Families’ Best Friend – New Opel Combo Life

• All-new: New architecture makes the fifth generation Opel Combo a perfect family car
• Your choice: Long or short versions, both as five or seven seat option
• XXL: 597 litres minimum and up to 2,693 litres of luggage volume
• Typical Opel: Numerous driver assistance systems and great infotainment
• Outstanding overview: Head up display and 180° rear view camera
• Opel styling cues: Solid and robust design, Opel-typical headlight winglets
• Available soon: Start of sales in first half of 2018, deliveries start in second half

Tough character: The side-view of the new Opel Combo Life features protective flank guards and prominent wheelarches.

Opel is continuing its ongoing product offensive by launching a true all-rounder with the new Opel Combo Life, a wonderful family car full of innovations that makes everything possible. The fifth-generation Combo is based on a new architecture. It is immensely spacious, highly practical and versatile, equipped with one or two rear sliding doors and can be ordered as a short (4.40 metres) or long (4.75 metres) version and as a five or seven seater. With the new Opel Combo Life, you will be the hero of your local sports team when taking an entire seven-a-side team plus sports apparel to the next match. Your planned family “extensions” can relax on three individual rear seats all with Isofix child seat brackets and enjoy a wonderful view of the sky thanks to the panoramic roof. And your friends will also love the outstanding spaciousness and ask whether they can borrow your new Opel Combo Life for their trips to nearest Swedish furniture store.

Just right for active-outdoor lifestyles: New Opel Combo Life is available in short or long versions, with one or two sliding doors and up to seven seats.

However, more strikingly the new Opel Combo Life raises the bar in terms of technical ambition in this segment and takes the level of safety and comfort to a new dimension. It is fitted with technologies and driver assistance systems well-known from the compact or SUV segment such as Driver Drowsiness Alert, Rear View Camera with 180° bird’s-eye view, Head up display, IntelliGrip, and comfort features such as heated seats and a heated leather steering wheel. One of the newcomers to the Opel portfolio of assistance systems is Flank Guard. It supports drivers when turning at low speeds. And on top of that the new Opel Combo Life is also pleasant on the eye thanks to bold proportions giving a strong and robust appearance.

Compact: New Opel Combo Life is notable for its especially short front and rear overhangs.

“The new Opel Combo Life is a key vehicle in our product offensive. Our newcomer will definitely appeal to families with its versatility and spaciousness combined with an outstanding offer of ultra-modern driver assistance systems that make driving safer and travelling more enjoyable,” said Opel CEO Michael Lohscheller. “This car has a huge potential to grow the brand and gives us the opportunity to attack the important small van segment with new vigour.”

Friendly ultra-modern technologies and assistance systems

New Opel Combo Life significantly increases the number of high-tech safety and comfort features, raising the bar in its segment significantly. Opel recognised the wish of its customers to make high-tech solutions accessible to families and have fitted it with a vast array of technologies that are useful in everyday driving.

These innovative, high-tech, safety-relevant solutions include:

 

• The Head up display reduces the danger of distractions and projects the most important driving data into the driver’s direct line of sight, reducing the necessity for the driver to take his eyes of the road.
• Forward collision alert with pedestrian detection and Automatic Emergency Braking^[1] helps avoid accidents. The system not only issues an alarm and a visual warning but also brakes independently if the distance to a vehicle moving ahead decreases rapidly and the driver does not react.
• The Opel Eye front camera known from Opel bestsellers such as the Astra, Corsa and Mokka X. It processes diverse data thus forming the basis for the driver assistance systems such as Speed Sign Recognition and Lane Keep Assist.
• Automatic Cruise Control adapting the speed to the vehicle ahead if required.
• Intelligent Speed Adaptation informing the driver when a new speed limit is detected by the Speed Sign Recognition. If the cruise control or the speed limiter is activated, a pop up message in the cluster will ask the driver if he or she wants to adjust the set the speed.
• Driver Drowsiness Alert evaluates the fatigue level through the drive style and suggests that the driver has a well-deserved break at the next service station.

 Parking manoeuvres are made safer and easier by:

• Flank Guard[2] - new to the Opel portfolio of parking/manoeuvring assistance systems. It supports the driver while turning at low speeds, warning him or her when there is a risk that a flank of the car will collide into an obstacle (pillars, barriers, wall or other vehicles). Flank Guard consists of twelve sensors around the car. They analyse the surrounding area and warn the driver via the infotainment screen if a potential collision is detected. The visual warning comes together with an audible one.
• The Panoramic Rear View Camera, increases the angle of sight at the back of the car to 180 degrees so that the driver can see other road users approaching from either side when reversing.
• Advanced Park Assist facilitates parking even further. It recognises suitable parking slots and parks the vehicle automatically. It can also exit the parking slot automatically. In both cases, the driver only needs to operate the pedals and shift gears.

Adventurous families who like venturing off the beaten track will not have to worry about surface conditions thanks to a clever solution:

• IntelliGrip traction control, already known from the Opel Grandland X, is an optional electronic front differential which adapts the torque distribution to the front wheels, allows wheel-spin if necessary, and with the automatic transmission adjusts shift points as well as throttle response. This ensures best traction and stable handling regardless of whether the Combo Life is travelling on mud, sand, wet surfaces or snow.

And winter escapes are made more enjoyable thanks to various comfort features:

• The heated leather steering wheel is unique in the segment and ensures that Combo Life drivers will never have to worry about cold hands.
• The heated front seats keep the chill at bay and increase well-being.
• The auxiliary heater works independently of the engine and can pre-heat the vehicle before departure. The auxiliary heater can be activated via a timer or remote control creating cosy and comfortable temperatures.

Organised: Centre console of the new Opel Combo Life is clearly influenced by the brand’s German DNA, with the controls for infotainment, climate control and storage arranged in three levels.

The Combo Life also offers Opel-typical state-of-the-art Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatible infotainment systems with up to eight-inch capacitive colour touchscreen.

State-of-the-art: New Combo Life profits from Opel’s leading role in connectivity with infotainment and navigation systems that include colour touchscreens up to eight inches in size.

The fun-factor for occupants is further increased by the various charging options. USB ports in the front and second row ensure that tablets and smartphones can be recharged even while the children watch their favourite YouTuber. A 230V power socket in the front footwell even allows one passenger to plug in a laptop. Furthermore, compatible smartphones can also be charged wirelessly via the inductive charging pad located below the air-conditioning controls.

Family friendly: Spacious, comfortable, versatile

Somewhat more expected than the wide range of high-tech solutions available for the latest member of Opel’s product offensive is its exceptional versatility. It is available as a 4.4-metre long standard version or as a 35 centimetres longer large version, optionally with two sliding rear doors. Both variants have a height of 1.8 metres and both configurations will be available with either five or seven seats ensuring that even large families with their two golden retrievers can enjoy a spacious and comfortable ride.

Versatile: Customers who order the new Opel Combo Life with individual second row seats can conveniently fold them from the boot.

Transporting a large amount of luggage, a considerable amount of sports apparel or even large dogs to a holiday destination will also be a breeze for Opel Combo owners. The five-seat, standard length version has a minimum luggage volume of 597 litres^[3]. People requiring even more space can obviously also opt for the long wheelbase with a minimum luggage volume of 850 litres³.

However, the Combo Life is not only a spacious and highly comfortable family van. It can also double as a small transporter. With the rear seats folded down the boot volume of the standard version more than triples to 2,126 litres^[4] meaning that getting camping equipment, bicycles or large parcels from A to B is no longer a problem. Again, the longer version of the Opel Combo Life offers even more capacity when the rear seats are folded down. In this configuration, it can carry a whopping 2,693 litres⁴. Furthermore, the developers have also thought about how to transport long items. Therefore, the front passenger seat folds flush with the rear seats, extending the length of the loading area so that even surfboards can be transported. The designers also ensured that the annoying gap sometimes left between luggage and tailgate can be utilised thanks to the optional opening window integrated in the tailgate known from premium SUVs.

The second row seating setup of both variants also caters for individual preferences. Customers will be able to choose between the standard second row bench with 60/40 split or alternatively three individual seats, which can be folded conveniently from the boot^[5]. In both cases, each seating position has its own Isofix child seat bracket as standard allowing for three child seats to be fitted next to each other, a rarity in the market. Furthermore, each seat has a top tether anchor point designed to lessen forward movement of the forward facing child seat in the event of a frontal collision and thus reduce the risk of injury. Meanwhile, easy access to the passenger compartment is guaranteed by the sliding doors.

Safe and secure: With each seating position in the second row featuring its own Isofix bracket, the new Opel Combo Life can accommodate the youngest passengers in their child seats in a single row.

Regardless whether children or adults are travelling in the rear, all of them can enjoy a wonderful view of the sky thanks to the optional panoramic roof. It permits them to savour starry nights or lap up the warm rays of the sun. When the sun is too strong for the occupants’ liking, an electric sunblind, activated though a switch in the overhead console, can be closed, providing total protection. When open, the panoramic roof also improves the feeling of space even further while simultaneously creating a pleasant and light ambience.

Enjoy the view: Not only the driver of the new Opel Combo Life, but also the rear-seat passengers benefit from the panoramic roof.

Best friend for travelling

Room galore: Split-level glovebox of the new Opel Combo Life offers plenty of storage space, especially at the top, thanks to the installation of the passenger airbag in the roof.

The storage possibilities of the Combo Life match the versatility of the vehicle and are benchmark in the segment. The large compartment in the centre stack can take anything ranging from 1.5 litre bottles to smartphones or from wallets to tablets. In addition, front and rear seat occupants can safely stow items in the large door pockets. Passengers in the rear can keep their tablets safe in the pockets on the back of the front seats while the driver and front seat passenger can use either the top or the lower glovebox. The top glovebox is ideal for larger items as it is particularly spacious thanks to the installation of the passenger airbag in the roof. But that is by no means all. When ordered with the optional panoramic roof, the Combo Life comes with overhead storage running down the centre of the vehicle with LED lighting as standard.

The sky’s the limit: Occupants of the new Opel Combo Life will get stars in their eyes with the optional panoramic roof, which also features a shelf illuminated by LED lighting in the ceiling.

Furthermore, in this configuration the newcomer is also fitted with a large 36-litre storage box mounted above the hat tray in the boot. This enables for some of the space normally not utilised when not packing up to the roof is used sensibly – without impeding the view of following traffic through the rear view mirror. The storage box is ideal for clothes, books or small toys such as the favourite teddy bear. It can be loaded from the rear when the boot is open or via the optional opening window integrated in the tailgate and accessed from inside the vehicle via two sliding doors at the front of the box.

Those in need of even more space and even more storage possibilities or those who want to tow a small caravan (trailer load up to 1,500 kg) can obviously also attach a trailer via the optional fixed or removable towing hook. To ensure the safest possible driving conditions, the Opel Combo Life comes with Trailer Stability Control (TSC) as standard when ordered with a towing hook. This additional ESP function stabilises the swaying of the trailer or slows the vehicle as required. If these measures are not enough to avert all danger, the system reduces engine torque even further and brakes the vehicle so that the critical speed range is left as quickly as possible.

Friendly appearance: Balanced, robust, confident

Robust: High bonnet contributes to the balanced, confident appearance of the new Opel Combo Life.

The new Opel Combo Life does not just stand out from the crowd with its high-tech solutions, outstanding spaciousness and exceptions versatility. It also comes with eye-catching proportions. Compared to other cars in the segment, it has a shorter front overhang and a higher bonnet. It looks more balanced, robust and confident. From the front, it displays a typically Opel identity with sculptured details enhancing the feeling of precision and solidity. The high bonnet with two crisp lines, which go from the windshield down to the grill, emphasises the stability of the vehicle. The predominant part of the car is the front grille, where the headlamps with LED Daytime Running Lights with the typical Opel winglets band together precisely and amorously as a defined line. Two chrome wings in the grille embrace the Opel Blitz. Thick wheel-wells connected via the side sills further emphasise the solidity of the Opel Combo Life. The rear of the car is very linear following a vertical design underlining the high practicality of the vehicle and framing the generous opening to the luggage compartment.

Typically Opel: Styling cues such as the front grille and the LED winglets over the headlights make the new Opel Combo Life instantly recognisable.

In the interior, driver ergonomics have played a decisive part resulting in a well-organised cockpit where all the controls are easy for the driver to find and reach. The centre console is clearly divided in three different areas. In its upper part, the infotainment system takes up most of the space. Down from there, the driver finds the heating and ventilation controls and in the lower part there is adequate storage space for a 0.5-litre bottle. Chrome accents on the steering leather wheel, on the door handles and in the air vents add further character.

Under the bonnet, Opel Combo Life customers will have the choice between a variety of turbo-charged, direct injection petrol and diesel engines. All of the units combine driving pleasure with a high level of fuel economy. The engines are mated to five or six-speed manual transmissions with a segment-first eight-speed automatic option also being available.

^[1] Works automatically above 5 km/h and below 85 km/h. From 0 to 30 km/h the deceleration metric to reduce the impact speed of the collision is 0.9g. From 30 to 85 km/h the system brakes to the speed by a maximum of 22 km/h. After this threshold, the driver needs to brake himself to reduce the speed even further.
[2] active below 10km/h
^[3] Measured until the top of the back seat.
^[4] Measured up to the roof.
^[5] Available from 2019

!NEW! Opel Demonstrates Technology for Safer Inner-city Driving

• Insignia demonstration vehicle avoids collisions by braking and steering automatically
• Smart intersection benefits city dwellers and climate, as well as motorists
• UR:BAN research project for intelligent assistance and traffic management systems

Careful, pedestrian: The sensor technology of the Opel Insignia recognizes the obstacle quicker than the human eye and automatically initiates the evasive action.

Most driver assistance systems today focus on traffic situations outside urban areas. However, inner-city driving represents an even bigger challenge for modern drivers. There is so much happening at once and there are so many cars, trucks, buses, cyclists and pedestrians to keep an eye on. Higher safety in this complicated mobile environment is the goal of several assistance systems under development at Opel, which can warn the driver or briefly take control of the vehicle.

Evasive action: Opel Insignia recognizes the suddenly emerging obstacle and avoids a collision with automatic steering and braking.

Steering intervention: Opel Insignia reacts quicker to the dangerous situation than the driver and initiates the evasive action.

The Rüsselsheim-based car-maker is working on innovative driver-assistance systems as part of its role in the UR:BAN research project (user-oriented assistance systems and network management). The aim of the project, which is partly funded by the German government, is to provide drivers with forward-looking support, tailored and customized to driving in urban traffic. Thirty-one partners from the automotive industry, electronics and software companies, together with research institutes and local authorities, are developing intelligent assistance and cooperative traffic management systems.

Making inner-city driving safer

Especially in urban traffic, situations frequently occur where ordinary drivers may not react in time – cars emerging unexpectedly from parking lots, children unseen behind parked cars suddenly dashing into the road. Opel has built an Insignia demonstration vehicle that not only warns the driver of such dangers, but can also avoid collisions with vehicles and pedestrians by taking automatic evasive action through steering combined with braking.

The car is equipped with advanced camera and radar, and modified braking and steering systems, which can intervene in the control of the vehicle.

Another Opel demonstration vehicle shows the potential for further development of driver assistance systems through studying driver behavior. Using vehicle data, a front camera and a head-tracking camera, a specially developed algorithm analyzes driver behavior patterns to predict at an early stage, for example, whether the driver will perform a lane change maneuver or not. Such enhancements will optimize the performance of driver assistance systems such as side blind-zone alert by avoiding unnecessary warnings and driver irritation, helping to increase the acceptance of active safety features in the future.

Cars and infrastructure generate traffic recommendations sent via Wi-Fi

Intelligent Insignia: Opel flagship communicates with the traffic lights at the next intersection via Wi-Fi and informs the driver via the display. He can then adapt his speed accordingly.

In addition to avoiding collisions, Opel is also working on improving inner-city traffic conditions for the benefit of motorists, city dwellers and the climate. Opel has built a demonstration vehicle based on the Insignia Sports Tourer that shows how information sent via Wi-Fi from the traffic management infrastructure and other vehicles can generate recommendations for driving at intersections. The recommendations can help the driver approach the intersection smoothly, safely and without wasting fuel, and preferably without stopping. They are displayed via an advanced Man-Machine-Interface (MMI) using the Driver Info Center in the instrument panel, with secondary information shown in the central console.

Best recommendation: Future Opel vehicles will recognize the traffic situations and show the driver which lane they should take and how fast they should drive to reach the next set of traffic lights when they are green.

In order to improve inner-city driving Opel can call on years of experience in Car-to-X communications and research into automated driving. But despite rapid progress in assistance systems and cars that can drive automatically, the company remains committed to keeping the driving experience enjoyable. At Opel, driving is fun when it is neither boring nor over-demanding, and those are precisely the conditions the company’s driver assistance systems are aiming at.  

!NEW! All-New Opel Astra Sports Tourer and new 1.6 BiTurbo-Diesel Available for Order

• Spacious station wagon now available: Prices for Astra Sports Tourer start at €18,260
• Family resemblance: All innovative technologies from 5-door Astra carried over
• New powerful premium diesel: 1.6 BiTurbo CDTI with 118 KW/160 PS
• Clever: Flexible up to 1,630 liter large loading space with power tailgate

Spacious station wagon now available: Prices for new Opel Astra Sports Tourer start at €18,260.
 

The new Astra generation is continuing to grab the headlines. After recently celebrating its world premiere at the Frankfurt Motor Show, the 5-door variants will now roll to dealerships. 

This coming weekend potential customers will be able to take a seat in the new Astra at Opel partners across Germany. But that is not all: Order books for the new Sports Tourer will open simultaneously with the 5-door dealer launch. The dynamic looking station wagon with loading space of up to 1,630 liters is available from just €18,260 (all prices RRP in Germany). A new top-of-the-range diesel presently only available for the Astra will also make its debut. The 1.6 BiTurbo CDTI with 118 kW/160 hp delivers maximum torque of 350 Nm from 1,500 rpm. In combination with a six-speed transmission and Start/Stop, it consumes just 4.2 liters per 100 kilometers for the combined cycle (CO2: 110-107g/km) in the new Astra Sports Tourer.

“Our new Astra represents a quantum leap in the compact class. The Sports Tourer and the 5-door variant both offer numerous high-tech features from higher segments as standard or as an option. Now both models can be ordered and come with exemplary value for money, which is typical for Opel,” enthused Peter Christian Küspert, Vice President Sales & Aftersales Opel Group.

The new Astra combines efficiency with elegance and sets new standards in the compact class with outstanding innovations. No matter whether the 5-door or the Sports Tourer variant – both are up to 200 kilograms lighter than their predecessors are and offer passengers, especially those in the rear – more space.

Numerous technologies and assistance systems from higher segments improve comfort and safety for the occupants. Starting with the personal connectivity and service assistant Opel OnStar, continuing with the ultra-modern IntelliLink infotainment systems that are compatible with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto and by no means ending with the groundbreaking adaptive IntelliLux LED® matrix light, which enables driving with permanent high-beam without glaring other road users. The latest generation Opel Eye front camera offers important safety features such as the optimized Traffic Sign Assist, Lane Keep Assist, which ensures that drivers stay on track with active steering corrections right up to Forward Collision Warning with emergency automatic braking (8 to 60 km/h). In addition, the new AGR-certified premium ergonomic seats now offer a unique combination of side bolster adjustment, massage and memory function along with ventilation. Heated rear seats are also available.

Sports Tourer highlights: Power tailgate and all-new BiTurbo diesel

The Opel compact station wagon, now available for order for prices starting at €18,260, comes with the same virtues as its 5-door sibling: The Astra Sports Tourer is more spacious inside without growing its exterior dimensions. This leads to more comfort for the driver and the passengers along with up to 1,630 liters of loading space. The interior is very flexible thanks to the 40/20/40 folding rear seats. The FlexOrganizer product range, with side rails, dividing nets and various fastening options ensures that all loaded materials can be stored tidily.

Opel also offers an especially practical novelty for the Astra Sports Tourer: In combination with Keyless Open and start, a kicking motion under the rear bumper is enough to open the tailgate. Furthermore, the tailgate can still be opened or closed by a switch on the driver’s side of the car, buttons in the luggage compartment or via the key’s remote control.

The powertrain portfolio of the Sports Tourer is the same as for the 5-door – with one especially powerful exception: The new 118 kW/160 hp 1.6 BiTurbo CDTI, which delivers maximum torque of 350 Nm from 1,500 rpm, is presently reserved exclusively for the station wagon. Performance and power generation are comparable to that of a two-liter engine. In the Astra Sports Tourer, mid-range acceleration from 80 to 120 km/h in fifth gear is absolved in 8.1 seconds. Top speed is 218 km/h. The sovereignty of the four-cylinder common rail unit comes from the sequential, two-stage turbocharging. In combination with a six-speed transmission and Start/Stop, the 1.6-liter all-aluminum diesel engine consumes just 4.2 liters per 100 kilometers for the combined cycle (CO2: 110-107g/km), making the Astra Sports Tourer 1.6 BiTurbo CDTI one of the most fuel efficient vehicles in the compact class. Prices for the Astra Sports Tourer with the power diesel start at €24,950.

Pure efficiency: The new generation engines

Outputs of the completely new gasoline and diesel units offered for the new Astra Sports Tourer range from 70 kW/95 hp to 147 kW/200 hp. The new Astra Sports Tourer with the 74 kW/100 hp 1.4-liter all-aluminum gasoline engine under the hood will be available for a very affordable entry-level price of €18,260. The 77 kW/105 hp three-cylinder 1.0 ECOTEC Direct Injection Turbo is available for only €700 more. Elsewhere, the completely new 1.4 ECOTEC Direct Injection Turbo is available with outputs of 92 kW/125 hp or 110 kW/150 hp and delivers maximum torque of up to 245 Nm. Depending on the output, fuel consumption can be reduced to 5.3 liters per 100 kilometers (122-119 g/km CO2).

The 1.6 ECOTEC Direct Injection Turbo gasoline unit is the most powerful engine available for the Sports Tourer with prices starting at €26,910. The 147 kW/200 hp turbocharged direct injection gasoline unit mobilizes an impressive 300 Nm of torque (with overboost), enabling the station wagon to accelerate from 80 to 120 km/h in fifth gear in 7.2 seconds. Top speed is up to 235 km/h. Consumption and emissions are relatively modest given the high level of performance with 6.1 l/100 km and 142-139 g/km CO2.

Apart from the 1.6 BiTurbo CDTI, diesel fans can also order a new Astra with a 1.6 CDTI single-stage turbocharged engine in three outputs ranging from 70 kW/95 hp to 100 kW/136 hp and offering maximum torque of 320 Nm. The current efficiency champion of the new Astra Sport Tourer family is the 81 kW/110 hp model, with fuel consumption a mere 3.7 liters and CO2 emissions of 99 to 96 grams.

!NEW! Guiding Light: Eye-tracking Technology from Opel

• Trendsetting: Third generation adaptive lighting already in development
• Forward-looking: Eye movements control direction and intensity of headlamp beam
• Across all classes: Opel safety lighting system AFL+ from Astra to Insignia
• Coming soon: LED Matrix light makes glare-free high beams the standard

Lightning-fast reaction: The camera in Opel’s eye-tracking system scans the driver’s eyes more than 50 times per second to instantaneously adjust the headlamp beam.

Car headlamp beams that are directed by the driver’s eyes? What may still sound like science fiction fantasy in the United Nations’ International Year of Light is not all that far away from reality. Engineers at Opel are already busy developing automotive lighting for the day after tomorrow: with its eye-tracking technology, Opel presents the future of situation-appropriate lighting and once again takes on a pioneering role in lighting technology. This announces a third generation of automotive adaptive lighting, that will be introduced after the current, widely-praised and multi-award-winning AFL+ Bi-Xenon system featuring up to 10 lighting functions available in most Opel models, and Opel’s LED Matrix light that will soon go into series production.

Safety on board: The AFL+ system in the Opel Insignia ensures variable light distribution according to driving situation, road and weather conditions.

Glare-free: Opel’s LED Matrix light deactivates individual LEDs so that oncoming traffic is not dazzled. The rest of the road remains brightly illuminated.

“We’ve been pursuing this concept of controlling the direction and intensity of light based on where the driver is looking for around two years. The more we understand the benefits of this technology, the more intensively we push ahead with our joint project,” says Ingolf Schneider, Director Lighting Technology at Opel, describing the collaboration between Opel’s International Technical Development Center and the Technical University of Darmstadt.

In contrast to high-performance eye-tracking systems requiring five to 10 cameras, a simple webcam was at first used. Focused on the driver’s head, it scanned prominent points, such as the nose and eyes, to detect movement and thereby the driver’s line of sight.

The system then translated the information gathered into data commands for electronically-controlled actuators, which quickly aligned the vehicle’s headlamp projectors. While this technique came very close to achieving eye-control of the headlamps, calculation of data still took too long and the recording rate of the webcam was also too slow to meet the demanding requirements of road traffic conditions.

Fast reaction and intelligent delay

Optimization of the camera’s operating parameters and the adaptation of the eye-tracking algorithm brought the breakthrough. The camera is now equipped with peripheral infra-red sensors and central photo-diodes which together enable it to scan the driver’s eyes more than 50 times per second in dusk and night-time conditions. And with much faster data processing and transmission, the headlamp actuators react instantaneously to make both horizontal and vertical adjustments.

The future of situation-appropriate lighting: Opel engineers are already today working on eye-tracking technology, which will enable drivers to control the car headlamp beams with the direction of their gaze. 

Only one problem remained. In practice, a driver’s eyes very naturally and unconsciously jump from one focal point to another. So if the headlamps were allowed to follow this movement precisely, the vehicle’s light cone would jerk around erratically. “To overcome this problem, we have successfully developed a sophisticated delay algorithm which ensures a suitably flowing movement for the light cone,” says Schneider. “Another major benefit is that the eye-tracker doesn’t have to be individually calibrated for a particular driver. The system works perfectly with anyone behind the wheel, no matter what their size.” Even if the driver is momentarily distracted from looking at the road ahead, lighting is always provided in the direction of travel. That’s because the low beam of the headlamps is programmed to ensure sufficient illumination.

Modern safety lighting already widely accessible today: AFL+ from Opel

Even as Opel is developing eye-tracking as the lighting system of the future, it already provides advanced technologies which ensure optimal night vision and highest driving safety on roads today. Opel has brought a break-through in automotive lighting in offering the current generation of AFL+ in a wide range of models, from the Mokka, Cascada and Zafira Tourer to the Astra and Insignia families, thus once again delivering on the company’s ambition of making premium technologies available to a wider audience. In combination with the Opel Eye front camera, it features up to 10 lighting functions, using Bi-Xenon headlamp beams which automatically adapt to a diverse range of driving situations. For different road and weather conditions, variable light distribution is automatically provided as appropriate for pedestrian areas, city driving, country roads, highways and adverse weather. AFL+ also includes functions such as dynamic curve light, cornering light and the use of energy-saving LED daytime running lights. The direction and intensity of the light beam is adjusted according to both steering angle and vehicle speed. In addition, high beam light assistant switches the headlamps to low beam whenever the forward-facing Opel Eye camera, integrated in the interior mirror mounting, detects the proximity of headlamps or tail-lights of other vehicles. A Light and Visibility Pack also includes automatic low beam lighting, together with tunnel recognition. With this array of automatic lighting functions, AFL+ not only improves the visibility of one’s own vehicle but also reduces driver stress and night-time drowsiness.

Bright as day: The LED Matrix light system

Parallel to refining the proven AFL+ and conducting the development of the future eye-tracking lighting generation, engineers at Opel’s International Technical Development Center in Rüsselsheim are currently completing the final validation tests on their next-generation lighting system for upcoming Opel vehicles. LED Matrix light provides glare-free, high beam lighting, which is automatically and constantly adapted for varying traffic situations. In this way, the LED Matrix light functions with the Opel Eye front camera, but its accuracy and adaptive capacity go one step forward. When light sources are detected from oncoming or preceding traffic, individual LEDs in the relevant zone are deactivated, while the rest of the road remains brightly illuminated. This Opel automotive lighting system turns night into day for drivers without dazzling other road users. It will be introduced within the next 18 months.

!NEW! Opel Reveals Fifth-Generation Corsa

• New drive: New chassis, new generation engine and transmission technology
• New standard: High quality interior with IntelliLink and host of assistance systems
• World premiere: Opel’s bestseller to debut in October at Paris Motor Show

New Opel Corsa offers plenty of room for up to five occupants – in both family-friendly, five-door (left) and dynamic, sporty three-door (right) body formats

Opel today reveals the new, fifth generation of the Corsa. Opel’s bestseller aims to offer a new driving experience in the small-car market segment by raising the bar for chassis, engine and gearbox performance. The new, refined and efficient 1.0-liter three-cylinder turbo engines, smooth-shifting transmissions, the new suspension and optimized steering deliver class-leading levels of comfort and precision. 

New Opel Corsa comes with a totally new interior that enhances the perception of high quality and spaciousness, including best-connected IntelliLink infotainment technology

The new Corsa also comes with a totally new interior that enhances the perception of high quality and spaciousness, including best-connected IntelliLink infotainment technology and ultra-modern driver assistance systems. Opel’s designers have also given the new Corsa a dynamic shape in line with the brand’s design philosophy, introducing flowing, sculptural forms and precise detailing. The new Corsa is equipped with everything required to ensure continuation of 32 years of success in a highly competitive market segment. The fifth generation of Opel’s bestseller will make its world premiere at the “Mondial de l’Automobile 2014” in Paris (October 4 to 19), rolling off the assembly lines in Zaragoza and Eisenach before the end of the year.

Family-friendly five-door body format: Opel’s designers have given the new Corsa a dynamic shape in line with the brand’s design philosophy, introducing flowing, sculptural forms and precise detailing

“The Opel Corsa has always been widely praised, particularly for its appealing looks and an efficient use of space within compact dimensions,” says Opel CEO Dr. Karl-Thomas Neumann. “This has been a decisive factor in the model’s enduring popularity, and we are, of course, carrying this core appeal forward in the new generation. Thanks to many new technologies, we are also offering a fantastic driving experience, which raises the standard in this vehicle class. The fifth Corsa generation will be full of surprises.”

Sporty three-door Corsa: The fifth generation of Opel’s bestseller will make its world premiere at the “Mondial de l’Automobile 2014” in Paris (October 4 to 19)

Recipe for success: Youthful design and generous space in compact dimensions

Five generations at a glance: Opel Corsa B, D, E, C and A (from left)

Across four generations spanning 32 years, almost 12 million Corsas have been sold in Europe, including 2.8 million from the current fourth generation. With average yearly sales of 370,000 units, the Opel Corsa is one of the most enduringly popular models in its segment. A key to its success is outstanding space efficiency: within a compact length of 4 meters, Opel’s bestseller offers plenty of room for up to five occupants – in both family-friendly, five-door and dynamic, sporty three-door body formats. At the same time, the Corsa’s exterior design conveys practicality and strong, stand-out appeal with its youthful, dynamic looks. The new Corsa generation now seamlessly carries forward this recipe for success – while being radically different. Its exterior design is fresher, more sophisticated and has even more character. 

Opel Corsa E: The bold face is characterized by the wing shaped headlights incorporating Opel’s signature wing LED daytime running lights

The bold face is characterized by the “wing” shaped headlights incorporating Opel’s signature “wing” LED daytime running lights and the low sporty trapezoidal grille, with its dynamic bar supporting the Opel emblem. The sculptured body sides feature Opel’s typical dynamic “blade” body signature. At the rear end the wide horizontal split tail lights help to visually widen the car and flow through to the rear shoulders, giving it an even better stance. But it’s when you sit in the new Corsa and drive it that the change is the most apparent. The completely new cabin featuring clear, elongated shapes and a mix of sophisticated materials, together with the substantially more comfortable chassis, sharper steering, all-new powertrains and significantly lower noise levels all combine to ensure a completely new driving experience.

Sporty three-door Opel Corsa E

Absolute precision: New chassis and new steering for highest driving stability

New chassis and steering systems: For driving experience comparable to larger, more expensive cars in terms of comfort and precision.

The top priority for the Opel engineering development team was to provide Corsa customers with a driving experience comparable to larger, more expensive cars in terms of comfort and precision. New chassis and steering systems provide the foundation. The chassis does not inherit a single component from the current Corsa. Straight line and cornering stability is increased thanks to a 5 millimeter lower center of gravity, a stiffer sub-frame, a new suspension geometry including a new front knuckle. Roll behavior, steering response and understeer characteristics are all improved. New damping characteristics also give the fifth-generation Corsa better filtration of disturbances from potholes and uneven road surfaces, providing exemplary comfort in a small car.

New damping characteristics also give the fifth-generation Corsa better filtration of disturbances from potholes and uneven road surfaces, providing exemplary comfort in a small car.

The development of a completely new electrical architecture for the fifth generation Corsa enables a more sophisticated level of interaction between its various systems. Together with a new steering geometry and steering software calibration, this enhanced system benefits the new, speed-sensitive electric power steering: it has a more precise response and improves both driving pleasure and comfort. A new standard feature in all Corsa E models that allows reducing steering effort at low speeds, the City mode is easily activated at the press of a button.

Opel Corsa E: City mode button

As for the current Corsa, customers can choose between two chassis set-ups, Comfort and Sport. The Sport chassis has stiffer springs and shock absorbers as well as a specific steering geometry and calibration for a more direct response.

Engine highlight: Latest generation 1.0 ECOTEC Direct Injection Turbo  

Powerful: New, refined and efficient 1.0 liter three-cylinder turbo engines 

The highlight under the hood of the new so-called “Corsa E” of the fifth generation is the installation of Opel’s newly-developed three-cylinder, 1.0 ECOTEC Direct Injection Turbo, part of the brand’s major powertrain offensive. This ultra-modern pocket powerhouse is the only 1,0 liter three-cylinder production engine with a balance shaft, which enables it set a new class benchmark for exceptionally low noise, vibration and harshness (NVH) characteristics, as well as high driving comfort. The compact, all-aluminum 1.0 ECOTEC Direct Injection Turbo, which of course already meets Euro 6 emission standards, is available in two output configurations, giving 66 kW/90 hp or 85 kW/115 hp. Both shine with excellent responsiveness and strong low-end torque, pumping out 170 Nm from just 1,800 rpm. Opel’s new, small-displacement three-cylinder engine is fitted with Start/Stop technology as standard.

Opel Corsa E: The new, refined and efficient 1.0-liter three-cylinder turbo engines, smooth-shifting transmissions, the new suspension and optimized steering deliver class-leading levels of comfort and precision

The new Corsa’s gasoline powertrain line-up is also extended with the introduction of a new 74 kW/100 hp 1.4-liter turbo engine with 200 Nm maximum torque, as well as further developed, Euro 6 compliant 1.2 and 1.4-liter naturally-aspirated units. In addition, completely revised, more refined and now also Euro 6 compliant 1.3 CDTI engines with 55 kW/75 hp and 70 kW/95 hp expand the Corsa offer on the diesel side. At launch, the most frugal Corsa version – with 70 kW/95 hp, 5-speed manual transmission and Start/Stop – emits just 89 g/km CO2. Additional low emission variants will follow as soon as next spring.

But it is not just completely new and further developed engines that make driving the new Corsa even more fun and comfortable. The introduction of new transmissions also contributes to the enhanced driving experience and improvement in efficiency. Both versions of the 1.0 ECOTEC Direct Injection Turbo are mated to an all-new, compact six-speed manual gearbox. Highlights include greater efficiency, thanks to low friction design and a precise shift feel. Changing gears in the new Corsa is comfortable and smooth, as well as fast and precise. With the launch of the new Corsa, Opel also offers its newest-generation six-speed automatic transmission, as well as the completely new Easytronic 3.0 automated manual transmission giving enhanced, smoother responsiveness – the perfect way to affordably combine the comfort of an automatic with the efficiency of a manual.

Best connectivity with top safety: IntelliLink and Driver Assistance Systems

Eye-catching: The new Corsa comes with a totally new interior that enhances the perception of high quality and spaciousness, including best-connected IntelliLink infotainment technology and ultra-modern driver assistance systems

Cleanly designed, the cabin of the new Corsa is organized around an eye-catching driver control center whose instrument panel fascia is designed around horizontal lines that optically enhance the generous interior spaciousness. The IntelliLink system’s 7-inch color touchscreen is ideally located on the center stack, close to the gear shift. This allows the driver’s hand to swiftly and naturally move between the transmission control and the touchscreen. The new Corsa’s state-of-the-art infotainment system offers best connectivity opportunities, is compatible with Apple and Android devices and can be operated by voice command. Bluetooth and Siri Eyes Free can also be used. Several apps are available such as BringGo for navigation, as well as Stitcher and TuneIn for internet radio and podcasts, and there is a practical FlexDock parking and charging station for smartphones.

Smart: state-of-the-art infotainment system offers best connectivity opportunities, is compatible with Apple and Android devices and can be operated by voice command. 

The new Corsa introduces a host of driver assistance systems, many of which are unrivalled in its vehicle class. Safety is increased thanks to new systems that are all available in the Corsa for the first time – such as Bi-Xenon headlamps with cornering light (AFL), the Side Blind Spot Alert (SBSA) and the Opel Eye front camera with Road Sign Recognition (RSR), Lane Departure Warning (LDW), High Beam Assist (HBA), Following Distance Indication (FDI) and Forward Collision Warning (FCW). To provide maximum safety, Forward Collision Alert uses a red, head-up warning that is projected into the windscreen. In addition, the Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) display warns the driver in the event of excessive pressure loss in one of the tires.

New Instrument panel with large graphic info display

Driving comfort is also improved by the Advanced Park Assist (APA 2) that automatically steers during parking maneuvers, as well as by the Rear View Camera and the Hill Start Assist (HSA). The steering wheel, front seats and now the windshield can all be heated to provide cozy warmth in the cabin and good visibility on cold days. The high-class interior features finely sculpted front seats boasting superb workmanship, a large panorama roof, and pleasant ambient lighting, which lends the cabin a warm, welcoming atmosphere.

New Bi-Xenon headlamps with cornering light and with LED DRL

And for active sportsmen and women, the new Corsa’s characteristic rear end optionally integrates the practical FlexFix bicycle carrier, which is exclusively offered by Opel.

!NEW! Huge Success: Already 200,000 orders for Opel Mokka SUV

• 200,000 orders across Europe in just 18 months for first German sub-compact SUV
• In February highest number of orders received since launch

Opel Mokka SUV has received 200,000 orders across Europe in just 18 months since launch.

Opel Mokka continues to ride the wave of success, once again making it to European bestseller just 18 months after its arrival at dealerships. Opel already boasts a total of 200,000 orders for its innovative sub-compact SUV. What’s more, February 2014 saw the best order intake ever.

Sales have doubled across Europe less than one year after the Mokka hit its sales target of 100,000 in April 2013. It currently comprises some 11.3% of segment share in Europe, making it the No.3 sub-compact SUV. In northern Europe, the Mokka is a frontrunner in the Scandinavian region. In both Finland and Norway, it has become the clear segment leader, owning a 24% and 21% segment share respectively, in the UK it owns a 17% segment share. In Germany, the Mokka is at the top of the overall SUV segment: almost 12 percent market share in the first two months of 2014 makes it number one, according to the German Federal Office for Motor Vehicles (KBA).

Peter Christian Küspert, Member of the Management Board and GM Europe Vice President Sales and Aftersales said: “The Opel Mokka has once again proven its resilience and success in winning additional customers in a challenging market. We are very pleased to see that our small-SUV champion is one of the frontrunners in the SUV market and plays a key role in energizing the Opel brand and bringing it right into the winners’ spotlights.”

High-level features appeal to wide customer base

Opel’s popular SUV has already received many accolades and was elected All-wheel car of the Year by the German magazine ‘Auto BILD’ just to name one of them. Opel Mokka brings innovation to the SUV segment by making features from higher vehicle classes available to a larger customer base. These include Adaptive Forward Lighting AFL+, ergonomic seats with the Aktion Gesunder Rücken AGR e.V. (Campaign for Healthier Backs) seal of quality and the second generation of the integrated FlexFix bicycle carrier – all features Opel Mokka introduced into this SUV segment. With its 4.28 meters in length, it offers plenty of room for five occupants and a higher seating position, making it suitable for diverse daily needs. And its sporty interior as well as exterior design make it ideal for adventure-packed weekends.

Furthermore, its top-of-the-range technologies ensure optimal driving conditions and safe travel with Electronic Stability Program (ESP) with Hill Start Assist (HSA) and Hill Descent Control (HDC), the second-generation Opel Eye front camera with Forward Collision Alert (FCA) as well as enhanced Traffic Sign Recognition (TSR II) and Lane Departure Warning (LDW). Opel Mokka is available with either front or All-Wheel Drive (AWD). The 4x4 system detects when traction is needed on all four wheels and ensures it is provided at maximum levels.

Prices for the front-wheel drive model with 85 kW/115 hp 1.6 liter gasoline engine, Start/Stop and five-speed manual transmission start at 18.990 euros (RRP. Incl. VAT in Germany).