30 Years Opel Corsa B: Innovative Bestseller

• 1993 until 2000: Second Opel Corsa generation continued success of best-selling small car
• Safety benchmark: Opel Corsa B was first in class with double door beams and seatbelt tensioners
• Pocket rocket: Opel Corsa GSi with 80 kW/109 hp, sports chassis and sharp styling
• Start of new era: Second generation Corsa was first to be “Made in Eisenach”
• Fun to drive goes electric: Locally emissions-free new Opel Corsa Electric in two power outputs available now

Opel Corsa is a success story, a long-running hit. Since its launch in 1982, more than 14.5 million units have been produced. The bestseller goes from success to success. It was the best-selling car in the United Kingdom in 2021 and Germany's most popular small car over the past two years. Now sales of the new Opel Corsa have begun – more modern, more digital and more diverse than ever. The new Corsa is available for the first time in two battery-electric performance levels as the Corsa Electric. In addition, the adaptive IntelliLux LED Matrix light, which the Corsa brought to the small car market segment in 2019, has also been further optimised. These are just two examples of the recipe that has made Opel’s smallest such a great success: make innovations from higher classes available to small car buyers – and above all affordable.

This applied especially to the second Opel Corsa generation. After the breakthrough of Opel Corsa A, introduced in 1982, it went one step further when it was launched exactly 30 years ago. With an independent design and features that set safety standards, as well as a high level of comfort and practical benefits, it celebrated worldwide success and even cracked the four-million mark in sales by the year 2000. In addition, as of 1993, Opel Corsa B opened a new era as the first Opel Corsa “made in Eisenach”.

Rounding the edges: Opel Corsa B - variants with new styling cues

The designers led by Hideo Kodama took a risk with the successor to the first Corsa. Despite the great success of the angular Opel Corsa A, the decision was made in Rüsselsheim to make Opel Corsa B more appealing to women. So Kodama got to work and designed a much rounder, softer Opel Corsa, whose headlights looked like large eyes. The smooth, rounded shapes were inspired by the Junior concept car, which had caused a stir a few years earlier. But the softly flowing contours also had a practical effect: they improved aerodynamics and thus reduced fuel consumption.

Also noticeable was the different design of the three and five-door models. The designers had practically created two models with their own character. They gave the three-door model a sporty silhouette with a coupé-like rear, while the five-door was the “family” variant with a more upright tailgate. The rear was more spacious for the passengers in the second row and the luggage volume increased to a maximum of 1,150 litres.

Opel Corsa B especially stood out with its wide range of variants. Five equipment levels from Eco to Swing, Joy and Sport to the GSi offered something for every taste, also thanks to the matching fabric patterns and colours. In addition, Opel complemented the three and five-door hatchbacks with an estate, a four-door notchback and even a pick-up for certain markets.

Benchmark for comfort and safety: Opel Corsa B set standards in its class

The further development from generation A to B also benefited comfort and, above all, safety. Opel Corsa grew by 10 centimetres to almost 3.73 metres in length, had a longer wheelbase and extremely short body overhangs. In addition, the windscreen had been pulled further forwards and the rear of the five-door model sloped down at a steep angle. All these measures enabled the Corsa B to offer the best values in its class in terms of space and freedom of movement (head, shoulder and leg room). Large windows and narrow pillars created a light, airy interior atmosphere and enabled good all-round visibility. In order to ensure a clear view from all sides, even in bad weather, a special windscreen surround on the sides kept rainwater away from the windows; the aerodynamically designed exterior mirror housings also had a small lip that prevented the accumulation of dirt on the mirror surface and the windows.

The second Opel Corsa generation set new safety standards in the small car segment. The torsional rigidity of the body had been increased by 40 per cent compared to its predecessor. For the first time in this class, double steel beams in the doors, offering passengers additional protection in the event of a side impact, and mechanical seabelt tensioners on the front seats, were fitted as standard. Height-adjustable seatbelts at the front and rear as well as anti-submarining ramps in the seat frames were other important safety features of all Opel Corsa models. And shortly after the launch, a full-size airbag for the driver was also available.

Opel’s little sportscar: Fun-to-drive Opel Corsa GSi

A particularly sporty variant hit the road in 1993, Opel  Corsa GSi 16V. The sportiest Corsa of the time featured colour-keyed side-sills and bumpers as well as front and rear spoilers. The standard equipment also included electronically-controlled ABS, a rev-counter and wide tyres.

Opel Corsa GSi could sprint from zero to 100 km/h in 9.5 seconds and reach a maximum speed of 195 km/h. A sporty chassis and gas-filled shock absorbers helped to bring the performance onto the road. Sports seats and a leather-trimmed steering wheel created the right atmosphere in the cockpit.

Fun with responsibility: Resource conservation was built into the Opel Corsa B

At the same time, Opel showed even then that driving pleasure goes hand in hand with responsibility. Sustainability and resource conservation has always been a focal point of development for the brand with the Blitz.

The second Corsa generation set the benchmark here too, thanks to its efficient petrol engines with fuel injection and catalytic converters. With its particularly economical 1.2-litre engine (33 kW/45 hp), the Corsa already met emission standards in 1993 which came into force only three years later. And with an average consumption of 4.66 l/100 km, the Corsa Eco was “Europe's most economical car” in terms of weight and performance according to the ADAC and the ÖAMTC. In addition, with a pass-by noise of just 72 decibels in the early 1990s, it was also one of the quietest cars in Europe.

In 1990, Opel was the first car manufacturer with a recycling loop for automotive plastics. The subsequent recycling of end-of-life vehicles was therefore already considered during the design of the Corsa B. Unmixed plastic composites and easy-to-dismantle fastening techniques for individual components made an important contribution to environmentally compatible recycling. With the start of production at the Eisenach site 30 years ago, the Corsa was produced at one of the most modern and resource-efficient automobile plants in Europe.

750,000 Orders: Current Opel Corsa Continues Success Story

• Fifth generation of bestseller: Over 13 million Corsa cars built to date
• Success story in five acts: From Opel Corsa A to current model

Serial success: Over 13 million Opel Corsa spanning five generations have been produced to date. Opel recently received the 750,000th order for the current generation Corsa.

Dynamic, practical, stylish and very popular: the fifth Corsa generation is again a bestseller. Opel has just received the 750,000^th order for the current small car model since its market launch in late 2014. The stylish all-rounder thus continues the success story that started with the first Corsa in 1982. To date, more than 13 million Corsa vehicles from all generations have been built.

“The Corsa is one of our most important models in Europe and accounts for around one-quarter of Opel’s total sales volume. Depending on the version, it is the perfect car for singles and couples as well as for the whole family,” says Peter Küspert, Opel/Vauxhall Vice President Sales & Aftersales.

And the Corsa has not just won over customers, over the years it has also collected many awards, including the recent “Small Car of the Year 2016” title in Ireland, “Eco Car of the Year 2016” in Latvia, “Most Sensible Car 2015” and “Value Champion 2015” in Germany as well as the AUTOBEST award “Best Buy Car of Europe for 2015”. This shows that the Opel Corsa is a true European.

There are good reasons for this success: Opel Corsa combines a pleasant, stylish atmosphere and driving fun with top technologies from higher vehicle classes. In the small bestseller, the Opel design philosophy “Sculptural artistry meets German precision” meets top comfort and modern assistance systems as well as best digital connectivity with Opel OnStar and IntelliLink infotainment. The portfolio also impresses with powerful and efficient turbo gasoline, turbo diesel and LPG engines. The entire package’s price-performance ratio is superb. Entry into the Corsa world is already possible for €11,995 for the sporty three-door model with a 51 kW/70 hp 1.2-liter gasoline engine (NEDC fuel consumption: urban 6.7-6.6^[1] l/100 km, extra-urban 4.6-4.5¹ l/100 km, combined 5.4-5.3¹ l/100 km, 126-124¹ g/km CO₂). For just €785 more, customers can opt for driving fun in the spacious, family-friendly five-door model (RRP incl. VAT in Germany).

Opel Corsa: A success story in five acts

Act One: Opel Corsa A - 1982 to 1993

As the smaller “Kadett brother” the Opel Corsa A debuted with a crisp, short length of 3.62 meters, an exceptionally low, possibly record-breaking 0.36 drag coefficient and bold, flared wheelarches in rally car style. Chief designer Erhard Schnell had created a sporty small car with sharp, chiseled lines, intended to particularly appeal to ‘the man of the house’. The highlight was the 100 hp Corsa GSi, and diesel power was also introduced. The two-door hatch and notchback line-up was expanded in 1985 with the addition of the popular five-door model. The Corsa A became a highly-acclaimed top seller with 3.1 million units sold.

Act Two: Opel Corsa B - 1993 to 2000

Despite the success of Opel Corsa Nr. 1, the decision was taken in Rüsselsheim to position its successor as a real ‘ladies’ darling’. Designer Hideo Kodama set to work and created a much rounder, softer Opel Corsa, with appealing ‘saucer-eye’ headlamps. Opel Corsa B was ten centimeters longer and much more spacious inside. It also introduced higher safety standards to its segment, including ABS, side-impact protection and front airbags. For special markets, next to the hatchback Opel again offered a notchback as well as station wagon and pick-up variants. Gasoline engines already had fuel-injection technology and catalytic converters, while the GSi featured 16 valves and diesel power was now turbo-charged. The second Opel Corsa was successful around the world, and sales topped the four million mark.

Act Three: Opel Corsa C - 2000 to 2006

Hideo Kodama was again asked to design the shape of the Opel Corsa C. The styling was consciously oriented towards its successful predecessor. The new Corsa grew again by ten centimeter in length and had a wider stance with a longer wheelbase, which greatly increased interior space. For the first time, the body was fully galvanized. Sophisticated four-valve ECOTEC gasoline and new direct-injection turbo diesel engines ensured strong power, low fuel consumption and lowest emission values – all variants already complied to the stringent Euro 4 emission standards. The Corsa C also became a star performer and sold 2.5 million units.

Act Four: Opel Corsa D - 2006 to 2014

Like the Opel Corsa B, the three and five-door versions went their separate ways: the three-door Opel Corsa had unique, coupé-like styling aimed at sporty customers, just like the original Opel Corsa A. The five-door variant became a spacious, fully-fledged family car. Opel Corsa D was just under four meters long. With Opel’s ecoFLEX technology, the Corsa had fuel-saving Start/Stop systems and highly efficient engines. The fourth generation reached sales of 2.8 million units.

Act Five: Opel Corsa E - Since 2014

With 750,000 orders to date, the fifth Corsa generation is also built in the Opel plants in Zaragoza and Eisenach as three and five-door variants. Eisenach is also home to production of the Opel ADAM family, so now the Corsa has little brothers – just like the Kadett once had the Corsa.

^[1] With low-rolling-resistance tires.

!NEW! Rallye Deutschland: Opel Teams Join World’s Rallye Elite

• ADAC Opel Rallye Cup again at German round of World Rallye Championship
• ADAM teams expect four intense days with chance at double points
• ADAC Opel Rallye Junior team celebrates European Championship with fans

Junior European Champion: Emil Bergkvist and his Opel ADAM R2 from the ADAC Opel Rallye Junior Team.

The ADAC Rallye Deutschland from August 20 – 23, 2015 is a journey into a new dimension for many teams in the ADAC Opel Rallye Cup. This round of the FIA ERC, where the Opel teams again race in two complete stages, impresses with its commanding itinerary. It is even more formidable than last year: instead of 18 there are 20 special stages and the overall distance has increased to a mighty 1,285 kilometers.

Rallye Deutschland: The World Championship round on home turf is a highlight for the ADAC Opel Rallye Cup teams

So the teams face a strenuous and exciting week when they set off on Tuesday to meticulously prepare their pace notes for the rallye. As usual, the cars will leave the service park in Trier to head to the special stages, which follow demanding asphalt tracks through the idyllic Moselle region as well as the Baumholder military range with its notorious Panzerplatte and the legendary Gina jump. At 45 kilometers, the Panzerplatte Long stage that will be run twice on Saturday is by far the longest in the entire Cup season. Directly before this super stage, the participants complete three spectator-friendly sprints of 2.9 kilometers on the Arena Panzerplatte circuit track that already attracted thousands of rallye fans last year. In addition to racing excitement, fans can look forward to great entertainment: from 2 p.m. on Saturday, the German band Revolverheld will rev things up even more.

Jump “Gina“: The Rallye Deutschland special stages follow demanding asphalt tracks through the idyllic Moselle region as well as the Baumholder military range

The first highlight is the show start at the Porta Nigra in Trier on Thursday evening. The Cup teams will tackle the first leg with eight special stages on Friday. The second leg with twelve special stages (the ADAC Opel Rallye Cup will leave out stage 17 “Bosenberg”) goes from early Saturday to Sunday mid-day. Full points and full prize money will be awarded for both parts of the rallye. At the end of the second leg, at the ADAC Rallye Deutschland finish line, the teams will have completed almost 340 stage kilometers – about three times as much as at a “normal” race in the ADAC Opel Rallye Cup. Those who make it will drive over the finish ramp in front of the Porta Nigra on Sunday afternoon.

Experience has shown that not only the world elite promise an absolutely first-class show with their spectacular World Rallye cars, the Opel ADAM Cup cars are also real attention-getters in every race and have already caused quite a sensation in the rallye world.

Top favorite: Last year’s winner Marijan Griebel has a good shot at the Division 5 class victory, and he can also capture second place in the European Championship at the FIA ERC Junior season-finale Barum Rallye in the Czech Republic the last weekend in August.

Not to mention the around 190 hp ADAM R2 with which Opel works drivers Marijan Griebel (26, from Hahnweiler) and Emil Bergkvist (21, from Torsåker) from the ADAC Opel Rallye Junior team have stirred up the FIA ERC Junior this season. Quite literally – at the Rally Estonia in mid-July, the young Swede Bergkvist already won the title before the season’s end. His German team colleague Griebel, last year’s ADAC Rallye Deutschland winner and one of the top favorites in Division 5, has a good shot at taking second place in the European Championship at the FIA ERC Junior season-finale Barum Rallye in the Czech Republic the last weekend in August. All the more reason the ADAC Opel Rallye Junior team drivers can hardly wait to perform for German rallye fans as European champions at the home race.

!NEW! Triple Victory for Opel at Ypres Rallye

• Opel teams dominate fourth round of FIA ERC Junior
• Three ADAM R2 winners – Aleks Zawada ahead of Marijan Griebel and Julius Tannert
• Bad luck costs Opel works drivers Griebel and Bergkvist near certain victory

Marijan Griebel, Stefan Clemens, Cathy Derousseaux, Aleks Zawada, Julius Tannert and Jennifer Thielen (from left to right) celebrate the Opel one-two-three at the Ypres Rallye.

Opel reinforced its strong position in the FIA ERC Junior at the Kenotek Ypres Rallye in West Flanders, Belgium. Pole Aleks Zawada and his French co-driver Cathy Derousseaux celebrated their first victory in their customer Opel ADAM R2, ahead of German Opel works drivers Marijan Griebel/Stefan Clemens from the ADAC Opel Rallye Junior Team and Julius Tannert and his Luxembourgian co-driver Jennifer Thielen in another customer Opel ADAM R2. Three of this year‘s four season victories in the FIA ERC Junior have now gone to the brand with the blitz!

“A fantastic day, a fantastic car, a fantastic rallye,” said an elated Zawada, who seemed to be out of the running for victory at the beginning of the second day after his 190 hp front-wheel drive car was stuck in a ditch for a minute after a harmless spin. But the Polish-French team did not give up, fought their way back and ultimately also benefitted from their competitors’ back luck. “Luck also plays a role, and the score is settled at the very end,” said Zawada. “I am really sorry for Emil and Marijan. Both deserved to win. But I am overjoyed that our efforts resulted in victory.”

The Opel works drivers Emil Bergkvist and Marijan Griebel battled for the lead from the first kilometer before both were impeded by mishaps. First Bergkvist had to retire his Opel ADAM R2 in the twelfth of seventeen stages with an engine problem. And then Griebel, who went into the last stage with a 36-second lead, suffered a left rear puncture shortly before the finish line. The 26-year-old from Hahnweiler still managed to take his Opel ADAM R2 across the finish line on one rim, but the time loss of nearly one minute sent him and his co-driver Stefan Clemens (28, from Thailen) to second place behind Zawada.

Bad luck strikes: Opel factory driver Marijan Griebel was leading until a damaged tire on the last stage of the Ypres Rallye saw him drop to second.

Griebel was understandably frustrated: “After a few days, I’ll probably be able to be pleased with our good performance and Opel Motorsport’s superior showing in this magnificent setting in front of thousands of excited spectators here in Ypres. But right now disappointment is the overwhelming feeling. Opel’s triple victory clearly proves that especially on asphalt, ADAM R2 currently sets the benchmark in its class. So we’re going into the last two FIA ERC Junior events in Estonia and the Czech Republic with a lot of self-confidence.”

Lead defending: Opel factory driver Emil Bergkvist defended first place in the FIA ERC Junior despite having to retire from the Ypres Rallye.

Swede Bergkvist (21, from Torsaker), who together with his co-driver Joakim Sjöberg (29, from Ösmo) won the first two FIA ERC Junior rounds in Latvia and Ireland, was disappointed but composed. “We had absolutely everything we needed to win here today. But things like this happen in motorsports, and there is no one I can blame for it. To be honest, I’d rather fight to win and have to pull out because of bad luck than be too slow and finish fourth. And we still have the best shot at the FIA ERC Junior championship.”

Indeed, the ADAC Opel Rallye Junior Team’s position in the FIA ERC Junior is still excellent. As only four of six rallye results are taken into consideration for the final points tally, Bergkvist’s withdrawal in Ypres could be a void result. And as his two toughest pursuers also failed to finish the race, he even increased his lead in the ranking after four rounds by two to 26 points. Griebel’s second-place finish put him in third place in the overall standings. He is currently 43 points behind his team colleague Bergkvist.

Opel Motorsport Director Jörg Schrott commented on his charges’ results with mixed feelings: “Today two hearts beat in my chest. We celebrated a fantastic result for Opel that proves that our customer ADAM R2s are just as powerful as both works cars. I really feel for Emil and Marijan. Both gave a fantastic performance that deserved a victory. Marijan really had everything under control until the last stage. But I’m also happy for Aleks and Julius, who showed that they are capable of keeping up with the fast pace at the top of the FIA ERC Junior. Overall the performance of the Opel ADAM R2 was extremely good. And we are of course happy to go into the races in Estonia and the Czech Republic knowing this.”

!NEW! Strong International Interest in ADAC Opel Rallye Cup 2015

• ADAC Opel Rallye Cup starts its third season next weekend (March 6/7)
• Participants from nine countries to battle for Europe’s toughest rallye Cup
• Promotion to Opel works team and ERC entry beckons for juniors

High-flyer: The third edition of the successful ADAC Opel Rallye Cup will start on March 6.

On March 6 and 7, the ADAC Opel Rallye Cup begins its third season with the Saarland-Pfalz Rallye. The series for young driving talent has already generated massive international interest and a strong field of 20 teams drawn from nine countries will battle for points in the fight for the 2015 title, confirming the Cup’s status as the most successful rallye competition in Europe. The make-up of the starting line-up promises thrills aplenty: ten experienced Cup drivers are up against ten ambitious newcomers, while the field is more international than ever before, with 40 percent of drivers and co-drivers from European countries outside of 

Germany. And with the Finnish duo of Laura Suvanto/Reeta Hämäläinen and the German-Austrian pairing of Melanie Schulz/Elke Aigner, the starting line-up boasts two all-female teams for the first time. Belgian Yannick Neuville, younger brother of Rallye World Cup star Thierry Neuville, made a strong impression with consistently fast times during his debut season last year and is one of the favorites this season.  

Female touch: Melanie Schulz and her co-pilot Elke Aigner will form one of two all-female teams this years. 

The 2015 Cup schedule offers a tough challenge across a series of rallyes with different characteristics. New events include the season-opener at St. Wendel and the Thüringen Rallye. Opel’s ’home event’, the Rallye Wartburg, will be among the highlights, with its main service area located directly in front of the Opel Eisenach plant. And, of course, participation in the prestigious ADAC Rallye Deutschland, part of the World Rallye Championship, will be a special season highlight for the teams.

While well-proven technology, based around the 140 hp Opel ADAM Cup car, enters its third season unchanged, the sporting regulations were tweaked during the winter break. All participants will now be able to compete for the ADAC Opel Rallye Cup title regardless of age. However, with its own rankings and prize money, the ADAC Opel Rallye Junior Cup remains exclusively for young drivers born in 1988 or later. The season prize money fund has been substantially increased this year and now totals around 120,000 euros. The scoring system has also been modified. The first three finishers in each rallye will collect 35, 27 and 21 points, instead of the previous 30, 24 and 20. The driver who wins the most stages in a rallye will also earn an additional five bonus points. The so-called ’Power Stage’, a special leg declared by the organizer of each rallye, now brings the top three finishers three, two and one bonus points.

Fast rallye brothers: Belgian WRC star Thierry Neuville (on left) give Opel ADAM pilot Yannick Neuville some valuable advice for the upcoming season

At the end of this season, the best junior drivers have the unique opportunity to take part in a special screening to qualify for promotion to the ADAC Opel Rallye Junior Team and drive the 190 hp Opel ADAM R2 on the international rallye circuit with a focus on the FIA ERC Junior in 2016.

“There are many good reasons to join the ADAC Opel Rallye Cup and we will do everything in our power to keep it that way,” says Opel Motorsport Director Jörg Schrott. “The composition of this year’s starting line-up shows that our concept of combining top-class technology with a professional platform, all at an affordable cost, is working very well. The idea of providing long-term and successful promotion of young driving talent has proven to be very appealing. The popularity of this approach is both a confirmation of its success and also a responsibility for us to maintain. I’m looking forward to an exciting ADAC Opel Rallye Cup 2015 season.”

Calendar ADAC Opel Rallye Cup 2015

March 6 - 7                    ADAC Saarland-Pfalz Rallye, St. Wendel
April 17 - 18                  ADAC Hessen Rallye Vogelsberg, Schlitz
May 15 - 16                   S-DMV Thüringen Rallye, Pößneck
August 7 - 9                  ADAC Cosmo Rallye Wartburg, Eisenach
August 20 - 23              ADAC Rallye Deutschland (Doppellauf), Trier
September 4 - 5            ADAC Ostsee Rallye, Grömitz

October 23 - 24             ADAC 3-Städte-Rallye, Kirchham

!NEW! Opel at the ADAC Rallye Deutschland: New Dimensions

• Season highlight for ADAC Opel Rallye Cup at German WRC round
• ADAM teams to complete two scoring runs at ADAC Rallye Deutschland
• Tough competition for ADAC Opel Rallye Junior Team with works ADAM R2

Rallye Deutschland: The three-day event will cover a total of 1,227 km, including 326 km of timed stages

The ADAC Rallye Deutschland from August 21 – 24 is a journey into a new dimension for most of the teams competing in this season’s ADAC Opel Rallye Cup. This prestigious event is also a round in the FIA World Rallye Championship and the Opel teams will contest all 18 stages and two complete scoring runs, which will present the young drivers with a very special challenge due to the sheer scale of the event.  

This year’s Rallye Deutschland will be based at Porta Nigra in Trier, instead of Cologne. The teams face an exciting challenge, which will start on Monday when they begin their pre-event reconnaissance runs to make pace notes. After starting as usual from the rallye’s service park, the 18 stages will take competitors along idyllic yet challenging asphalt tracks through the Moselle region, as well as provide tough tests at the military training grounds in Baumholder with their famous armour flat (Panzerplatte) section and legendary ’Gina’ jump.

The three-day event will cover a total of 1,227 km – almost three times the length of a normal Cup round within the ADAC Rallye Masters – including 326 km of timed stages. The challenging Panzerplatte Lang stage alone is 42.5 km long and will be driven twice on Saturday. Before each run, competitors will also complete a three kilometer sprint in the Arena Panzerplatte, which has the character of a circuit autodrome.

On Friday, the ADAM teams will tackle the first run with six stages comprising around 100 timed kilometers. The second run will go from Saturday morning to Sunday mid-day.

Opel driver and TV host Lina Van de Mars: More information about her rallye experiences can be found on the Opel motorsport website under “Lina’s Rallye World”, where the Berlin resident reports on her adventures in the Opel ADAM Cup

While the ADAC Rallye Deutschland represents a huge challenge for experienced competitors in the ADAC Opel Rallye Cup, it will be an even tougher test Opel driver Lina Van de Mars. In view of her limited experience, the famous TV host is approaching the “Deutschland Rallye adventure with due respect: “I’m not familiar with a single meter of this rallye, but I’ve received lots of reports and have a pretty good idea of what to expect,” she says. “My main goal has to be reaching the finish ramp on Sunday. But I’m really looking forward to the great tests ahead and many fans!” More information about Lina Van de Mars’s rallye experiences can be found on the www.opel-motorsport.com website under “Lina’s Rallye World”, where the Berlin resident reports on her adventures in the Opel ADAM Cup.

In addition to following the fortunes of ADAC Opel Rallye Cup competitors, rallye experts will also be keeping a close eye on the exploits of the two 190 hp ADAM R2 vehicles of the ADAC Opel Rallye Junior Team. Marijan Griebel (25, from Hahnweiler), as well as Fabian Kreim (21, from Fränkisch-Crumbach) have already caused quite a stir in expert circles during the first few months of competition since the ADAM R2 was homologated earlier this year. All told, the car has racked up no less than 14 class wins from 19 starts across Europe!

ADAC Opel Rallye Junior Team: Marijan Griebel as well as Fabian Kreim (photo) have already caused quite a stir in expert circles during the first few months of competition since the ADAM R2 was homologated earlier this year

The Opel Rallye Junior Team looks forward to continuing this impressive form on the ADAC Rallye Deutschland. “It will be no walk in the park,” admits Marijan Griebel from personal experience. “Whoever wants to drive at the front can’t afford to give only 90 percent. We certainly have a fast car and we’re well prepared for what lies ahead.” Fabian Kreim is relaxed about his prospects: “We feel at home in our ADAM R2, but we’re not going to let ourselves go crazy. The top priority is to cross the finish line, and we’ll see how all the rest goes.”

More information about the ADAC Rallye Deutschland and Opel’s involvement as an official partner is available at www.opel-motorsport.com under the section “Pure Passion“.

!NEW! Opel Corsa: Success Story in Five Acts

The journey to becoming a multi-million bestseller: 12.3 million Corsas sold in 32 years

32 years of success: Opel Corsa A, B, C, D and E

In the beginning there was the Opel Kadett. Introduced by Opel in 1936, it was a fully-fledged car at an affordable price, and was designed to bring mobility to more people at a time when driving a car was still real luxury. The Opel brand then really took off in the era of Germany’s ‘economic miracle’ during the 1960s and early 1970s with the arrival of the Kadett A and B. In the process, customers quickly became more discerning as their prosperity increased and the small Kadett became larger and more powerful, moving closer to the mid-size class with the arrival of each version. This created a slot below what had become Rüsselsheim’s classic entry-level model. So the time was right to fill the gap with a new, genuine small car – enter the Opel Corsa.

Act One: 1982 to 1993 - Corsa A 

Opel Corsa A Luxus, 1982.

The Corsa A featured close-coupled proportions within a short length of just 3.62 meters. It had bold, flared wheel-arches like a rallye car and an exceptionally low 0.36 drag coefficient which was possibly record-breaking for its class. Chief designer Erhard Schnell had created a sporty small car with crisp, chiseled lines, intended to particularly appeal to ‘the man of the house’. The highlight was the 100 hp Corsa GSi, and diesel power was also introduced. The two-door hatch- and notchback line-up was expanded in 1985 with the addition of the popular five-door model. The Corsa A became a highly-acclaimed, top seller with 3.1 million units built.

Opel Corsa A GSi, 1987.

Opel Corsa A Swing, 1988.

Act Two: 1993 to 2000 - Corsa B

Opel Corsa B Joy, 1993.

Despite the success of Corsa A, the decision was taken in Rüsselsheim to position its successor as a real ‘ladies’ darling’. Opel design legend Hideo Kodama set to work and created a much rounder, softer Corsa, with appealing ‘saucer-eye’ headlamps which perfectly fit with cute, child-like looks. The Corsa B was ten centimeter longer and much more spacious inside. It also introduced higher safety standards to its segment, including ABS cadence braking, side-impact protection and front airbags. For special markets, next to the hatchback Opel again offered a notchback as well as station wagon and pick-up variants. Gasoline engines already had fuel-injection technology and catalytic converters, while the GSi featured 16 valves and diesel power was now turbo-charged. The second Corsa was successful around the world, and sales topped the four million mark.

Opel Corsa B GSi 16V, 1993.

Opel Corsa B Swing, 1997.

Act Three: 2000 to 2006 - Corsa C

Opel Corsa C 3-door, 2000.

In the spirit of never changing a winning team, Hideo Kodama was again asked to design the shape of the Corsa C. The styling was consciously oriented towards its successful predecessor. The new Corsa grew again by ten centimeter in length and had a wide stance with a longer wheelbase, which greatly increased interior space. For the first time, the body was fully galvanized. Sophisticated four-valve ECOTEC gasoline and new direct-injection turbo diesel engines ensured strong power, low fuel consumption and lowest emission values – all variants already complied to the stringent Euro 4 emission standards. The Corsa C also became a star performer and sold 2.5 million units.

Opel Corsa C 5-door, 2001.

Act Four: 2006 to 2014 - Corsa D

Opel Corsa D 3-door, 2006. 

From now on, the three and five-door versions go their separate ways: the three-door Corsa has unique, coupé-like styling aimed at sporty customers, just like the original Corsa A. The five-door variant becomes a spacious, fully-fledged family car. The current Corsa D is still less than four meters in length, having grown to exactly 3.999 meters. With Opel’s ecoFLEX technology, the Corsa has fuel-saving Start/Stop systems and highly efficient engines. The 1.3 CDTI ecoFLEX version consumes just 3.3 l/100 km over the combined cycle and emits only 88 g/km CO2. The fourth generation Corsa is now coming to the end of its production run, having sold 2.8 million units to date. Through four model generations, a total of 12.3 million Opel Corsas have been sold, with 11.7 million of them in Europe alone.

Opel Corsa D OPC, 2007.

Opel Corsa D 5-door, 2011.

Opel Corsa D OPC Nürburgring Edition , 2011.

Act Five: From 2014 - Corsa E

Opel Corsa E 3-door, 2014.

Before the end of the year, customers will be enjoying the new Corsa E. The fifth generation will also be built in the Opel plant in Zaragoza and in Eisenach as three-door and five-door variants. Eisenach is also home to production of the Opel ADAM, which is now the Corsa’s little brother – just like the Corsa once was to the Kadett. So time passes by for cars, just like for people, and children grow up to be adults.

Opel Corsa E 5-door, 2014.

!NEW! Lifestyle Car Opel ADAM Bound for International Rallying

• Geneva World Premiere of concept study in FIA-based R2 specification
• ADAM is important part of Opel motorsport program
• Development and homologation during 2013
• Admissible for all national championships in Europe

New Opel ADAM R2

Opel returned to motorsport with the ADAM “Cup“ in November 2012. At the Geneva Motor Show the brand now presents another star in the firmament: a new concept study of the recently introduced ADAM lifestyle car, built based on FIA R2 regulations. Its final development and homologation are planned during 2013. With the ADAM R2, Opel takes another step in its new motorsport strategy by offering a top-class vehicle for international customer rallying which will be eligible for every national championship in Europe.

Chic, classy, eye-catching: this applies to the ADAM in general, as well as its R2 rally variant. Special body components from the sporty Opel OPC product line, quick release catches on the hood and tailgate, as well as under-ride guards front and rear, emphasize the sporty format of this athletic asphalt and gravel specialist. Its unique shell also harbors pure high-tech.

The ADAM R2 is powered by a 1.6 liter ECOTEC 16V engine with variable camshaft phasing that develops around 185 hp and maximum torque of about 190 Nm in its competitive configuration. Power is transmitted through a Sadev sequential five-speed gearbox and a limited-slip differential with a multi-disc lock. The chassis set-up, including asphalt and gravel settings, guarantees maximum traction and dynamic handling. Excellent deceleration is provided by a braking system with a hydraulic ‘fly-off’ handbrake, Brembo 4 piston front brake calipers and braking pressure regulation for the rear axle.

The R2’s cabin features all the attributes of a professional competition vehicle, and many details are already part of the specification to be homologated this year by FIA, the world motorsport association. Equipment includes: an integrated safety structure; SPARCO Competition racing seats compatible with the HANS driver safety system; a cockpit with an LCD gear indicator, control light and MONIT trip computer; a central control panel; a map reading light and an electric fire extinguisher.

New Opel ADAM R2 cabin with SPARCO Competition racing seats

The ultra-compact R2 is based on the new ADAM Cup variant. This already marks the first step in Opel’s new, European focused program to promote customer rallying, which will enable talented young drivers to gradually progress to the pinnacle of European competition. From the 2013 season, up to 40 ADAM Cup vehicles will compete for brand trophies in Germany and France. In the German ADAC OPEL RALLYE CUP, the winner of a special “Rallye Junior” rating (for drivers up to 27 years of age) will advance into the R2 class, with special support in the next season from Opel and the ADAC.

Opel ADAM R2: Technical Data

Engine:                      1.6 l ECOTEC 16V, variable camshaft phasing,
BOSCH Motorsport engine control module

Power output:           185 hp (approx.) at 7,750 rpm

Torque:                      190 Nm (approx.) at 6,200 rpm

Transmission:           Sequential Sadev five-speed gearbox, limited-slip differential

Chassis:                     REIGER racing suspension, 3-way adjustable, McPherson suspension struts with Uniball mounts, asphalt and gravel specification

Steering:                    Electro-hydraulic power steering

Wheels:                      EVO Corse aluminum, 6.5 x 16-inch (asphalt), 6 x 15 (gravel)

Braking system:       Hydraulic ‘fly-off’ handbrake, pressure regulation for rear axle, Brembo 4-piston front brake calipers

Brake discs:              310 mm ventilated (asphalt, front), 278 mm ventilated (gravel, front), 264 mm (asphalt and gravel, rear)

Bodywork:                 Lightweight shell, integrated safety structure, under-ride guard for engine and fuel tank;

                                    Interior: SPARCO Competition seats (HANS system-compatible), electric fire extinguisher, dry battery

                                    Exterior: ‘OPC Line’ bodywork components, quick release catches on hood and tailgate, towing loops

Electronics:               Motorsport display, LCD gear and shift indicator, MONIT trip computer, central control panel, map-reading lamp

Dimensions:              Length: 3,698 mm, width: 1,720 mm, (adjustable) height: 1,442 mm (asphalt configuration), wheelbase: 2,310 mm, weight: 1,030 kg