Opel Insignia flagship takes strong second place overall
Opel claims two of six possible class victories for cars between two and three years old
Results from 8.8 million major inspections
Opel Insignia
Opel ADAM and the flagship Insignia have fewer errors than other cars in their classes. As last year, in the new TÜV Report the Opel ADAM continues to dominate the segment for mini cars aged two to three years, with an average significant error rating of only 3.7 per cent. TÜV has even fewer concerns with Opel’s flagship. Opel Insignia is not only at the top of its class, it also takes the silver medal in the overall classification. With a rating of 2.2 percent, Opel Insignia is only just behind the Mercedes GLC (1.7 percent).
Opel ADAM
“With the Opel Insignia, we are pleased to see that a midsize model from a volume manufacturer has made it to the podium”, said Joachim Bühler, Managing Director of the TÜV Association.
Opel Insignia ST
“The new TÜV Report is confirmation of our high level of quality, from flagship to small cars”, said Andreas Marx, the head of Opel in Germany. “Of course, we always aim to increase customer satisfaction in all areas. Our decades-old advertising claim – Opel the reliable – applies to our cars more than ever.”
Opel Insignia GSi
When it comes to the technical condition of vehicles in Germany, the TÜV Report has been a reliable source since 1972. The strengths and weaknesses of individual cars are listed in classes according to their age. Around 8.8 million major inspections were analysed for the TÜV Report 2021. Two hundred and twenty-eight different models were inspected between July 2019 and June 2020.
Model of the brand DS Automobiles comes in addition to Opel Insignia and Astra successor
Transformation of the plant into a future-proof location for the production of electrified vehicles thanks to the next generation of ultra-modern platform
Groupe PSA is investing in the future of the Rüsselsheim plant: A new model from the premium brand DS Automobiles will be produced in Hesse from summer 2021. Plant will therefore be producing three models from the end of next year: Because in addition to the Opel Insignia, which is already manufactured in Rüsselsheim, the next generation of the Opel Astra will follow at the end of 2021. Investments allow the Rüsselsheim plant to become a sustainable location for vehicle production, including electrified models - thanks to the localization of the Group's EMP2 platform.
“This strategic decision by Groupe PSA is a great sign of confidence in our main plant and our highly qualified employees. Investment will strengthen vehicle production at the Rüsselsheim location in the long term with an expanded product range. I am very happy to have this great news for our Rüsselsheim employees who deserve the addition of a third model, ”said Groupe PSA board member and Opel boss Michael Lohscheller.
Management and social partners will now be discussing the plan to develop the Rüsselsheim plant into a manufacturing facility for an expanded portfolio of electrified vehicles. This includes the intention to phase out the decline in production of the M1X transmission in the course of 2021. The transmission is currently being installed in the current Opel Astra, which will be launched in the next generation in Rüsselsheim next year.
“Plant in Rüsselsheim has demonstrated the ability to improve its competitiveness with a focus on performance and quality. It is a clear cornerstone of Groupe PSA's global vehicle manufacturing network. I trust that the management in Rüsselsheim will also face the future challenges facing the automotive industry, ”said Yann Vincent, Executive Vice President Manufacturing & Supply Chain at Groupe PSA.
Opel sales and marketing boss, Xavier Duchemin hands over milestone-setting Insignia Sports Tourer to IDE managing director, Thomas Breser
Second generation of Insignia flagship continues to impress
Opel has set another milestone in sales: the 1,111,111th Opel Insignia was handed over to Thomas Breser, Managing Director, IDE Integrated Dynamics Engineering GmbH by Xavier Duchemin, Managing Director Sales, Aftersales and Marketing, Opel Automobile GmbH. The Insignia Sports Tourer Business Edition will be driven by IDE engineers.
Xavier Duchemin, accompanied by Patricia Princess of Erbach-Schönberg, Managing Director, Auto Jacob GmbH in Rüsselsheim, said: “The Opel Insignia is the ideal ambassador for any company. Our flagship’s innovative technologies and high comfort make every business trip more pleasant. The big boot offers lots of space, not only for work but also for leisure.”
The Opel Insignia Sports Tourer destined for the IDE fleet is powered by the strong yet economical 2.0-litre turbo-diesel with 125 kW/170 hp with six-speed manual transmission and start/stop (fuel consumption[1], [2]: urban 7.3-6.8 l/100 km, extra-urban 4.7-4.6 l/100 km, combined 5.6-5.4 l/100 km, 148-142 g/km CO2), which already meets the strict Euro 6d-TEMP emissions standard. A relaxing drive is ensured by the AGR-certified ergonomic seats and Park Pilot front and rear. The Multimedia Navi infotainment system with seven-inch colour touchscreen – compatible with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto – takes care of navigating to the client.
Opel Insignia, popular and successful among customers and experts
In terms of comfort, safety and advanced technology, the Opel Insignia, which is produced in Rüsselsheim, continues the Opel tradition of large flagship models. The first-generation Insignia impressed customers and experts alike. Following the world premiere in London, it was elected “International Car Of The Year 2009”, many other awards followed. By 2017, when 900,000 units had been produced, many more awards had followed.
The all-new Opel Insignia entered the market in spring 2017 as the Grand Sport limousine and the Sports Tourer and Country Tourer estate versions (the latter with class-leading all-wheel drive, including torque vectoring).
The top-of-the-line model variant is the sporty Insignia GSi with 154 kW/210 hp 2.0-litre BiTurbo diesel engine and eight-speed automatic transmission (fuel consumption[3], [4]:urban 9.4 l/100 km, extra-urban 5.8 l/100 km, combined 7.1l/100 km, 188-187 g/km CO2).More than 200,000 units of the second generation have already been produced to date.
Accolades for the Insignia include the “Golden Steering Wheel 2017” in Poland (Auto Świat), Switzerland (Auto Bild) and Slovenia (Auto Bild), as well as “Best Car 2017” (Fleet Cars & Vans, Fleet Auto Premium) in Poland and “Fleet News of the Year” (FLEET Magazine) in the Czech Republic. In 2018 the Insignia was again elected “Family Car Of The Year” in Portugal (Observador), Romania (AUTOpro) and the United Kingdom (Auto Express) and Best Large Family Car in the “Carbuyer Best Car Awards”. The Opel flagship was nominated “Business Sedan of the Year” by Kilometres Enterprise in France and “Autoflotte Top Performer 2018” in Germany. Thanks to its advanced technologies, high comfort and top efficiency, the Insignia has claimed a leading position in its market segment. Fleet-registrations of the Insignia increased by 90.5 percent within 12 months.
Opel’s flagship offers High-Tech and High Comfort
The Opel Insignia is both an efficient company car and a comfortable automobile for long-distance driving and families. Insignia customers benefit from numerous advanced technologies such as IntelliLux LED Matrix headlights and AGR-certified ergonomic seats, while Multimedia Radio and Multimedia Navi infotainment systems ensure state-of-the-art connectivity. Thanks to real-time traffic information, Insignia drivers are guaranteed the latest status of fuel prices and parking-space availability.
[1] WLTP measurements converted to NEDC values for comparison
[2] WLTP combined figures (for information only, not to be confused with official NEDC values):
combined 6.2-5.6 l/100 km, 162-148 g/km CO2
[3] WLTP measurements converted to NEDC values for comparison
[4] WLTP combined figures (for information only, not to be confused with official NEDC values): 8.0-7.6 l/100 km, 209-198 g/km CO2 emissions
Opel Test Center hosts final presentation of German research project Ko-HAF
Opel Insignia prototype at the Opel Test Center
Rodgau-Dudenhofen.
Opel has successfully demonstrated a future that
promises fewer traffic accidents and freedom for the driver to read,
write or relax instead of continuously monitoring the car. The automaker
is part of Ko-HAF – “Kooperatives hochautomatisiertes Fahren”
– a German project researching cooperative highly automated driving,
which began in June 2015. The Opel Insignia prototype displayed the
functions of cooperative highly automated driving during the
presentation of Ko-HAF’s final results at the Opel Test Center
Rodgau-Dudenhofen.
What is highly automated driving ? Driver does not have to monitor
the journey constantly, but must be able to take the wheel with time to
spare if required.
Cooperative highly automated driving systems do not need to be
supervised by the driver all the time. Drivers can perform other tasks,
but when prompted by the system they must be able to take control of the
vehicle within a certain time period. The vehicle must therefore be
able to “see” further ahead than possible with its own sensors. In
Ko-HAF, vehicles send information about their current road environment,
such as construction sites, traffic jams and accidents, to a Safety
Server. The information is collected and processed by the Safety Server,
so that a precise map is available to vehicles when they request it –
like an artificial horizon that delivers a highly detailed preview of
the road ahead.
Test vehicle, an Insignia Sports Tourer, is armed with an array of
cameras and sensors. In the trunk a battery of computers handles
communications, records the vehicle’s location, and calculates driving
maneuvers in real time.
Opel’s role in Ko-HAF focused on the computerized maps and the
process of disengaging the car from the automated driving condition,
thus returning control to the driver. The engineers from Rüsselsheim
designed the architecture, interfaces and protocols of the Safety
Server, which were evaluated in the project.
An additional core-task was the development of a self-localization
method for the vehicle. Opel designed algorithms for visual mapping and
localization which are merged with information from back-end and onboard
maps, onboard sensors and the Global Navigation Satellite System
(GNSS). The localization method was validated on the Opel Insignia test
car at the Opel Test Center and on the Ko-HAF test route on the
motorways around Frankfurt am Main.
Opel’s second area of focus concerned the driver’s actions, so-called
non-driving tasks. The company’s engineers developed software and a
system of sensors to detect and classify the driver’s actions while the
car is driving automatically.
Recently tested, now already in the final: Opel Grandland X amongst “Best Buy Cars of Europe” according to jury
Convincing qualities: New Opel compact SUV impresses with design, leading technologies and functionality
Success story: Opel multiple award winner in prestigious international competition
European AUTOBEST 2018 Finalist: New Opel Grandland X has impressed the jury and been included in the final six.
Despite only having recently celebrated its world premiere at the
Frankfurt Motor Show and having just been tested by members of the
media, the new Opel Grandland X has surpassed many of its rivals and
been named one of the finalists for the European “AUTOBEST 2018”.
The jury of the prestigious international competition announced this
today. A jury consisting of journalists from 31 European countries tests
new models eligible for the coveted award. The winner is named “Best
Buy Car of Europe 2018”. By reaching the final, the dynamic Opel compact
SUV is one of six remaining strong contenders for the title. The
AUTOBEST jury evaluates the candidates in various categories such as
flexibility, design and new technologies along with the service network,
availability of parts and price.
The new Opel Grandland X
excels in many areas: Modern, athletic lines, cool off-road look along
with typical SUV qualities such as elevated seating position and good
all round visibility. Furthermore, the adventurous newcomer comes with
numerous leading technologies such as IntelliGrip electronic traction
control along with plenty of space and comfort for up to five
passengers.
All this is offered at an attractive price-performance ratio
and has helped the new challenger in the SUV segment qualify for the
AUTOBEST 2018 final. The decisive evaluation will take place during
numerous test drives along with further assessments on the test track in
Vairano (Italy). The winner – the “Best Buy Car of Europe” – will be
announced in mid-December.
Opel’s latest contender, the Grandland X, is following a good Opel
tradition. The Rüsselsheim-based carmaker has celebrated multiple
honours in various categories of the prestigious AUTOBEST awards in
recent years:
In 2007 and 2015, the Opel Corsa won the AUTOBEST award, enabling both generations of the small car all-rounder to carry the title of “Best Buy Car of Europe”.
In 2009, the first generation Opel Insignia wowed the jury with its styling and took the DESIGNBEST award.
Elsewhere, the Opel Ampera and the Opel Ampera-e demonstrated environmentally friendly mobility with both winning the ECOBEST award in 2011 and 2016 respectively.
Furthermore, the current Opel Astra generation won the 2015 SAFETYBEST award for its trendsetting IntelliLux LED Matrix headlights.
And as the Opel credo “Sculptural artistry meets German precision”
is valid for both the models as well as the entire company according to
the jury, Opel was presented with the COMPANYBEST award in 2016.
Study on vehicle dependability: Opel top in city cars and mid-size segment
Auto Test Winner 2017: Opel Ampera-e biggest “Technical Innovation”
Joint awards ceremony: Auto Test winners and the results of the J.D.
Power customer satisfaction survey have been announced jointly since
2008.
Champion of personalization and dependability: Opel ADAM tops its class in the J.D. Power Vehicle Dependability Study.
The J.D. Power market researchers are an institution when it comes to
quality and customer satisfaction. In the biggest automobile customer
satisfaction survey in Germany, the VDS (Vehicle Dependability Study),
car owners were asked about the quality and reliability of their one to
three-year-old vehicles. Drivers of the Opel ADAM and Opel Insignia gave their cars excellent ratings – the best in their segments. At the joint awards ceremony with the trade magazine Auto Test
yesterday evening in Cologne, Opel Vice President Quality Elvira Tölkes
accepted the trophies for the victorious duo.
Best in class: In the J.D. Power Vehicle Dependability Study owners
gave the Opel Insignia the highest marks for cars in the midsize
segment.
In addition, Jürgen
Keller, Opel Executive Director Sales, Marketing and Aftersales Germany
also collected another prize: the Opel Ampera-e, with its electric range of 520 kilometers (according to the New European Driving Cycle) is Auto TestWinner 2017. The electric car received the award for best “Technical Innovation” of the year.
At the awards ceremony in Cologne, Elvira Tölkes said, “We place very
high value on the quality of our cars delivered to our customers. In
addition, the J.D. Power study shows that Opel also sets high standards
in terms of reliability and durability across the entire portfolio from
the chic urban car Opel ADAM to the Opel Insignia. So we are delighted
to have received both of these awards.”
“Beyond high quality, what also distinguishes Opel is that we make
future technologies accessible to so many people. Good examples of this
are the personal connectivity and service assistant Opel OnStar as well
as the current market launch of the revolutionary electric vehicle Opel
Ampera-e. Our electric car is a true range champion, without a doubt a
major innovation and thus a worthy Auto Testwinner 2017,” added Jürgen Keller.
This year J.D. Power surveyed 14,000 people about their experiences
with their car in online interviews. The study’s questions are grouped
into the categories quality/dependability, appearance and running costs.
All responses result in a ranking in which the brand or model with the
lowest number of faults emerges as the winner. J.D. Power analyzed a
total of 71 car models.
Auto Test winners and the results of the J.D. Power customer satisfaction survey have been announced jointly since 2008.
J.D. Power report: Strong results for Opel ADAM, Mokka and Insignia
Auto Test Winners 2016: Opel Insignia first in class
Opel ADAM
In the biggest automobile customer satisfaction survey in Germany –
the annual J.D. Power Vehicle Dependability Study (VDS) – Opel ADAM small car received the highest rating.
Opel Insignia claimed a strong fourth place in the midsize class and the Opel Mokka
took the bronze medal in the highly competitive compact SUV class. The
J.D. Power survey assesses 24 car manufacturers and 68 car models.
“Our customers and the quality of our vehicles are our highest
priority”, said Jürgen Keller, Opel’s Executive Director Sales,
Marketing & Aftersales in Germany. “The excellent performance in
this year’s J.D. Power Report not only fills us with pride, it also
motivates us to aim for better and better results with each new model.”
Opel ADAM takes first in J.D. Power: Jürgen Keller, Opel’s Executive
Director Sales, Marketing & Aftersales in German (right), gets the
award from Axel Sprenger, Head of European Operations at J.D. Power.
This year 15,453 people were interviewed online about their car by
J.D. Power. In order to take part, customers must have been driving the
vehicle for at least two years. The survey asks questions about
quality/durability, appearance and running costs. The assessments result
in a ranking in which the brand or model with the lowest number of
errors emerges as the winner.
Second Prize-Giving of the Evening: The Auto-Test Winners 2016
Auto Test Winners 2016: Opel Insignia first in class. Jürgen Keller,
Opel’s Executive Director Sales, Marketing & Aftersales in Germany
(right), takes the award from Michael Iggena, Editor-in-Chief Auto Test.
During the J.D. Power prize-giving, Auto-Test – Europe’s biggest car-buyer’s guide – held the Auto-Test Winners 2016 awards ceremony. Opel Insignia 1.6 CDTI
as the value-for-money winner took first prize in the category for
midsize cars (NEDC combined fuel consumption 4.1-3.8 liters per 100
km/109-99 g/km CO2). The Auto-Test Winners and the results of the J.D.
Power survey have been announced together since 2008.
One tank of fuel: Hypermiler Felix Egolf busts 2,000 kilometer barrier
Average consumption 3.46 liters: Around ten percent below official figures
Long distance champion: Standard Opel Insignia 1.6 CDTI ecoFLEX
Rest in Rüsselsheim: Hypermiler Felix Egolf (kneeling) met Christian Müller, the head of Propulsion Systems at Opel, for a chat about saving fuel.
The Opel Insignia is the master of miserliness in the middle class. Opel officially list a combined consumption of 3.9 to 3.8 liters (104 to 99g CO2/km) depending on the specification for the sedan with the 100 kW/136 hp, 1.6 liter whisper diesel (from €27,945 RRP including VAT in Germany). In Germany, the car is in the A+ efficiency class. However, an independent expert from Switzerland has now proved that this data can be undercut considerably in average central European traffic conditions. Felix Egolf, a former Airbus pilot, is a hypermiler and thus part of a community that is permanently trying to establish new minimal consumption values. During his trip from the Alps to the North Sea and back, he only needed 3.46 liters of diesel per 100 kilometers. In total, he drove 2,111 kilometers on a single tank of fuel.
Provisional result: On average, Opel Insignia consumed just 3.2 l/100 km of diesel during the drive from Lucerne to Rüsselsheim, at an average speed of 76 km/h.
Egolf’s tour started in Lucerne on April 6. From there, he travelled to the Opel headquarters in Rüsselsheim via the Black Forest. In Rüsselsheim, he stopped for a chat with Vice President GM Global Propulsion Systems – Europe, Christian Müller. “The fuel gauge in the Insignia still showed that the tank was almost full when Felix Egolf arrived in Rüsselsheim. He managed to complete the first 429 kilometers with an average consumption of only 3.2 liters. It is great that he managed to crack the 2,000-kilometer mark,” said Müller.
Back on the road again: From the Opel HQ in Rüsselsheim, Felix Egolf’s journey in the Opel Insignia continued to the German North Sea coast and back to Switzerland.
The hypermiling tour then took Egolf to Münster, Oldenburg and up to Cuxhaven on the North Sea coast. The return leg saw him pass Hanover, Kassel, St. Gallen before coming to a successful end in Zurich on April 8.
“I have wanted to crack the 2,000 kilometer barrier for some time now but I couldn’t find the car to do it. The excellent aerodynamics of the Opel Insignia (cd value of 0.26 plus small frontal area) combined with the Eco Contact 5 low-rolling resistance tires contributed to this outstanding result. This hypermiling tour with the Opel Insignia also shows that anybody who has an anticipatory driving style can easily equal or better the official consumption figures. Anybody can be a hypermiler,” said Egolf.
On the drive to Cuxhaven, Felix Egolf appreciated the qualities of the Opel Insignia, especially as a comfortable touring sedan. The engine impressed with maximum torque of 320 Newton meters, which is already available in a low and thus fuel-saving rpm range between 2,000 and 2,250 rpm, exemplary smoothness and plenty of power.
Packed with power, plenty of torque, low emissions and low consumption - and all of this combined with exemplary smoothness, this is what the Opel Insignia 1.6 CDTi ecoFLEX with 136 hp stands for. The impressive maximum torque of 320 Newton meters already lies within the engine speed range between 2,000 and 2,250 rpm. Opel’s flagship also comes with a wide range of technological, safety and comfort aspects, for example ultra-modern radar-based and camera-based assistance systems: Everything from the Adaptive Cruise Control, the Side Blind Zone Alert to the Forward Collision Assist are all included. Furthermore, the excellent premium seats certified by AGR – the German healthy back expert organization "Aktion Gesunder Rücken e.V." provide optimum seating comfort and numerous adjustment options, including four-way lumbar support. The personal online and service assistant Opel OnStar also ensures that the Insignia is fully connected and can offer a fast Wi-Fi Hotspot for up to seven mobile devices.
In the more than 47-year history of the Irmscher group numerous special models and special series have already been incurred. Irmscher offers its industrial customers the complete service from the initial idea to the finished converted model. Some of the models already reached cult status such as the Opel Manta models i200 / GSI / 400 or the Vectra i500 and the exclusive Irmscher Senator 4,0 l .
In total Irmscher rebuilt in its history already up to 500.000 vehicles. As part of this year's IAA the Remshaldeners represent in cooperation with the dealership Köstner a very special power package. It is a new extensive tailor-made suit for the Opel Insignia ST with a changed technology. The vehicle is called Irmscher Insignia is3 "Bandit" and is to be offered as a special model.
The front is dominated by a revised front skirt with under ride splitter which ensures through the large air intakes for impression. The lateral line is extended by the perfectly integrated side sills and lead into a rear diffuser with tailpipe on the left and right side. A discreet rear wing spoiler ensures for a good drive values which also provides the street sports ambitions.
All newly developed parts were subjected to extensive test runs e.g. wind tunnel tests. A color scheme combines the individual elements on the vehicle and the vehicle is revalue with accents in the trend color of gold. The rims of the dimension 8,5 x 20 inches in Irmscher Turbo Star exclusive design enclose the rim window with a fine golden accent line. For an optimized performance the chassis has been adapted to the raised power.
The engine was revised with a comprehensive revision in the range of the turbocharger, the cooling, the intake section and the exhaust tract and is modified to 370 HP / 279 kW. The torque rises to 600 Nm and acceleration from 0-100 km / h is 5.9 seconds. This remarkable vehicle is planned as Irmscher special model and should be available for purchase from the end of 2015 through the dealership Köstner and Irmscher. Customers can choose between complete vehicles and the additional reconstruction.
Whisper diesel for flagship: Two 1.6 CDTI units from newest generation
Personal connectivity and service assistant: Opel OnStar now available to order
Next infotainment level: Navi 900 IntelliLink with Apple CarPlay integration
Opel Insignia can now be ordered with 1.6 liter whisper diesels with 88 kW/120 hp and 100 kW/136 hp
More modern, powerful and totally connected – the Opel Insignia now comes with groundbreaking enhancements under the hood and in the interior. The new mid-size turbo diesel engines are now available in the Opel flagship for the first time. The 1.6 CDTI whisper diesel comes in two output versions providing powerful drive with economical consumption. Opel’s new infotainment generation guarantees top entertainment and optimum connectivity. The second-generation Navi 900 IntelliLink uses Apple CarPlay to bring the iPhone world into the car. Opel OnStar is also on board. The new personal connectivity and service assistant offers customers a wide range of safety and comfort services around the clock.
Downsizing with driving fun guarantee: 1.6 CDTI whisper diesel for Opel Insignia
Whisper diesel for Opel flagship: The 1.6 liter diesels with 88 kW/120 PS and 100 kW/136 PS will replace their 2.0-liter counterparts in the Opel Insignia.
Both versions of Opel’s new 1.6 liter whisper diesel now also show in the brand’s flagship that small-displacement engines with high torque and power leave nothing to be desired. The 88 kW/120 hp and 100 kW/136 hp units replace their 2.0 liter counterparts and were developed to deliver exemplary responsiveness and low consumption with exceptional running smoothness. Together with six-speed manual transmission and the Start/Stop system, the 88 kW/120 hp turbo diesel accelerates from zero to 100 km/h in 11.9 seconds, matching its predecessor. For the sprint from 80 to 120 km/h in fifth gear, it needs just 10.4 seconds, making it more than two seconds faster than its forerunner. Its moderate consumption of up to 3.9 liters per 100 kilometers is equivalent to CO2 emissions of 104 grams per kilometer (with low-rolling-resistance tires in the combined cycle). The turbo diesel with 100 kW/136 hp reduces fuel consumption by another 0.1 liters down to 3.8 liters per 100 kilometers. This brings CO2 emissions to an exemplary 99 grams per kilometer, undercutting the 100 gram limit so important for many drivers and fleets. Not one to make compromises, the engine adds five km/h to its predecessor’s top speed, reaching a maximum of 210 km/h. The Insignia sedan accelerates from zero to 100 in just 10.9 seconds and from 80 to 120 km/h in 10.4 seconds, quietly and comfortably with superb refinement. Both whisper diesel versions offer powerful 320 Nm of torque available from 2,000 rpm and can be ordered for entry-level prices of 26,670 and 28,070 euros (RRP incl. VAT in Germany) respectively.
Opel OnStar and IntelliLink with Apple CarPlay: How connectivity works today
The Opel Insignia not only offers a lot of driving fun with the new whisper diesel engines under its hood, top entertainment, all-round connectivity and highest safety are also ensured inside the cabin – with Opel OnStar and the new IntelliLink generation including Apple CarPlay integration.
The personal Connectivity und Service Assistant Opel OnStar is already on board as standard from the Edition trim level – customers can use all services free of charge for the first 12 months after activation. The extensive service offer includes 24-hour Automatic Crash Response, Stolen Vehicle Assistance, Roadside Assistance, Vehicle Diagnostics on important operating data and measurements as well as the remote control of various vehicle functions via Smartphone App. At the same time, Opel OnStar turns the Insignia into a powerful, mobile Wi-Fi Hotspot with stable internet connection. Up to seven devices can be connected to the system simultaneously – practical on journeys with family or when the Insignia serves as a mobile office.
Phone integration: For the first time, iPhone functions can be integrated via Apple CarPlay with the new Navi 900 IntelliLink
In addition, the next generation of Opel infotainment systems brings the world of smartphones into the car even more quickly and comprehensively. For the first time, iPhone functions can be integrated via Apple CarPlay with the new Navi 900 IntelliLink. This guarantees fast access to many entertainment apps for music and news. Display and operation are via the eight-inch color touchscreen. IntelliLink also enables audio streaming, having incoming SMS read aloud and voice control as well as watching films and videos – the former, of course, only when the car is stationary. The navigation system also features maps of more than 30 European countries; it can be displayed two or three-dimensionally according to personal preference and be controlled by voice command.
June 8 – 13: Leading international exhibition for rescue and fire prevention in Hanover
Insignia with Opel OnStar: Connectivity and service assistant for faster on-site help
International event: Teams from 16 countries run rescue drills with Opel vehicles
Saving lives quickly and effectively – the INTERSCHUTZ in Hannover shows how to do this from today to Saturday, June 13. The leading international exhibition for rescue, fire prevention, disaster relief and safety takes place every five years and is considered the world’s most important event in this industry. Some 140,000 visitors and trade experts are expected to attend this year. Opel is also participating: as a partner of Holmatro Rescue Equipment, the Rüsselsheim automaker is presenting specially equipped vehicles in the open-air demonstration area. Opel is also supporting rescue tools specialist Holmatro’s Rescue Challenge, in which international teams are taking part.
Lifesaving equipment: Emergency rescue vehicle Opel Mokka and Opel OnStar in Insignia
Opel Mokka SUV - Emergency vehicle for technical accident assistance and on-site first aid
After its recent debut as an Opel emergency vehicle at the RETTmobil, it is now on stage for INTERSCHUTZ visitors: the Opel Mokka as an agile utility vehicle for technical accident assistance and on-site first aid. The compact SUV converted by Opel Special Vehicles and Sortimo is a real eye-catcher with its LED special signaling system, the LED front flashers and rear warning lights along with its blazing red foliation. The huge advantage of the all-terrain Mokka, which has a preliminary set-up for analogue and digital networks including a combined roof antenna, is that it can take technical equipment to accident sites that cannot be reached by vans or trucks. The Mokka carries an emergency backpack on board so that its crew can also provide vital first aid.
Opel Insignia Sports Tourer with OnStar
But rescue crews first must find the accident site, which can be difficult in dense woods or mountainous regions. The Opel Insignia Sports Tourer exhibited in Hanover shows how precious seconds can be saved in this situation. It has Opel OnStar on board, the new personal connectivity and service assistant. Opel OnStar offers drivers a 24-hour emergency service hotline: at the push of a button or automatically, a request for help is sent to the Opel OnStar service center, which then contacts the rescue coordination center responsible for the area of the accident site. The Opel OnStar advisor gives the rescue service team the exact GPS coordinates as well as other important vehicle information such as airbag status, impact speed and type of drivetrain. But the system also works in the other direction. If the rescue team does not immediately find the vehicle involved in the accident, it can call back Opel OnStar. Then the service center assistant can activate the car’s horn, blinkers or headlamps to help the rescue crew find it. In this way, the groundbreaking new system can make a lifesaving difference.
Holmatro Rescue Experience: Opel vehicles for rescue exercises
Another INTERSCHUTZ exhibition highlight is Holmatro’s Rescue Challenge that takes place in a 1,500 m2 outdoor area five times every day. 29 rescue teams from 16 countries compete in various rounds to see who can expertly free people from a staged accident situation the fastest. As Holmatro’s cooperation partner, Opel provides 28 vehicles for the drills. With sometimes heavy machinery, the interior of the “accident” cars is accessed to reach victims as quickly as possible. The entire exercise is conducted according to stringent regulations.
Experts are on site to answer all questions about the Opel models on exhibit at the INTERSCHUTZ and Opel OnStar. The show is open daily from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and runs until Saturday, June 13.
Anniversary car in Rüsselsheim plant is an arden blue OPC Sports Tourer
Latest technology further increases appeal of Opel flagship
Anniversary car: The 750,000th Opel Insignia rolled off the production line in Rüsselsheim today.
A new chapter has been added to the success story of the Opel Insignia. The 750,000th car of Opel’s top-of-the-range model rolled off the assembly line at the Rüsselsheim plant. The final assembly team led by plant manager Axel Scheiben celebrated as an Insignia OPC Sports Tourer in OPC-exclusive Arden Blue made its appearance.
The anniversary car is the top-of-the-line Insignia model. The 2.8 liter V6 turbocharged engine has 239 kW/325 hp and sends 435 Nm of torque to all four wheels. The station wagon accelerates from zero to 100 km/h in 6.3 seconds.
Axel Scheiben says, “This is a special day for the entire team. We have every reason to be proud of the fact that we have already produced our successful Insignia model 750,000 times. Our team does an outstanding job day in, day out, manufacturing highly complex vehicles in top quality.” The Opel flagship is produced exclusively in the main plant in Rüsselsheim.
Opel Group CEO Dr. Karl-Thomas Neumann pointed out the importance of the Insignia for the entire company: “The Insignia is our flagship and thereby our brand’s figurehead. With this car, we show what we are capable of in terms of design, technology and quality. The Insignia has played a key role in getting Opel back on track.”
The Opel Insignia, which won the prestigious 2009 European “Car of the Year” award one year after its introduction, has become even more popular since the second generation was brought to market in late summer 2013. To date, the new version has been ordered more than 155,000 times. Last year alone, Opel sold more than 100,000 Insignias – an increase of around 19 percent. This made the flagship the fourth most popular Opel model. “With this, the new Insignia provides further proof of the success of our model offensive,” says Dr. Neumann.
Last year, Opel’s mid-size model was especially sought after in the UK, Germany and Spain, and achieved the largest percentage growth in the mid-size segment in Europe.
The Insignia family comes in five variants – hatchback, notchback, Sports Tourer station wagon, Country Tourer station wagon and OPC. The most popular colors in Europe include graphite black and snow white.
Insignia buyers can choose between gasoline, diesel or LPG (Liquefied Petroleum Gas) propulsion. The entry-level version with a 140 hp, turbocharged 1.4 liter gasoline engine, Start/Stop and a low-friction six-speed manual transmission is already available from 24,515 euros in the well-equipped Business Edition.
The Insignia is now also available with the new 2.0 CDTI Euro 6 high-tech Turbo-diesel engine. The new, ultra-modern 170 hp, four-cylinder engine from Kaiserslautern impresses with its power, reduced fuel consumption, lower emissions as well as lower noise and vibration levels.
New Opel ECOTEC 2.0 CDTI: Euro 6 Turbo-diesel engine with 125 kW/170 hp and 400 Nm
The Insignia is poised to cause even more of a sensation internationally. Later this year, the Insignia OPC sedan will be exported to Australia and New Zealand as the Holden Insignia VXR. Furthermore, an additional Insignia variant will be produced in Rüsselsheim later this decade, and will then be sold as a new model from the GM brand Buick in the United States.
GM to put its first V2V-enabled car on the road in about two years
Opel Insignia demonstrates low speed and highway speed automated driving
Opel Insignia Research Vehicle: Demonstrates low speed and highway speed automated driving
General Motors and Opel are demonstrating their commitment to the future of automated driving and connected mobility at the Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS) World Congress (September 7-11) by showcasing an Opel Insignia research vehicle, an automated Chevrolet EN-V 2.0 concept vehicle and a Chevrolet Cruze equipped with vehicle-to-pedestrian (V2P) connectivity.
“GM will put its first V2V-enabled car on the road in about two years. What’s more I am announcing that we will bring an advanced, highly-automated driving technology to the market in the same time frame,” said GM CEO Mary Barra.
“At GM, we have a renewed passion, the financial resources, the technology and the talent to think big, to step up our investments and take calculated risks. I am listening to customers and they want unfettered personal mobility. They expect us to help mitigate if not eliminate the congestion, pollution and traffic accidents. To me, these aren’t noble causes but imperatives,” continued Barra.
Opel Insignia Research Vehicle
An Opel Insignia will demonstrate intelligent and connected technologies on the south side of the city island. This vehicle, equipped with cameras, LiDAR sensors (Light Detection And Ranging), vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) and vehicle-to-infrastructure (V2I) communication technologies, demonstrates a future vehicle that can handle both low-speed, stop-and-go city driving and highway-speed automated driving.
For automated driving: Opel Insignia equipped with cameras, Lidar sensors, vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) and vehicle-to-infrastructure (V2I) communication technologies
The six LiDAR sensors in the bumpers of the Insignia constantly use light scanning to identify objects around the car. The forward pointing camera on top of the car reads lane markings and detects other objects. The V2V and V2I technologies located in an antenna on top of the car work to communicate with other objects that the vehicle encounters. The car also uses GPS satellite to constantly remain aware of its position on the roadways. All of these inputs are fused through GM’s sensor fusion technology to enable 360 degrees of awareness and object detection.
EN-V 2.0 Concept
The Electric Networked-Vehicle (EN-V) 2.0 showcases the latest in intelligent and connected automotive technologies. After debuting the original two-wheeled EN-V concept in 2010 at Shanghai World Expo, this iteration offers a four-wheeled drive system that combines cameras, Lidar and V2X to offer a hands-free, low-speed electric driving experience.
Chevrolet Electric Networked-Vehicle (EN-V) 2.0
The EN-V 2.0 has many of the same technologies that power the Opel Insignia research vehicle at low speeds. The small electric concept vehicle, however, is built strictly for low speeds. The EN-V 2.0 and the Opel Insignia research vehicle will interact on the same road on Belle Isle.
GM is demonstrating other potential uses of V2X communication technology by presenting a Chevrolet Cruze equipped with vehicle-to-pedestrian (V2P) communication technology.
Chevrolet Cruze with V2X technology
At Belle Isle, mock construction sites are set up on the road course, and participants will be driven in the Cruze toward the work areas. Mannequin “workers” in the construction area are blocked from the view of the driver and passengers, however, they are equipped with arm bands that communicate their location to the oncoming Cruze via warning lights blinking on the “head’s up” windshield display. In the future, V2P communication technology could be integrated into more aspects of pedestrian life, enhancing driver awareness of pedestrians.
“Being at the vanguard, we clearly have a lot of work ahead of us. But we will put the time to good use by accelerating our R&D and vehicle engineering efforts, engaging with regulators around the world and most importantly, talking to the customers,” concluded Barra.
Very ergonomic seats for Opel flagship Insignia, flexibility champion Meriva and Co.
AGR (Campaign for Healthier Backs) gives stamp of approval
State-of-the-art seats account for 10 percent of production costs
Top comfort for the Opel Insignia: Thanks to a range of adjustment functions, drivers can optimally adjust their ergonomic premium seat so that even after hours of driving, they arrive at their destination rested and free of pain.
The new Opel Insignia and new Opel Meriva are in demand: on the market since fall 2013 and early 2014, both models are hugely popular. Since its introduction, over 115,000 orders have been received for the new edition of the Opel flagship. And the upgraded version of the Meriva flexibility champion has been ordered more than 50,000 times in just a few months. The vehicles are not only distinguished by their ultra-modern engine technologies and advanced infotainment systems, they also ensure that the driver and co-driver have an extremely comfortable journey. AGR (Campaign for Healthier Backs) certified premium Opel ergonomic seats provide excellent long-distance travel seating and back comfort. Thanks to a range of adjustment functions, drivers can optimally adjust their seat so that even after hours of driving, they arrive at their destination rested and free of pain. But before such an advanced and back-friendly seating design makes it to series production, many developments steps are necessary. There is a good reason seat engineering accounts for around ten percent of the production costs of a car.
Ergonomics and flexibility champion: Opel Meriva is the first car that received the AGR seal of approval for its certified ergonomic system.
Collaboration between Opel and AGR for optimum seating comfort
“Seats are veritable engineering masterpieces that include lightweight material, specific foam structures and numerous motors to carry out a multitude of tasks, such as heating and adjustments,” says Andrew Leuchtmann, Senior Manager GM Interiors, who is responsible for seat engineering. “Today, our seats are made to suit every size of person – tall, short, big, small – and this is critical to reduce fatigue on short or long trips.”
The very first Opel ergonomic seat was introduced with the Signum in 2003. Today, the ultra-modern and very popular Opel seats, which are the result of more than a dozen years of work and tight collaboration with the AGR (Campaign for Healthier Backs), an independent association that works on preventing back problems, can be ordered for many Opel models from Insignia, Meriva, Zafira Tourer to Astra, Mokka and Cascada.. The seats are developed in-house and safety is a major requirement for Opel. Safety aspects include airbags, occupant sensors and seat-belt tensioners. All these functions ensure that drivers and passengers in Opel cars always reach their destination safely and comfortably.
Opel is the first volume manufacturer to receive the AGR stamp of approval for its seats. To achieve this, four basic ingredients are required: four-way lumbar support (forward, backwards, up and down), cushion tilt, cushion length adjustment, and contour and body support.
“We worked together and combined their know-how with ours,” says Leuchtmann. “In the early days, different manufacturers claimed their seats were the best, but fleet managers often received complaints from drivers suffering from back and other pain.” Put simply, two-thirds of a person’s body should be in contact with the seat to avoid pressure points, which eventually translate into aches and discomfort. “Our seats,” Leuchtmann adds, “can be enlarged or made smaller to provide an ideal fit for any driver.”
Integrated Climate Control
“Seat construction is quite complex – we need to keep in mind foam construction, electrical comfort features, safety devices, headrests and more, and all this is apart from the structure, suspension nets and other support for users,” says Leuchtmann.
Integrated climate control: Ventilated seats are available for Opel Insignia and Opel Cascada.
One of the more complex jobs seats have to do – apart from providing support – is to keep users warm or cool in different conditions. “The seat climate is very important as you need to ensure, that moisture generated by the occupant is removed. Integrated channels make fabrics breathable and remove this moisture. With ventilated seats, small fans are inserted that effectively help keep drivers cool and dry,” says Leuchtmann. This system is available on the Insignia and Cascada. On the other hand, heating is also critical. “We heat nearly the entire seat surface,” Leuchtmann notes, which makes a considerable difference compared to systems that only heat parts of the seat.
