Name Becomes Trademark: 90 Years of the Opel Blitz

• Long tradition: Opel commercial vehicles since beginning of 20th century
• November 1930: The “Blitz“ is born
• Success story: A total of 442,312 Opel Blitz vehicles built in Germany by 1975
• Ready for the future: Opel Combo Cargo, Vivaro and Movano continue their success stories and will become electric

1930 Opel Blitz 2.0 t

Ninety years ago, the “Blitz” truck laid the foundation for a long line of successful Opel commercial vehicles. At the same time, the model name became the world-famous symbol that still characterises the brand today. While six-cylinder petrol engines with 55 hp once purred under the long bonnet of the commercial vehicle, much has changed since then: the current Opel vans boast highly efficient direct-injection diesel engines with up to 180 hp – in addition to comfort, safety and braking power at passenger car level. Today's heroes are known by the names Combo, Vivaro and Movano; the last Opel with the Blitz nameplate went into well-deserved retirement in 1987. By the end of the Blitz model line, almost half a million vehicles had been built at the plants in Rüsselsheim, Brandenburg and Luton. Then as today, Opel commercial vehicles are economical, safe and durable companions for the transport of all types of loads.

In the beginning

Origins of commercial vehicles at automotive pioneer Opel date back to 1899. Delivery and transport vans were already built early on, based on the Patent Motor Car “System Lutzmann”, the first automobile made in Rüsselsheim. In 1907, the first fully-fledged truck was added to the portfolio. 

1907 8/14 hp Delivery Van

The three-quarter tonne vehicle had pneumatic tyres and a propeller shaft drive as standard and was available with either a two or four-cylinder engine. During the first world war, norms specifying “standard trucks” of up to four tonnes were introduced by the military. Robust Opel “standard trucks” were sold until the early 1920s. From 1923, a new range of commercial vehicles was created, consisting of smaller light trucks with a payload of one to two tonnes.

1912 3,0 t Truck

Success in five letters

Another generation of modern commercial vehicles was on the starting blocks for the 1931 model year. Engineers did a great job in economically hard times, presenting newly developed “express transport trucks” with excellent design. As a sales promotion measure, the Opel advertising department was to create a concise term that could be pronounced in German as well as “in any modern language”. And it was to only have five letters – that was a must! Opel advertisers chose an unusual, but extremely high-profile and effective way of finding a name: the name for the new product was sought throughout Germany by means of a competition. “Win an Opel! We are looking for a name that we want to make famous all over the world! New truck is to set off on its successful career in Germany and beyond its borders under a name that identifies it as a German make and is also an expression of its superior quality,” wrote Dr. Wilhelm von Opel in full-page newspaper advertisements. Grand prize was a 4/20 hp limousine while four Opel Motoclub motorbikes were the second to fifth prizes. Closing date for entries was October 6, 1930, and Sales Manager Andersen announced the winner at the Opel Dealer Conference on November 24, 1930 in Frankfurt's "Ufa-Palast". “Blitz” was chosen from about 1.5 million entries. A term that had already been used for Opel bicycles from 1889 and was now to stand for Opel commercial vehicle construction for the next six decades. For Dr. Wilhelm von Opel, it was a name "which equally symbolizes the origin, power and performance of our new product".

1930 Opel Blitz 1.5 t

Performance was also a major theme at the presentation of the newly christened Opel Blitz: two basic models with a payload of 1.5 to two tonnes, three different wheelbases and two engines met customers’ individual wishes. Promise of being a true “express transport truck” was fulfilled by a 2.6-litre four-cylinder and, in the case of the Blitz “6”, a 3.6-litre “Marquette” six-cylinder engine. In the following years, the range was constantly refined – with success: the career of the new Blitz trucks was so overwhelming that five years after their debut, the company built a plant specifically for commercial vehicle production.

1931 Opel Blitz 2.5 t

Eastward expansion

As the plant at Rüsselsheim headquarters was operating at full capacity, Opel expanded in Brandenburg an der Havel. On April 7, 1935, the ground-breaking ceremony for the new production facility in state-of-the-art industrial architecture covering 850,000 square metres and designed exclusively for truck manufacturing took place. It was the first Opel plant designed solely for assembly line production.

1935 Opel Blitz 2.5 t

1937 Opel Blitz 3 t no. 25.000

In July 1937, the 25,000th Blitz express transport truck left the assembly line in Brandenburg. The same year, Opel updated its engine portfolio with units from passenger car production. Three-tonne truck was fitted with the modern 3.6-litre six-cylinder engine from the Opel Admiral, which had overhead valves and a spur gear-driven camshaft. It developed 75 hp in the Opel Blitz, which, with a top speed of 90km/h, was now faster than many a passenger car. 1.5-litre four-cylinder OHV from the Opel Olympia with 37 hp was used in the 80 km/h one-tonne car. Solid, reliable, durable – the Blitz had the proverbial Opel virtues.

In 1945, ten years after the inauguration of the new plant, the Blitz production in Brandenburg came to a standstill. Building structure was destroyed after heavy air raids, and the remaining production facilities were dismantled and sent to the Soviet Union as reparations. Opel Kadett lines in Rüsselsheim suffered the same fate. While the Opel Kadett was then built as the “Moskvich” in Moscow, the Blitz facilities were never reassembled again.

New beginning in west Germany

First Opel Blitz after the war 15.7. 1946

New beginning at the Rüsselsheim main plant was with a truck: the first post-war Opel was a Blitz. “On Monday, July 15, 1946, a simple ceremony was held to celebrate re-starting series production of the 1.5 tonne, six-cylinder, 2.5-litre Opel Blitz fast transport truck, which signalled the resumption of series production of motor vehicles at Adam Opel AG,” said the news at the time. As a symbolic act of the restart, the commanding general of the 3rd US Army, Geoffrey Keyes ceremonially cut a yellow ribbon. Platform truck ordered by a Wiesbaden businessman cost 6,600 marks. Compared to the previous version, the gross vehicle weight was increased by 200 to 3,400 kilogrammes and payload grew to 1,725 kilogrammes. Under its characteristic bonnet, the OHV six-cylinder engine familiar from the Kapitän now had 55hp. 839 Blitz fast transport trucks were produced to the end of 1946, and by the time production was discontinued in December 1951, the total reached 37,117 units.

1946 Opel Blitz 1.5 t

Big brother of the 1.5-tonne vehicle, the three-tonne truck, had already been produced exclusively by Daimler-Benz since August 1944. Manufactured under license as the L 701, the Blitz rolled off the assembly line at the Mannheim plant – initially with a greatly simplified “standard cab”, then from 1948 again with the original cab supplied by Opel from Rüsselsheim. In 1949 the L 701 successor was introduced and Opel took over all unsold cars and all remaining parts. 

1950 Opel Blitz 3 t

Until 1954 the last 467 units of the famous truck were produced in Rüsselsheim – now again under its original name and with the Blitz logo on the front.

Truck for the economic miracle

1952 Opel Blitz 1.75 t 

Thanks to its fresh design, the 1.75-tonne replacement of the 1.5-tonne Blitz was popular throughout Europe. Wide grille and the shapely fenders were skilful adaptations of typically 1950s American form language, while the cabin was made of steel. Smooth-running, 2.5-litre six-cylinder limousine engine stood out from the typically rustic motors on the truck market. Increased load capacity made the 1955 model particularly special: with a payload of two tonnes, the Blitz could transport more than it weighed. Specialists supplied conversions for buses, removals, deliveries and the fire brigade, based on the 3,300 or 3,750 mm-long platforms. Around 20,000 units of the so-called “Rundschnautzer” (round-nose) left the plant every year. By the time of the 1960 model change, production had totalled 89,767 vehicles.

1952 Opel Blitz 1.75 t Articulated Truck

Blitz generation for the swinging sixties featured a new 2.6-litre six-cylinder engine as well as a shorter, downward sloping hood. Aficionados described the design of the panel van version as subtly elegant and especially effective. With the Rüsselsheim plant operating at full capacity, the cabin and the cargo structure were produced externally by coachbuilder Voll.

Opel at Frankfurt Motor Show 1957

Blitz appeared at the 1965 IAA with a comprehensive makeover – the cabin displayed a more expressive front with extra emphasis of horizontal lines. A 70 hp four-cylinder power unit joined the line-up. This 1.9-litre petrol engine featured a chain-driven camshaft-in-head and originated from a new generation that had debuted in 1965 in the Opel Rekord B. In 1966, the 2.1 and 2.4-tonne variants got a new straight-six that powered the Blitz to a top speed of 110 km/h. At the end of the sixties, the Opel Blitz was still one of the most popular light trucks on the German market; nearly one in two petrol trucks up to three tonnes gross vehicle weight (GVW) was an Opel. Company took another important step in 1969, adding a diesel to the petrol range – Opel produced 47,368 petrol and 7,374 diesel trucks between 1965 and 1975.

1963 Opel Blitz

1965 Opel Blitz

Production of the Blitz truck in Germany ended on January 10, 1975. After 417,211 units built in Rüsselsheim and Brandenburg, the model that gave its name to the Opel emblem left the portfolio. The name itself, however, remained; a neat compact van had joined the Opel commercial vehicle range just two years earlier, in March 1973 – Opel Bedford Blitz.

Frankfurt Motor Show 1973

Little truck from Luton

Opel concentrated on passenger cars in the 1970s and relocated the production of commercial vehicles to the Luton plant in England. Powered by frugal Opel diesels and lively Vauxhall petrol engines, the Opel Bedford Blitz was a convincing concept: engine in front of the driver, driving wheels under the cargo area, McPherson strut front suspension, car-like handling. With its unitary body, level load surface, big doors and compact instrument panel, the vehicle attracted a lot of praise. Opel Bedford Blitz was especially popular as the basis for campers and reached market shares of more than 20 per cent.

1973 Opel Bedford Blitz

At this time, Opel also offered heavy Bedford trucks (up to 10.2 tonnes gross vehicle weight) under the Blitz nameplate.

1974 Opel Bedford Blitz Tipper Truck (Type E 2034)

1980 Opel Bedford Blitz

With its refreshed design and new 2.3-litre diesel engine, the Bedford Blitz represented the backbone of Opel’s commercial vehicle range from 1980 to 1987. At the end of production, the “Blitz” nameplate retired after 57 years of active duty. With the famous Blitz emblem, however, the tradition lives on in every Opel.

Comeback with a new name

After a 10-year pause, Opel made a successful return to panel vans in 1997 with the Arena. With their numerous variants, pioneering light technology, connectivity and high-tech assistance systems, the Combo Cargo, Vivaro and Movano continue the great tradition of the Opel Blitz today.

Opel LCV Range 2020

Opel recently expanded its offer of especially efficient LCVs with the all-electric Vivaro-e. Thanks to the Combo-e and an electric version of the Movano, the range will become fully electrified next year. All Opel models will have an electrically driven version by 2024.

 Opel Vivaro-e

All-New Opel Corsa is “Company Car Of The Year”

• Little Opel has mobilized millions for decades
• All-New Opel Corsa democratizes technology for everyone
• Sixth generation also available as all-electric version

All-New Opel Corsa is “Company Car Of The Year”

Technician, courier or CEO – all sorts drive company cars. But which one is the best? Auto Bild asked this question and the magazine’s readers answered: the new Opel Corsa. The “little” German has been voted “Company Car Of The Year” in the small car category. This is the first media-prize to be won by the sixth-generation Corsa, which was presented at the IAA Frankfurt International Motor Show in September.

“Along with the Opel Astra, Opel Corsa is our most important model in Europe”, said Harald Hamprecht, Opel’s Vice President Communications at the “Company Car Of The Year” prize-giving in Berlin. “Opel has democratized mobility for 120 years. We make pioneering technologies accessible for everyone. That is what we stand for, that is what the all-new Opel Corsa stands for, and our customers appreciate it – especially in the company car area.”

Car for millions since 1982

Depending on the version, Opel Corsa (which picked up 22 per cent of the votes for “Company Car Of The Year”) is ideal for singles and couples, as well as company car drivers and families. Around 14 million units produced in 37 years provide the proof. Opel Corsa first joined the model range below Opel Kadett in 1982. Opel Corsa A, which was originally conceived for first-time buyers and those on an economy budget, became a bestseller, achieving sales of 3.1 million by 1993. The sixth generation of the practical, stylish and dynamic Opel Corsa made its premiere at the IAA Frankfurt International Motor Show in September 2019. An all-electric version is also available for the first time. Opel Corsa-e is ideally equipped for the future as well as everyday driving.

Readers of Auto Bild elected the company car of the year for the second time. They chose from vehicles in seven categories, from small and compact cars to luxury automobiles and plug-in hybrids.

High Efficiency: New Opel Corsa and New Opel Astra with Energy-Saving LED Headlights

• Each headlight consumes only 13 Watt on dipped beam
• Savings of up to 1.3 grams CO2 per kilometre in New European Driving Cycle (NEDC)
• Special reflector technology ensures optimum brightness

New Opel Astra Sports Tourer with Energy-Saving LED Headlights

Optimum light output, minimum energy consumption. In order to further reduce CO2 emissions, Opel is offering highly efficient LED headlights on the new Astra and the new Corsa. The newest generations of these bestselling models made their debut a few days ago at the IAA Frankfurt International Motor Show.

New Opel Corsa with Energy-Saving LED Headlights

Emissions of the new Opel Corsa are very low – not only because the sixth generation of the best-selling small car is powered by highly efficient engines. New Opel Corsa is also optionally available with especially efficient LED lighting. Each headlight consumes only 13 Watt. That is an energy saving of 81 per cent compared with halogen, which gobbles up around 70 Watt per headlight. But this does not mean that customers must accept compromises in light output; on the contrary, thanks to a special reflector technology, LED headlights turn night into day.

New Opel Corsa is also optionally available with especially efficient LED lighting.

“New Corsa and Astra continue the Opel tradition of leadership in innovation”, said Ingolf Schneider, head of lighting technology at Opel. “Our development objective was to bring optimum light with minimum consumption to our cars. In future we want to use energy-saving LED lighting throughout the vehicle.”

On average, the LED headlights on the entry-level Corsa alone save 1.3 grams of CO2 per kilometre (according to NEDC). With the petrol turbo engine it is 1.38 g/km and 1.23 g/km with the diesel (fuel consumption NEDC1: urban 5.5-3.7 l/100km, extra-urban 4.2-2.9 l/100km, combined 4.7-3.2 l/100km, 106-85g/km CO2; fuel consumption WLTP2 combined: 6.2-4.0 l/100km, 140-105g/km CO2).

Opel Astra five-door saves 1.26 g/km CO2 (according to NEDC). The petrol turbo scores with 1.34 g/km CO2, the diesel with 1.19 (fuel consumption NEDC1: urban 6.3-3.9 l/100 km, extra-urban 4.3-3.1 l/100 km, combined 5.1-3.4 l/100 km, 116-90 g/km CO2; fuel consumption WLTP2 combined: 6.1-4.3, 141-112 g/km CO2; preliminary figures).

Instead of measuring emissions on a dynamometer, Opel’s engineers obtain the possible CO2 savings of a light source versus halogen more efficiently with the help of a mathematical formula. Calculation considers, among other things, how much wattage each light source actually saves in comparison to halogen, as well as the fact that drivers usually only use dipped beam in darkness, which accounts for just one third of all driving. Accordingly, only one third of the total drive-duration is included in the calculation.

One question remaining concerns the optimum light output at reduced wattage. Opel compensates for the lower electrical power of the LEDs with special reflector technology. Reflector of each headlight is shaped like a shovel so that the maximum amount of light from each LED is projected onto the road. New LED headlights from Opel are therefore extremely efficient, not only in energy consumption but also in terms of form and light-output.

New Opel Astra: Reflector of each headlight is shaped like a shovel so that the maximum amount of light from each LED is projected onto the road.

Always There: Opel at the IAA Motor Show

• Founding members: Opel brothers ventured into car business at first show
• Tradition-rich brand: 120 years of automobile production in Rüsselsheim
• Sensational debuts: Opel Experimental GT, Insignia and Monza Concept  

1905: Opel at IAA in Frankfurt

68th IAA International Motor Show in Frankfurt is now open to the public and runs until September 22. The IAA proudly looks back at a long tradition that began in 1897 when the “International Motor Show Berlin” took place – the first small motor show in Germany. Opel was there right from the start, initially as a kind of start-up that began producing its first cars in 1899. 120 years later, Opel celebrates major world premieres in Frankfurt with the sixth Corsa generation, the new Astra and the Grandland X, the automaker's first plug-in hybrid. Opel's IAA history began on a radiant early autumn day in the German capital.

Late 19th century: all eyes were on eight motor coaches

On September 30, 1897, the first German automobile exhibition took place in the heart of Berlin. Eight resplendently polished motor coaches stood on the boulevard “Unter den Linden” in front of the posh Hotel Bristol. The occasion was the founding meeting of the Central European Motor Car Association, followed by a drive through the Grunewald forest. And although Opel had not yet started building cars, the Rüsselsheim-based company was already part of the gathering. Wilhelm and Fritz Opel, two of Sophie and Adam Opel‘s five sons, had an appointment with car pioneer Friedrich Lutzmann. Lutzmann travelled from Dessau to Berlin with two of his motorcars. His appearance at the “International Motor Car Exhibition Berlin 1897” became the basis for the famous business deal sealed on January 21, 1899, when Opel took over Lutzmann's Anhaltische Motorwagenfabrik and entered the automobile business. Just two years later, almost 100,000 visitors attended the “International Motor Car Exhibition Berlin 1899”. Friedrich Lutzmann was again there to attract customers – this time for the Opel motor cars from Rüsselsheim that he designed.

Early years: palm trees, oriental carpets and electric light chains

1902: Opel Exhibition in Hamburg

From the turn of the century, public interest in motor vehicles continued to grow. Between 1902 and 1911, ten major motor shows took place in Germany – mostly in Berlin, but also in Frankfurt am Main (March 1904 and October 1905). The young car brand Opel was always an enthusiastic participant. From 1902, on motor show stands increasingly extravagantly decorated with palm trees, oriental carpets and chains of electric lights, modern cars with front engines quickly relegated the early motor coaches à la Lutzmann to oblivion. The exhibition fatigue that could be felt at the end of the decade was countered with a new approach: more restraint and more clarity was the concept from the VDMI, the forerunner of today's VDA (German Association of the Automotive Industry). However, the construction of a new exhibition hall on Berlin's Kaiserdamm, planned for 1913, was put off until 1921 due to the war.

1912: Opel Exhibition in Bruxelles

Between the wars: Opel a main attraction in Berlin

Although no foreign exhibitors were present, 300,000 visitors flocked to the “German Automobile Exhibition 1921”. Due to the huge crowds, access to the exhibition grounds had to be temporarily halted. A special attraction at the start of the fair was the first car race at the nearby AVUS track. Celebrated winner was Fritz von Opel.

The events of the following years were similarly successful, with 653 international companies already exhibiting in Berlin in 1923. In 1924 the new “Hall II” was opened, where motorcycles, commercial vehicles and accessories were exhibited. Same year in “Hall I”, the spotlight was on the new Opel 4 PS Laubfrosch (Tree Frog): small and compact, with a striking radiator front and centre. The perky two-seater only came in green and cost just 4,500 Rentenmark, an absolute sensation. This was made possible by the ultra-modern assembly line in Rüsselsheim. Laubfrosch was affordable for a broad public and democratised automotive mobility. The star at the 1928 trade fair was a completely different calibre: Opel presented the stately 24/110 hp Regent with an eight-cylinder in-line engine at the newly opened Berlin Radio Tower.

1926: Opel Exhibition in Berlin

1931: Opel at IAA Berlin

With its advanced production capabilities, Opel was able to meet the growing demand for more vehicles in the 1930s. New “Blitz” truck was just one example. Trade fair appearances of the Rüsselsheim-based company in Berlin were correspondingly self-confident and modern. Numerous successful Opel models made their debut at the Radio Tower before the beginning of World War II: 1.8 Liter, P4, Olympia, Admiral, Kadett, Kapitän. As motorcycles were also shown at the exhibitions, the trade fair was now called the International Automobile and Motorcycle Exhibition (IAMA).

1928: Rocket driven Opel Motoclub IAMA Berlin

From 1933, the show increasingly came under the influence of the Nazi propaganda ministry, as exemplified by the newly established “Hall of Honour”. IAMA 1939 saw a record number of 825,000 visitors. Then it was over.

New beginning after the war: Opel became engine of the economic miracle

After World War II, the IAA – or IAMA – did not take place again right away. From 1947 to 1949, a few manufacturers showed their vehicles on a modest scale at the export fair in Hanover. Opel was not present there. It wasn't until 1951 that Opel and the IAA returned – and then twice: in the spring, the trade fair moved to Frankfurt am Main. In the autumn, the capital city gave its farewell performance with the “International Motor Show Berlin” – from now on, Hessen was to be the venue of the world's largest motor show every two years. Berlin's political isolation and an attractive, centrally located exhibition centre in Frankfurt were the main reasons for this decision by the organiser, VDA.

1951: Opel at IAA in Frankfurt

In keeping with the spirit of the times, the motto of the 1951 Opel stand in Frankfurt's Festhalle was “Opel - a bridge across the Atlantic”. This first post-war IAA on the Main already attracted 570,000 visitors. In the mid-1950s, the automotive industry was booming, with Germany rising to become the largest automobile manufacturer behind the USA. German plants exported almost every second car manufactured in Germany. Over 300,000 people were employed in the automotive industry.

The IAA again became a major event in no time at all. Deutsche Post issued special stamps and postmarks. Opel used the exhibition near its home town to display its capabilities and products: Olympia Rekord, the first Opel with a pontoon body, made its premiere at the 1953 IAA.

In 1957 Opel presented the new Olympia Rekord, which was sold around 850,000 times within three years. Two years later, Opel Kapitän with a 2.6 litre engine made its debut.

1959: Opel Kapitaen at IAA Frankfurt

Automobile continued to advance – and Opel was the first manufacturer to demonstrate its innovative strength with a concept car built entirely in-house: in 1965, Opel presented the Experimental GT at the IAA. Study was so enthusiastically received by the public and media that it became reality three years later.

1965: Opel Experimental GT at IAA Frankfurt

Opel CD (Coupé Diplomat), a two-seat luxury coupé based on the Diplomat, was the star of the IAA in 1969. This concept car was also further developed and finally reached series production as the Bitter CD.

1970s and 1980s: focus turned to fuel consumption and safety

New decade began with a blow: the 1971 IAA was cancelled due to the petrol crisis. But soon it became clear that there was no way around the car. Consumers and politicians once again passionately avowed themselves to it. So it was no wonder that in 1973 the economical Opel Kadett C was in the spotlight of IAA coverage.

1973: Opel Kadett at IAA Frankfurt

In 1977, the West German automotive industry exceeded the four million mark of vehicles produced. More than ever, German cars were in great demand abroad. With a market share of 20 per cent, Opel was the largest German automaker.

Beginning in the 1970s, Opel increasingly focused on the areas of fuel consumption, safety and ergonomics. Best example of this was the Opel GT2, which thrilled visitors at the 1975 IAA with innovative sliding doors and a futuristic wedge shape. Other highlights of the 1970s included the world premieres of the Opel Senator and Opel Monza (1977) and the front-wheel drive Opel Kadett D (1979).

1977: Opel Senator and Opel Monza at IAA Frankfurt

Concentration on energy saving continued in the 1980s. During the introduction of new products, economy and aerodynamics were usually centre stage. In 1981, Opel demonstrated its pioneering role in the field of aerodynamics with the Tech 1; the drag coefficient of 0.235 was at world record level.

1981: Opel Tech 1 at IAA Frankfurt

At the 50th IAA in 1983, Opel presented the Junior, a small car study with a host of clever interior ideas – from interchangeable instruments and seat covers that could be converted into sleeping bags to a visionary navigation device. But sporty Opel models also continued to make a splash: for example the presentation of the Kadett Rallye 4x4 (1985) and the world premiere of the Calibra with tennis legend Steffi Graf (1989).

1985: Opel Kadett GSi Rallye 4x4

1989: Opel Calibra Steffi Graf

1990s: ideas for the new millennium

1991: Opel Astra IAA Frankfurt

IAA was split into two parts in 1991: in odd-numbered years, passenger cars are presented at the IAA in Frankfurt; in even-numbered years beginning in 1992, the IAA for Commercial Vehicles is held in Hanover. Visitors to the trade fair in the 1990s were also well advised to stop by Opel, like in 1993 when the Tigra made its premiere. Or in 1995, when the stand was dedicated to the Vectra B and the economical Corsa Eco 3. 1997 was a particularly spectacular year: the brand new Astra G roared between the trade show guests in the hall – accompanied by a gigantic musical show. Driving trade show stars were a novelty at the IAA.

1997: Opel Astra IAA Frankfurt

At the 1999 IAA Opel showed how the engineers from Rüsselsheim were preparing for the challenges of the new millennium. The star of the “Future Theater” – the name of the Opel stand – was the lightweight G90 study.

2000s: big numbers, big change

The terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001 overshadowed the 59th IAA. Out of solidarity with the terror victims and their relatives, the exhibitors cancelled all shows and muted loud music.

In 2003, the IAA registered a record attendance of around one million visitors. Opel's racy Insignia Concept contributed to this success.

2003: Opel Insignia Concept IAA Frankfurt

Opel studies of the following years were also always attention-getters: Antara GTC, Flextreme, RAK e, Monza Concept. And world premieres of series production cars continued to take place at the IAA: Opel Astra J, Astra K, Insignia GSi and Grandland X are the latest examples.

At the latest since the 2011 IAA, alternative propulsion, digitisation and mobility have been high up on the agenda. Proof was the “Hall of Electromobility”, the first of its kind at an automobile trade show. The Electro-Mobility Congress and the carIT Congress were also IAA premieres. Opel was a valuable discussion partner at all gatherings, as it had already introduced the Ampera, a fully electric car suitable for everyday use, in 2009.

At this year's 68th IAA, the new Opel Corsa and Corsa-e, the Opel Grandland X Hybrid4 (preliminary and the new Opel Astra make their world premieres. And there is another exceptional debutant: Opel presents the Corsa-e Rally – the first electric competition car for customer rally sport in the world. The Rüsselsheim automaker extends an invitation to visit their very special stand at the Frankfurt show: the “OPELHAUS 120”. The name says it all and reveals what visitors can expect from Opel: a deep sense of tradition as a German brand with “120 years of automobile production”.Stand is a reminiscence of the clear Bauhaus style, with Opel highlights adding emotional flavour and modern accents – and embodies the overarching motto “Opel goes electric!”.

Augmented Reality at the IAA: X-Ray Vision at Opel World Premieres

• New insights: show visitors can take virtual look under Opel stars bodywork
• World premieres: Opel Corsa-e and Opel Grandland X Hybrid4 at IAA in Frankfurt

Opel at IAA 2019: Augmented Reality Opel Grandland X Hybrid4

Opel goes electric! The brand with the lightning flash logo shows its ambition at the 68th International Motor Show in Frankfurt (public days September 12 - 22) where the new Opel Corsa-e and Grandland X Hybrid4 (preliminary WLTP fuel consumption - weighted, combined 1.4-1.3 l/100 km, CO2 emissions 32-29 g/km; NEDC2: 1.5 l/100 km, 35-34 g/km CO2) make their world premiere. Opel offers a virtual glimpse under their bodywork with Augmented Reality. Special tablets allow visitors to the “OPELHAUS 120“ (Hall 11.0) to take an x-ray look at the normally hidden technological highlights of the Corsa‑e and Grandland X Hybrid4. The automaker thus makes electric mobility easier for everyone to experience and understand.

Unique virtual experience: X-ray vision for everyone

Under their bodywork, the new Opel Corsa-e and Grandland X Hybrid4 feature ground-breaking electric technology. But where exactly are the batteries and electric motors located ? How does the AWD technology in the Grandland X Hybrid4 work ? How do charging and energy flow work ? Visitors to the Opel stand can learn all about this with the help of tablets that feature special Augmented Reality technology. You simply stand in front of the Opel Corsa‑e or the Opel Grandland X Hybrid4 and hold the tablet with the camera facing the vehicle. And just like that, you are no longer looking at the exterior bodywork of the car, but rather at what is underneath it. Bodywork becomes transparent, providing a virtual view of the location of the drivetrain and batteries in the front and rear of the car.

Opel at IAA 2019: Augmented Reality Opel Corsa-e

And that’s not all: by touching virtual buttons on the monitor, pop-ups with the most important technological information appear. Another tap activates an animation showing the energy flow between the individual parts of the electric drivetrain. With the Augmented Reality tablets for the Opel Corsa-e and Grandland X Hybrid4, Opel enables motor show visitors to experience electric mobility in a uniquely up-close and personal way.

Augmented Reality tablet for the Opel Corsa-e and Grandland X Hybrid4

Opel CEO Michael Lohscheller Announces Next Steps in Opel Electro-Offensive at IAA

• Curtain-up: Opel boss Lohscheller opens stand in hall 11.0
• World premieres: Opel Corsa, Corsa-e and Corsa-e Rally, new Astra and Grandland X plug-in hybrid
• E-offensive for passengers and LCV: Combo Life, Combo Cargo, Zafira Life and Vivaro electrically driven by 2021
• Electrifying range: All Opel models electrified by 2024
• Way ahead: Opel continues fuel cell development with Zafira Life

Opel CEO Michael Lohscheller with Jürgen Klopp and New Opel Corsa-e

Opel boss Michael Lohscheller – together with special guest and Opel brand ambassador Jürgen Klopp – today opened the “OPELHAUS 120” at the 2019 IAA Frankfurt International Motor Show (public days September 12-22). Opel is going electric and the same goes for the show stand D31 in hall 11.0. In a talk with Champions League winner Klopp, Lohscheller presented breaking news about the E-offensive around LCV and eye-catching world premieres. 

Opel CEO Michael Lohscheller with Jürgen Klopp and New Opel Grandland X Hybrid4

The highly efficient new Opel Corsa, the battery electric Corsa-e and Corsa-e Rally make their debut in Frankfurt, along with the first Opel plug-in hybrid, the all-wheel drive Grandland X Hybrid4 with up to 221kW (300hp) system power output (fuel consumption: WLTP 1.4-1.3 l/100km, 32-29 g/km CO2; NEDC 1.5 l/100km 35-34 g/km CO2; all figures weighted, combined and preliminary). Also making their first appearance in Frankfurt are the new Opel Astra five-door and Sports Tourer – the most efficient Astra of all time, with five engines emitting less than 100 g/km CO2and an exceptionally low drag coefficient of 0.26. Also making its premiere at a German motor show is the Opel Zafira Life that offers seating for up to nine and is packed with innovative technologies.

Opel Press conference at IAA 2019

Michael Lohscheller emphasised the importance of Opel’s electric offensive: “In 120 years of automobile production, Opel has always combined German engineering with passionate design, making pioneering technology and innovations accessible for everyone. The same goes today for electric mobility, which is why Opel has selected its most popular model, the Corsa, to finally free e-mobility from its niche existence.” That this not only applies to everyday life, but also to motor sport, is demonstrated by the premiere of the brand new Corsa-e Rally. Opel is the first carmaker to offer a battery electric car for customer rally sport, starting from next year with the ADAC Opel e-Rally Cup.

Opel Press conference at IAA 2019

Not only the passenger cars, but also the LCV will be electrically driven in future. Lohscheller added: “Opel will be sustainably profitable, global and electric. By 2024, all Opel models will be electrified. Electrically driven vehicles will be especially important for the ‘last mile’ in urban areas, for example, for transportation services or businesses. This is why I am delighted to announce today that the Opel Combo Life, Combo Cargo and Zafira Life will already be electric in 2021. And the Vivaro van will be available as an electric version in the course of next year.”

Opel Zafira Life in particular will play a key role in the further development of electric mobility. In addition to bringing hybrid and battery electric vehicles onto the market, Opel also aims to take the lead in the research and development of other pioneering propulsion systems. Lohscheller therefore announced “Opel has many years of experience in fuel cell development, which is why the team in Rüsselsheim has been named as the Groupe PSA global competence centre for hydrogen and fuel cell vehicles. The first-generation Zafira already served as technology platform for HydroGen 1 to 3. We are continuing this tradition: the new Zafira Life will be the brand’s first model to feature the new generation of fuel cell powertrain.”

Next generation small car: Opel Corsa, Corsa-e and Corsa-e Rally

Opel CEO Michael Lohscheller with New Opel Corsa-e

One of this year’s IAA stars is the new 4.06-metre long Opel Corsa. The sixth generation of Opel’s bestselling small car is more modern, dynamic and efficient than ever – in every version. It offers customers the entire drive portfolio – with its particularly economical petrol and diesel engines as well as for the first time the purely battery-electric Corsa-e with a 50kWh battery pack, 100kW (136hp) output and a range of up to 330 kilometres (WLTP3). Moderate fuel consumption and an engaging drive are characteristic of all powertrain options and the exemplary emission values reach all the way to zero when driving the Corsa-e. The sporty overall impression is matched by the reduced weight – the lightest Corsa even undercuts the thousand kilo mark – the low seating position of the driver and the finely tuned chassis. All this comes with everyday suitability and combined with technologies otherwise only known from higher vehicle classes, in particular the adaptive, glare-free IntelliLux LED Matrix light.

Opel CEO Michael Lohscheller with All-New Opel Corsa

Opel also makes a clear statement with the premiere of the Corsa-e Rally based on the production Corsa-e: the company is the first automobile manufacturer in the world to develop a battery-electric vehicle for customer rally sport. From mid-2020, Opel will start the ADAC Opel e-Rally Cup, the first rally brand cup for electric cars in the world. Sporty, emotional and accessible to customers – a project that will point the way ahead for motor sport far beyond the borders of Germany.

Opel Grandland X Hybrid4: introducing the first plug-in hybrid from Opel

Opel CEO Michael Lohscheller with New Opel Grandland X Hybrid4

With its state-of-the-art plug-in hybrid technology, up to 221 kW (300 hp) system power output and all-wheel drive, the Opel Grandland X is the second example of modern, efficient electro-mobility on Opel’s IAA stand. The propulsion system of the Grandland X Hybrid4 includes a WLTP-certified 147 kW (200 hp) 1.6-litre turbocharged direct-injection petrol engine, an electric drive system with two 80 kW (109 hp) electric motors and a 13.2 kWh lithium-ion battery.

Opel Grandland X Hybrid4 will offer four driving modes – electric, hybrid, AWD and Sport. For example, the hybrid mode allows the car to automatically select its most efficient method of propulsion, with the possibility of switching to electric mode for zero-emission driving when reaching a city centre – enabling the car to cover up to 59km in pure electric mode with zero emissions in the WLTP3 driving cycle. Sport mode uses the combined power of the petrol engine and electric motor for higher driving dynamics. Selecting AWD mode activates the electrified rear axle for maximum traction on all kinds of roads. In order to further improve efficiency, the Grandland X Hybrid4 features a regenerative braking system to recover the energy produced under braking or deceleration.

Economical petrol powertrains: Most efficient Opel Astra ever

With the new Astra, Opel keeps its promise to focus on customers and their needs. Instead of prescribing the way forward, the automaker offers the entire drive portfolio – perfectly tailored to individual driving needs. New Opel Astra demonstrates how efficient and economical modern petrol engines can be: with a completely new generation of engines and transmissions and up to 21 per cent lower CO2 emissions, the new Astra is the most efficient ever. Opel Astra also leads the way in terms of aerodynamics. With a drag coefficient of 0.26 for the Astra hatchback as well as the Sports Tourer estate, the new compact Opel is one of the most aerodynamic cars in its class. New Opel Astra is equally exemplary in terms of comfort, assistance and infotainment systems. The portfolio ranges from an even more powerful front camera and digital rear view camera, to wireless charging for compatible smartphones and a heated windscreen.

IAA starts with the press days (September 10 - 11). The show is officially open from September 12-22 (September 12-13 are trade days). From September 14, the general public can take a close look at the new automobiles and developments every day from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.