Compact Van Pioneer: Opel Zafira Celebrated its World Premiere 25 Years Ago

• Revolutionary: Flex7 seat concept set new standards for interior variability in 1999
• Award winning: Opel Zafira receives prestigious “Golden Steering Wheel” several times
• Fuel cell pioneer: Locally emissions-free HydroGen vehicles based on Opel Zafira
• Modern, flexible “spacecraft”: Opel Zafira, Combo and soon new Frontera

Emotional, efficient and, above all, highly practical, with lots of flexible space for the whole family or for use as a VIP shuttle – these are the qualities that make Opel's people movers stand out. The current Opel Zafira can accommodate up to eight people, while the Combo can carry up to seven passengers. This portfolio will soon be complemented by the new Opel Frontera, which recently celebrated its world premiere in Istanbul and made its public debut in Rüsselsheim to mark the anniversary “125 years of automobile manufacturing at Opel”. Opel Frontera will also have space for up to seven people as an option.

However, these modern “spacecraft” from the brand with the Blitz would hardly be conceivable without a very special model that is also celebrating an anniversary this year – in 1999, exactly 25 years ago, the groundbreaking Opel Zafira was launched. With its innovative Flex7 seating system, it revolutionised the compact van segment and set new standards for interior variability, for which it subsequently received numerous awards. At the same time, it paved the way for today's hydrogen fuel cell drive of the Vivaro HYDROGEN and the future Movano HYDROGEN, by serving as the basis for several HydroGen test fleets. Opel Zafira was a pioneer in numerous respects and brought automotive solutions to the fore that are now taken for granted.

Practical, space-saving, easy: Pioneering Opel Zafira onboard seat system

In the spring of 1999, production of a model that would make history began: the first examples of the new Opel Zafira rolled off the production line. The 4.32 metre long, 1.74 metre wide and 1.68 metre high compact van was designed for lightweight construction. The first generation weighed just 1,390 kilogrammes when it was launched. Efficiency was as important to Opel then as it is today. With a drag coefficient of 0.33, the Zafira offered top aerodynamic performance in its class. With its clear design and long wheelbase, it combined elegance with functionality. The vehicle's low centre of gravity and the ultra-modern DSA (Dynamic SAfety) chassis ensured driving stability and the best possible safety.

But Opel Zafira made headlines 25 years ago for another reason: it was the first compact van to offer flexible space for up to seven people without the need to laboriously remove heavy seats. This was made possible by the intelligent, patented Flex7 seating system. With this unique mechanism, Opel set new standards for fully integrated onboard flexibility in the interior. In just around 15 seconds, the compact van could be transformed from a seven-seater into a two-seater with up to 1,700 litres of luggage volume. After unlocking and retracting the headrests, the seats in the third row could be easily folded up and stowed in appropriately shaped recesses in the vehicle floor, creating a completely flat loading area. The annoying removal from the vehicle and storage of temporarily unused seats were now a thing of the past.

Same applied to the second row: it could be folded up, pushed forward and secured behind the front seats to save space. The front passenger seat could also be folded into a horizontal position. This meant that objects up to three meters long could be loaded into the Zafira and four passengers could be accommodated at the same time.

Award-winning concept: Opel Zafira wins “Golden Steering Wheel” three times

Success was not long in coming. In the year of its launch, the trendsetter received the “Golden Steering Wheel” for the first time. This was just a taste of what was to come. With the second generation of the Zafira in 2005, Opel engineers optimised the handling of the second row. The seats could be folded down in a 40:20:40 ratio, so that adults could also sit comfortably on the outer individual seats. The reward for the effort: with the further developed Flex7 seating system, the Zafira B was set another benchmark for interior flexibility – and once again won the “Golden Steering Wheel”.

Opel Zafira was accompanied by a premium partner in Opel Zafira Tourer and immediately won another “Golden Steering Wheel”. In addition to the flexible interior, the newcomer impressed with lounge comfort, panorama glass sunroof and innovations such as radar-based speed control and Forward Collision Alert. With this serial success, Opel Zafira alone, in its various generations, has contributed three times to Opel’s award series at the prestigious “Golden Steering Wheel”.

Opel Zafira for all occasions: From top athlete to locally emissions-free pioneer

In 2001 – two years after the introduction of the first generation Zafira – Opel asked: “Can a sports car have seven seats, or put another way: Can a compact van have sporty driving characteristics?” The Zafira OPC gave a clear answer. It combined two ostensibly different segments: the practical variability of a compact van with the driving characteristics and performance of a sports car. In figures, this means a 141 kW (192 hp) 2.0-litre turbo engine, 250 Newton metres of torque, zero to 100 km/h in 8.2 seconds and a top speed of 220 km/h. This made Opel Zafira OPC, which was launched in autumn 2001, the fastest van in Europe at the time.

Combining emotions with maximum efficiency – this is the motto that Opel followed then and still follows today. In the same year as the sporty Opel Zafira OPC, a completely different drivetrain also made its debut. In addition to fuel-efficient petrol and diesel engines, the compressed natural gas Opel Zafira 1.6 CNG complemented the portfolio as a particularly economical and resource-saving vehicle. It significantly reduced emissions compared to conventional petrol engines and retained full interior variability thanks to the practical packaging of all components. The gas tanks were installed under the floor and thanks to the “Monovalentplus” concept, the driver could simply switch to petrol operation when required.

Compact van is also a pioneer in locally emissions-free hydrogen fuel cell drive. In 2000, Opel’s fuel-cell development took to the streets with the Zafira-based HydroGen1. Its hydrogen fuel cell supplied electricity for a three-phase asynchronous motor giving 55 kW (75 hp) and 251 Newton metres of torque. A buffer battery covered power peaks. In 2001, a fleet of 20 HydroGen3 models was driven by test customers. Power was increased to 60 kW (82 hp), giving a top speed of 160 km/h. In the 2004 Fuel Cell Marathon, two HydroGen3 vehicles covered nearly 10,000 km across Europe, from Hammerfest in Norway to Lisbon in Portugal. At the wheel of a HydroGen3, F1 and Opel DTM driver Heinz-Harald Frentzen also won the 2005 Monte Carlo Rally for cars with alternative propulsion. The Zafira-based HydroGen vehicles paved the way for today's Opel Vivaro HYDROGEN van. Soon the range of locally emissions-free commercial vehicles that can be quickly refuelled with hydrogen will be even larger, with the new Opel Movano HYDROGEN.

Space for family, team and colleagues: Opel Zafira, Combo and new Frontera

While the first-generation Zafira from 1999 is considered a pioneer of interior flexibility with space for the whole family, Opel today offers a wide range of spacious vehicles for comfortable shuttle services as well as for relaxed vacation trips. These include the current Zafira with eight seats as well as the Combo with up to seven. And the next multi-seater will follow this year: with the recently presented new Frontera, Opel has for the first time a compact SUV that can carry up to seven people. Spacious and comfortable, focussed on the essentials and electrified in every variant, the Frontera with its characteristic, robust design is the ideal car for outdoor fans and families. The attractive newcomer, which will be available to order shortly, comes with many practical solutions, including an innovative smartphone station and a comfortable Intelli-Seat feature for the front seats. It is available either as a hybrid with 48-volt technology or all-electric. The new Opel Frontera thus offers resource-saving driving pleasure including locally emissions-free operation and continues the brand's electrification offensive.

!NEW! Opel OnStar: 1.5 Million Customer Interactions for Guardian Angel

• 15 vehicles recovered with help of Opel OnStar Stolen Vehicle Assistance
• Every second new Opel equipped with OnStar

Opel OnStar has already recorded around 1.5 million interactions with customers who make contact by phone, mobile app or the blue OnStar service button. 

“Having that guardian angel there is just fantastic!” says Charlotte Tyson about OnStar, the personal connectivity and service assistant introduced by Opel in August 2015. Charlotte from England was one of the first drivers in Europe to experience how OnStar automatically reacts in an emergency. Last October she was on the way to one of her friends when she was involved in a head-on collision with another car. As the airbags in her Corsa deployed, vehicle sensors automatically alerted an OnStar advisor – Charlotte’s guardian angel – who notified the emergency services and stayed with her on the phone until they arrived at the scene of the accident.

Automatic crash response is just one of the many innovative features of Opel OnStar, which makes driving more convenient and ensures best connectivity. The unique service with friendly advisors instead of machines also remotely unlocks doors, downloads destinations directly to the vehicle, sends emails on vehicle health and offers a 4G/LTE Wi-Fi hotspot. Less than nine months after its launch, Opel OnStar has already recorded around 1.5 million interactions with customers who make contact by phone, mobile app or the blue OnStar service button. Currently every second new Opel delivered features OnStar.

Opel OnStar is available on all Opel passenger cars, from ADAM, KARL, Corsa and Astra, to Meriva, Mokka, Cascada, Zafira Tourer and Insignia. Less than nine months after launch, Opel OnStar has already recorded around 1.5 million customer interactions.

“These unbelievable numbers prove that Opel OnStar is a resounding success! Less than a year after launch, our personal connectivity and service assistant is clearly on its way to becoming the helpful companion every driver of an Opel passenger car wants to have at their side”, exclaims Tina Müller, Chief Marketing Officer Opel Group. “The smartphone generation are ecstatic about the 4G LTE Wi-Fi Hotspot, while services such as automatic Emergency Call Service provide the older generation with the safety and security they long to have when driving.”

Opel OnStar - Emergency Call Service

The most popular service is the myOpel mobile app, which to date customers with smartphones have launched around 700,000 times by. The app’s most popular features so far are remote locking/unlocking of doors, online vehicle location and honking the vehicle’s horn and flashing its lights. Customers can also call up important data such as oil condition or tire pressures, send destinations to the in-car navigation system and manage the car’s embedded Wi-Fi hotspot, which allows up to seven devices to connect in and around the vehicle.

The favorite Opel OnStar service is the myOpel app. To date, customers with smartphones have launched the app 700,000 times. The most popular features: locking/unlocking of doors, vehicle location, honking the horn and flashing the lights.

Since launching last year Opel OnStar has received about 300,000 calls from customers and sent more than 150,000 monthly vehicle diagnostics emails. On the internet, customers have logged into the Opel OnStar page around 300,000 times.

Opel OnStar also assists vehicle owners and police alike in case a vehicle with the system is stolen. Stolen Vehicle Assistance enables Opel OnStar to work closely with police to recover the car quickly and safely and return it to its rightful owner. Ignition Block allows Opel OnStar to send a remote signal to the vehicle that blocks the engine from starting once it has been reported stolen.

Opel OnStar assists vehicle owners and police alike in case a vehicle with the system is stolen. Thanks to Opel OnStar, 15 stolen vehicles have been located and returned to their owners to date – even across borders !

Thanks to Opel OnStar, 15 stolen vehicles have been located and returned to their owners to date – even across borders! Dominik Gamel’s Astra was stolen in Austria. He immediately reported the theft to the Austrian police and Opel OnStar, who located the car in neighboring Hungary. Working with the police in both countries, Opel OnStar helped retrieve the car and return it to its rightful owner within 24 hours. “When my Astra was stolen, I was so upset”, recalls Dominik, “I thought I would never see it again. I’m just so grateful to OnStar for getting it back to me!”

Opel OnStar is available on all Opel passenger cars, from ADAM, KARL, Corsa and Astra to Meriva, Mokka and Cascada and Zafira Tourer and Insignia . The Opel OnStar service is offered to customers in Austria, Belgium, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Spain and Switzerland, and as Vauxhall OnStar in the United Kingdom. An additional 18 countries will follow as of August 2016.

!NEW! Opel Announces Details on Offensive with Fuel Consumption and Emissions

• Opel to publish WLTP test cycle based fuel consumption numbers, reflecting more everyday driving conditions as of June
• From August onwards, Opel will implement improved SCR diesel applications in new vehicles – improvement towards RDE NOx specifications
• Voluntary customer satisfaction field action for existing diesel cars with SCR technology from June onwards
• Opel will implement SCR technology to entire Diesel Fleet Starting as of 2018

Opel has outlined details of its engineering initiative for more transparency, credibility and efficiency as announced last December. As of this summer, the company will take the voluntarily next step to improve transparency and meet future emission protocols. Starting with the new Opel Astra from June 2016 onwards, and in addition to the official fuel consumption and CO2 information, Opel will publish fuel consumption numbers, reflecting different driving behavior recorded under the WLTP test cycle. In addition, Opel will implement an initiative to improve NOx emissions on SCR (Selective Catalytic Reduction) diesel applications in new vehicles from August onwards. This is a voluntary and early intermediate step towards the so-called RDE (Real Driving Emissions) legislation that goes into effect in September 2017. Opel is offering to provide the regulatory authorities with the engine calibration strategies, which should serve as the basis for a proactive dialogue.

“We at Opel strongly believe that the industry has to regain trust by increasing the transparency with customers and authorities. Opel takes this step towards RDE to show it can be done”, said Opel CEO Dr. Karl-Thomas Neumann. “We announced in December in which direction we are going; now we are delivering the details. I ask the European Union as well as the EU member states and other European countries to accelerate alignment on test set-ups and test interpretations on real-driving-measurements to stop the existing uncertainty caused by test results that are hardly comparable.”

Increase of Transparency on Consumption: Opel steps towards WLTP Test Cycle

From the end of June 2016, and in addition to the official fuel consumption and CO2 information of Opel models, fuel consumption numbers recorded under the WLTP test cycle will be published, starting with the new Opel Astra K.

These figures, which will show a fuel consumption range with a low and a high number, will first be offered for the model year 2016 Astra and published on a dedicated Opel micro-website, creating more transparency. Figures determined under the WLTP test cycle will be published for further models later this year.

According to EU plans, the “New European Driving Cycle” (NEDC) will be replaced starting in 2017 with the more modern standard “Worldwide Harmonized Light Duty Vehicles Test Procedure” (WLTP). The WLTP is important to maintain standardized, reproducible and comparable results.

Less emissions for Euro 6 diesel engines: Opel moves towards RDE

As indicated in December, Opel is also taking action related to NOx emissions to improve Euro 6 diesel SCR engines in the direction of future RDE. RDE is the real driving emissions standard which supplements current test methods and measures a car’s emissions directly on the road.

Dr. Neumann emphasized: "I strongly believe that diesel technology will only continue to play a major role in Europe if the industry sticks to the path of continuous improvement. That is one of the reasons why we decided to implement SCR-Technology to the entire diesel fleet starting as of 2018. With this we do not only talk about a strategy of regaining trust, we also talk about a strategy to preserve the advantage of Europe’s automotive industry in diesel technology.”

The start of the implementation for this Euro 6 SCR improvement in new vehicles is currently scheduled for August 2016. In addition, this activity also includes a voluntary customer satisfaction field action that will involve 57,000 Euro 6 SCR vehicles that are already on the road in Europe (Zafira Tourer, Insignia and Cascada). This activity will start in June 2016 already.

!NEW! Opel Germany Reports Best First Quarter in Five Years

• Passenger car market share grew to 7.5 percent from January to March
• Opel Astra success story: Already more than 140,000 orders in Europe

Opel Astra success story: Already more than 140,000 orders in Europe.

Thanks to its successful model offensive, Opel has started this year on its domestic German market stronger than in the last five years. In the first quarter, the Rüsselsheim automaker increased passenger car sales by around 7,500 units or 14.5 percent to 59,000 cars. So in the first three months of the year, Opel’s growth was more than three times that of the overall German passenger car market, which only reached a plus of 4.5 percent. Opel’s market share increased between January and March by about 0.7 percentage points to around 7.5 percent. With this, Opel recorded the best first quarter since 2011 both in terms of market share and volume.

Following strong growth in January and February, Opel continued its upward trend in March and increased both sales and market share. Sales volume last month grew by around 1.3 percent to about 23,400 units, while the overall German passenger car market was practically stagnant with a total increase of just 41 units.

The strong start to the year was again mainly due to the high demand for Europe’s “Car of the Year 2016”, the new Opel Astra. Over 7,200 units of the current generation of the five-door model were sold in the first quarter – a plus of more than 80 percent compared to sales of the predecessor model during the same period last year.

The station wagon variant, the Opel Astra Sports Tourer, makes its premiere at German dealerships on Saturday, April 9. 

More than 140,000 orders have already been received in Europe for the new Opel/Vauxhall Astra.

Another success story was Opel’s flexibility champion Meriva, which recorded strong growth of nearly 19 percent. With more than 4,000 units sold, it was number one in the MPV B segment, just like the Opel Mokka in the SUV B segment. Sales of the Opel Zafira Tourer family van grew by an impressive 16 percent

!NEW! Seat Engineering at Opel: High-Tech Perfection with a Long Tradition

• Robot tested: Outstanding ergonomic AGR seats for Astra, Insignia and Meriva and co.
• Second row comfort: Heated rear seats make new Astra debut
• Learning curve: From box seat to 18-way adjustable seat with massage function in 117 years

Bernd, Werner, Oliver and Marius are full of enthusiasm for their task – repeatedly they rub over the side bolsters of the seat underneath them before simulating getting in and out while scrubbing across the leather. Somewhat stubborn and relentless but at the same time completely dedicated. Bernd, Werner, Oliver and Marius are inspection robots in the test lab of the Opel International Technical Development Center in Rüsselsheim. To be more precise, they consist of a friction pad covered with a jeans-like material and a foam layer that simulate the human posterior and thighs. “They are more than just robots for us – they are fully qualified members of the team. They perform an important job and therefore they all have names,” explains seat specialist Andrew Leuchtmann, Senior Manager Interiors at General Motors Europe.

The robot team simulates gets into and out of cars 50,000 times a week – equivalent to an entire lifecycle of a car. Both the premium and ergonomic seats targeting the seal of approval from the back specialists of Aktion Gesunder Rücken e.V. (AGR) as well the integrated comfort seats that come as standard are subjected to this ordeal. After the tests, the engineers can recognize whether the seats will be able to withstand future strains just by looking at the fabric structure. “The color has normally faded and the surface is scratched but the most important thing is that the foam underneath is ok and that the surface structure remains stable,” says seating expert Leuchtmann. If this is not the case, the premium and ergonomic seats Opel offers for the driver and front passenger need to be upgraded – after all, there have to last an entire car life, no matter whether it is in the Mokka, Cascada, GTC, Meriva, Zafira Tourer, Astra or Insignia.

“This is where we obviously benefit from our great experience,” says Leuchtmann. After all, the Rüsselsheim-based carmaker can look back on 117 years of seating heritage. The success story of ergonomically valuable sitting began in 2003 with the first AGR seal of approval for the Opel Signum, making Opel the first manufacturer to offer back-friendly seats in the middle class.

The offensive for healthy sitting at affordable prices was rolled out across the model range. Especially long distance and company car drivers are grateful for the system. The numerous settings available allow the AGR certified premium seats in the Opel Insignia to be perfectly adjusted for each driver, ensuring that they are relaxed and symptom-free even after many hours at the wheel. Since 2003, Opel has made democratizing good seats one of its missions and is the leading volume manufacturer in regards to ergonomic seats with the AGR seal of approval.

The new lightness of sitting in the Opel Astra Sports Tourer

Lightweight: AGR seats in the new Opel Astra have shed 10 kilograms in weight thanks to ultra-high-strength steels.

The structure is the most important component of the seat. It ensures the safety of the occupants and keeps them in the right position in case of an impact. However, at the same time is also normally responsible for the considerable weight - not so in the new Opel Astra Sports Tourer. The seats have shed 10 kilograms in weight thanks to ultra-high-strength steels. The engineers know exactly how much weight they can take out safely before even starting on the first prototype thanks to a computer simulation. Darker colors show stress peaks in the material that could lead to a breakage. “We really pushed our limits on the Opel Astra Sports Tourer and experimented a lot,” says Leuchtmann. Amongst others, numerous welding tests were necessary. “You can no longer weld if the material is too thin,” says the engineer.

Comfort guaranteed: The numerous setting possibilities ensure that everybody can find the ideal position. 

Once the first prototypes have been built and the fabrics or leather for the covers selected, Werner and colleagues can start their work. But before that, the team calculates to the load level the robots need to apply to the test subject. Furthermore, a team of experts consisting of men and women of different size and build are asked to take a seat with a pressure mat measuring the peak loads, for example where the sit bones make contact. “We test it with prototypes in the real car,” explains Leuchtmann. “Opel Meriva seat for example is higher and you enter differently than you do the new Opel Astra Sports Tourer where the seats are lower.” Testers also sit differently on a premium or ergonomic seat. Because of the especially good lateral guidance, the side bolsters are higher and therefore under more stress. The data obtained results in an average calculation for stress and Werner and co can be programmed accordingly.

Mobile wellness: Massage and ventilation function along with electropneumatically adjustable side bolsters and lumbar support make the AGR seats in the new Opel Astra true all-rounders. 

Nine human seating experts are also at work in parallel. They, for example, drive around in a new Opel Astra Sports Tourer – for hours on end and for countless kilometers. They test the four-way electropneumatically adjustable lumbar support, the extendable thigh support or the massage function, complete a comprehensive survey and give a subjective overall grade. Serial production can only start when the last weakness has been eliminated.

Opel Meriva first vehicle to receive AGR certificate for integral ergonomic system

The development of a new seat takes around five years – of those, the team invests two years in the implementation of new concepts. This was also the case for Opel’s flexibility champion, the Meriva. It is the first and to date only vehicle with the AGR seal of approval for its integrated ergonomic system. This includes the ergonomic seats along with the 84-degree opening FlexDoors, the versatile FlexSpace seat concept for the rear seats and the optional FlexFix bicycle carrier. Or take the Astra Sports Tourer for example. Thanks to advance development, which also considers customer feedback along with comments posted in forums and blogs, the optional FlexFold rear seatback that can be split in a 40:20:40 ratio at the touch of a button could be realized. Furthermore, heated outer rear seats are available as an option for the first time. The added level of comfort will ensure that the next major trip with family or friends is more relaxing.

To ensure that Opel maintains its frontrunner position in seating development, the engineers are already working on the next generation of the premium and ergonomic seats behind closed doors. “Maintaining our ‘knowledge head start’ over our competitors and consistently extending our production know-how is vital,” insists Leuchtmann. “That is why we develop as much as possible internally and even have some components delivered by our own plant in Kaiserslautern.” The front seat structures are made entirely at the Kaiserslautern plant. The near vicinity to Rüsselsheim also has logistical advantages. The goal is clearly defined: Seats of the future will be even more ergonomic, even lighter, even more stylish and even safer. “We still have a lot of new ideas on how the contouring can adapt even more individually,” reveals the expert. “And there is still more to come on the massage front.” The fact that further Opel models with premium and ergonomic seats will follow seems to be a matter of course especially as the company looks to democratize good sitting further. 

Historical Overview of Opel seat Engineering

1899 – The box seat: The whole Opel Patent Motor Car System Lutzmann including the seats is reminiscent of a carriage. The seats cannot be adjusted.

1929 – Lower position: 30 years later, the Opel 4/20 “Moonlight Roadster” still comes with a firmly fixed bench. However, the position is considerably lower and the passengers can stretch their legs.

1950 – More comfortable: The seats of the Opel Olympia are fixed to a metal frame and the longitudinal position can be adjusted. The backrests of the front seats can be folded forwards to facilitate rear seat passenger ingress/egress.

1956 – Continuous longitudinal adjustment: The continuously adjustable front bench and the adjustable backrests of the Opel Kapitän are a further milestone. The backrests can be set to the optimum position by pulling a lever and simultaneously applying pressure.

1968 – Sporty: The legendary Opel GT gets sporty contoured seats with integrated headrests. Extended cushions and a significantly improved shoulder section show which way development is heading.

1970s – Headrests: Opel optionally fits certain model ranges with headrests – such as the Monza, the Kapitän/Admiral/Diplomat models or the Rekord C and D. The Opel Diplomat B comes with height-adjustable comfort headrests, which can even be tilted forwards.

1978 – First height adjustable seat: Opel Monza drivers can adjust the height of the seat with ease thanks to a telescopic rod.

1994 – Safety with a capital ‘S‘: The seats in the Opel Omega B are comfortable and as an option electrically adjustable. The reinforced rear backrests and the side airbags make an important contribution to passive safety, crash tests with a load are conducted for the first time. In the rear, all three seats come with three-point seat belts and headrests.

2003 – The first AGR seal: The Aktion Gesunder Rücken e.V. (Campaign for healthy back) gives the 18-way electrically adjustable multi-contour driver seat in Opel Vectra/Opel Signum its sought-after seal of approval. Opel is the first carmaker to offer back-friendly seats in the midsize class.

2008 – Comfort seats: The standard comfort seats in the Opel Insignia offer numerous setting possibilities – the height can be adjusted by 65 mm (electric) whereas adjustments of 270 mm are possible in longitudinal direction – outstanding figures. The premium driver seat is AGR certified.

2012 – Ergonomic total concept: FlexDoors with an opening angle of 84 degrees, AGR-certified ergonomic seats and the FlexFix bicycle carrier convince the AGR experts and they award the Meriva with their seal of approval. The first and still only serial production car to receive the certificate for its overall concept.

2015 – Compact class wellness: For the first time the AGR-certified premium ergonomic seats of the new generation Astra are not just 18-way adjustable including side bolster adjustment but are also optionally available with further comfort features such as massage and memory function along with ventilation

!NEW! Opel Goes On the Offensive with Fuel Consumption and Emission

• Engineering initiative for more transparency and credibility
• From Q2 2016, Opel will start publishing WLTP cycle fuel consumption numbers for specific models reflecting more everyday driving conditions
• Engineers developing improved SCR diesel applications – improvement towards RDE NOx specifications, including voluntary customer satisfaction field action

Opel is voluntarily taking the next step to meet future emissions guidelines, both on CO2 and NOx. From Q2 2016, and in addition to the official fuel consumption and CO2 information, fuel consumption numbers recorded under the WLTP cycle will also be published. In addition, diesel engineers have recently started working on an initiative to implement NOx emission improvements on SCR (Selective Catalytic Reduction) diesel applications. This is a voluntary and early improvement towards the so-called RDE (Real Driving Emissions) legislation that goes into effect in 2017. Opel is committed to providing the testing authorities transparency.

“The events and discussions in the last weeks and months have shown that there is a tremendous focus on the automotive industry and it is now time to act based on the learnings,” says Opel Group CEO Dr. Karl-Thomas Neumann. “It is obvious to me that the diesel discussion is a turning point. The world is not as it was before. We cannot ignore this and it is in the hands of the automotive industry to change the perception of the new reality.”

Fuel Consumption and CO2

From Q2 2016, and in addition to the official fuel consumption and CO2 information of Opel models, fuel consumption numbers recorded under the WLTP cycle will be published, starting with the new Astra. This procedure has broad industry acceptance and has been developed to be more representative of what customers will experience in use.

According to EU plans, the “New European Driving Cycle” (NEDC) will be replaced starting in 2017 with the more modern standard “Worldwide Harmonized Light Duty Vehicles Test Procedure” (WLTP). The WLTP – also a test conducted in laboratory conditions – is based on stringent test procedures, more consistent with fuel consumption and CO2 emissions in real-life road traffic. This new test cycle is important to maintain standardized, reproducible and comparable results.

SCR Technology

Related to NOx emissions, Opel is also acting right now. The Rüsselsheim automaker has started working on improved solutions for the effectiveness of exhaust gas treatment systems in Euro 6 diesel engines with SCR technology to make improvements in the direction of future RDE guidelines. RDE is the real driving emissions standard which supplements current test methods and measures a car’s emissions directly on the road.

"Our analyses in the last months show that we have no devices that tell us if our vehicles are in a test cycle or not. Nevertheless, we also believe that we are capable of further improving the effectiveness of reduction of oxides of nitrogen emissions from our Euro 6 diesels with SCR technology and so we are making an improvement towards future RDE specifications,” emphasizes Dr. Neumann. “We will use SCR as the mainstream system for Euro 6 diesel going forward as we continue to develop improved technologies to explore higher efficiencies.”

The work on this Euro 6 SCR improvement has started and we expect a production implementation as of the summer of 2016. This activity will also include a voluntary customer satisfaction field action that will involve 43.000 vehicles that are already on the road in Europe (Zafira Tourer, Insignia and Cascada).These vehicles will get a new calibration once it becomes available.

Opel CEO Dr. Neumann also calls for improving the transparency between automakers and authorities in Europe. “In the USA, the companies disclose their complete calibration philosophy to authorities. I would like to see us embrace this practice in Europe.” In this context, the Opel CEO also wants to suggest that all automakers that are active in Europe take part in a negotiated agreement for more transparency.

!NEW! AGR Ergonomic Wellness seats for All-New Opel Astra

• Art of German engineering: All-new comfort seats from Opel
• Unique in compact class: With massage and memory function, plus much more
• Tradition at Opel: AGR (Campaign for Healthier Backs) seal of approval
• Attractive offer: Ergonomic AGR driver’s seat already available from 390 euros

Unique in the compact class: Beyond being 18-way adjustable including side bolster adjustment, the Astra seats are now optionally available with massage and memory function along with ventilation.

The new Opel Astra celebrates its world premiere at the International Motor Show (IAA) in Frankfurt this fall (September 17 – 27, 2015), but it is already clear today: never before has there been so much luxury in the compact class. The Astra is lighter, more efficient and offers state-of-the-art features; thanks to its advanced seating technology, it makes every drive a relaxing journey. AGR (Campaign for Healthier Backs) certified premium Opel ergonomic seats provide excellent long-distance travel seating comfort. They continue the Opel tradition of award-winning, back-friendly seats. Beyond being 18-way adjustable including side bolster adjustment, they are now optionally available with further comfort features such as massage and memory function along with ventilation – a unique combination in the compact class. Rear seat passengers can also look forward to more luxury – in addition to more legroom, heated outer rear seats are optional. Astra customers can treat themselves to these luxury seats that are completely developed in-house at Opel for very attractive prices – the driver’s seat with the AGR seal of approval is already available from 390 euros.

Ergonomic AGR driver’s seat is already available from 390 euros.

“Seating is among the most important elements in a vehicle as it delivers safety, comfort, and design. It is one of the reasons we place such a high priority- with the support of our partners- on the development of our seating systems," says Charlie Klein, Vice President Vehicle Engineering at Opel. "The new Opel Astra seats continue to deliver on the promise of excellence and are a reflection of the skill and commitment of our engineers and designers. The Astra seats provide advanced features in the compact segment that are normally found only in the premium class."

Lightweight: Seat alone ten kilos lighter

Development of the seating environment in the new Astra already began nearly five years ago for the over 100 employees in the team of experts. “Especially integration of the relatively bulky seats must be considered from the very beginning. This means the seats have to fit into the car accurately to the last millimeter – in every direction,” says Andrew Leuchtmann, Senior Manager GME Interiors. A very challenging task, as the seat components are one of the car’s largest parts. Seat production alone accounts for around ten percent of the total production costs of a new car model.

At the same time, the seats have a large impact on total weight. That is why for their new development, the engineers first had to minutely examine all single elements of the Astra comfort seats that come as standard. “Compared to the predecessor, not one single part is identical,” says the expert. In order to offer rear seat passengers 35 millimeters more legroom, the seat back of the new comfort front seat was made much more compact. State-of-the-art calculation methods enable this, as do lighter polyurethane foams and ultra-high-strength steels that are built in under the seat upholstery. “So the new seats are around ten kilos lighter than those in the previous model,” explains Leuchtmann. This is not only true for the driver and co-driver seats – the new Astra’s rear seats are also lighter and more compact, their contouring was optimized and thigh support was enhanced with a steeper seat tilt.

AGR seal of approval for ergonomic seats

“In-vehicle ergonomics is more than just the seat contouring, it already begins with the positioning of the seat in the car,” says Leuchtmann. The Opel experts also further optimized the Astra comfort seat in this regard, positioning it lower. “This especially accommodates taller drivers with a sporty driving style,” he explains. Thanks to a 65-millimeter height adjustment span – the largest in the segment – shorter drivers are also guaranteed an optimum seating position. With the optional premium ergonomic seat’s memory function, this can even be saved at the press of a button. This is ideal for fleet vehicles with the same group of drivers or couples who share the new Opel Astra. The base version of the optional ergonomic seats comes with four-way electropneumatically adjustable lumbar support (forwards, backwards, up and down), variable seat cushion tilt, cushion length adjustment and a seat form with contours that adapt to the natural curvature of the spine. The premium ergonomic seats also feature electropneumatically adjustable side bolsters that support the body by making the seatback narrower or wider. All these exemplary ergonomic elements made it clear to the AGR (Campaign for Healthier Backs), an independent association of doctors and experts dedicated to preventing back problems, that the new Astra also deserves the AGR seal of approval.

Wellness massage, climate control and heating included

Seats should not only keep drivers securely in place, they should also keep them warm or cool depending on the prevailing conditions. The new Astra comfort seat features passive climate control, meaning breathable surface fabrics and perforated polyurethane foams that considerably improve transporting away moisture and thereby the micro climate in the seat. The new Astra’s premium ergonomic seats can do both – keep warm and cool. Small fans suck air, and thus the moisture that develops when someone is in the seat, away from the body. In the winter, integrated seat heating keeps the driver and co-driver as well as both outer rear seat passengers comfortably warm. Those who want to turn their car into a wellness mobile on longer journeys can enjoy a massage at the push of a button – and arrive at their destination even hours later relaxed and free of aches or pains.

Opel Signum (2003)

Opel Signum (2003) - First Opel with Ergonomic AGR seat.

Opel is the leading volume manufacturer of ergonomic seats with the AGR seal of approval. The first ergonomic Opel seat was introduced with the Signum in 2003. Today, in addition to the new Astra, the certified and popular seats can be ordered for many Opel models including the Insignia, Meriva, Zafira Tourer, Mokka and Cascada. “We want to really speed up the democratization of good seats – more Opel models with AGR seats will follow,” promises Andrew Leuchtmann.

!NEW! Special Anniversary: Opel and GM Say Thank You 500 Million Times

• Unique group highlight: 500 million cars built since 1908
• Celebration in Rüsselsheim: Anniversary Zafira as gift for loyal Opel customer
• Historical review: Legendary cars and top technologies

Teamwork 500 million vehicles built by GM including 68 million built by Opel – that means countless skillful movement by the workers on the production line and countless stories of customers and their cars.

General Motors today celebrated an impressive production milestone: since the company’s founding in 1908, more than 500 million vehicles have been delivered to customers around the world – no other automaker can look back at such production numbers. Opel, one of the group’s tradition-rich brands, played a large role in this: the German carmaker built 68 million cars, most of them at the main plant in Rüsselsheim, where this achievement was now celebrated.

Thank you! Opel Group CEO Dr. Karl-Thomas Neumann thanks Anna Katharina Dionysius for her brand loyalty and presents her with a brand new Zafira Tourer 2.0 CDTI.

Loyal customers were invited to dinner with the Board in the historic ambience of the Opel Classic Car garage. And Anna Katharina Dionysius from Riedstadt got a special surprise during a visit to the vehicle production hall: the long-term Opel customer picked up the Opel Zafira Tourer she had recently ordered directly from the assembly line – as an anniversary gift handed over by Opel CEO Dr. Karl-Thomas Neumann.

Every dark cloud has a silver lining: Opel driver Anna Katharina Dionysius survived a serious accident almost without a scratch thanks to the safety technology of her Astra. Today, Opel Group CEO Dr. Karl-Thomas Neumann presented her with a new Zafira Tourer as a sign of gratitude for her brand loyalty.

Anna Katharina Dionysius had an accident with her Astra a few days prior to the event. The car was badly damaged but she only suffered minor injuries. She took to Facebook to praise her “red hero” and thanked the Opel engineers for their “great work”. The Zafira Tourer with the whisper-quiet two-liter diesel engine that pumps out 125 kW/170 hp and meets the stringent Euro 6 emissions standard is new on the market.

Dr. Neumann: “For me this anniversary is more than just an impressive number, because 500 million cars stand for 500 million customers, for their stories and experiences. We say ‘thank you’ 500 million times to these customers for their loyalty and trust, because it is a privilege for us to play such an important role in their lives.”

GM celebrated the 500 million milestone around the globe. Practically simultaneously to the celebrations in Rüsselsheim, loyal customers were also invited to the group’s production facilities in North and South America, Asia, Africa and China. Anna Katharina Dionysius is one of five customers to receive a car free of charge to mark this production milestone. “During 2015, we expect to sell more than 1,000 new vehicles per hour, 24 hours per day,” said Barra. “This adds up to nearly 10 million vehicles, the most in our history. I look at this extraordinary volume as 10 million opportunities to prove what kind of company we are and to say thank you.” said GM CEO Mary Barra.

Mary Barra continued to point out the many game-changing innovations GM has brought to the automotive industry including the first ever V-8 engine, the first automatic transmission, the first automotive crash test dummies and the first airbags in a production vehicle.

Opel started building cars in 1899 and has been part of GM since 1929 – and many milestones pave the way of this shared journey, as do legendary cars like the Kadett, Rekord, GT, Manta and Kapitän. Through it all, Opel has always stood for technological innovations that offer customers high utility value and benefits – for example in 1989 when the Rüsselsheim automaker was the first brand to equip its cars with a catalytic converter as standard. The guiding principle “We make technology that is otherwise only available in the luxury class affordable for everyone” remains a cornerstone of the brand’s philosophy to this day. True to this tradition, another highlight is coming up: Opel OnStar. The personal service and mobility assistant will become available this year, turning the vehicle into a mobile internet hotspot.

Dr. Karl-Thomas Neumann: “Every year, Opel sells more than one million cars – with a continuing upwards trend as we are in the middle of our model and engine offensive. The highlight of this year is the presentation of the new Astra. I promise you, also on behalf of our 35,000 employees: this car will once again thrill our customers, and gain a lot of new fans for the brand.”

!NEW! Opel at the RETTmobil 2015: Opel Mokka SUV now a Lifesaver

15th exhibition for rescue and mobility: Opel present with wide range of emergency vehicles

Mokka, Insignia, Vivaro and Movano – four cars, four concepts, one goal: to save lives. From May 6 - 8, the automaker will show how powerful series-produced passenger cars and vans can, with the help of certified conversion partners, be converted into efficient emergency vehicles for the fire brigade for example. The Opel stand in Fulda will be located in Hall 5 (stand number 505). Furthermore, Opel’s partner Siebrecht will present disabled transport vehicles of different sizes and in various price categories at their outdoor stand (number 53).

Opel emergency vehicles for fire brigade and DLRG (German Life Saving Society)

The Mokka emergency vehicle with a 100 kW/136 hp 1.6-liter turbocharged engine and all-wheel drive (consumption 4.7-4.5 l/100 km and CO2 of 124-119 g/km in the combined cycle) is latest addition to Opel’s lifesaver family. At RETTmobil, it will be present as an agile utility vehicle for technical accident assistance. The all-wheel drive Mokka, 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. Furthermore, the Mokka has a preliminary set-up for analogue and digital networks including a combined roof antenna. The huge advantage is that the compact, agile and all-terrain Mokka can take technical equipment such as hydraulic shears and spreaders to accident sites that cannot be reached by vans or trucks. The Mokka also carries an emergency backpack so that its crew can also provide vital first aid.

The Insignia Country Tourer fire brigade command vehicle with all-wheel drive, new whisper diesel along with AFL+ (Adaptive Forward Lighting) and AGR-certified (Campaign for Healthier Backs) premium seats and a specific Bott tail-end conversion will accompany the Mokka to Fulda. A Movano crew cab that has been converted into a fire engine by Meinicke Fahrzeugservice completes Opel’s firefighting trio at the RETTmobil. Elsewhere, a Vivaro Combi transformed into a crew car for the DLRG will also be present. Wagner Technik are responsible for converting the nine-seater and fitting it with a special signaling system, LED beacons and working lights, an additional battery along with lashing rails and Euroboxes in the hold.

Opel also offer ADAM, Astra Sports Tourer, Insignia Sports Tourer and Zafira Tourer-based emergency vehicles ex works. 

!NEW! Vauxhall Ends 2014 on a High

• Best ever Vauxhall retail sales of 127,398 in 2014
• Best-selling manufacturer in December
• Number one manufacturer in Scotland
• Corsa is Scotland’s best-selling car

New Vauxhall Corsa 5 door

Vauxhall sold 127,398 cars to private buyers last year, making 2014 its best ever year for all-important retail sales according to figures released today by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders.

New Vauxhall Corsa 3 door

Finishing the year with a flourish, Vauxhall was also the UK’s best-selling car manufacturer in December with sales of 23,162 and a market share of 14 per cent.

Overall performance in 2014 was excellent with new model launches including Corsa, Vivaro and ADAM ROCKS AIR helping the company achieve total sales of 301,796 cars and vans.

New Vauxhall ADAM ROCKS AIR

Vauxhall was also the biggest-selling manufacturer in Scotland last year, for the seventh year running. The Corsa supermini was in seventh heaven as Scotland’s top-selling car for the seventh consecutive year and that wasn't even the new model, that's in showrooms this month.

Innovative finance programmes helped drive retail sales with many models now available with great value PCPs.

Vauxhall’s strategic focus on true fleet sales (user-chooser company car drivers) continued to develop with registrations up by ten per cent with models including Insignia, Mokka and Zafira Tourer driving growth.

It was another huge year for Vauxhall Commercial Vehicles. The British-built Vivaro enjoyed its best year ever with over 19,000 sold in 2014.  The all-new model, which went on sale in September, was Vauxhall’s most successful van launch ever with over 12,000 early orders.

Griffin-badged Police cars are a common sight on British roads, so it’s no surprise that Vauxhall is the number one supplier to Police fleets with a substantial 80 per cent market share of competitive segments.

“It was another great year for Vauxhall with a number of exciting product launches and sales results that we can be truly proud of,” said Tim Tozer, Vauxhall’s Chairman and Managing Director.

“Now we focus on 2015 with New Corsa in showrooms, ADAM GRAND SLAM coming very soon and the all-new VIVA arriving in the Spring. OnStar will also give us a tremendous lead in the vehicle connectivity arena when it launches later this year.”

!NEW! Opel Zafira Tourer Again Most Environmentally Friendly Van

As in 2014, independent institute Ökotrend rates Opel Zafira Tourer 1.6 CNG ecoFlex Number 1

Most environmentally friendly van 2015: Opel Zafira Tourer successfully defends its title and once again wins its class with the low-emission and ultra-economical 1.6 CNG Turbo ecoFLEX engine.

Opel can already look forward to its first award in 2015. In their „Auto Test Winner in Green“ competition, the environmental institute Ökotrend and the trade magazine Auto Test have chosen the Opel Zafira Tourer 1.6 CNG Turbo ecoFlex the most environmentally friendly vehicle in the van segment for the second year in a row. The compact seven-seater featuring an airy lounge atmosphere wins its class with the low-emission and ultra-economical 1.6 CNG Turbo ecoFLEX engine under its hood. CNG (Compressed Natural Gas) gives particularly clean combustion in the innovative Opel four-cylinder engine.

Extremely efficient: With fuel consumption of just 4.7 kilograms high-grade natural gas per 100 kilometers over the combined cycle, the Opel Zafira Tourer 1.6 CNG Turbo ecoFLEX emits only 129 g/km CO2.

With fuel consumption of just 4.7 kilograms (7.2 m3) high-grade natural gas per 100 kilometers over the combined cycle, the 110 kw/150 hp Opel Zafira Tourer 1.6 CNG Turbo ecoFLEX model emits only 129 g/km CO2, which earns it the German A energy efficiency label.

Long-distance runner: Economical consumption combined with a tank volume of 25 kilograms enable a driving range of up to 530 kilometers in pure CNG operation.

Opel is a recognized pioneer in the advancement of alternative propulsion concepts. More than a decade ago, in 2001, the automaker presented its first compressed natural gas vehicle concept with monovalentplus technology. Opel’s CNG ecoFLEX engines are optimized to run on natural gas, biogas or any combination of the two, as well as gasoline. CNG and biogas cost considerably less than gasoline or diesel, and in terms of kilometers driven, are even cheaper than liquefied petroleum gas. Good reasons for many customers to use these naturally occurring fuels. In Germany, the government has introduced a tax benefit regulation for the use of natural gas as a fuel until 2018. This recognizes its environmental friendliness because natural gas vehicles emit up to 25 percent less CO2, up to 80 percent less nitrogen and are free of benzol and soot particles. If 100 percent biogas is used as fuel, the vehicle’s carbon footprint is almost zero.

Opel’s CNG ecoFLEX engines are optimized to run on natural gas, biogas or any combination of the two, as well as gasoline.