To date the lineup Opel cars is quite diverse. In the domestic market, the 4-door middle-class sedan, the Opel Astra, attracts the most attention. This car model can also be called "folk", as the manufacturer has assembled a car that many can afford. In the budget segment, it occupies a special place, because Astra has already won the love of so many fans and owners. But, nevertheless, our compatriots are interested in where the Opel Astra is assembled for our country?
In our state, this German car can be called an old-timer. We began to assemble the "German" eleven years ago (2004) in Kaliningrad at the Avtotor enterprise. Four years later, the Germans set up production at another domestic General Motors plant in Shushary. But, here the car was assembled for only one year, and on Kaliningrad plant cars are still produced only under a different name - Astra Family. The engine range of the Russian Astra is quite diverse. Buyers can purchase budget sedan, both with diesel and petrol units to choose from. Engine displacement varies from 1.4 liters to 1.9 liters. The transmission can also be different: 5-6-speed "mechanics" or 4-6-speed "automatic".
Features of the Russian model
On Russian enterprise they assemble a car with the same characteristics as a thoroughbred "German". The maximum speed of the sedan is 193 kilometers per hour. In terms of fuel consumption, this model belongs to economical vehicles. Depending on the place of operation and the power plant, the car can consume 5.3 / 6.6 / 8.3 liters of fuel. For urban roads, this "German" is just perfect. Machine dimensions are: 4658mm×1814mm×1500mm. Where they produce Opel Astra for Russians, they take into account operating conditions and the quality of our roads.
For sedan domestic production install a 4-valve, 4-cylinder 1.4-liter engine. The volume of the luggage compartment of the car is 460 liters, this is with the rear seats unfolded, if you fold them, you can increase this figure to 1010 liters. The curb weight of the car is 1400 kilograms. Front independent and rear semi-independent suspension provide protection to the machine. Both the driver and passengers will feel comfortable and safe inside this vehicle. Astra power plants meet Euro-4 environmental standards.
To ensure maximum safety, the manufacturer has installed on this machine model ABS systems and ESP and a set of front and side airbags. And the air conditioning system will take care of the maximum comfort of each passenger and the owner of the car. The front seats of the car have a heating function, and a system of electric windows was also installed here.
Build quality
The Opel Astra sedan is designed for operation both in the city and on unpaved dirt roads. The "stuffing" of the sedan is the most modern and, according to reviews, it is clear that the owners like it. Some argue that the fact where the Opel Astra is produced affects the quality of the vehicle. But, in recent years, the owners of the domestic Opel have no strong complaints about the domestic assembly. Although, there are people who are dissatisfied with the quality paintwork car, they say that it is cheap and looks gloomy.
Also, it is worth mentioning that this car model is also assembled in:
- Poland (Gliwice)
- Germany (Bochum)
- Belgium (Antwerp)
- England (Ellesmere).
So, if we compare the Russian Astra with the Polish one, then our sedan does not have some elements, for example, a sunroof, curtains in the car interior and Bluetooth connectivity. Since this car model belongs to the middle class, the cost for it will vary from 650,000 rubles, depending on the configuration.
Opel (Adam Opel AG), German car company, which 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, "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 adjusted mass production, the Opel brothers won recognition in Germany, but a fire in 1911 destroyed their factory. However, setting modern equipment, produced out of necessity, gave the company significant benefits ahead of 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 Prototype of the first Opel with 6- cylinder engine.
Early 20s. Model "8/25" with a 2-liter engine has received wide acceptance. More powerful variants 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 annoyed 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 The "Opel 10/14PS" was introduced, equipped with a 4-cylinder 2.6-litre engine.
1927 The company started production new series comfortable cars equipped with a 1735 cc 6-cylinder engine. cm.
1928 Featured sport 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 Olimpia was introduced and became the first mass-produced monocoque car.
1935 The "Kadett" model was launched and was very popular with the public.
1937 "Opel Super Six" launched. The executive car "Admiral" ("Opel Admiral") with a 6-cylinder engine of 3626 cubic meters was also released. 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 small cars(later AZLK), and partly went to GAZ. However, Opel quickly restored and exceeded the pre-war level of production. In 1947, the company resumes production of the Olimpia model.
1948 The upgraded "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, the 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.
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 begun. In 1993, the presentation of the new generation Corsa took place.
1986 Classic layout "Omega" family shown.
1987 Presentation of the car "Senator" was made, which led the model range of the company.
1988 The same type of model "Vectra" appeared.
The range of models in the 1990s was completely redesigned and expanded; at the center of the production program has become Astra model("Astra"), which replaced the "Cadet" line.
In 1994, the Tigra compact coupe of the same type was released.
1997 6-8 seater 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 unveils two-seater, mid-engined sports car Speedster and concept car Zafira at fuel cells"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 top speed - 172 km / h.
American corporation General Motors and French PSA concern announced that the sale Opel approved. This became known on the eve of the opening of the Geneva Motor Show, so in the coming days we will learn more and more details of this transaction. So far, PSA chief Carlos Tavares (pictured left) and GM head Mary Barra (right) have announced that both the Opel brand and its subsidiary Vauxhall, along with GM's European financial structures, will become part of the French concern.
The value of the transaction amounted to 2.2 billion euros: 1.3 billion euros for the automotive business and 0.9 billion for the financial business. However, PSA will pay only 1.8 billion of them, as the financial division of GM is acquired in half with the bank BNP Paribas. In addition, GM can earn more if Opel develops successfully: under the terms of the deal, the Americans received an option for 650 million euros, according to which in the next nine years they can buy up to 4.7% of PSA shares at the current price (17.34 euros), but they will be obliged to immediately sell this package at real quotes.
In 2016, Opel and Vauxhall occupied 5.7% of the European market with 1.2 million vehicles sold and revenues of 17.7 billion euros. Since 2013, the company has been led by the former chief of the Chinese division Volkswagen brands Carl-Thomas Nohminn, and his team's plan was to break even last year. However, the calculation did not work and for the seventeenth time in a row the year ended with losses: the loss amounted to 0.3 billion euros. The reasons were given as Brexit (that is, the negative impact of the UK's decision to leave the EU), the unfavorable exchange rate of the British pound against the dollar and high costs to launch new models.
The portfolio of PSA will be two more brands
After the addition of Opel, the PSA group will occupy about 17% of the European market, which will make the concern the number two automaker in the region: only Volkswagen is larger. For GM, this is another step to reduce costs: before that, plants in the Portuguese Azambuzh, Belgian Antwerp, German Bochum were closed, last year they curtailed the production of motors in Australia, and this fall they also curtailed the assembly of cars.
Opel has been part of the General Motors empire since 1929 - and now, 88 years later, it is leaving it. PSA management expects to bring the profitability of operating activities to 2% by 2020, and to increase it to 6% by 2026. As part of the deal, PSA will take over Opel brands and Vauxhall, six assembly and five aggregate plants, an engineering center in Rüsselheim and 40,000 employees. The engineering center in Turin will remain with GM.
Immediately after the deal was announced, Karl-Thomas Nohminn promised that "Opel will remain a German brand and Vauxhall an English one." This probably means that there are no plans to close factories in the UK and Germany. This assumption is confirmed by the head of the PSA, Carlos Tavares, who said: “There is no need to close the factories. Over the past few years, we have improved their efficiency, while since I took office, we have not closed any of the plants.”
Opel and Vauxhall will continue to use GM's intellectual property and technology until existing models are replaced by new ones developed on PSA platforms. By the way, within the framework of previously concluded agreements, Opel has already developed two models on French platforms - a small crossover based on the Peugeot 2008 and Grandland X based on the 3008 model. uses the GM platform. It is assumed that Opel will continue to supply cars to GM for sale in the Australian market, under the Holden brand, and in the US, under the Buick brand.
The Austro-Canadian company Magna and the American auto giant GM made a deal to bring Opel under the control of Magna. Peer Steinbrück, German Finance Minister, announced the outcome of the negotiations that took place in Berlin and ended on the night of May 30. Magna is acting in consortium with Sberbank and GAZ Group in this deal.
Opel (Adam Opel AG) is a German automobile company that is part of the General Motors concern. Produces cars, minibuses, minivans. The headquarters is located in Rüsselheim, Germany.
The Opel company was founded in 1862 by the German designer and industrialist Adam Opel. Initially, the company was engaged in the production of sewing machines - these products were in such demand that Opel produced sewing machines until 1911. However, in 1886, Adam Opel founded the production of carriage wheels, and a year later his enterprises mastered the production of bicycles.
The company released the first car in 1899, having spent 37 years developing it. Adam Opel himself died before automobile production was started, but his family continued the business. The sons of Adam Opel set themselves the goal of creating a car that is reliable and affordable for most of the country's population.
The history of the company can be divided into stages:
First stage: formation of the company and gaining recognition in Germany
1899-1928 Opel's first efforts in automotive manufacturing were made with partners, first with engineer Friedrich Lutzmann of Dessau and later with the French company Darracq. In 1902, Opel introduced the first own project- 10/12hp model with 2-cylinder engine. Seven years later, Opel introduced a compact 2-seat car that became known as the "Doktorwagen" (Doctor's car) because it was especially loved by country doctors.
1899 - the company signed a contract with the wagon builder Friedrich Lutzmann from Desau to build the first car in Rasselsheim - "Patented Opel Car, Lutzmann System".
1901 - Frenchman Alexandre Darracq was contracted to manufacture Darracq cars under license.
1902 - the presentation of the first car, developed entirely by the Opel company itself, took place: 10 / 12 hp, a model with a new 2-cylinder engine with a built-in water pump, maximum speed - 45 km / h.
1903 Opel "20/24PS" appeared.
1905 - the company began to produce cars of a higher class. The "35/40PS" model appears, with an engine capacity of 6.9 liters. Having established its mass production, the company won recognition in Germany
1906 - A branch of the factory is opened in Berlin (Berlin). The 1000th car of the company was manufactured.
1909 - A 4/8PS model with a 4-cylinder engine is introduced, known as the "Doktorwagen" (Doctor's Car), valued at 3950 marks. The company has taken the first step towards making cars accessible to more consumers.
1912 - The ten thousandth car was produced. In the same year, the first agreement was reached in negotiations between employers and trade unions on working conditions. It stipulated work time- 55.5 hours per week - and a minimum wage of 36 pfennings per hour.
1914 - Opel becomes Germany's largest automobile manufacturer, selling 3,335 cars a year. The company starts hiring women on assembly lines.
1924 - Opel invests one million gold marks in the modernization of automobile production and becomes the first manufacturer in Germany to start production using the assembly line.
1928 - With a market share of 37.5% and 42,771 units sold, Opel is the largest automotive manufacturer Germany. Opel becomes a joint-stock company German Aktiengesellschaft.
The second stage: the crisis and the beginning of cooperation with General Motors
1929 - 1945 The global economic crisis caused concern among the owners of the company. In search of a reliable partner, the Opel family came to an agreement with the General Motors Corporation, which bought the company in 1929. In 1935 At the Berlin Motor Show, Opel presented the first mass-produced German car with an all-steel frame integrated with the body - the Olympia 1.3 liter.
1929 - General Motors acquires 80% of Opel. Opel becomes the first German manufacturer to establish an insurance company and a bank to finance sales on credit.
1931 - General Motors acquires the remaining 20% of Opel. Since then, the company has been a subsidiary of General Motors. The company's 13,000 employees produce 500 cars and 6,000 bicycles daily.
1936 - With an annual production of 120,923 cars, Opel is considered the largest automaker in Europe.
1937 - Opel ceases to manufacture bicycles and sells them to the NSU corporation to concentrate on automobile production.
1940 - Opel produces the millionth car. Passenger car production stops in October.
1944 - Plants in Russelsheim and Brandenburg are destroyed by bombs.
1945 - Production equipment for the model Kadett (Kadett) is dismantled Soviet Union.
Third stage: post-war reconstruction and production growth
1945 - 1979 After the end of the war, the company's employees began to restore the almost completely destroyed plant in Russelsheim. With only minor changes were presented, the truck "Blitz" (Blitz), and later, "Olympia" (Olympia) and "Captain" (Kapitan). With the creation in 1962. plant in Bochum, Opel began new era. In 1977 Opel introduced the Senator and Monza models, re-entering the core market share.
1946 - The first post-war Opel car, a 1.5-ton Blitz truck, was produced.
1950 - The reconstruction of the Russelsheim plant was completed.
1956 - The 2 millionth Opel was produced. The company doubles productivity with the grand opening of a new K-40 case manufacturing facility.
1962 - Opel celebrates its 100th anniversary and opens a second plant in Bochum.
1966 - Millionth Cadet leaves the Bocham plant. Opel opens the Dudenhofen Proving Ground in Germany and opens a new parts plant in Kaiserslautern.
1972 - Opel is the largest car manufacturer in Germany with a 20.4% market share.
Fourth stage: development and creation of environmentally friendly cars
1980 - 1989 In the 1980s, Opel introduced a number of environmental initiatives, some of which were commercialized for the first time. The Opel Omega, introduced in 1986, offers a wide range of low emission petrol and diesel engines, becoming Car of the Year 1987. Opel sets new standards in aerodynamics with the Opel Vectra in 1988.
1981 - Opel became the first car manufacturer to introduce environmentally compatible water-based paints. More than 500 million marks have been invested in the construction of a new paint shop in Russellsheim.
1982 - Opel builds a new plant in Zaragoza (Spain) for the production of "Opel Corsa" (Corsa) - the most compact car ever produced by the company.
1983 - The 20 millionth vehicle leaves the Russelsheim factory. Asbestos-free clutch discs become standard equipment.
1985 - Opel becomes the first manufacturer to offer a full range of models equipped with catalytic converters. At the same time, the company begins to cooperate with athletes and sports teams and develops a sponsorship concept to promote team sports.
1987 - Opel celebrates its 125th anniversary. New, worth 300 million DM, paint shop in Bocham installs world standards on ecology with water-soluble paints.
1989 - The 25 millionth Opel Omega Caravan rolls off the assembly line. Opel becomes the first company to install a closed catalytic converter as standard equipment on all of its petrol vehicles in Germany.
Fifth stage: internationalization of the company brand
1990 - 1999 "Opel" significantly expands the model range, improves production technology and seeks internationalization of the brand. Technical Center of the company's development in Russelsheim becomes the center of creation of General Motors' international product development strategy and a leading source of projects and technologies. Opel is investing heavily in the expansion of existing European plants and operations and in new production facilities around the world. By the end of this period, the company is ready to introduce the Opel brand to new markets around the world.
1992 - New factory company in Eisenach, Germany, sets a new benchmark for GM's future production facilities.
1993 - The Opel Technical Development Center in Russellsheim is assigned responsibility for design and manufacturing development for operations outside North America.
1994 - Opel produces the 30 millionth car and becomes the main sponsor of FIFA (Football World Cup in the U.S.A.)
1995 - Opel becomes the first German manufacturer to open assembly plant in Poland.
1997 - Opel and the Italian company Bertone celebrate 10 years of partnership during which approximately 105,000 Opel vehicles were assembled at the Bertone plant near Turin, Italy (Turin, Italy).
1999 - Chancellor Gerhard Schroder and Prime Minister Hans Eichel meet with the management of Adam Opel AG to mark the centenary of Opel vehicles."
The sixth stage: the renewal of production and the global crisis
2000 -2009 In 2002, Opel launched a new program to develop new products and upgrade production. It is planned to invest about 10 billion Euros. Opel plans to release a new (updated) model every six months for the next five years. As a result of these innovations, two new models are being released this year - the Opel Meriva five-seater minivan and the progressive Opel Signum.
2000 - Opel starts building a new plant in Russelsheim. The company announces the most revolutionary cars in its history. New generation - ECOTEC engines - high power And low level nature pollution.
2001 - Adam Opel AG and GM Europe announce the expansion of a restructuring program aimed at regaining lost ground and rebranding. Opel introduces a two-year warranty on all products.
Astra Celebrates its 10th birthday. Since the start of production successful model sold more than 7 million vehicles in over 90 countries.
2002 - Opel plans to release a new (updated) model every six months for the next five years.
2003-2007 The new Vectra is being built at the state-of-the-art plant in Russelsheim. The Corsa, the most successful small car in the world, is celebrating its 20th birthday. Since September 1982, more than 11 million vehicles have been produced.
2007 - Opel produced about 300 thousand cars of various brands at factories in Germany.
2008 - Due to the financial crisis that began in the United States, all divisions of the General Motors concern find themselves in a difficult economic situation and asks the authorities for financial support. The financial crisis develops into a global economic crisis. By 2009, it becomes clear that GM is on the verge of bankruptcy. In November, Opel was the first German car manufacturer to approach the federal and state governments for financial assistance.
2009 - GM begins restructuring its assets. The Austro-Canadian company Magna, the Italian concern Fiat, the transnational investment company Ripplewood and Chinese automaker BAIC. As a result of negotiations in May 2009, Ripplewood, BAIC and Fiat abandon their intentions.
On May 30, 2009, it becomes known that Magna and GM have entered into a deal to bring Opel under the control of Magna. Magna in this deal is acting in a consortium with Sberbank of the Russian Federation and GAZ Group. IN As a result of the transaction, the Canadian company should receive 20% of Opel, GM and Sberbank - 35% each, and Opel will retain 10%. The Russian automaker GAZ claims to be an industrial partner. In particular, GAZ is ready to provide its facilities for the production of Opel models.
The material was prepared on the basis of information from RIA Novosti and open sources
The well-known company Opel has received recognition from motorists around the world. First of all, it is recognized for its quality, which invariably pleases customers. Opel's history began as a sewing machine company that has grown to become one of the top brands automotive industry in the world.
The history of Opel began with sewing machines
early years
From childhood, Adam Opel was interested in mechanisms. When he had the opportunity to do what he loved, he created a sewing machine, which was received positively by everyone. To let her in mass production, in 1862 he created the Opel company. Since his large family used bicycles extensively at the time, he took advantage of this by organizing their production. In 1890, his firm became the best in Germany. The history of the name is closely connected with its founders.
When in 1899 the management of the company passed to the brothers Friedrich and Wilhelm Opel, they, under the impression of one of the presentations, released their first car. He was one of the first of his kind, so he had a lot of flaws. Because of this, sales were at a fairly low level, but the history of the Opel brand continued to develop.
History of the logo
During its existence, the company logo has changed several times. Before the war, it looked like lightning, but later acquired an oval with a ruler, which was an anagram of its own name. A little later, the icon was given the image of an airship, and even later - a ringed lightning. In 2009, the management firmly decided to change the image, due to which the logo took on the form of a three-dimensional lightning bolt with the name of the company.
Treaty of great importance
When Opel became interested in the Darracq enterprise, they signed a contract between themselves, which resulted in the release of a new car, the Opel Darracq, in 1903. He showed good sales giving impetus to the development of the company. So, 1906 was the beginning of a complete Opel. At this time, the company was not yet well-known, and its work did not have the best appearance, but they were solidly assembled.
When the first came World War, Opel took up the production of trucks to support the army. Of course, the engineers at that time had many new ideas, but the crisis prevented them from being implemented.
Problem solving
When the company had already got the opportunity to do its own business, in 1923 it carried out a complete modernization of its facilities. This mainly concerned the machine tools and the conveyor, which had no analogues in all of Germany. The result of this period was a new car, exactly repeating the famous Citroen. Its name was "4/12 l. s., and it was painted in shades of green. For this, the car was nicknamed "The Frog", and the total circulation of the car until 1927 was 39,000 units.
Opel history developed rapidly and the company soon came under the control of General Motors, which made it its representative office in Germany. Thanks to this, it was possible to increase the pace of work and the creation of new machines. So, in 1935, the brand produced 100,000 units. Unfortunately, at that time there were severe restrictions on the creation of progressive technology, so the development of the company was suspended.
In 1936 it was demonstrated new car Olympia. She was the first among her own kind, and had a load-bearing body. This was the beginning for a whole direction of such lines. A feature of this model was an excellent assembly, which was distinguished by reliability and safety, and the car itself had good aerodynamics. The features of the vehicle include its load-bearing body, which made it possible to make the car lower, it also became lighter.
In 1937 Opel production created an oversized truck that had 75 hp. With. and a 6 cylinder engine. In subsequent years, this transport has undergone many modifications, but its appearance and the corporate logo became a symbol of the company of that time.
Mode influence
When the development of the country depended on the decisions of the fascist leadership, the activities of General Motors fell sharply. The concern regularly received instructions in the creation of military equipment, despite the company's strategy. Until 1945, the company produced weapons, which led to huge losses, but in the eyes of the country the company became a representative of patriotism.
Due to the military conflict in 1944, all the production facilities of the plant were destroyed by the Soviet troops. Everything was in ruins, and the leaders of the company from Brandenburg and Rüsselheim dispersed to different countries. It was difficult time for the brand, since even the remains of equipment from the ruins were taken to the Union, until nothing remained of Opel in 1946.
New breath
Formerly known in the company car Kadett was created in the Soviet style in Moscow. Due to the received drawings, it remained almost the same, but was called "Moskvich-400". Very soon, this brand was sold in Belgium and Finland, and original spare parts were supplied from Germany. It was also the time of the creation of the Pioneer tractor and the Ifa (Avia) trucks.
Then there was the need for trucks. To cover it, production in Rüsselsheim was partially restored. Then the world saw again Opel models Blitz, which could work with a weight of 3 tons. Later, production began to improve passenger transport Opel Kapitan, but its engine could not have a volume of more than 1.5 liters, due to occupation restrictions. The most powerful by that standards was the Olympia model, the mass production of which was established in 1947.
This car has got a new look. An expressive grille and an oversized bumper were mounted in it. The gearbox has also been moved closer to the steering column. This stamp was a great success, and in 1953 its 100,000th copy was created. After that, a restyled Opel Kapitan was added to it, which received neat round headlights.
Performance improvement
It got much better when production in Rüsselsheim was restored in 1950. It bore little resemblance to an American design, but this allowed the company to quickly scale up its work.
One of best cars of that time was the Opel Olympia Rekord P-1, which was demonstrated at the Frankfurt Motor Show. He was the embodiment of all the desires of the people of the 50s. The car had a successful solution in the form of two doors - both the convertible version and the "Caravan" (sedan and simple passenger car). Some experts believe that the body of this car was the basis of the famous Moskvich-402. The production of the model was carried out from 1953 to 1957 inclusive.
Fashion trends
Since Opel already had enough free solutions to work with, they began to make design changes. So, the front lines were restyled. Soon the Rekord P-1 was a huge success, but that didn't stop the brand. Already in 1958, the world saw an updated Rekord. Of course, he was present old motor, but the designers improved the body by lengthening it, which made the car slightly lower.
The technical side of the Opel Kapitan was only affected in the late 50s, when it was added power unit. Already in 1960, the Rekord P-2 came off the assembly line, which had four doors. Its design was quite simple, and the roof pillars became narrower. This one was also similar to the American design, including a grille and round headlights.
A year later, full-scale production of the Opel coupe model began. Its power was at the level of 60 liters. s., and she moved at a speed of 140 km / h. At this time, minor changes were made to the design of the sedan, the release of which lasted until 1963.
Successful decisions
Soon the Rekord P-2 car received an undoubted leadership, which was comparable to the legendary "Beetle". When Opel turned 100 years old in 1962, it was decided to expand its capacity. For this reason, a factory was built in the city of Bochum to produce the Kadett line. It had improved characteristics, as engineers from Germany and America worked on it. The result was the installation of the engine from Chevrolet. A little later, coupe and combi options were added to the line of a two-door sedan.
Improvements also touched Rekord - in 1963 he added more powerful engine class "A". July 1964 was remembered for the change in the Rekord model, which received a more powerful motor from Kapitan. The same model was also improved, after which it entered car dealerships with the name Admiral - production continued until 1968. Thus, the company had already fully decided on its style and policy in the 60s. New models did not stay on the market for more than 5 years, being replaced by a new car.
Modifications were present for almost every car, so in 1965 the Kadett B model received options with both two and four doors. Engineers increased the power of the car to 90 horsepower (previously it was 45). Although the model had a fairly ordinary appearance, this did not affect its sales.
free ideas
Since the company previously existed under American control, in 1965 it received its own power management, creating four-cylinder engines. This was followed by the release of the Diplomat V8 car, which was Opel's own take on mechanical engineering. Its circulation did not exceed 50 pieces, but buyers positively perceived the car, as it was the fastest in the history of the brand, allowing you to drive up to 200 km / h.
In 1966, a special model Rallye Kadett was released, with a black hood and sports instrumentation. Young people immediately opted for it, so production continued until 1973. During this time, the car was improved and accelerated more than once, which only increased its popularity.
By the middle of the decade, the brand's activities expanded to a new line: Commodore A, Kapitan A and Diplomat A. weak engine, which worsened sales, but was soon replaced by a more powerful one. Rekord also got a new bodywork, which was even lower than all the options before.
Improvements and a new look
Very soon, the Rekord Coupe 6 car, which has a 6-cylinder engine, went on sale. Its power was 100 liters. With. This model range was supplemented by the Opel GT car, which had an unusually bright design. It was demonstrated in 1965 in the city of Frankfurt.
The Opel GT model became a breakthrough for fashionable Europe in 1965. The coupe was taken from the basis of Kadett. It was planned to organize mass production of such a model, but later the release was made limited, that is, exclusive. Among the features of the flagship, it should be noted the extended headlights with characteristic visors, an elongated front end, a rear end that improves aerodynamic properties, stabilizers with curved shapes and a sophisticated look of the whole car. The release of the model lasted until 1973.
March 1969 was remembered for the history of the concern by the creation of the "Big Three". Diplomat, Kapitan and Admiral received the "B" index and a modified body. It only made them look better. Nationalization began in the 1970s production capacity General motors.
Movement across the ocean
Since Opel already had a fairly high level of sales and popularity in Europe and Germany, it was decided to organize deliveries to new countries. For this, in 1970, the GT / J sports car was chosen, which before that received a new look. The next car was Manta A - A New Look Opel for sports class. She was the main competition for the Ford Capri, having a large capacity.
The original production also received an innovation, the Ascona A car in 1970. The Kadett configuration was used as the basis for the chassis - the model was not a huge success. The year 1971 was remembered for the company by testing the new GT on an electric type drive. The new technology made it possible to obtain 136 horsepower and gave a speed of 188 km / h.
Soon the trend of using diesel engines, which found its way to the brand in 1972. His flagship sports class was able to win 20 records for his segment. In 1971, the concern produced its ten millionth car. A year later, a successful presentation took place for the Commodore B and the Rekord D model. Outwardly, they were impossible to distinguish.
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Similar original ideas continued into the 1970s, when the company created an unusual coupe. General Motors soon made an equally urgent decision - the release of the Kadett C model, in the assembly of which all firms from the countries of the concern should take part. It was necessary for the new car to meet all the requirements of a modern and high-quality flagship. The name of such a vehicle was Kadett C Coupe, and the car went on sale in 1973.
Soon, the flagship Manta B was presented in Frankfurt. Due to the popularity of the novelty, she received changes to her engine as many as five times until 1982. The best option the GTE assembly is considered to have a capacity of 105 hp. With. One of the original modifications for the Manta SS can be attributed to the 1978 version, which has a large back. Thanks to the successful execution, success came very quickly, leaving behind Ford competitors. Among the elite flagships of this year are Diplomat and Commandore S.
The way forward
Continuous development has created the Senator A model. This a car was supposed to replace all the big flagships of that time - Admiral and Diplomat. This decision came about due to big expense fuel when the oil crisis had already begun. This brand had 4 doors and an excellent 180 hp engine. With.
The concern actively adhered to new trends until 1979. Then the company decided to go the other way, using the front drive wheels. Such cars became a little shorter, but thanks to the modified drive, it was possible to expand the interior. The changes also affected the engine displacement, making the car a bestseller.
80s
At this time, the model range of the Opel concern has already been completely changed. These trends continued, and in 1981 an improved Ascona C model with a 1.6-liter engine went on sale. real car was already the second all-wheel drive flagship, as it was originally planned for international sales. For this, a system was introduced whereby all cars for such sales had the same platform in order to become universal for each country.
In 1982, improvements continued and affected the outdated Monza A2 and Senator A2 models. The motor was replaced in them and the front part of the body was improved. Also, the Manta B and Rekord E2 sports class lineup was soon improved. In 1983, the company created the Corsa A, which was immediately noticed by fans of compact cars. It was supplemented by the flagship Ascona C Cabrio, whose assembly was in Zaragoza (Spain). The hatchback car had all-wheel drive and was produced in variations with three different engines.
Way out of difficulties
After creation the latest stamps sales slowed down. This is due to the monotonous design, because of which all car models were similar to each other. So, in 1984, the company creates an improved Kadett E.
Already in the mid-80s concern Opel considered one of the best in Europe in terms of sales. Based on this, the company begins to apply for its cars catalytic converters. This becomes the basis for the release of the improved Kadett E, for which she receives the Car of the Year award. Due to their success, deliveries were even organized in South Korea, and later one of the models was personally taken up by Bertone himself.
Late 80s
In 1986, Opel created an improved Omega A. This car was sold in wagon and sedan body styles. Thanks to huge selection engines for him, the concern again became the leader of the year in sales. For 9 years he held the championship thanks to his high performance. A little later, a modification of the Omega Lotus came out, which is capable of developing a power of 300 hp. With. in just 5 seconds. Due to the high accident rate on the roads associated with this car, it began to be sold only to holders of a sports license.
The year 1987 was memorable for the company with the Ascona Touring car and the introduction of two engines in the Senator B. This made it possible to achieve a speed of 240 km / h and was supplemented automatic transmission gears. But the transport never found its buyer, so in 1991 it was withdrawn from sale.
The closure of production also affected the Ascona brand in 1988, when it was replaced by the more advanced Vectra A. This car had a more powerful assembly and was produced in two body styles. In 1989, the car got an all-wheel drive system and great choice motors. Among these options, the model with 204 stood out horsepower. Other well-known models have also received modifications.
Company in the 90s
The year 1990 was remembered for the release of one of the best cars of all time - the Opel Calibra. The company took as a basis the chassis and engine from the Vectra. Its aerodynamic features in C x =0.29 even today seem sky-high to many. Several drive options have been introduced to the market, as well as limited model at 204 l. With. Its release continued for another 9 years.
A year later, a complete design overhaul was carried out for the Omega A. Among the innovations for 1992 was the introduction of a turbodiesel in the Frontera. A little later, the company released the Monterey model, in the creation of which Isuzu took part. A year later, Corsa B models appeared, which were based on the classic 1983 product.
Opel produced a completely new Tigra in 1994. The car had a fairly small weight and strong power. She was highly appreciated by the younger generation. The new model Astra Cabrio saw the world in 1995, simultaneously receiving increased engine power. In the same year, the market met a fundamentally new Opel Vectra B. The company also led joint work with the General Motors division of North America.
Moving into a new generation
In 1997, the company decided on its future design, which was implemented in Astra G. Smooth and clear lines were traced for several more years with new models and modifications of old ones. A minivan appeared a little later Opel Zafira. He made a splash with his high handling.
At this time, Opel entered the high-quality car market, which was dominated by Audi and Mercedes. To find their place, they launched into production Opel Omega 2000, which was appreciated by users.
In the 2000s, the company radically changed its lineup. One of the best representatives is Agila with an updated body, which is often used in Japan. In the coming years, the concern organized production for two 6-cylinder engines, which received increased power.
Today, Opel is the best branch of General Motors. Its factories are located in different cities and produce cars of various formats. The company's products have been awarded by EuroNCAP as the manufacturer of the highest quality machines. From the time of its first steps, the concern was able to gain popularity among all representatives of society and applied modern technical innovations which continues today.
Many motorists prefer to buy foreign cars. If you consider yourself a fan of quality proven over the years and technological innovations, Opel in best measure will meet all wishes. The brand attracts with its versatility, because anyone can find the appropriate model for themselves.
