!NEW! AFL LED: Full LED Adaptive Lighting for New Opel Zafira and Opel Mokka X

• AFL LED headlamps deliver optimum nighttime visibility without dazzling other drivers
• Nine individual lighting functions for safer driving in towns and the countryside at night
• Energy consumption in start/stop further reduced by Stop Mode Light

New Opel Zafira - AFL LED headlamp

Optimum visibility without dazzling others. With AFL LED, Opel is bringing the benefits of adaptive forward lighting and Full LED headlamps to vans and sport utility vehicles in the compact market segment. The optional AFL LED headlamps offered by the new Opel Zafira and Opel Mokka X produce a bright white light that effectively turns night into day and automatically adapt to the driving situation. AFL LED features nine individual functions or lighting patterns such as Town Light, Country Light and Stop Mode Light, which not only optimize visibility but also save energy.

New Opel Mokka X - AFL LED headlamp

“The widespread availability of intelligent LED technology is the best way to significantly reduce the risks of nighttime driving,” says William F. Bertagni, Vice President of Vehicle Engineering Europe at Opel. “The new Opel Zafira and the Opel Mokka X with their optional AFL LED headlamps are important steps towards realizing this potential.”

Driving at night is one of the most dangerous things people can do. According to the ADAC German automobile club, almost 30 percent of fatal accidents occur at night. Human beings are diurnal, i.e. we are active during the day, and we sleep at night. It is not natural for us to be on the road in the dark.

As the automaker that traditionally puts customers first, Opel long ago recognized the risks of nighttime driving to car drivers and other road users. Opel was the first automobile manufacturer to bring adaptive forward lighting (AFL) with Bi-Xenon headlamps to the midsize market in 2003. Opel Astra H was the first compact car with cornering light in 2004, followed by the Zafira in 2005. 

True to its tradition of democratizing advanced technology, Opel then made halogen headlamp-based AFL available for the first time in the Corsa in 2006. Opel now offers AFL in almost every passenger car model and the introduction of the next generation has begun: IntelliLux LED Matrix Light, which takes LED technology to the highest level, made its world premiere in the compact class last year on the new Opel Astra.

The new Opel Zafira and the Mokka X, with adaptive forward lighting and full LED functionality for all headlamp and signal functions, mark the next milestone in the rollout of LED at Opel. Like the Astra’s Matrix system, AFL LED also delivers the benefits of adaptive forward lighting without the moving elements. However, instead of switching LEDs on or off in a variety of combinations, AFL LED adapts to the driving situation and the presence of other road users by automatically changing the lighting pattern of the headlamps.

The optional AFL LED headlamps have nine functions. At speeds above 55 km/h, Country Light improves illumination of the road and the verges when driving in rural areas. The range of illumination in the driving lane is longer, while the distribution of light on the offside is lower to prevent dazzling of oncoming traffic. In addition, the improved illumination of the roadside verges enables earlier recognition of potentially dangerous objects (e.g. animals).

In curves or when cornering, AFL LED activates Cornering/Curve Light, which switches on an additional left or right LED that illuminates the road in the direction of travel, depending on the steering angle or turn signal. Cornering/Curve Light switches on automatically at speeds under 40 km/h when the turn signals are in use and/or the steering angle changes from the straight-ahead position and crosses a certain threshold. Cornering/Curve Light switches off when signaling stops and the steering is in the straight-ahead position and is active up to a maximum speed of 70 km/h.

At speeds under 55 km/h, AFL LED automatically activates Town Light. Compared with Country Light, the beam is closer to an area near the car and wider at the sides thanks to the cornering lights operating at reduced intensity. The improved illumination helps the driver to see the sides of the road and avoid potential accidents, e.g. with children or pedestrians.

Maneuvering Light illuminates the area around the vehicle when driving or reversing into a parking space, or leaving the parking spot. In this mode, the cornering lights shine at reduced intensity when the driver selects reverse gear. Maneuvering Light remains active for 20 seconds after disengaging reverse gear or until the car drives faster than 7 km/h in a forward gear.

Tourist Mode (for countries where driving is on the other side of the road), High Beam, Daytime Running Lights and High Beam Assist (automatic activation/deactivation of high beam depending on presence of other vehicles) complete the menu of AFL LED functions that improve visibility.

New Opel Zafira with optional AFL LED headlamps

The optional AFL LED headlamps of the new Opel Zafira and Opel Mokka X not only enhance safety. Compared with other lighting technologies, LED also requires significantly less energy. The Opel AFL LED headlamps take this inherent advantage a step further by automatically activating Stop Mode Light when the vehicle’s start/stop system has stopped the engine. In this mode, the cornering lights switch off while the low beam stays on, reducing the energy consumption of the headlamps.

New Opel Mokka X with optional AFL LED headlamps

!NEW! Opel Meriva MPV - Adaptive Forward Lighting (AFL)

Adaptive Forward Lighting (AFL)

Night driving always has the potential to generate stress. 82% of all car accidents happen at night. Opel Meriva´s advanced halogen AFL system projects the headlamp beam into bends, with extra side illumination in tight corners. The result ? Less stress, more safety and driving fun. New Opel Meriva makes new automatic lighting functions and LED daytime running lights for optimum visibility in any environment and driving situation.

New Opel Meriva MPV - Adaptive Forward Lighting (AFL) with LED Daytime Running Lights (DRL)

 - Depending on speed and steering input, the headlights swivel up to 15˚ in bends in either direction

-  Additional projectors are automatically activated, providing 90˚ side illumination on corners and tight bends

-  To assist the driver's orientation when parking, the static cornering light goes on to illuminate the parking area when reversing

New Four door sporty sedan completes Opel Astra J line up

• New notchback version is fourth body style of Opel´s compact top seller
• Four door sedan with balanced proportions and typical Astra strengths
• Advanced technologies, high quality and upscale mid size finish in compact class
• Ultra efficient ecoFLEX models with only 99g/km CO₂ and up to 96 kW/130 hp                                                

Opel is expanding its successful Astra J model family with a new sporty and stylish sedan. Featuring typical Astra strengths, including advanced technologies and its widely recognized quality, the new upscale and elegant notchback is a more affordable alternative for customers who would usually opt for this type of car in the mid size segment. With this new four door sedan, the five door hatchback, the Sports Tourer station wagon and the racy GTC coupe, the line up of Opel´s top seller Astra is now complete.

At the start of sales in June, customers can initially choose between seven engines for the new Astra sedan: four gasoline units (74 kW/100 hp to 132 kW/180 hp), of which three can be combined with a six-speed automatic and three diesel engines (70 kW/95 hp to 96 kW/130 hp). The two ultra-efficient Astra notchback 1.7 CDTI ecoFLEX models with Start/Stop system and further efficiency enhancing technologies combine powerful outputs of 81 kW/110 hp or 96 kW/130 hp with diesel consumption figures as low as 3.7 liters per 100 kilometers. This is equivalent to only 99g/km CO₂ emissions. In addition to this broad powertrain offer, early next year the new Astra four-door will benefit from the launch of Opel’s new highly efficient, powerful and refined SIDI ECOTEC four cylinder gasoline engine generation with 1.6 liters displacement, turbocharging and spark ignition direct injection.

The new Astra notchback sedan (Length/Width/Height: 4,658/1,814/1,476 mm) has a  wheel base of 2,685 mm and provides generous interior space. Its separate trunk offers 460 liters of volume - 90 liters more than the five-door model. By folding the 60:40 split rear bench flat the luggage volume can be increased up to a maximum of 1,010 liters.

Sporty and stylish design combined with balanced proportions

The Opel design team gave the new Astra notchback a very stylish and sleek silhouette. The roofline arcs gently over the passenger area, then descends in a seamless sweep through the steeply raked rear screen to the sculpted aerodynamic lip at the end of the short rear deck. And because the raked C-pillar stretches so far back into the rear deck area, it visually conceals the size of the trunk in an elegant fashion. The feature line running through the door handles becomes more defined towards the rear, creating a muscular “shoulder” effect below the base of the C pillar and the rear deck.

The rear is characterized by the steeply raked rear screen, the integrated deck spoiler, and the broad sweep of the sculpted bumper. The design of the tail lights echoes those of other Astra models, and the subtle crease which links them adds width and avoids any impression of bulkiness. The lamps also have an inner wing shape for the taillight function that continues the Opel brand signature. There are more sculptural features within the bumper where the number plate indent reflects the shape of the deck lid cutout. Together, all these elements combine to create a particularly well balanced and harmonious automotive design.

Top technology standards and typical Astra qualities in notchback segment

With its sporty, elegant design, typical Astra qualities and a large array of technological highlights – some are unique, some are unusual for the segment - Opel´s new compact four door notchback targets customers with high expectations. The Advanced Forward Lighting (AFL+) with bi-xenon headlamps and a host of sophisticated lighting functions including variable light distribution, curve light, cornering light and high-beam assist greatly enhance active safety. The adaptive FlexRide chassis system automatically adjusts damping to the prevailing driving conditions and gives the driver the choice between three different modes – Standard, the comfort oriented Tour mode and the more responsive Sport mode. The highly ergonomic AGR (“Aktion Gesunder Rücken e.V”) approved seats that are easy on the back are available for the driver and the front passenger. Added to that are several infotainment systems which make travelling even more relaxing and safer. The Navi 900 top unit features the routes of more than 30 European countries and a digital travel guide stored on an SD card.

Compact notchbacks offer growth opportunities

The new four-door sedan is an important addition to the latest generation of the successful Astra model family. In Western Europe, especially in Germany and Spain, Opel marketing experts see growth opportunities for the new four door model as an elegant, more  affordable alternative to sedans from the upper segment. Moreover, there is strong demand for compact notchback variants in the high growth markets of Eastern and Central Europe, particularly Russia and Turkey. Russia currently has the second highest sales volume in Europe and is expected to become Europe´s main market with up to 3.4 million total vehicle sales in 2014. Across all segments, more than 60 percent of all sedans sold in Europe are sold in Russia. Last year, in the compact segment 51 percent of customers there opted for a notchback version. Russia is also the third biggest market for the Astra in Europe. Therefore, Opel has decided to celebrate the world premiere of the new member of the Astra model family at the Moscow Auto Salon 2012 (August 29 - September 9).