offer exciting opportunities for a quality trip. There are much fewer cars here, but the choice is still quite large. American technology and design features influence the works of German engineers in this class as well, but here the authenticity and independence of the concern from its owners is more noticeable. Among the most interesting offers of the company's expensive model range in Russia, we can recall the following models:
- Antara- big crossover or a full-size SUV (according to various classifications), which inspires confidence with its classic design and gives real comfort to the buyer, has modern and confident technology at an affordable cost of 1,110,000 rubles;
- Insignia sedan and hatchback - beautiful cars medium-sized class, which have become modern competitors to the most successful machines in the industry, among the positive qualities it is worth highlighting the relevance and manufacturability, as well as the cost of 1,110,000 rubles;
- insignia Country Tourer- the best station wagon for those who want an active and exciting trip, noticeable additions to the design of the base model, special wheels and plastic body protection, many functions of a real SUV, as well as increased ground clearance at a cost of 1,320,000 rubles;
- Zafira Tourer - updated big family station wagon, which gives premium space and excellent technical developments to its owner, as well as excellent execution of the interior space, while the cost of the car does not exceed reasonable limits - 1,040,000 rubles.
These are the unusual opportunities offered by the traditional German manufacturer Opel. The company actually has great opportunities and may surprise with its novelties. However, the large geographical distribution of enterprises and the presence of a number of problems with permanent customs clearance with the European Union makes Russian market one of the last in line for development for the company. As long as there is a SKD plant in Kaliningrad, we are getting fresh Opel models and offers. We offer you to watch a video review of the new Opel Insignia Tourer:
Summing up
The Opel brand, respected in many civilized countries of the world, has found itself on a rather limited path of development today. The road to other continents, as well as to the very tasty Chinese market, is closed to the brand. A company cannot save resources by locating factories or research centers in developing countries. Opel is forced to pay a high price for development in Western Europe, as this is the only market available to the concern. Such restrictions were set by the parent concern General Motors.
Nevertheless, we see the active development of the corporation, the change in the design features of transport and a number of other features that allow the brand to move forward. The company does not seek to take the lead in certain markets, but it receives its sales in full. After all, Opel offers really good cars at great prices, which is quite enough to stay afloat in today's challenging and competitive market. What are your thoughts on the current model proposal Opel?
In the forests of southern Germany along the banks of the Rhine lies a hilly area called Oppel or Obbel. Several centuries ago, after the European Thirty Years' War, retired soldiers took up farming there. Soon, the newly appeared peasants began to be called opels.
A certain Tongez Opel decided that digging in the ground was not the most masculine occupation for his son, and sent him to study. The son grew up and became a manufacturer. He produced hats for the inhabitants of the small town of Russelsheim, for which he built a special factory in it. On May 9, 1837, a son was born in his family, who was named Adam. When the time came, Adam was sent to France, where he got acquainted with the latest miracle of technology - a sewing machine.
Returning home in 1862, Adam Opel adapted sewing machine for the production of hats and founded the company Opel, which set up the production of machines for the production of hats. This company became the largest hat manufacturer in Germany.
In 1884, at an exhibition in France, Adam got acquainted with a bicycle and caught fire with a new idea - the release of bicycles. Adam's five sons helped their father in the factory from childhood, and in their free time they had fun riding bicycles around the house. It was they who popularized cycling in Germany and soon became the first champions. Thanks to the success of the brothers, the Opel bicycle brand soon became known throughout Europe.
Opels pioneered the use of new air-filled tires designed by an Englishman Dunlop in 1890 in bicycle wheels. The company produced 2,000 bicycles a year and was, in addition, the largest manufacturer of sewing machines and bicycles in Germany until the death of Adam Opel on September 8, 1895 . Adam Opel died at the age of 58, leaving the established production as a legacy to his sons.
As cycling champions, the Opel brothers were invited to the Berlin Motor Show in 1897, where they saw self-propelled carriages for the first time and got excited about a new idea - to start producing cars.
The two brothers Opel, Karl and Wilhelm, began their activities on the automobile path with the purchase of the Lutzmann factory in 1898, where, under license, they began to assemble their first car - a self-propelled carriage designed by Lutzman. The first car was assembled in 1899. From this moment on, the history of Opel cars has been counting down.
1899-1928 The first stage of development of production of cars of the Opel brand.
The first single-cylinder Lutzman Opel of 1899 had a hand-cranked engine horizontally under the seat. To do this, it was necessary to turn a huge flywheel - there were no other starting devices. The design turned out to be very “raw”, it sold poorly, and financial gaps had to be plugged at the expense of income from the sale of bicycles and sewing machines. Soon, it was decided to stop the production of Lutzman's carts.
However, the first failure did not stop the Opel brothers. In 1900, Karl Wilhelm and Fritz brought from Paris a contract with the French car factory Darrak. And in 1902, the Opel Darrak appeared on the German market, completely assembled in Germany. The business of the company went uphill, and the brothers began to develop their own models. In 1906, the contract with the French expired, but by this time Opel was firmly on its feet and did not need outside help.
In those years, Opel was famous not so much for production achievements or commercial success, but for the passion with which the company participated in sporting events. The victory in the race for the Kaiser Wilhelm Prize in 1907 significantly raised the prestige of the company. When creating elegant cars in 1908 were used design features winning car in the 1907 race. But basically, the pre-war Opel models, despite constant improvements, were middle-class cars, worked out to the conscience, but without pretensions.
During the First World War, the company produced trucks for the army. However, the engineers did not waste time. In 1920, several variants of the new Opel model were developed, but inflation prevented these plans from being realized. It was decided to take radical measures on getting out of the crisis.
A group of leading engineers of the company, headed by Wilhelm Opel, went overseas - to adopt the experience gained in the USA in mass production of cars. Returning home, they zealously began to implement American ideas. In the period from 1923 to 1924, the old plant was transformed: all machines with upper drive pulleys have been replaced by modern electrically driven equipment. The main novelty was the first and at that time the only assembly line in Germany.
Outdated models have been discontinued. From now on, Opel pinned all its hopes on a two-seat car, very similar to the one that Citroen launched on the market two years ago. The resemblance was so striking. that the French sued. Opel lost the process and was forced to change at least the appearance of the car. The model was called "4/12 PS", but as soon as it went on sale, the official name was forgotten. All cars leaving the assembly line were painted in a bright and juicy green color, for which they paid the price - the nickname Laubforsch (“Frog”) tightly stuck to the car. By 1927, the production of "frogs" reached 39,000 pieces. 8,000 workers could produce up to 250 machines a day.
1927-1938 Adam Opel AG becomes a subsidiary of General Motors.
The success of the German firm, which produces mass-produced passenger cars, attracted the attention of the president of the American corporation General Motors for exports, James M. Mooney. In those years, Opel, the former leader among German car manufacturers, had a hard time: German marks cars retreated under the onslaught of imported, mostly American, cars. The situation was not saved even by the record results set by Fritz Opel on the AVUS track on racing cars RAK-I and RAK-II with jet engines.
The world's first rocket car jet engine RAK-I launched on March 11, 1928. The debut turned out to be unsuccessful, and two months later, a record race of another car, the RAK-II, took place on the Berlin AVUS track. The car developed a fantastic speed for that time - 238 km / h. This car was far ahead of its time and, perhaps, the creators of Thrust II used the developments of Opel engineers in their record-breaking car.
In 1925, all of Europe was talking about the purchase by General Motors of the English company Vauxhall. Already in the spring of next year, Opel decided to follow the example of the British and turned to the overseas giant for patronage. In 1928, a formal agreement was signed - Adam Opel AG became a branch of General Motors.
Now the production program of the enterprise was aimed at producing the maximum possible number of models from the minimum number of unified units and bodies. The bodies of all cars have become more spacious, the wings have acquired rounded outlines, and inside there was a place for a spare wheel.
In 1934, the cars of the German branch, like all other creations of General Motors, switched to independent front suspension. The following year, Opel was the first German automaker to produce more than a hundred thousand cars in a year.
In February 1936, the Olympia car was presented at the Berlin Motor Show - the first mass-produced car with an all-structure monocoque body. She laid the foundation for a new direction in the design of small cars. The car was named after the 1936 Olympic Games in Berlin. This small car differed from its predecessors in low weight, combined with a high level of passive safety and good aerodynamics. Thanks to load-bearing body engineers managed to reduce the height of the car, and most importantly - its weight. Appearance has undergone major changes. For the first time in the history of the model, the headlights were included in the body, and were not mounted separately on the wings. All this determined the further appearance of the models and their unforgettable style.
The market for inexpensive cars was replenished with the P-4 model, made in the style of the 20s. The engine of this car was reliable and thought out to the smallest detail, which made it possible to install it on the next model - Opel Kadett (1936). Before the war, about 107,000 Kadett cars rolled off the assembly line.
In the late 1930s, Opel released two new six-cylinder models: the Opel Super (1937) and the Opel Kapitan (1939). The pre-war model of the highest class bore the proud name of Opel Admiral.
1939-1950 Opel factories during the Nazi Wehrmacht and post-war reconstruction.
The restrictions imposed by the fascist regime had a negative impact on the profits of General Motors. In 1939, the fascist leadership of Germany demanded that the company put on stream the Blitz army truck, howitzers and aircraft parts, which gave rise to the new president of General Motors, William Knudsen, to ironically state: “Hitler became the complete and undivided owner of our German enterprise, with which I have the honor to congratulate all the owners and co-owners of the concern…”.
In the period from 1941 to 1945, Opel was engaged, like all other nationalized enterprises in Germany, in the production of weapons and military equipment for the needs of the Wehrmacht.
In 1942, GM classified Opel as a war loss, valuing it at $34,980,024. In turn, Opel became a "Model National Socialist Enterprise."
The war brought large orders and corresponding considerable profits. Opel factories produced not only cars, but also NSU kettenkrad light half-tracked transporters with an engine from the Olympia model, as well as aircraft parts. special attention deserves the company in Brandenburg/Havel, 50 km from Berlin. At this plant, opened back in 1936, under the leadership of Heinz Nordhoff, the production of trucks under the Blitz brand (“Lightning”) was launched.
In 1937, Opel mastered the production of another three-ton truck from this series. The car was equipped with a 6-cylinder engine with a capacity of 75 hp. (He also stood on the passenger Admiral). Until 1944, it was produced in various variants of the wheel arrangement and body. On its basis, the Maultier half-track truck was also produced, on the chassis of which a 10-barreled rocket mortar was mounted.
The truck turned out to be so successful that its symbolism - a ring crossed out by a zigzag of lightning - became the new emblem of Opel. He was destined to become one of the most popular trucks of the German army.
In August 1944, bombers of the allied forces almost completely destroyed the production workshops of the Opel factories.
At the end of the war, most of the factories lay in ruins. Russelheim fell into the American, and Brandenburg - into the Soviet zone of occupation. Most of the surviving equipment and documentation was taken to the Union, and Adam Opel AG began, frankly, hard days. Soviet Union exported from Germany everything that was possible. The Russians received permission from the allied command to export tools, equipment, stamps and drawings of the Kadett brand to establish the production of these machines in Leipzig. Everything needed was fully shipped by the end of July 1946. Since then, Opel has not seen its equipment again ...
But many had a chance to see the Kadett: less than half a year, a new small car plant on the outskirts of Moscow began production of the Moskvich - 400, like two drops of water similar to the pre-war Opel Kadett. In 1950, these cars began to be sold to Finland and Belgium, and in the accompanying documents it was mentioned that spare parts for the Moskvich were the easiest to purchase in Germany.
The plant in Brandeburg began to produce a tractor called "Pioneer". German citizens in the zone of Soviet occupation began to draw up the first five-year plan. Later, the production of Avia light trucks (Ifa) began at this plant.
For the post-war restoration of the destroyed economy in their zones of occupation, the Americans, first of all, needed trucks. The half-restored plant in Rüsselsheim has resumed production of 1.5-ton Opel Blitz trucks with a payload capacity of 1 to 3 tons with a six-cylinder engine from the Opel Kapitan model.
Then it was the turn of cars. The easiest way would be to resume the production of Opel Kapitan - after all, the assembly of the engine “from it” had already been adjusted - but the occupation authorities did not allow the production of cars with engines larger than 1.5 liters. The most powerful of the machines that met this requirement was the Olympia, which was put into mass production in November 1947.
1951-1964
In 1951, the Olympia model was restyled - a new large radiator grille with horizontal ribs and a huge bumper appeared. The gearshift lever has moved to the steering column.
In 1953, the one hundred thousandth car of this brand was produced, and it was replaced by a fundamentally new model, which will be discussed below. Two years later, the production of Opel Kapitan resumed. The model did not differ from the pre-war one in almost nothing, with the exception of modest round headlights instead of shapeless ones, since the production of complex-shaped diffusers could not be resumed - the production was commanded by the American military administration, without any control from GM. The car was produced from 1947 to 1953. The position of Adam Opel AG improved only by 1950, when the main plant in Rüsselheim was completely restored, and later the building of the new enterprise was erected.
As in 1931, American influence on the firm was not immediately felt. However, throughout the decade, American design features were often seen on the passenger models of the German company.
In 1953, the volume of production for the first time exceeded the pre-war level. Presented in the same year Frankfurt Motor Show the Opel Olympia Rekord P-1 model reflected the dreams of German motorists of the 50s about the ideal vehicle. The Olympia Rekord was produced in two-door versions as a sedan, convertible (until 1956) and the Caravan station wagon. There is an opinion that the body of this car was used as the basis for the creation of the subcompact Moskvich-402. The car was produced from 1953 to 1957.
In 1957, the designers changed the outer lines of the car in accordance with fashion. The success of the Rekord P-1 was enormous.
The company did not stop there: in 1958, a new Rekord rolled off the assembly line, however, with an old engine. The designers lengthened and expanded the body, while making the car more squat.
Opel Kapitan still remained in the company's production program. For a long time this model was subjected only to cosmetic improvements, which made the car a kind of "typical American car of European assembly." By the end of the 50s, changes also affected the design itself. The car received a new power unit along with a new body only in 1960.
1960 was marked by the introduction of the four-door Rekord P-2. She had a relatively calm design and dispensed with the Olympia prefix to her name. Narrow roof pillars, just a hint of the once-fashionable rear stabilizers, a grille that continued around the front fenders, and round headlights - that was the Rekord P-2. The design strongly resembled American cars.
In 1960 it was produced restyling Opel Captain. The car received a new body and power unit. In 1961, the first Opel coupe was launched. The car's power was 60 hp and the speed was 140 km/h. At the same time, some design elements of the four-door sedan were also changed. Both the coupe and the sedan were produced by the company until 1963. It's quite American style - small cars, according to GM, should not have a strong personality.
The success of the Rekord P-2 could only be compared to the Beetle phenomenon. The Opel brand again took a leading position among the automakers of West Germany - the Americans were more than satisfied.
For the 100th anniversary of Adam Opel AG in 1962, another plant was built in the city of Bochum to produce the next generation of Kadett. The new model could be called a joint American-West German development. The car was equipped with a Chevrolet engine. Initially, a two-door sedan was released, in 1963 a combi variant was added to this version, and a coupe a year later. So it was customary to first release a two-door version, and then “throw” modifications onto the market during the year - a combi (as a station wagon is called in Germany) and a coupe.
The Rekord also received attention: in 1963 it received a new, more powerful engine and a new designation - A. The model became wider and lower than its predecessor. In July 1964, modifications of the Rekord sedan and coupe were equipped with more powerful engines from the Kapitan model. In the same year, Kapitan with expensive interior trim successfully debuted under the name Admiral. The car was produced from 1964 to 1968.
1965-1970
In the 60s, the development process in automotive industry already formed. Usually the model was kept on the assembly line for 3-5 years, after which it was usually replaced by a fundamentally new model, or in the worst case, restyling was carried out. Of course, as elsewhere, there were exceptions in the form of the Citroen 5CV or the Beetle.
Following the Kadett A model, the Kadett B followed in 1965 with 2- and 4-door bodies. Not only the size of the car has increased, but also its power (from 45 to 90 hp). The car was in demand, despite the unsightly appearance.
In the same year, Opel introduced four-cylinder engines of its own design. Recall that before the engines were American or joint design.
In 1965-1967, the Diplomat V8 model was produced. And although the volume of its production did not exceed fifty copies, this machine still made a certain contribution to the history of the company. This luxury model Chevrolet engine V8, with a volume of 5.4 liters, with a capacity of 230 hp, was assembled by Karman in Osnabrück. It was she who was considered the fastest car sold in Germany. The maximum speed was 200 km / h. One can only guess what the fuel consumption was. But before the oil crisis, there were still 10 years left, and no one thought about it.
In 1966, Opel released a special Rally Kadett model with a black hood, stripes on both sides, and sports instrumentation on the dashboard. The car turned out to be so popular among young people that its production continued until 1973. The car was fine-tuned in various tuning studios. At the same time, engine power increased, more rigid suspension, sports shock absorbers, wide tires, new seats and steering wheel.
The middle of the decade was marked by the emergence new generation models: Kapitan A, Diplomat A and Commodore A.
In 1967, Rekord again received a new body - even wider and lower than its predecessor. The coupe modification had a 67 hp engine under the hood. Opel's Rekord A paved the way for the Rekord B. The coupe model was replaced by the Rekord Coupe 6 model with a 6-cylinder engine with a capacity of 100 hp. This machine was the predecessor of the Commodore, which was introduced in 1967 and was sold in parallel with the Rekord C, released a year earlier. Also in 1967, the Olympia name was returned to this elegant cousin of the Kadett B sedan.
With these very respectable cars, the nimble, unusual at that time two-seater model Opel GT contrasted. The legendary GT can rightly be considered one of the brightest models of the global automotive industry. The car was first presented in 1965 at the International Automobile Exhibition in Frankfurt.
It was a coupe based on the Kadett. At first, the car was not intended for mass production - it was, so to speak, a trial step of the company into the class sports cars. However, the enthusiastic sighs of the public changed the situation, and the Opel GT soon became a fashion statement in the automotive market.
In 1968, the GT went on sale. Here it is: extended headlights under elliptical visors, an aerodynamic tail, a long nose, a “powerful hump” on the hood, curved stabilizers and a thin waist. In a word, "mini-Corvette". The car, due to its inimitable popularity, continued to be produced with different engines until 1973.
In March 1969 big three"Opel executive cars: Kapitan, Admiral and Diplomat - received, along with new bodies, a new designation - "B". Models began to look more solid and modern.
1971-1979
The beginning of the 1970s was marked by the General Motors corporation's policy of "internationalization" of the models of its European divisions Adam Opel AG and Voxhall Motors. Since then, cars differ only in the location of the steering wheel and decorative elements.
So, Opel, despite such a successful choice of models and their popularity both in Germany itself and throughout Europe, step by step tried to win recognition from overseas customers. The first step in this direction was the sports model GT / J, which in 1970 was subject to modernization both externally and technically.
At the same time, the company's engineers were guided by the American taste. The second step was the all-new Manta A sports car. Introduced as a competitor to the Ford Capri, it could take four people on board and still have a very roomy trunk. With its attractive appearance, the Manta definitely resembled the old style of GT cars in some ways.
At the same time, Opel did not forget its fellow countrymen. In 1970, the Ascona A model was presented to the public. Based on the Kadett chassis, it was produced with different types of bodies. The car, despite its simple forms, still found its buyer.
In 1971, Georg von Opel (grandson of the organizer and driver of the jet car in 1928, Fritz von Opel) tested the first electrically conductive GT at Hockenheim. The car, driven by two 136 hp motors, developed a speed of up to 188 km / h. A year later, the sound of a diesel engine was heard from under the hood of the upgraded GT. On the highway at Düdenhof, this unusual sports car broke 20 world speed records in its class. In September 1971, Opel assembled its 10 millionth car.
In 1972, two models debuted at once: Rekord D and Commodore B. Both cars had exactly the same design and the same body type. But on the technical side, they were far from each other. In the 1970s, another successful coupe was developed, standing on the other side of the Opel product rank. We are talking about the last Kadett C.
By decision of the management of General Motors, the successor to the Kadett C was made the first "international" car: all the companies of the concern in America, Brazil, Great Britain and Germany had to be assembled simultaneously. It was decided that the body of all Kadetts, regardless of the brand emblem and local name of the car, would be typical, and engines and other components had to match. local market. The car was designed and prepared for production in August 1973, they called it Kadett C Coupe.
Meanwhile, the GT era began to come to an end without any hope of new success. At the international auto show in Frankfurt, a more advanced model Manta B was shown. At the dawn of its long career, from 1975 to 1982, the car was offered with five engine options. The most indicative was the GTE model with a 105 hp engine.
An unusual modification for connoisseurs was the Manta SS - a "coupe car" with a large "ass", introduced in 1978. The car turned out to be very successful and took away a lot of customers from the Ford Motor Company, in particular from Capri. In the fall of 1977, the luxurious Diplomat and the Commandore S, which did not lag behind, debuted. The appearance of the models underwent a change, and now the cars looked “square” on a par with their counterparts.
A year later, the Opel plant began production of a new Senator A passenger model. According to the company's forecasts, it was supposed to replace the most big cars, produced by the company so far - Diplomat and Admiral. These virtually American cars used too much gasoline, and the world has not yet recovered from the oil crisis. The new car had a five-seater 4-door body and a 180 hp engine. Based on the Senator, a very unusual coupe- Monza A. Until 1979, Opel was in the fairway of the American style of automotive (front-engine and rear-wheel drive).
In 1979, Opel took a revolutionary step for itself - the Kadett D had front wheels instead of rear wheels. The D series cars were shorter than the C series, but the front-wheel drive allowed the designers to increase the volume of the cabin. The new model was equipped with three engine options - two of 1.2 liters and a new 1.3-liter. Thanks to roadholding and low fuel consumption, the car took first place in sales in its class.
1980 - 1989
With the onset of the 80s, Adam Opel AG almost completely changed its entire lineup. But she decided not to stop there. And already in 1981, the upgraded Ascona C came out of the gate with more advanced engines of 1.3 and 1.6 liters.
The Ascona C, following the Kadett D introduced in 1979, became Opel's second front wheel drive car. And not by chance. Initially, the car was conceived as an “international” one, with a classic layout, especially since in the USA rear-wheel drive was preferred. GM implemented the principle of a “single platform” in Ascona, when cars with different looks and power units had the same bottom, suspension, and wheels. These cars belonged common family called J-car. However, over time, the idea ceased to be relevant. For this machine, components and parts were supplied by different countries, which turned out to be very unprofitable. However, now cars on the same platform are not at all rare, but already as a rule ... But we want to note that the car lasted on the assembly line until 1988.
In 1982, the changes affected the “brothers” that had not yet “cooled down” after the debut - the Senator A2 sedan and the Monza A2 coupe. The models received a decent front end and a range of new engines. Body lines combined power and grace at the same time. The sports model Manta B and the Rekord E2 family sedan were also not forgotten - they have undergone cosmetic changes.
In 1983, the Corsa A appeared in the Opel family, which was supposed (and succeeded) to reach a circle of customers who wanted a car smaller than the Kadett. A new addition to the convertible family has arrived - the Ascona C Cabrio.
The car, as conceived by General Motors, began to be assembled not in Rüsselheim, but at a factory in the Spanish city of Zaragoza. front wheel drive car V hatchback options and the sedan soon received three new engines. But, alas, it did not bear fruit. Buyers began to gradually lose interest in Opel products. It was the monotonous and boring design that turned out to be the culprit, making Kadett look like Ascona, Ascona - like Rekord, etc. To correct the situation, new solutions and ideas were needed. In the mid-1980s, Opel is one of the best-selling cars in Europe. The company has begun equipping its models with catalytic converters.
In 1984, the more technically and aerodynamically advanced Kadett E model was released. The popularity of this car in Europe was facilitated, first of all, by a wide selection of bodies and engines. The car was awarded the European title "Car of the Year 1984". Kadett simultaneously became the last car of the company to bear the "military" name. In addition, with minor changes, it began to be produced in South Korea under the name "Daewoo Nexia / Racer". A year later, a convertible version, designed by Maestro Bertone himself, arrived on the shelf.
In 1986, Rekord gave way to a more advanced Omega A model. The new car was produced with two types of bodies: a sedan and a station wagon. 15 were installed on it. various types engines. Another victory in the competition "Car of the Year" was won.
The car lasted nine years on the assembly line. This model captivated buyers with its smooth ride, comfort and economic characteristics. Its Omega Lotus modification was equipped with a British Lotus engine with a volume of 3.8 liters and a power of 300 hp. It was a real sports sedan, and lately the car has been sold to people with a sports license in Germany due to the high number of accidents associated with it. And no wonder: the maximum speed is 280 km / h, and acceleration to 100 km / h takes 5 seconds.
In 1987 special model The Ascona Touring replaces the popular Ascona GL. At the same time, the Senator also changed: an updated Senator B model appeared. The car was equipped with only two engines: a four-cylinder 2.0-liter and a six-cylinder 24-valve, 3.0-liter. The three-liter version was equipped as standard with automatic transmission. The maximum speed of the car was 240 km / h. But the car did not find enough buyers, and the company stopped its production in 1991.
In 1988, Ascona ceased production, and instead of it, a much more worthy Vectra A model appeared at that time. This car was more “licked” and extremely powerful. It was produced with two types of bodies: a sedan and a five-door hatchback. In April 1989, an all-wheel drive modification appeared, on which the most powerful engines were installed. By the way, the range of engines was even larger than that of Omega - about 20 modifications, including a six-cylinder one with a capacity of 150 hp. In limited quantities, the Vectra 4 × 4 turbo model was produced, with a capacity of 204 hp.
At the same time, a modification of the sedan was released at Corsa, while the appearance of the model underwent some changes. A modification of the Corsa GSi was also developed. A year later, the Kadett E series was restyled. An enlarged radiator grill has appeared (for cooling more powerful motor), anti-shock bar and wide protective strips on the sides.
1990-1999
In 1990, a masterpiece appeared - Opel Calibra. The car was based on the Vectra chassis, equipped with engines from it and had a coupe body. The drag coefficient was C x = 0.29 - a result that many cars are now far from. The car was produced in both front-wheel drive and all-wheel drive versions. In limited quantities, the Calibra 4 × 4 turbo model was produced, with a capacity of 204 hp. The Calibra turned out to be such a successful car that it was produced for nine years in Germany and at the Valmet plant in Finland. With such models, Opel entered the last decade of the twentieth century.
In 1991, the Opel family again replenished. At the Frankfurt Motor Show, the company showed its new Astra F model with a variety of body options: three- and five-door hatchbacks, sedan, station wagon and convertible. The new car has replaced the “old” Kadett, which has fallen in love with more than one generation. But Opel lost this time - Astra was second in its class all the time - VW Golf firmly held its positions (it's not for nothing that a whole class of cars is named after him), although in some countries the leadership belonged to Astra, primarily because of the body design. The car had a wide range of engines, the most powerful (150 hp) were installed on the GSi model. The buyer liked the high passive safety, efficiency, low costs for Maintenance, configuration.
In the same year, for the first time in its history, the company launched the production of a cross-country vehicle - the Frontera model. The first SUV was created on the basis of japanese jeep Isuzu Rodeo (51% of the shares belong to GM) and did not differ in special technical perfection, although it looked very powerful in appearance. It turned out a typical "parquet" jeep with weak engines. The company constantly experienced difficulties with the build quality of this model. By the end of the year, the family of the company, according to the agreement between GM and Isuzu Motors, based on the already existing Japanese pickup truck The Opel Campo model was designed.
In 1991, the Omega A series underwent a cosmetic update. 1992 brought some additions to the Frontera model, or rather, to its engine. The car began to be equipped with a turbodiesel. In the same year, another comfortable Monterey model appeared with all-wheel drive. Like the Frontera, the Monterey was co-developed with Isuzu. This model is produced in two versions: LTD with a long wheelbase and hard top and RS with a short wheelbase.
In 1993, in record time, the company developed the second generation of the smallest Corsa B model in its class. The novelty was the direct successor to the so popular 1983 model. The model had a 3- and 5-door body. A small batch also produces a modification of the Canvas Top, which means "tarpaulin top". At the same time, the buyer was offered the second generation of Omega B.
In 1994, a completely new class car appeared - Tigra. A powerful and light sports car with a very unusual look, first of all, young people liked it. In 1994, updates and additions were made to the entire range of products manufactured by Opel.
The presentation of the Astra Cabrio model took place in the summer of the same year, and already in 1995 the car went into series. Previously, the convertible was created on the basis of Kadett, and now on the new Astra base. A little later, the model was equipped with a more powerful 1.6-liter engine. The second half of the 90s was marked by the appearance in 1995 of the second generation Vectra B. The novelty was presented in three versions at once - with sedan, hatchback and station wagon bodies.
As for SUVs, another option has been added to the already existing two models - Frontera Sport Soft Top with a soft folding rear roof. With the onset of 1996, for the first time in the history of the company, a minivan appeared in the Opel lineup - Sintra, which became the fruit of joint work technical center Adam Opel AG and the North American division of General Motors. New minivan became the first Opel produced in the USA. It is based on the Pontiac Trans Sport platform. In 1997, Opel slightly updated the Astra and Corsa models. In the same year, in Frankfurt, the company introduced the second generation, the Astra G.
A completely new design and a clear wedge shape created the image of a more solid car. In 1998, the Opel Monterey underwent a major upgrade. Changed interior trim and appearance. The changes also affected the engines: the volume increased from 3.2 to 3.5 liters, and the power from 177 to 215 hp. A new Isuzu turbodiesel has also appeared - a four-cylinder, 3.0-liter direct injection fuel and common rail system. Power is 159 hp. In the same year, a compact van appeared based on Opel Astra II - Zafira.
The car competed with Renault Megane Scenic. It is equipped with 100, 115 hp engines and 82 hp turbodiesel. The company also produces pickups, Movano and Campo, but they are not in great demand.
In 1999, the Vectra and Omega underwent a facelift. Updated front/rear bumpers, mirrors, taillights, and Omega has at its disposal an eight-cylinder engine.
Opel rushed into a niche market dominated by Mercedes Benz E-class and Audi A8. This year, a decision was made to launch mass production Opel Omega 2000 and Opel Speedster. In March 1999, the Opel Astra Coupe appeared.
2000s
In 1999, Opel (including Vauxhall) dropped to 4th place among Western European car manufacturers, having assembled almost the same number of cars as in the previous year (1739.9 thousand units against 1742.4 thousand in 1998) . However, with the introduction of the new generation of the Corsa model on the market and the consistently high demand for the Astra family, hopes for an improvement in the situation are pinned. In 2000, the Opel lineup changed. Ceased sales of imported Sintra and Monterey models. A new family of Corsa models has appeared and the first representative of Opel in the European size class A is the Agila compact minivan.
In 2000, two new 6-cylinder engines appeared and the power of a number of previous units was increased. Gasoline engines with a working volume of 1.2; 1.6 and 1.8 liters with a capacity of 65, 75 and 115 hp added 10 hp and began to develop 75, 85 and 125 hp, respectively. Zafira models received a more powerful 2.0-liter diesel engine with 100 hp. and a 2.2-liter engine with 147 hp. The Vectra family was replenished with a 2.2-liter diesel engine with 125 hp, a 2.2-liter gasoline unit with 147 hp and a new 2.6-liter V6 engine with 180 hp. (previously 2.5L and 170PS) Omega models received three new engines: a 2.2L diesel with 120PS, a 2.6L V6 with 180PS. and a new 2.5-liter in-line diesel engine from BMW with direct fuel injection of 155 hp. (against 130 hp before).
Today Adam Opel AG is the largest subsidiary of General Motors outside the United States. At the company's factories located in Rüsselsheim, Bochum, Kaiserslautern. Berlin and the Belgian city of Antwerp employ more than 55,000 people. The Opel brand combines cars designed for every taste, demand and wealth: Corsa, Tigra, Agila, Astra, Vectra, Calibra, Meriva, Omega, Zafira. Do not forget the Frontera SUVs, as well as the Sintra minivan.
The international jury of the Car of the Year 2005 competition at the end of 2004 selected seven finalists, including the Opel Astra. This new model of the European best-seller has received a "five-star" rating from consumer protection organization EuroNCAP, the safest sedan in the compact car class. Already, the demand for this car in Western Europe exceeds the wildest expectations - even before the start of sales, the company's portfolio included over 100 thousand orders.
Since its founding in 1862, Opel has strived to make the achievements of science and technology widely available to all segments of society. This philosophy remains unchanged to this day. It was consistently embodied by Opel at all stages of the company's development, starting with the production of sewing machines, and then bicycles. Today, this philosophy underlies the creation of all Opel vehicles.
