New Opel Combo-e Life: Everyday Hero Goes Electric

• Have it all: Electric drive as well as top safety, comfort and convenience
• Electric flexibility: Opel Combo-e Life as five or seven seater with long or short wheelbase
• Best in class: Extensive list of ultra-modern driver assistance systems
• For city-living and more: Zero emissions, silent propulsion, “autobahn-proof” capability
• Strong and energised: 100 kW (136 hp) electric motor, 50 kWh lithium ion battery

New Opel Combo-e Life

All charged up and heading for a driveway near you soon – Opel announces the new Combo-e Life battery electric vehicle! Highly versatile and practical, with a huge amount of interior space, the all-electric leisure activity vehicle (LAV) from the German carmaker comes with either one or two sliding side doors and is available as a 4.4-metre-long standard or 4.75 m XL version, both with either five or seven seats. Depending on the driving profile and the prevailing conditions, the new Combo-e Life can drive up to 280 kilometres on a single charge of its 50 kWh lithium-ion battery (WLTP) 1. Owners can “refill” the battery to 80 per cent in around 30 minutes at public charging stations.

Young families with multi-faceted lifestyles, who live in or near towns or cities, must transport several children and also want “green mobility”, will especially appreciate the Opel Combo-e Life. The new electric car from the brand with the Blitz even features a towing capacity of 750 kg 2 – class-leading in this market segment – with the option of trailer stability control.

“Opel Combo-e Life is the multi-functional everyday hero in our electrified passenger car portfolio”, says Opel CEO, Michael Lohscheller. “New battery electric version of our successful leisure activity vehicle offers customers who need large seating capacities and lots of space the additional benefits of zero emissions and almost silent propulsion.”

Electric drive: Clean mobility for cross-country as well as downtown

Thanks to 100 kW (136 hp) and 260 Nm of torque from the electric propulsion system, the Combo-e Life is perfect also for the open road. Depending on the model variant, the leisure activity vehicle accelerate from zero to 100 km/h in only 11.2 seconds 3, while the 130-km/h maximum speed (electronically limited) makes the LAV “autobahn-proof”. A sophisticated regenerative braking system with two user-selectable settings further increases efficiency.

Battery with 216 cells and 18 modules is packaged under the floor between the front and rear axles, so that it does not compromise usage of the passenger compartment. In this location, the battery lowers the centre of gravity as well, which benefits wind stability and cornering, for additional driving fun.

Opel Combo-e Life is ready for a variety of energy infrastructures and charging options, ranging from wall box to fast charging or even a cable for charging from a domestic plug socket if necessary. Using a 100 kW DC public charging station, charging of the 50 kWh battery to 80 per cent takes only around 30 minutes. Depending on the market and infrastructure, the Combo-e Life features a powerful three-phase 11 kW on-board charger or a single-phase 7.4 kW on-board charger as standard.

Best in class: Extensive list of ultra-modern driver assistance systems

Along with its petrol and diesel engine siblings that were crowned “Best Buy Car Europe 2019” by AUTOBEST, the zero-emission Combo-e Life also makes no compromises on safety, comfort or convenience. The comprehensive portfolio of class-leading technologies and driver assistance systems extends from hill descent control, lane keep assist and driver drowsiness alert, to traffic sign recognition and forward collision alert with pedestrian protection and automatic emergency braking.

Particularly helpful for parking is the Panorama Rear View camera that increases vision to the rear and to the sides. Owners needing extra traction on mud, sand or snow can upgrade the Combo-e Life with the IntelliGrip electronic traction control system.

Opel offers the Combo-e Life in two lengths (4.40 m and 4.75 m as the XL model variant) with five or seven seats, which also makes it an attractive car for taxi firms. Shorter five-seater offers at least 597 litres of boot space (850 litres in the longer version). Multifunctional everyday hero almost displays “freighter” qualities with the rear seats folded down. Luggage volume of the short version then more than triples to 2,126 litres, while the longer one can carry up to 2,693 litres. In addition, the optional front passenger dump-latch seat folds flush with the rear seats, extending the length of the loading area so that even surfboards can be transported.

Heavens above: Panorama roof with electric sunblind plus overhead storage

With the luggage safely stowed away, the optional panorama roof allows passengers to star-gaze or lap up the sun’s rays. If the sun is too strong, an electric sunblind – activated via a switch in the overhead console – can be closed to provide protection. When open, the panorama roof also improves the feeling of space even further while simultaneously creating a pleasant and light ambience. When ordered with the panoramic roof, Opel Combo-e Life comes with overhead storage running down the centre of the vehicle with LED lighting as standard. In this configuration the newcomer is also fitted with a large 36‑litre storage box mounted above the hat tray in the boot.

Owners of both variants can choose between the standard second row bench with 60/40 split or three individual seats, which can be folded conveniently from the boot. 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.

When everyone is sitting comfortably, they can enjoy the Combo-e Life’s infotainment. The Multimedia Radio and Multimedia Navi Pro systems come with a large 8.0-inch touchscreen and top connectivity. Both feature phone integration via Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

E-services: Charging the Opel Combo-e Life throughout Europe is as easy as pie

In order to make living with the Combo-e Life as comfortable as possible, “OpelConnect”, the “myOpel” app and “Free2Move” offer special solutions for electric vehicles. Services are accessible via apps.

The “Charge My Car” function from the “Free2Move” app enables access to more than 220,000 charging points throughout Europe, including payment. The “Free2Move” app makes a preselection based on the distance to the charging point, the charging speed and the current charging price of the possible public charging options.

The “OpelConnect” portfolio ranges from eCall and breakdown calls to numerous other services, such as vehicle status and information. LIVE Navigation 4 provides online traffic information in real time.

New Opel Combo-e Life will show up at dealerships this autumn, joining the Corsa-e, Mokka-e, Grandland X plug-in hybrid and Zafira-e Life as the newest member of Opel’s electrified passenger car range. Including the next-generation Astra as well as the Vivaro‑e, Combo-e and Movano-e light commercial vehicles (LCV), the brand will have nine electrified models in its portfolio by the end of this year. Opel will offer an electrified version of every passenger car and LCV model by 2024.

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

[2] Braked, 12 per cent gradient.

[3] Provisional data.

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

Euro NCAP Five-Star Rating Confirms: All-New Opel Insignia with Strong Safety Concept

• Top crash test performance: Euro NCAP awards new Insignia five stars
• New active hood: Provides clearance to hard structures in engine compartment
• Automatic Emergency Braking: Detects pedestrians as well as vehicles

Optimum pedestrian protection: The active hood of the new Opel Insignia receives special praise in the latest Euro NCAP safety ratings.

Euro NCAP has confirmed the integrity of the new Opel Insignia’s total concept. In its latest safety ratings published today, Euro NCAP awarded the Insignia Grand Sport and Insignia Sports Tourer the maximum five stars. The all-new Opel flagship achieved high scores in each of the categories assessed – adult occupant protection, child occupant protection, pedestrian protection and safety assist.

Commenting on the new Insignia’s crash test performance, Euro NCAP made special mention of two of the car’s innovative safety systems in particular. The all-new active hood, which in a collision lifts up in milliseconds, thus increasing the distance to the engine and offering pedestrians improved protection, “operated robustly for a variety of pedestrian statures and over a wide range of speed”. The refined Automatic Emergency Braking system, which can detect pedestrians as well as other vehicles “performed well … (and) … at highway speeds showed good performance, with accidents avoided or mitigated.”

“The top marks from Euro NCAP demonstrate that the individual safety components of the new Insignia form a total system” says Managing Director Sales and Aftersales, Peter Küspert. “But safety first at Opel applies not only to our flagship; the youngest members of our product portfolio, the Crossland X and Grandland X also offer front collision warning with Automatic Emergency Braking, as we want to offer all our customers the latest safety technologies. After all, as our new brand claims says, the future is everyone’s.”

In addition to the active hood and Automatic Emergency Braking, the new Opel Insignia impresses with many more ultra-modern assistance systems. No other car in this class offers such a wide range of intelligent technologies as the new generation of the Opel flagship:

 

•  IntelliLux LED  Matrix light: The 16 LED segments in charge of the high beam function that are integrated into each of the very slim headlamps of the Insignia enable the various light patterns to adapt to the prevailing traffic situation with the highest precision. Transitions between the multiple lighting patterns are faster and more seamless. 

• Head up display: Information such as speed, traffic signs, set speed of speed limiter and adaptive cruise control along with navigation direction is projected onto the windshield. Drivers thus have everything in their direct line of sight, ensuring that they keep their eyes on the road.

• Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) with automatic emergency braking: Uses a camera and radar sensors to measure the distance to the vehicle ahead and adapt the speed accordingly. If the distance decreases abruptly when the driver ahead suddenly brakes, red LEDs in the windscreen/head up display light up and an audible warning sounds. At the same time, ACC initiates automatic emergency braking – faster than a person could normally react.

• Lane Keep Assist with automatic steering correction: Driving always requires undivided attention, but if the system registers that the car is unintentionally drifting out of its lane, it also provides gentle steering wheel movements to counteract this and shows this on the display when the car is travelling at speeds between 60 and 180 km/h.

These are complemented by assistance systems that provide the Insignia driver with excellent all-round visibility, which really come into play in urban driving:

• For the first time at Opel, the 360°camera: It consists of four individual cameras, one on each side of the car. The combined system enables an optional 360-degree bird’s-eye view, facilitating every parking and low-speed driving maneuver. The driver can thus keep everything in view over the IntelliLink display in the center console – no uncomfortable neck-craning necessary.

• Rear View Camera: Shows the area behind the vehicle on the IntelliLink touchscreen as soon as reverse gear is engaged. Dynamic guidelines based on the steering wheel angle are shown on the display and facilitate accurate reversing into a parking space.

• Rear Cross Traffic Alert. The system uses radar sensors in the rear bumper to detect objects coming from up to 20 meters at 90 degrees from the left or right side behind the vehicle and warns with visual and acoustic signals, a very useful function when reversing out of a parking spot with limited visibility.

• Advanced Park Assist: Ultrasound sensors on the Insignia’s front and rear bumpers identify suitable parking spaces and detect possible obstacles. When the parking spot is detected, the system automatically parks the vehicle without the driver touching the wheel. The driver just controls the pedals and gear shifting.

A host of further radar and camera-based automatic assistants complete the portfolio and make driving in the new Opel Insignia even safer. These include established systems such as:
 

• Lane Change Alert with Side Blind Zone Alert. Rearward directed radar sensors cover a range up to 70 meters behind the left and right exterior mirrors, thus alerting the driver to road users approaching in the adjacent lanes. In this way, the system prevents impending collisions if a driver tries to change lanes into oncoming traffic.

• Following Distance Indication in central information display: Uses the front camera or the front radar to detect moving vehicles on the road ahead and calculate the distance to them in seconds, which is more helpful to drivers for their assessment than a meter indication. A stylized green car symbolizes the vehicle in front. If the distance is insufficient, the distance warning is activated and the symbol turns amber.

• Forward Collision Alert: Assists drivers in avoiding or mitigating the impact of front-end collisions with situation-dependent emergency braking settings. If the Insignia nears the vehicle ahead too quickly, the system warns the driver with a loud audible alarm, a visual warning in the instrument cluster and an LED projection on the windscreen. The driver can choose between ‘near’ ‘mid’ or ‘far’ settings.

• Traffic Sign Assist: This newest-generation TSA can detect and display round traffic signs such as speed limits and derestrictions as well as many rectangular signs. The system processes data provided by the front camera as well as map data provided by the optional navigation system. Speed limits are also visible in the head up display if it is on board.

Overall, the new Opel Insignia impresses with highly intelligent safety technologies and excellent value for money, making it a rival that even premium brand models have to reckon with.

!NEW! Buick Celebrates Four Decades of Regal

2014 Buick Regal

The addition of the Regal nameplate to the Buick family goes back more than 40 years, but even today, the Regal’s heritage as a sporty, mid-size luxury vehicle is strong as ever.  

The 1973 Buick Regal featured unique rear opera windows

Introduced in late 1972 as a 1973 model, the Century Regal, as it was originally called, served as an upmarket model in the Century line and one of GM's first “personal luxury” cars. Designed with sporty suspension characteristics and luxuries aimed primarily at the driver, the ‘73 Regal coupe sold 91,557 units helping Buick surpass its 1955 all-time sales record.

Launched with a standard 350 cu. in. V-8 engine, the Regal would soon carve a niche as a powertrain innovator. Among one of the first to react to the initial Arab oil embargo, the 1975 Buick Regal was the only mid-size vehicle in the United States to forego a standard V-8 engine in favor of a V-6.

The 1975 Buick Regal was the only mid-size car to offer a more fuel-efficient V-6 engine.

“The Buick team was on the leading edge and reacted to the need of more fuel-efficient engines,” said General Motors Heritage Center manager Greg Wallace. “Engineers worked around the clock to get the V-6 program up and running in a fraction of the time it typically took, while making sure to retain Buick’s reputation for reliability.”

Just a few years later, beginning with the 1978 Regal, Buick would lead a vanguard on turbocharging for better fuel economy. This expertise would later be used in creating Regals that would be recognized as some of the most powerful and significant cars of the 1980s.

Throughout four decades, and now in its fifth generation, the Regal carries on its sweeping design, dynamic driving experience and powertrain leadership. Today’s Regal is equipped with its most-powerful standard engine, a 2.0L turbocharged four-cylinder producing 259 horsepower and 295 lb-ft of toque. To help make the most of traction in all driving conditions, it is also available with advanced all-wheel-drive system that incorporates an electronic limited-slip differential and HiPer Strut front suspension.

A 2.4L engine with eAssist light electrification technology is also available, delivering EPA-estimated ratings of 25 mpg city and 36 mpg highway.

With today’s focus on all-passenger comfort, safety and technology, the latest Regal comes standard with an eight-inch color touch display featuring IntelliLink in-vehicle connectivity. Leather-appointed seating surfaces, heated front seats and dual-zone automatic climate control are all standard. A host of new radar- and camera-based safety features are available, including Rear Cross Traffic Alert, Lane Change Alert, Side Blind Zone Alert, Lane Departure Warning, Forward Collision Alert and Collision Mitigation Braking.

Generation 1 – 1973-1977

Large swooping body lines and opera windows were among Regal’s fashion cues at the start of the personal luxury era. The 1975 Regal was the only mid-size car in the United States to come standard with an efficient V-6 engine while maintaining comparable V8 performance.

1975 Buick Regal Coupe

Generation 2 – 1978-1987

Downsized from the previous generation, the 1978 Regal offered a 3.8-liter turbocharged V6, making Buick the first mainstream brand to offer a turbocharged engine. This ingenuity would pave the way for iconic Buick’s of the 80s including the highly desired Grand National and legendary GNX.

Key to the Buick Grand National’s success was its sophisticated 3.8-liter turbocharged V6, producing 245 horsepower for 1987.

Generation 3 – 1988-1996

Continuing the trend of scaled down cars in the U.S., the Regal’s third generation was again smaller and would usher in front wheel drive. Power would come from an all six-cylinder engine lineup including the award-winning 3800 V6 engine.

1992 Buick Regal Gran Sport Sedan and Custom Sedan

1992 Buick Regal Gran Sport Coupe

Generation 4 – 1997-2004

Back to its roots, the 1997 Regal again became an upmarket version of the Buick Century. The ‘97 Buick Regal GS debuted with the brand’s first supercharged V6, rated at 240 hp and 280 lb-ft of torque.

2004 Buick Regal

Generation 5 – 2008-2014

After a brief hiatus, the Regal would first return to the Chinese market for 2008. A high-output, dynamically optimized GS model would return for 2012. Introduced in 2013, the 2014 model is the first Regal to offer all-wheel-drive. Combining sport sedan handling with some of the most power-dense and technically advanced engines in the brand’s history, the Regal is helping to attract younger, new buyers to Buick.

2014 Buick Regal GS