Safety First: Additional Driver Assistance Systems for Opel Crossland X

• Orderable now: Opel Crossland X with new pack of optional safety equipment
• Stop! Forward Collision Alert, pedestrian detection and Automatic Emergency Braking¹
• Take a break: Driver Drowsiness Alert extended by drowsiness detection system

Higher safety: Opel Crossland X is now available with a new pack of optional safety equipment that helps to avoid frontal collisions and detects signs of driver drowsiness.

Opel is now offering additional driver assistance systems for the crossover model Crossland X. The newcomer with the cool SUV look already provides outstanding innovations that make everyday driving safer, more comfortable and easier. High-tech full LED headlights, head up display and the 180-degree Panoramic Rear View Camera along with Advanced Park Assist, Lane Departure Warning, Speed Sign Recognition and Side Blind Spot Alert are just some examples. The new optional pack further extends this generous offer and consists of Forward Collision Alert with pedestrian detection and Automatic Emergency Braking, together with the addition of drowsiness detection to Driver Drowsiness Alert.

“Opel democratizes future technologies and makes them available to everyone” says Vice President Vehicle Engineering Europe, William F. Bertagni. “This approach stretches back throughout the history of the brand, as demonstrated by our new Opel Crossland X and its wide range of high-tech driver assistance systems such as Forward Collision Alert, Automatic Emergency Braking and Driver Drowsiness Alert.”

Forward Collision Alert with pedestrian detection and Automatic Emergency Braking monitors the traffic situation in front of the vehicle with the Opel Eye front camera and is able to detect mobile and parked cars as well as pedestrians (adults and children). The system sounds an alarm and gives a visual warning and also brakes automatically if the distance to a vehicle or a pedestrian ahead decreases rapidly and the driver does not react.

The drowsiness detection system is an extension to the Driver Drowsiness Alert fitted as standard to the  Opel Crossland X, which alerts the driver after two hours of driving at more than 65 km/h. The extended system triggers an alert if the trajectory of the vehicle suggests driver drowsiness or inattention, issuing a message in the driver information cluster and an acoustic signal. After three warnings at the first level the system issues a second alert with a different message in the driver instrument cluster and a louder acoustic signal. The system is reset by driving at speeds below 65 km/h for 15 consecutive minutes.

Another feature increasing the overall safety offered by the Opel Crossland X is the innovative lighting solution that it brings to the segment. Full LED headlamps are paired with functions such as cornering light, high beam assist and auto levelling to guarantee optimal illumination of the road ahead and ensure best-possible visibility.

Adaptive Forward Lighting (AFL) with Full-LED headlamps ensures outstanding visibility in the dark

In addition, the optional head up display helps Opel Crossland X drivers to keep their eyes on the road ahead; the most important information such as speed, prevailing speed limit, set speed of speed limiter and cruise control or navigation direction is projected into their direct line of sight.

Eyes on the road: Optional Head-Up Display of the Opel Crossland X shows forward collision warnings and other information such as speed limits and actual speed.

The risk of overlooking other traffic is reduced by Side Blind Spot Alert. The ultrasonic sensors of the system detect other road users except pedestrians and the driver is warned via an amber icon in the wing mirror.

The Opel Eye front camera also processes diverse data thus forming the basis for driver assistance systems such as Speed Sign Recognition and Lane Departure Warning. Speed Sign Recognition displays the prevailing speed limit on the driver information cluster or the optional head up display, while Lane Departure Warning gives audible and visual warnings if it calculates that the Opel Crossland X is unintentionally leaving the driving lane.

The new member of the Opel X family also makes reversing and parking more comfortable. The optional Panoramic Rear View Camera increases the angle of sight behind the car to 180 degrees so that the driver can see other road users approaching from either side when reversing; and the latest generation of Advanced Park Assist recognizes suitable parking spaces and parks the car automatically. The same applies to leaving the space afterwards. In each case, the driver only needs to operate the pedals.

 ^1] Optional. Works automatically above 5 km/h and below 85 km/h. From 5 to 30 km/h the deceleration metric to reduce the impact speed of the collision is 0.9 g. From 30 to 85 km/h the system reduces the speed by a maximum of 22 km/h. After this threshold, the driver needs to brake him/herself to reduce the speed even further. Operational speed range of AEBPD depends on the detected obstacle (mobile target: from 5 to 85 km/h; fixed target: from 5 to 80 km/h; pedestrian: from 5 to 60 km/h). Opel driver assistance systems are intended to support the driver within the system-immanent limitations. The driver remains responsible for the driving task.

!NEW! Torque Vectoring All-Wheel Drive for New Opel Insignia Grand Sport

• New Opel Insignia Grand Sport 4x4 offers optimum dynamics, feel and handling in all situations
• All-wheel drive system delivers best traction on all road surfaces
• Torque vectoring applies drive to one or both rear wheels independently

All-New Opel Insignia  Grand Sport 4x4 - All-wheel drive system delivers best traction on all road surfaces

Midsize cars offering an especially engaging driving experience are mostly found at premium brands, but when the all-new Opel Insignia Grand Sport hits the market in early 2017, enthusiastic drivers will need to adjust their orientation

Torque vectoring all-wheel drive system applies drive to one or both rear wheels independently.

The new Opel Insignia Grand Sport will be available with a state-of-the-art torque vectoring all-wheel drive system that delivers the highest levels of dynamics, feel and handling on the market.

“The new generation Opel Insignia sets new benchmarks for midsize automobiles” says William F. Bertagni, Vice President Vehicle Engineering Europe. “Torque vectoring represents the state-of-the-art in transmitting power to the road. The new Opel Insignia Grand Sport with torque vectoring all-wheel drive matches the best in the industry when it comes to ‘fun-to-drive’.”

New Opel Insignia  Grand Sport 4x4 - Offers optimum dynamics, feel and handling in all situations.

All-wheel drive and torque vectoring is the best way to put high power onto the road – be it wet, dry, icy or covered in snow.

But the additional weight and complexity of conventional torque vectoring systems prevent them from meeting Opel’s high standards for performance and efficiency.

The new Opel Insignia Grand Sport therefore utilizes a Twinster all-wheel drive system with a rear drive module that uses a twin clutch system without differential.

The Insignia’s all-wheel drive system can apply torque to one or both of the rear wheels independently, enabling torque vectoring capability across the car’s full performance range.

All-wheel drive system can apply torque to one or both of the rear wheels independently, enabling torque vectoring capability across the car’s full performance range.

When cornering, higher torque is sent to the outside rear wheel, inducing rotation around the vertical axis (yaw) – the Insignia turns in with more precision, responding more spontaneously to inputs from the driver.

Torque vectoring also contributes to safety by controlling the distribution of torque according to changes in throttle position, steering angle and road surface, thus damping the amount of yaw. This intelligent use of torque distribution – also known as “yaw damping” – results in neutral vehicle behaviour, making the car more stable and steerable for the driver.

New Opel Insignia Grand Sport drivers can choose the amount of yaw damping to suit their driving style by selecting the appropriate driving mode: from high yaw damping in Tour to low in Sport, for sportier vehicle behavior.

!NEW! Latest Generation Adaptive Cruise Control for Opel Astra

• More comfort, less stress: Distance to vehicle ahead automatically maintained
• Data fusion: Opel Astra ACC integrates radar and information from front camera
• The future: ACC and driver assistance systems key components of automated driving

Data fusion: Opel Astra Adaptive Cruise Control integrates radar and information from front camera.

Opel is bringing the latest adaptive cruise control (ACC) technology to the compact market segment, introducing the new radar and camera-based ACC on the Astra hatchback and Sports Tourer with six-speed automatic transmission.

Compared with conventional cruise control, ACC brings additional comfort and a reduction in stress for the driver by maintaining a certain distance to the vehicle ahead. ACC automatically adjusts the speed to follow the vehicle in front according to the selected following distance. The system automatically decelerates the car when approaching a slower moving vehicle, if necessary by applying limited braking. If the vehicle ahead accelerates, ACC increases the car’s speed up to the selected set speed. ACC behaves like conventional cruise control if there is no vehicle in the driving lane ahead, but it will additionally apply the brakes to maintain the set speed when driving downhill.

The latest generation ACC from Opel uses not only the radar of conventional systems, but also the Astra’s front camera to locate a vehicle ahead in the Astra’s driving lane. The system operates at speeds between 30 and 180 km/h.

The Astra’s full speed range adaptive cruise control can even brake the car to a full stop behind a preceding vehicle and provide the driver with additional support, for example in traffic jams. When the car has come to a full stop, it can automatically resume following the vehicle ahead within three second[1]. Otherwise, the driver selects resume by pressing the “SET-/RES+” switch or the accelerator pedal when the vehicle in front starts moving again. If the vehicle in front starts moving and the driver does not respond, ACC gives a visual and an audible reminder to relaunch the car. The system then follows the vehicle again (up to the set speed).

“For us at Opel, driving is fun when it is neither boring nor over-demanding,” says William F. Bertagni, Vice President Vehicle Engineering Europe. “The Astra’s latest-generation adaptive cruise control technology perfectly matches our philosophy by taking more of the chore out of long distance driving or stop-and-go traffic, and helping the driver to stay fresh and concentrated.”

Opel Astra - Six-speed automatic transmission.

The driver controls ACC via switches on the steering wheel, selecting a “near”, “mid” or “far” gap for the preferred distance to the preceding vehicle. The “SET-/RES+” switch controls the speed while icons in the instrument cluster inform the driver about set speed, selected gap and if ACC has detected a vehicle ahead.

Cockpit display: icons in the instrument cluster inform Astra-driver about set speed, selected gap and if adaptive cruise control has detected a vehicle ahead.

Adaptive cruise control on the Opel Astra five-door hatchback and Opel Astra Sports Tourer is available as an option with the following engines:

Engine	Gasoline /  Diesel	Fuel consumption l/100 km NEDC combined	CO2 emissions g/km NEDC combined
150 hp 1.4 liter ECOTEC Direct Injection Turbo	G	5.6-5.4	128-124
200 hp 1.6 liter ECOTEC Direct Injection Turbo	G	6.1-6.0	142-138
136 hp 1.6 liter CDTI	D	4.6-4.4	122-115

ACC and the Astra’s additional driver-assistance systems are key components of future intelligent cars and automated driving. Lane Keep Assist (LKA) applies a gentle nudge of corrective steering if the Astra is about to stray out of its lane, followed by a Lane Departure Warning (LDW) if it should leave its lane. Automated Emergency Braking (AEB), Integrated Brake Assist (IBA), Forward Collision Alert (FCA) and Following Distance Indication (FDI) help to avoid or mitigate frontal collisions. A row of red LED lights flashes on the windscreen in the driver’s field of vision if the Astra is closing too fast on the vehicle in front and a collision is imminent.

Forward Collision Alert: If the gap shrinks below a safe distance, it warns the driver with a loud audible alarm, a visual warning in the instrument cluster and an LED projection on the windscreen.

The Astra’s single (mono) camera, installed at the top of the windscreen, collects the data for these systems.

[1] The “auto resume” function is available on the Astra with the 1.6 CDTI and 1.6 ECOTEC Direct Injection Turbo engines.

!NEW! AFL LED: Full LED Adaptive Lighting for New Opel Zafira and Opel Mokka X

• AFL LED headlamps deliver optimum nighttime visibility without dazzling other drivers
• Nine individual lighting functions for safer driving in towns and the countryside at night
• Energy consumption in start/stop further reduced by Stop Mode Light

New Opel Zafira - AFL LED headlamp

Optimum visibility without dazzling others. With AFL LED, Opel is bringing the benefits of adaptive forward lighting and Full LED headlamps to vans and sport utility vehicles in the compact market segment. The optional AFL LED headlamps offered by the new Opel Zafira and Opel Mokka X produce a bright white light that effectively turns night into day and automatically adapt to the driving situation. AFL LED features nine individual functions or lighting patterns such as Town Light, Country Light and Stop Mode Light, which not only optimize visibility but also save energy.

New Opel Mokka X - AFL LED headlamp

“The widespread availability of intelligent LED technology is the best way to significantly reduce the risks of nighttime driving,” says William F. Bertagni, Vice President of Vehicle Engineering Europe at Opel. “The new Opel Zafira and the Opel Mokka X with their optional AFL LED headlamps are important steps towards realizing this potential.”

Driving at night is one of the most dangerous things people can do. According to the ADAC German automobile club, almost 30 percent of fatal accidents occur at night. Human beings are diurnal, i.e. we are active during the day, and we sleep at night. It is not natural for us to be on the road in the dark.

As the automaker that traditionally puts customers first, Opel long ago recognized the risks of nighttime driving to car drivers and other road users. Opel was the first automobile manufacturer to bring adaptive forward lighting (AFL) with Bi-Xenon headlamps to the midsize market in 2003. Opel Astra H was the first compact car with cornering light in 2004, followed by the Zafira in 2005. 

True to its tradition of democratizing advanced technology, Opel then made halogen headlamp-based AFL available for the first time in the Corsa in 2006. Opel now offers AFL in almost every passenger car model and the introduction of the next generation has begun: IntelliLux LED Matrix Light, which takes LED technology to the highest level, made its world premiere in the compact class last year on the new Opel Astra.

The new Opel Zafira and the Mokka X, with adaptive forward lighting and full LED functionality for all headlamp and signal functions, mark the next milestone in the rollout of LED at Opel. Like the Astra’s Matrix system, AFL LED also delivers the benefits of adaptive forward lighting without the moving elements. However, instead of switching LEDs on or off in a variety of combinations, AFL LED adapts to the driving situation and the presence of other road users by automatically changing the lighting pattern of the headlamps.

The optional AFL LED headlamps have nine functions. At speeds above 55 km/h, Country Light improves illumination of the road and the verges when driving in rural areas. The range of illumination in the driving lane is longer, while the distribution of light on the offside is lower to prevent dazzling of oncoming traffic. In addition, the improved illumination of the roadside verges enables earlier recognition of potentially dangerous objects (e.g. animals).

In curves or when cornering, AFL LED activates Cornering/Curve Light, which switches on an additional left or right LED that illuminates the road in the direction of travel, depending on the steering angle or turn signal. Cornering/Curve Light switches on automatically at speeds under 40 km/h when the turn signals are in use and/or the steering angle changes from the straight-ahead position and crosses a certain threshold. Cornering/Curve Light switches off when signaling stops and the steering is in the straight-ahead position and is active up to a maximum speed of 70 km/h.

At speeds under 55 km/h, AFL LED automatically activates Town Light. Compared with Country Light, the beam is closer to an area near the car and wider at the sides thanks to the cornering lights operating at reduced intensity. The improved illumination helps the driver to see the sides of the road and avoid potential accidents, e.g. with children or pedestrians.

Maneuvering Light illuminates the area around the vehicle when driving or reversing into a parking space, or leaving the parking spot. In this mode, the cornering lights shine at reduced intensity when the driver selects reverse gear. Maneuvering Light remains active for 20 seconds after disengaging reverse gear or until the car drives faster than 7 km/h in a forward gear.

Tourist Mode (for countries where driving is on the other side of the road), High Beam, Daytime Running Lights and High Beam Assist (automatic activation/deactivation of high beam depending on presence of other vehicles) complete the menu of AFL LED functions that improve visibility.

New Opel Zafira with optional AFL LED headlamps

The optional AFL LED headlamps of the new Opel Zafira and Opel Mokka X not only enhance safety. Compared with other lighting technologies, LED also requires significantly less energy. The Opel AFL LED headlamps take this inherent advantage a step further by automatically activating Stop Mode Light when the vehicle’s start/stop system has stopped the engine. In this mode, the cornering lights switch off while the low beam stays on, reducing the energy consumption of the headlamps.

New Opel Mokka X with optional AFL LED headlamps