Opel celebrates ‘60 Years of Opel in Kaiserslautern’ on June 20

• June 3, 1966: Official opening of the Opel plant in Kaiserslautern
• Ongoing success story: Site today as an important parts supplier in the group
• June 20, 2026: Open day with employees, families and the public
• Attractive anniversary programme: Live music, activities for young and old as well as guided tours in the press shop and component production
• Tradition with a future: Exhibition of Opel vintage cars and current models including test drive opportunity plus high-performance concept car Opel Corsa GSE Vision Gran Turismo

On June 3, 1966, the Opel plant in Kaiserslautern was officially opened. In the years and decades that followed, the site first developed into an important powertrain plant and then to a key component plant in the group. Today, it supplies more than 20 Stellantis sites all over the world. Currently, more than 30 models from seven Stellantis brands contain components from Kaiserslautern.

 The successful history and development of the plant into a state-of-the-art production site is a reason to celebrate. On June 20, 2026, Opel will open the gates to the public for the big anniversary of ‘60 years of Opel in Kaiserslautern’. At the open day, employees, their families and friends as well as all Opel fans can get to know the site from a completely different perspective and take a look behind the scenes.

“Opel and Kaiserslautern have been inextricably linked for 60 years now and we want to celebrate this anniversary! Visitors can expect hours full of surprises, various experiences and new insights. I would like to thank our employees in particular, without whom this success in Kaiserslautern would not have been possible. Come by and experience what Opel stands for in Kaiserslautern,” said plant manager Bilyana Stern.

The anniversary programme on June 20 starts in the morning at 10.00 CEST. Throughout the day, visitors will gain an insight into everyday production and tasks on site as well as into the current Opel and further Stellantis models. They can experience the processes in the press shop and component production on an interesting tour. After all, around 400 different components are manufactured in Kaiserslautern. More than 350,000 parts produced here leave the plant every day in all directions of Europe, where they are then installed in a wide variety of Opel and Stellantis models – the top-of-the-line SUV Opel Grandland alone contains over 100 parts that are manufactured in Kaiserslautern.

 

 From classic cars to high-performance studies: Opel models in all their facets

On the open day, visitors can get to know various vehicles better and experience them for themselves during a test drive, for example – first and foremost, the new Opel Astra and the new Opel Astra Sports Tourer. The latest variants of the compact class bestseller were designed and developed at the headquarters in Rüsselsheim and are also built there. The top-of-the-range SUV Opel Grandland – produced at the Eisenach site and thus also ‘made in Germany’ – will be available to Opel fans in Kaiserslautern on the anniversary day, too.

Furthermore, the stunning Opel Corsa GSE Vision Gran Turismo will certainly be an eye-catcher. With a system output of 588 kW (800 hp), 800 Newton metres of torque, acceleration from 0 to 100 km/h in 2.0 seconds and a top speed of 320 km/h, the concept car stands for pure electric high performance. At the same time, the Corsa GSE Vision Gran Turismo is the brand's first concept car to merge the digital and real worlds. Visitors can also experience this live at the factory party – by driving the electric car themselves in the Gran Turismo 7 racing simulator.

If guests prefer to reminisce about their own childhood, they can visit the vintage car exhibition. Especially for the event, Opel Classic is bringing some special treasures from the Rüsselsheim collection to Kaiserslautern. Here, too, everything is under the motto ‘pure high performance’. The exhibits include rarities such as the Grand Prix racing car from 1913 as the oldest vehicle as well as an Opel Rekord B, which the former German national football coach Sepp Herberger bought in 1966, the year the Opel plant in Kaiserslautern officially opened. The Group 5 special touring car based on the Rekord C, known to fans as the ‘Black Widow’, completes the range – as does the legendary 500 hp 2.5-litre V6 ‘Cliff’ Calibra, with which Manuel Reuter and Opel secured victory in the International Touring Car Championship ITC in 1996, as well as the prototype Astra OPC X-Treme V8 with 444 hp and gull-wing doors from 2001. Other Opel classics from private hands round off the exhibition offer.

Already in the late morning, following the official speeches, there will be an autograph session with a 1. FC Kaiserslautern legend. Who this will be remains a surprise until the day of the event. And for all early risers, the first highlight of the day will take place at around 8.30 CEST when the 4th ADAC Trifels Oldtimerwanderung of the Sportfahrer Union Kaiserslautern starts at the factory premises.

Elsewhere, a varied children's and family programme will be provided throughout the anniversary day. Whether it is a bouncy castle, go-kart and obstacle courses, a mini-kart track, painting cars, goal wall shooting or different games of skill – there will be plenty on offer for young and old alike. The programme is rounded off by the chance to visit the factory locomotive and the factory fire brigade’s fleet of vehicles. A variety of culinary delights and live music with the band ‘Roof Rabbits’ will further get everyone in the right mood. Exciting information about Opel as an employer is also provided by the Opel vocational training team. And if guests want to take home a souvenir of this special day, they will find a large selection at the Opel merchandising booth. The factory will close its doors again at 16.00 CEST, giving visitors plenty of opportunity to experience Opel in many facets at the Kaiserslautern site.

!NEW! 25 Years of Opel Calibra: From Aerodynamic Champion to Cult Coupé

• Big splash: World premiere at 1989 Frankfurt Motor Show
• Slippery shape: Low 0.26 Cd, best value among series production cars
• Affordable dream: Thanks to volume production technology, 115 hp for 33,900 marks
• Sporting highlight: All-wheel drive Calibra V6 wins 1996 ITC Championship
• Most successful sports coupé of 1990s: 238,647 units produced in seven years

Calibra: Real cult coupés come from Opel

Real cult coupés come from Opel. Following the successes of the Manta, Opel GT and Monza, the sleek Calibra continued Opel’s winning formula when it premiered at the Frankfurt Motor Show (IAA) in 1989, exactly 25 years ago. It was an extremely progressive concept way ahead of its time, with the best drag coefficient of all series production cars, independent wheel suspension and semi-trailing arm rear axle, optional all-wheel drive and ultra-modern gasoline engines with closed-loop-controlled catalytic converters fitted as standard. These attributes were recognized in 1990 when the Calibra won the coveted Golden Steering Wheel, Germany’s most prestigious automobile award.

Opel Calibra 2.0: Entry-level engine with 115 hp

The 2.0 liter entry-level engine with 85 kW/115 hp propelled Opel’s aerodynamic world champion to a top speed of 203 km/h, while the 150 hp, four-valve version went on to 223 km/h. Despite such impressive performance, the Calibra 16V was still able to return 7.7 l/100 km combined cycle fuel consumption. In other words, this was sporty looks and performance with no compromises – typical Opel, just like the low entry-level price of 33,900 marks.

This kind of value is, of course, a tradition for coupés from Rüsselsheim. The legendary Manta already benefitted from the high volume production technology of the Ascona, and the Calibra leveraged a similar gain from its close relative, the Opel Vectra. As a result, the Manta and the Calibra were both affordable dream cars that became cult coupés thanks to their successful recipe of sportiness with economy and reliability, and both are now much sought-after classic cars.

Design lesson: Form follows function

Opel Calibra: Wind tunnel testing 

Opel Calibra united exciting design with optimized aerodynamics and uncompromised everyday practicality. The wide-opening tailgate gave easy access to a versatile, 980 liter luggage compartment. And despite its coupé format, the Calibra’s long wheelbase ensured all four occupants had plenty of space and comfort. Generous standard equipment included power steering, a five-speed close-ration gearbox, a six-speaker audio system and tinted windows. Air conditioning, a four-speed automatic transmission and an electric tilt/slide sunroof were among the options.

Top priority: Safety first

In developing the Calibra, Opel engineers were already focused on pedestrian protection, a top issue today. Trend-setting features such as the slippery body shape, rounded edges, the hidden windshield wipers and concealed roof drip moldings would become part of future vehicle design.

Safety first: Opel Calibra new ellipsoid headlamps with higher light output

Electronic ABS and sleek, new ellipsoid headlamps with a higher light output, sharp contrast and reduced light scatter improved active safety. And the large, beautifully integrated front and rear bumpers were designed to absorb plenty of impact energy in the event of an accident.

The most important models: As you like it

Powerhorse: Opel Calibra Turbo with 204 hp

At market launch in 1990, a high-quality all-wheel drive system was optionally available in addition to the standard front-wheel drive for both 2.0 liter gasoline engines. The Calibra 4x4 impressed with excellent traction, superb braking stability and ultra-safe driving behavior. They were qualities that deserved even more power under the hood – and in March 1992 Opel made waves when the Calibra Turbo entered dealerships at a highly-competitive price of 49,800 marks. All-wheel drive, a six-speed gearbox, sports seats and 16-inch light alloy wheels with wide, 205/50 tires all came as standard. But the big story was the 2.0 liter turbo engine pumping out 204 hp (150 kW) with a massive torque ‘curve’ that resembled the elevated plateau of Table Mountain in Cape Town. In short, whenever the driver of a Calibra Turbo knocked on the door, there was always someone at home!

Six pointer: Opel Calibra 2.5 V6 with 170 hp

The Calibra’s Keke Rosberg Edition is, of course, legendary. Just in time for its works debut in the German Touring Car Masters (1993/94), Opel introduced  the new 125 kW/170 hp, 2.5 V6 Calibra, together with 2.0 liter four-cylinder  variants in Opel’s white-yellow DTM look. Customers who chose a Calibra Cliff Motorsport Edition in May 1996 were way ahead of the game. Its paintwork was the same as the Class 1 racing car in which Manuel Reuter would win the ITC championship – successor series to the DTM with World Championship status – for Opel at the end of the season. The street-legal Cliff racer had a 20 mm lower sports chassis, BBS light alloy wheels (7J x 16) and a price advantage of 3,601 marks.

For real fans: Opel Calibra Cliff Motorsport Edition

Grand finale: Last Edition

Just one year after its ITC success, the Calibra entered another home stretch, this time towards the end of production. After 222,000 registrations since 1990, a special limited volume Last Edition was created as a final chapter in the Calibra story. It could be ordered until the end of April 1997 and came with a sports chassis, BBS wheels, leather trim and air conditioning to provide a luxurious experience. The engine choice comprised the 2.5 liter V6 or a 136 hp/100 kW, 2.0 liter, four-cylinder unit.

Last but not least: Opel Calibra Last Edition

August 29, 1997 marked the official end of production. After seven years, 238,647 Calibras had been produced at the main plant in Rüsselsheim, and also at Valmet in Uusikaupunki, Finland. To meet high customer demand, the production run in 1990 was increased to 60,000 units from a planned volume of 20,000, with part of this being produced at Valmet Automotive.

The Calibra’s biggest markets were Germany, the UK, Italy, Spain and France. The 115 hp entry-level model led the sales charts with production totaling more than 130,000 units, followed by the 150 hp, 2.0 liter version, of which more than 61,000 were built.

Opel Calibra was most successful sports coupé of 1990s: 238,647 units produced in seven years

Fittingly, it was a black Last Edition with a 2.0 liter, four-valve engine which rolled off the assembly line as the final Calibra to be made. Today, Opel Classic enjoys showing this car at many Youngtimer events, where the beautiful coupé always ends up a crowd favorite.

!NEW! Opel at Nürburgring 24 Hours Race – The legend lives on

Nürburgring 24 hours: ten Opel Astra OPC Cup cars compete in the world’s toughest endurance race on June 21 and 22. 

There are venues that hold an outstanding place in their respective sports. Without a doubt, the Nürburgring’s Nordschleife is one of the world’s most famous motor racing circuits – especially when the legendary ADAC Zurich 24h-race takes place there for the 42nd time on June 21 and 22, 2014. Opel, one of the most successful marques in the race at the “green hell,” will be represented by ten Astra OPC Cup cars, alongside numerous privately owned race cars.

Opel Astra OPC Cup - Racing car

Successful racing cars from Rüsselsheim have a long tradition in the 36-year history of the VLN endurance racing championship. Nine champions have driven to victory in an Opel, with the Rüsselsheim-based manufacturer responsible for 17 outright wins. With 594 class victories, Opel is the third most successful brand. The overall victory at the 2003 24 hours by Manuel Reuter, Timo Scheider, Marcel Tiemann and Volker Strycek in their Opel Astra V8 Coupé remains a memorable moment in motor racing.

Opel Astra V8 Coupé winning the 24 hours race at the Nürburgring in 2003.

Last year, Opel revived this grand Nordschleife tradition with its Opel Astra OPC Cup. The racing version of the Astra OPC, which has been optimized for the 2014 season to combine high performance and professional technology at an affordable price, provides the technical basis for the Cup models.

Opel Astra OPC Cup - Racing car

However, the 24-hour race on the Nordschleife is more than just an extremely demanding race. It is also the site of one of the largest events in international sports and attracts some 200,000 fans every year to a gigantic party for everyone lucky enough to be there.

The tension increases: The legendary ADAC Zurich 24h-race takes place on the Nürburgring for the 42nd time.

The 42nd ADAC Zurich 24 hours starts at 4 p.m. on Saturday, June 21, 2014.