Spectators applaud the historic Opel Kapitän, Admiral and Diplomat fleet
Opel VP Sales & Aftersales Peter Küspert in the Opel Diplomat B V8 presidential limousine
Actors Roman Knižka and Tim Wilde shine as approachable Opel celebrities
Brand ambassador Joachim Winkelhock celebrated in rare Opel Kapitän A V8
Line-up: All-New Opel Insignia Grand Sport with its legendary
ancestors, a 1976 Opel Diplomat, a 1956 Opel Kapitän and a 1990 Lotus
Omega.
The 6th edition of the Bodensee Klassik took place on
picturesque circular routes starting in Bregenz and the competitors
crossed over the borders between Germany, Switzerland and Austria. The
spectators once again got their money’s worth and could enjoy the large
Opel flagships ranging from the Kapitän to the Admiral and Diplomat
right up the new Insignia Grand Sport.
The Opel fleet was led by a Diplomat B V8 with an extended wheelbase.
It was used as one of the presidential limousines when US President
Gerald Ford visited Germany. Opel Vice President Sales & Aftersales
Peter Küspert was behind the wheel of the Diplomat during the Bodensee
Klassik. “This is a piece of living automotive history. Our Diplomat is a
really impressive car and the V8 engine ticks over beautifully. The
spectators were gripped and listened attentively – and so did I,” said
Küspert, who was joined in the car by Roman Knižka. Elsewhere, fellow
actor Tim Wilde shared the cockpit of the rare Opel Kapitän V8 – this engine
was normally reserved for the Opel Admiral and Diplomat and only 130 Kapitän
V8s were produced – with Opel brand ambassador and racing legend Joachim
Winkelhock.
The route of the 6th Bodensee Klassik spanned around 600
stunning and challenging kilometers on scenic side roads through
Germany, Austria and Switzerland. Each stage started and finished in
Bregenz, state capital of the Austrian federal province of Vorarlberg.
Day one saw the participants drive to Bad Waldsee in Upper Swabia. On
day two, the rally headed to Kempten and back. And on the third and
final day the 180 classic cars drove through beautiful Vorarlberg and
the charming Appenzell.
The Opel models at the Bodensee Klassik
Number 11, 1976 Opel Diplomat B V8 extended wheelbase
Flagships at the Opel stand: From 1937 Admiral to the new Insignia
Center of classic car world: Techno Classica in Essen from April 5 to 11
Joint effort: Opel Classic and Alt Opel IG share exhibition stand
Opel flagships at Techno Classica: From Opel Admiral to All-New Opel Insignia Grand Sport
.
Opel’s big boys have got their sights firmly set on the 29th Techno Classica in Essen, where Opel Classic and the enthusiasts from Alt Opel IG
(vintage Opel owners club) will exhibit big cars from Rüsselsheim from
both past and present. “The Opel Flagships” is this year’s motto and the
cars will be on show at the stand with a total surface area of 400
square meters in Hall 2. The legendary pre-WWII Admiral that celebrated
its premiere in 1937 is the spearhead of the Opel fleet. It is hard to
imagine that the wonderful art déco style chassis is already 80 years
old when you see it up close. The journey through time continues with
the two millionth Opel produced, a 1956 Kapitän. Typical representatives
of the KAD models such as a 1968 Diplomat A and a 1970 Opel Admiral –
two true street cruisers – are also present. The 1978 Senator A is a
typical design from the somewhat more matter-of-fact 1970s, whereas the
new Opel flagship, the Insignia Grand Sport, demonstrates Opel’s current
design philosophy of “Sculptural artistry meets German precision”.
Eight decades of “Big Opels”: Legendary 1937 Opel Admiral and All-New Opel Insignia Grand Sport.
From 1937 to 2017: From the Opel Admiral to the new Opel Insignia Grand Sport
The large Opel cars can look forward to enjoying the limelight at the
Techno Classica in Essen – just like they did in Rüsselsheim 80 years
ago. To mark the 75th anniversary of the Adam Opel AG on
February 17, 1937 the company presented two visionary newcomers: The
Admiral and the Super 6. Both cars were equipped with modern engine
technology. Inline sixes with displacements of 3.6 and 2.5 liters and 75
hp and 55 hp respectively. The Admiral was the first member in a line
of luxurious models that continued for 40 years. The Super 6 paved the
way for the popular 1938 Kapitän.
Ten years later the first post-WWII Kapitän left the plant and the
economic miracle saw it rise meteorically. The Opel Kapitän was one of the
bestselling six cylinders in Germany and became an international
bestseller with 60 percent of all Kapitäns being exported. The Kapitän
built on November 9, 1956, and on display in Essen plays a special part
in the success story. As the two millionth Opel ever built, its roof was
painted in gold and it also sports 24-carat gold plated decorative
elements. Opel was the first German and European carmaker to surpass the
two-million mark.
The Opel upper class was completely overhauled in 1964. The “Big
Three” were called Kapitän, Admiral and Diplomat and for the first time
in its history Opel offered V8 engines. The ranking order in the premium
class was determined by equipment and engine size. The Kapitän and
Admiral initially came with Opel’s proven 100 hp, 2.6 liter six-cylinder
engine, whereas the Diplomat’s engine was sourced from the United
States. The flagship of the KAD series featured a 4.6 liter V8 with 190
hp. As of the spring of 1965 both the Kapitän and the Admiral could
optionally be ordered with the 4.6 liter V8 engine and automatic
transmission used in the Diplomat. To this very day the Kapitän and
Admiral V8s are models with a special status: Only 113 units of the
Kapitän and 622 units of the Admiral were built.
The members of the second KAD range were completely overhauled from
1969 – and grew in all areas. The Kapitän once again represented the
entry-level KAD model. Its 2.8 liter inline six delivered 132 hp. Above
it, sat the comfortable Admiral that delivered 145 hp at the 2800 S
variant and 165 hp as the Admiral 2800 E. The top-of-the-line engine was
the 5.4 liter V8 with 230 hp that came as standard in the Diplomat.
40 years after the Admiral made its debut, the company brought
another new big Opel to market. From 1977, the Senator was the spearhead
of the model portfolio. The Senator and its coupé sibling the Monza
were the first Opel cars with independentl rear suspension and
space-saving mini-block coil springs.
Another four decades down the line, eighty years after the Admiral,
the time has come for another major debut: The new Opel Insignia Grand
Sport will make its first home appearance at the Techno Classica.
The all-new Opel Insignia is in extremely good shape. It has the
sporty elegance of a large coupé, its completely new architecture makes
it uncompromisingly spacious and truly fun to drive, and it offers
exemplary safety and comfort features just as a true flagship should.
Not only does the second-generation Insignia impress with its
breathtaking lines on the outside and great wellness atmosphere on the
inside, it also provides the widest range of intelligent technologies
reaching from the trendsetting Opel IntelliLux LED Matrix
headlights and the very sophisticated all-wheel drive system with torque
vectoring to ultra-modern driver assistance systems and a refined head
up display. In addition, the Insignia comes with Opel-typical
first-class connectivity with smartphone integration which now offers a
new Opel OnStar feature – the Personal Assistant which allows Opel Insignia
occupants to book hotel rooms[1] and search for parking[2]
via an OnStar Advisor. Overall, the new Opel Insignia wows with high agility
and driving precision, more space and a superb price-performance ratio
that now more than ever make it a contender to be reckoned with, even
for premium brand models.
[1] Via booking.com. E-mail address and credit card required. [2] Via Parkopedia
GM Chief Executive Officer Mary Barra announces production of New SUV in Rüsselsheim
Considerable investments in engine and transmission production in the Rüsselsheim, Kaiserslautern and Tychy plants
Third shift at the Eisenach plant will be added next year
Clear commitment to Opel/Vauxhall, Germany and Europe
Opel Group CEO Dr. Karl-Thomas Neumann and GM CEO Mary Barra in front of the new Corsa E. Barra announces production of a new SUV in Rüsselsheim.
During her second visit to Germany this year, Mary Barra, Chief Executive Officer of General Motors, announced additional considerable investments. Barra confirmed that new model will be produced at Opel’s traditional headquarters in Rüsselsheim by the end of the decade. “This SUV will be the brand’s second flagship alongside the Insignia,” Barra said. As announced in March, 245 million euro will be invested in Opel’s Rüsselsheim plant to meet future requirements. Furthermore, Barra declared additional investments of more than half billion euro in the engine and transmission plants in Rüsselsheim, Kaiserslautern and Tychy (Poland), thus providing the impetus for Opel to move to the next stage of its powertrain offensive with fuel efficient engines and transmissions.
Opel Insignia - Current flagship model
“Opel/Vauxhall is of high strategic importance for GM. The product offensive with 27 new models and 17 new engines has enjoyed a very successful start. These additional investments will help the brand shine again and further strengthen our position in Europe. They are a clear sign of GM’s commitment to Opel, to Germany and to Europe,” said Barra.
Opel Group CEO Dr. Karl-Thomas Neumann and GM CEO Mary Barra
Opel Group CEO Dr. Karl-Thomas Neumann was delighted by the clear message: “General Motors and Opel/Vauxhall are closer than ever before.” He continued to explain that Opel/Vauxhall has General Motor’s full support. “The additional investments are further proof of the excellent cooperation.”
Both, Mary Barra and Dr. Neumann, pointed out that all necessary decisions were taken after a constructive dialog with employee representatives. They recognized the cooperation with the European employee representatives, the Industrial Metal Union (IG Metall) and Opel’s general works council, chaired by Wolfgang Schäfer-Klug.
Wolfgang Schäfer-Klug: "The package of measures is based on existing collective labor agreement commitments. The agreement is an important prerequisite for the continuation of Opel’s ride in the fast lane. It helps to continue our growth course with safe and competitive jobs."
Dr. Neumann also announced that a third shift will be established at the plant in Eisenach as of mid 2015. “This is good news for Eisenach as we are enjoying strong demand for the Opel/Vauxhall ADAM and the new Corsa E.”
Opel ADAM
Mary Barra expressed her delight with the new Corsa E, adding that 45,000 orders before the official market launch show that the fifth generation of the small car is well on its way to becoming a bestseller.
