Best Wishes from Opel for Happy Holidays and a Healthy 2021

• Well-deserved break: Relax and re-charge over Christmas
• Major event: In Q1 Groupe PSA and FCA will merge to form Stellantis
• Hot wheels: In 2021 Opel Combo, Combo Life, Movano and Astra will also go electric
• Congratulations: Classic models from Opel Kadett to Frontera celebrate important anniversaries in the new year

Best wishes from Opel for a Merry Christmas, a Happy New Year and a successful and healthy 2021. It's worth looking ahead, because the coming year will bring new electrified models from Rüsselsheim, major anniversaries and a new parent company for the brand with the Blitz.

Merger of Groupe PSA and FCA (Fiat Chrysler Automotive) to form Stellantis is scheduled for completion in the first quarter of 2021. Opel will be the only German brand in this global group – with bold and pure design, low-emission powertrains and innovative technologies. So Opel will continue to make good on its word to democratise state-of-the-art mobility. This has a long tradition. Opel has been building cars since 1899 and has made millions of people independent and mobile. Along the way many icons have been created, some of which will celebrate major anniversaries in the coming year: the Kadett will turn 85, Olympia and Kapitän 70, the Opel Rekord D 50 and SUV pioneer Frontera 30 – technology carriers, trendsetters, milestones of the automotive industry.

German manufacturer will also continue its electrification offensive unabated in 2021, when the Opel Combo, Combo Life and new Movano will join the brand's electric models. And the new Astra will also debut as an electrified version. This means that Opel will already have nine electric vehicles in its portfolio in 2021. By 2024, the Rüsselsheim-based company will also offer an electrified version of all models and take a leading role in terms of efforts to lower CO2 emissions.

“New Oel Mokka, next generation Astra– there are many good reasons to look forward to 2021. Excellent technology, electrification, an outstanding and unique design plus top equipment: that's what our new cars stand for and what our customers can look forward to. We meet the strict CO2 targets with our models. That is extremely important, because CO2 is the new currency,” explains Opel CEO, Michael Lohscheller.

Meanwhile, the brand's internationalisation offensive is in full swing. Opel is returning to important markets such as Japan. Currently, the carmaker is opening up new sales channels in South America. Business is already going very well in North Africa and the Middle East. The brand also returned to the Russian market about one year ago.

Corporate PACE! plan of 2017 stated that “Opel will become electric, Opel will become global and Opel will become sustainably profitable”. Company is delivering on all these promises and will continue to steadfastly pursue its strategy in the New Year.

New Opel Vivaro-e voted International Van of the Year 2021

• Expert jury: Opel Vivaro-e elected IVOTY by 24 LCV journalists and publishers
• Second winner within two years: Opel Combo won IVOTY award in 2019
• Opel LCV-electrification: “E”-variants of Combo, Movano follow Vivaro-e next year

New Opel Vivaro-e is International Van of the Year 2021

New Opel Vivaro-e is International Van of the Year 2021 (IVOTY). The all-electric van from the German carmaker was elected by an expert jury of 24 journalists and publishers from independent LCV magazines.

Available in three lengths and with many body variants, the battery electric Vivaro-e enables professionals to benefit from uncompromised zero-emission mobility – well beyond the “last mile”. Vivaro-e customers can choose between two sizes of lithium ion battery, depending on their needs: with 75 kWh for a range of up to 330 kilometres, or for those who have a less intensive daily use of their vehicle, with 50 kWh for up to 230 km, both in the WLTP 1 test cycle.

“We are very proud that the new Vivaro-e has been voted International Van of the Year 2021,” said Opel CEO, Michael Lohscheller, “and I would like to say a big ‘thank you’ to the experts from the IVOTY jury for this award, the greatest one can dream of in the light commercial vehicle business. The Vivaro-e sets new standards in its market segment and leads the electrification of Opel’s LCV portfolio. Next year, we will add “e”-variants of the Combo and Movano, which means it will be completely electrified before the end of 2021! Today, Opel is electrifying its entire portfolio at a fast pace, with no less than six models already available either as battery electric or hybrid vehicles. We will have electrified versions of all our passenger cars and light commercial vehicles by 2024.”

Based on the Groupe PSA EMP2 platform, the Vivaro-e offers an exceptionally wide range of driver assistance systems – as recognised by the IVOTY jury. In addition to a head-up display, the Vivaro-e features lane keep assist, extended traffic sign recognition, drowsiness alert, forward collision alert and automatic emergency braking.

Opel already won the International Van of the Year award with the Astra Van in 1999, the first generation Vivaro in 2002 and the Combo in 2019.

 [1] Range determined according to WLTP test procedure methodology (R (EC) No. 715/2007, R (EU) No. 2017/1151). The actual range can vary under everyday conditions and depends on various factors, in particular on personal driving style, route characteristics, outside temperature, use of heating and air conditioning and thermal preconditioning.

New Opel Mokka-e Wins Connected Car Award

• Fully digital: New Opel Mokka conquers compact car segment
• High-tech: Pure Panel ensures drivers get the information they need
• Clear and simple: Intuitive operation and clever services make driving more relaxed

New Opel Mokka-e Wins Connected Car Award 2020

Opel Mokka-e has won the “Connected Car Award 2020”. New all-electric vehicle from the German carmaker was elected winner of the hotly contested compact car category by the readers of Auto Bild and Computer Bild.

New Opel Mokka-e

Commenting on winning the “Connected Car Award”, Managing Director Engineering, Marcus Lott said: “With our new Opel Mokka-e, we offer our customers the full package. Drivers get all the information they need from two widescreens in the digital Pure Panel. Infotainment portfolio also provides top connectivity. Systems are intuitive to use and the ‘OpelConnect’ services make driving even more enjoyable”.

New Opel Mokka-e: Pure Panel

Opel has already won the “Connected Car Award” several times, such as with the Corsa, Insignia and Vivaro. Designed to arouse emotions and show the way forward for the brand, the new Opel Mokka and Mokka-e are the first to wear the new brand face, Opel Vizor. Same goes for the redesigned Opel “Blitz” emblem and the centrally aligned model name at the rear. New Opel Mokka is also the first Opel with the Pure Panel and a fully digital cockpit.

New Opel Mokka-e: Opel Vizor and redesigned Opel “Blitz” emblem

New Opel Mokka connects and entertains drivers and passengers perfectly. Infotainment offer includes Multimedia Radio and Multimedia Navi systems with a 7.0 inch colour touchscreen and the top-of-the-line Multimedia Navi Pro with a high-resolution 10.0 inch colour touchscreen. Monitors are integral with the new Pure Panel and angled towards the driver. Display of the Driver Info Centre (DIC) extends to 12 inches. Driver and front-seat passenger can place their smartphones in the storage tray provided in the centre console, where compatible telephones can recharge inductively (wireless). In addition, the “OpelConnect” service offers LIVE Navigation 1 with real-time traffic information and current fuel prices, plus a direct link to breakdown assistance and emergency calls.

New Opel Mokka-e: Pure Panel with Multimedia Navi Pro

[1] LIVE Navigation services free of charge for 36 months after activation. Fee due there after.

Big Jubilee on Rails: Opel Works Railway is 100

Happy birthday: a century in service of smooth and efficient logistics

Opel works railway is celebrating its 100th birthday. However, the soot-black steam engines that first chuffed along the lines in 1920 are long forgotten. Current generation of bright yellow locomotives are in every sense much cleaner and continue to make an important contribution to the company’s efficient logistics.

A clever location

Founder Adam Opel had already chosen a location close to the Rüsselsheim station for his new factory in 1868. Fifty years later, after decades of successful expansion in the production of sewing machines, bicycles and cars, his sons realised how beneficial it would be if the company had its own rail link. After all, the delivery of raw materials and components are just as important as transporting finished products from the plant. Therefore, in 1918, Carl von Opel got in touch with the Königlich Preußischen und Großherzoglich Hessischen Eisenbahndirektion in Mainz. His plans found approval and two years later, the first of the company’s own shunting locomotives hit the rails – from then on, it was full steam ahead for the Opel works railway.

Linked to the whole of Europe

First locomotives were still steam driven. Oldest on record was from the Hohenzollern locomotive factory in Düsseldorf. Opel acquired the Oberkassel-type shunter, produced in 1914, from the Dormagen sugar factory. Like all Opel works locomotives, it had a “normal” track width of 1,435 millimetres, which is still the standard width today in Europe, North Africa, North America and China. Tracks in Rüsselsheim were therefore compatible from the very beginning with the international rail network.

“Traversers” move into Rüsselsheim

Rüsselsheim plant took an important step towards modern logistics in 1929, when Opel’s very own railway station, with a 7,000 m2 freight yard and six tracks, went into operation. Three tracks were equipped with specially designed “traversers” (transfer tables for loading cars onto transporter trains, which could load around 300 cars in a single eight-hour shift). A mobile underslung crane, capable of carrying five tons, was available for general cargo. Building replaced the previously used hall on the grounds of the Reichsbahn and quickly became the key to continued successful growth.

Diesel replaces steam

Age of steam lasted only briefly at Opel. Two brand new diesels joined the locomotive fleet in 1927. Deutz PMZ 203 R machines produced by Motorenfabrik Oberursel featured 55hp two-cylinder, two-stroke engines. An 83 hp PMD 230 R joined them in 1928, followed in 1942 by a coal gas powered Deutz GA6M 420 R with six-cylinder engine. Brandenburg plant, which opened in 1935, also possessed its own rail link and a Deutz diesel locomotive.

Opel retired all its steam engines in 1948. It took until 1977 for the Deutsche Bahn (DB) to take the same step in modernization, until 1988 in East Germany. After the Second World War, Opel started over with exclusively new machines. First to arrive was a Gmeinder N 130 in 1946, followed by five brand new Deutz locomotives between 1952 and 1961. Additional machines from Orestein & Koppel came in 1965/66.

Works railway expanded alongside the steady growth of the Rüsselsheim plant. K100 railway loading building replaced the Opel station. In 1973, the internal rail network was 23.5 kilometres long, including 50 loading areas as well as 126 points and crossings.

Just in time

Opel works railway has always been characterised by two things. First, the Opel locomotives deliver and collect DB waggons on public tracks, which requires a lot of coordination. Second, the rail movements around the plant are tricky because around half the rails are on roads also used by drivers, cyclists and pedestrians. That requires high concentration from the head of Opel’s railway, Ulrich Knissel and his team.

Just-in-time delivery has added more challenges in the last few decades. Exactly timed production process also demands high precision from the works railway. Much of the transportation of components between plants still takes place via rail as well – especially in the case of the Kaiserslautern plant.

Well cared for

All Opel’s locomotives are regularly serviced in the company’s own workshops. Strict rules and regulations must be followed. In the 100th year of the Opel works railway, there are still five locomotives in service in Rüsselsheim. Bright yellow fleet consists of two massive Henschel DHG 500 C, two MaK G 321 and one O&K MB 10 N. Three more O&K locomotives are based in Kaiserslautern.

Irmscher Opel Mokka – Completely individual

At the market launch of the new Opel/Vauxhall Mokka, Irmscher is already presenting a complete customization program. In close cooperation with the Opel Automobile GmbH an extremely dynamic, fully integrated bodykit designed and implemented. This emphasizes the formal language of the overall impression.    

Irmscher Opel Mokka

Already with the first look at the front one recognizes the clear differentiation - the deep-drawn front apron lip as well as the indicated air intake underline the individual appearance of this new vehicle. On the side you will find dynamically integrated side attachment parts which extend over the complete lower side area and generate a new impression of the side view. The side parts are seamlessly integrated into the rear apron and enclose it. The distinctive diffuser underlines the sporty ambitions of the Opel Mokka with this body kit. An expressive roof spoiler adorns the tailgate and extends it dynamically upwards. 

Irmscher Opel Mokka

Completely redesigned Irmscher wheel generation answers to the name "Cosmo Star" and is available in exclusive design (surfaces diamond polished) and in black in the dimension 7,5x19 inch.

New innovative rim design underlines the dynamic design of the new Opel Mokka with its modern flat shape.

 Irmscher "Cosmo Star"- Complete wheels with 225/45 19-inch tires

Complete wheels with 225/45 19-inch tires contribute to the sporty handling as well as the lowering by approx. 30 mm. Irmscher also offers the Irmscher "Turbo Star" design complete wheels in the exclusive and black versions as an option. 

In the interior you will also find extensive modifications like e.g. the door sills, complete leather equipment from the Irmscher manufactory and high-quality velour carpets. 

For the market launch the Remshaldener will present a limited special model called "i Line". Basic GS Line equipment of the Opel Mokka will thus become the GS "i line". 

In its more than 50 years of existence, the Irmscher group of companies has converted well over 500,000 vehicles into special models in Irmscher modification facilities. New bodykit and further individualization options are available from every Opel/Vauxhall Irmscher partner as after sales parts as well as complete special models. It is also possible to purchase the parts directly at www.irmscher.com. 

New Opel Corsa-e Rally is Ready to Go!

• Three-day test totalling 1,500 km successfully completed
• Four all-electric Corsa-e Rally cars simulate two rounds of German Rally Championship (DRM)
• ADAC Opel e-Rally Cup begins in 2021 with one test event and eight qualifying rounds

New Opel Corsa-e Rally at the Pferdsfeld Test Center

Opel is electric – on the road and on the special stages. Opel Corsa-e Rally is the first all-electric rally car from a carmaker. Blitz-badged electric vehicles will next year take part in their own one-make series – the ADAC Opel e-Rally Cup. Four Corsa-e Rally cars from Opel Motorsport, in the hands of drivers Marijan Griebel, Horst Rotter and Opel racing legend, Volker Strycek, last week completed three days of testing at the Pferdsfeld Test Center. 100 kW (136 hp) cars covered a total of 1,500 kilometres without problems. Opel Corsa-e Rally is based on the successful Opel Corsa-e, the winner of the 2020 Golden Steering Wheel.

Two complete rounds of the German Rally Championship (DRM) were rehearsed during the three-day test programme – including special stages, road sections and servicing. The unique features of electro-mobility, such as times spent driving and charging, temperature management of the battery and fine-tuning the software, were tested for the first time in a rally environment. All-electric cars also completed long runs to test the durability of the new components.

“It was an efficient and successful test”, said Opel Motorsport Director, Jörg Schrott. “We gathered important data and information for the ongoing preparations for the 2021 Opel e-Rally Cup. Unfortunately, several test rallies with our development cars could not take place due to the Covid-19 pandemic. That made our rally simulation in Pferdsfeld even more important – as a result, the new Opel Corsa-e Rally is now ready to go.”

ADAC Opel e-Rally Cup will comprise eight qualifying rounds between spring and autumn 2021. An additional preparation rally for all registered teams is planned before the actual start of the season.

New Corporate Identity: Opel with New Image

• “New Opel“: Modern elements underline brand’s strength for innovation
• New Logo: Legendary Opel Blitz in fresh design
• New font: “Opel Next” is modern, expressive and consistent
• New colour: Neon Opel-yellow stands out and electrifies

Opel has a new look. Brand logo, which is now more finely drawn, the new "Opel Next" font and the bright Opel yellow signal the brand's innovative strength. The goal: to be even more modern and courageous in appearance. Opel has always stood for the democratization of innovation and mobility. "New Opel" now expresses this spirit with its fresh corporate identity.

Opel GT X Experimental

Journey into the future began with the Opel GT X Experimental. Study already showed the new Opel Blitz as the emblem on the vehicle. Distinctive signature line was in bright neon yellow – this has now become the Opel yellow of the renewed corporate identity. With the Opel Mokka, the Rüsselsheim-based manufacturer then presented the first production car with the new Opel face – the Vizor – and the upcoming cockpit design – Pure Panel.

Opel is now presenting further elements of its new appearance in detail: new logo, new font, new colour – "New Opel". In the first half of 2021, everyone will be able to experience the new look around the new Opel Crossland and the all-new Opel Mokka. They will be the first production cars in the new design. With their modernity, they fit perfectly into the world of today and tomorrow.

“We are confident, young-minded and inclusive. In this new era Opel is taking inspiration from progressive, ‘cold to cool’ Modern German culture and re-emerges bold, pure and contemporary. This is the expression of our new brand identity and absolutely represents our exciting new product line-up,” says Xavier Duchemin, Managing Director Marketing, Sales & Aftersales at Opel.

New Opel design focuses on the essentials, dispensing with frills and distracting elements. It thus reflects the precise German design philosophy of the brand – bold and pure. With the focus on the Blitz, the ring in the new brand logo is slim. A word mark serves as a strong basis for the logo. The new font with the name “Opel Next” is also light, powerful, modern and clear. It contains three different versions: light, regular and bold. These fonts harmonize perfectly and ensure a consistent message. The new Opel yellow symbolizes electricity, the new fuel in the electric age. Colour electrifies, imprints itself and thus creates an unmistakable identity.

“A new era needs modern brands and modern brands need a clear design. With the new brand elements, we are expressing our claim to be distinctive, progressive, open to the new and open to the future,” explains the global Head of Marketing at Opel/Vauxhall, Patrick Fourniol.

New appearance will be reflected in all areas – from products to marketing and sales. It will be rolled out across all communication channels and areas.

New image was developed in collaboration with the VELOCITY McCANN agency, and the new “Opel Next” font together with Monotype.