!NEW! Charlie Klein and Carsten Wreth to strengthen Opel Group Top Management Team

The Opel Group continues to strengthen its top management team. Effective January 1, 2015, Charlie Klein (54) currently Executive Chief Engineer, Vans, Light Commercial Vehicles and Alliance Programs, is appointed Vice President Vehicle Engineering, Europe. Charlie Klein will replace Mike Ableson who is moving back to the US and will become Vice President of Global Product Planning and Program Management at General Motors. Charlie Klein will report to Ken Kelzer, Vice President, Global Vehicle Components and Subsystems and to Dr. Karl-Thomas Neumann, GM Executive Vice President and Head of the Opel Group. He will also replace Mike Ableson as a Member of the Board for Adam Opel AG.

Charlie Klein, Vice President Vehicle Engineering Europe

Dr. Neumann: “We welcome Charlie Klein to the Opel Group top management team. He has been in charge of successful alliance projects with Renault and PSA in recent years, and we believe he is the right person to lead the more than 6,000 engineers at the International Technical Development Center (ITDC) in Rüsselsheim. At the same time, I would like to thank Mike Ableson who put his stamp on the engineering work here in a relatively short time and played a significant role in the ongoing Opel/Vauxhall product offensive.”

To further support Opel’s comeback, effective January 1, 2015, Carsten Wreth (49) will join the company in a newly created position as Vice President, Customer Experience Europe. Wreth comes from Telefonica Global Services and will report to Peter Küspert, Vice President Sales & Aftersales and member of the Board, Opel Group.

Carsten Wreth, Vice President Customer Experience Europe

Küspert: “Carsten brings in 15 years of experience of putting the customer at the heart of everything the company does. He will play a pivotal role in making our organization even more customer focused.”

Carsten Wreth was born in 1965 and has a degree in Business Administration and Mechanical Engineering from the University of Kaiserslautern, Germany. 

!NEW! Opel / Vauxhall Presents Select Suppliers with Quality Awards

• Best supplier manufacturing locations honored with Supplier Quality Excellence Award
• 310 locations recognized for outstanding quality performance. 

Opel / Vauxhall Presents Select Suppliers with Quality Awards: In the past twelve months the winners demonstrated above average performance in their work by fulfilling 13 specific quality criteria. As a reward they now receive the Supplier Quality Excellence Award 2014 in Ruesselsheim.

Opel / Vauxhall honors 310 supplier manufacturing locations from all over Europe for their quality performance. It is the third year that the Supplier Quality Excellence Award is presented, and again the number of award winners has increased significantly versus the previous year. In the past twelve months the winners demonstrated above average performance in their work by fulfilling 13 specific quality criteria. As a reward they now received the Supplier Quality Excellence Award 2014 in Ruesselsheim. General Motors (GM) also honors its suppliers worldwide with this award in all other regions.

„Strong suppliers delivering great quality parts are hugely important to the whole automotive industry. Excellent cooperation with our suppliers is essential for Opel / Vauxhall to consistently achieve exceptionally high quality standards. I am delighted that this year a lot more suppliers have met the required quality standards to win this award. They make a significant contribution to the quality of our vehicles,” said Kathy Worthen, Vice President, Purchasing & Supply Chain Europe, Opel Group who handed over the awards together with Mike Ableson, Speaker of the Management Board Adam Opel AG and Vice President Vehicle Engineering Europe, and Thomas Simon, Vice President, Quality, Europe. 

!NEW! 1.6 SIDI Turbo: Top Gasoline Unit for Opel Zafira Tourer MPV

New generation Turbo gasoline engine delivers 125 kW/170 hp

Opel Zafira Tourer 1.6 SIDI Turbo is torque champion in the segment with up to 280 Nm

Exemplary refinement and smooth power with excellent fuel economy

New generation six-speed manual and automatic transmissions 

Opel Zafira Tourer MPV 1.6 SIDI Turbo 125 kW/170 hp

Following its debut in the Opel Cascada convertible, the 1.6 SIDI Turbo from the new family of mid-size gasoline engines with 125 kW/170 hp now tops the Opel Zafira Tourer gasoline offer. The all-new direct injection engine stands out with its maximum torque of up to 280 Nm – 12% more than its closest competitor in the segment of the 150-180 hp compact monocabs. Low-end torque and elasticity are also benchmark, with the maximum torque already available at 1,650 rpm, providing smooth acceleration and strong pulling power. The new 1.6 SIDI Turbo in the Zafira Tourer is also designed to offer superior refinement with exceptionally low noise and vibration levels. In addition, its fuel consumption and CO₂ emissions are among the best in the segment with only 6.6 liters per 100 km (combined cycle) and 154 g/km CO₂ , thanks to modern technology including the Opel Start/Stop system.

Opel Zafira Tourer MPV with Panoramic windshield

The new generation 1.6 SIDI Turbo engine in the Opel Zafira Tourer also comes with a new generation six-speed manual transmission. It matches the highest standard in the segment for fast and smooth shifting thanks to numerous measures that have been implemented in the transmission internals and shifter mechanism as well as the reduction of shift travels. A new, low-friction six-speed automatic transmission featuring an Active Select function to allow manual shifting for a more sporty driving experience is also available.

Opel Zafira Tourer MPV with LED tail lights

Prices for the new Opel Zafira Tourer 1.6 SIDI Turbo start at 28,155 euros and 29,450 euros with the six-speed automatic gearbox (RRP in Germany). It can now be ordered and deliveries will start before the summer.

The new 1.6 SIDI Turbo is one of the three major engines to be introduced in the Zafira Tourer in 2013. The others are the 2.0 BiTurbo CDTI which makes it the fastest diesel-powered compact monocab, and the new generation 1.6 CDTI that reduces NOx emissions by 70 percent and already complies with Euro 6 emissions standards. The state-of-the-art engine also combines 320 Nm of maximum torque with fuel consumption of 4.1 liters per 100 km and emits just 109 g/km CO₂ – outstanding values for a spacious seven-seater.

Art of engineering: Higher and quieter performance

The new 1.6 SIDI Turbo engine completes and tops the gasoline engine offer in the Zafira Tourer. It joins the 85 kW/115 hp naturally aspirated 1.8 liter and the two 1.4 Turbo engine versions with 88 kW/120 hp and 103 kW/140 hp.

While all competitors provide maximum torque of 240 - 250 Nm, the Zafira Tourer 1.6 SIDI Turbo delivers up to 280 Nm between 1,650 and 4,250 rpm. It accelerates from zero to 100 km/h in 9.2 seconds, offers excellent elasticity with acceleration from 80 to 120 km/h in fifth gear in just 9.5 seconds and reaches a maximum speed of 212 km/h.

New Opel ECOTEC 1.6 SIDI Turbo gasoline engine

To provide excellent performance and refinement for optimum driving comfort, the key engine development objectives for engineers with the new 1.6 SIDI engine were low overall levels of radiated noise and vibration. Optimization of the induction and exhaust systems included decoupling the cam cover from the cylinder head via specific fasteners and a dedicated sealing system. 

With direct injection and focused combustion, engineers were able to substantially reduce noise levels compared to the previous engine. As a result of these ‘sound-engineering’ measures, the customer will appreciate quiet and smooth idling, with a pleasant sound quality even at high road speeds, engine speeds and loads.

“Our new 1.6-liter downsized engine is the start of a fundamental renewal of our powertrain portfolio. It is distinguished by powerful propulsion at low rpms and is especially quiet and environmentally compatible,” says Mike Ableson, Opel Management Board Member and GME Vice President Engineering. “The 1.6 SIDI Turbo now also brings all its strengths to our elegant flexibility champion, the Zafira Tourer, making it a superb and very comfortable compact van.”

Award winning “Lounge on wheels”: Premium-level equipment and trim

The award winning Opel Zafira Tourer – recipient of the 2012 ‘Golden Steering Wheel’ from readers of European car magazines – combines premium class ambience inside the cabin with cutting-edge technologies, some of which are unique in the segment and enhance safety and comfort. Technical highlights include the mechatronic FlexRide chassis system, the second-generation Opel Eye front camera, the AFL+ Adaptive Forward Lighting system, Radar-based Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC), Advanced Park Assist (APA) and a Panoramic windshield which floods the cabin with natural light.

Opel Zafira Tourer MPV- 2nd Gen. Front Camera 

Opel Zafira Tourer MPV - ACC, AFL+,  APA

Extra flexibility inside the Opel Zafira Tourer is provided by the new generation Flex7 system, including the unique Lounge Seating functions which give passengers an unprecedented amount of space in the second row.

Opel Zafira Tourer MPV - Lounge Seating System

Opel Zafira Tourer MPV - Flex7 System