!NEW! Opel Underlines Commitment in Growth Market Israel

Early contract renewal to 2020 with Shlomo Group 

Successful duo: Shlomo Shmeltzer (on left) and Opel CEO Dr. Karl-Thomas Neumann after signing the new contract

Opel and the leading automobile importer in Israel, the Shlomo Group, have extended their collaboration. Dr. Karl-Thomas Neumann, CEO of Adam Opel AG, and Shlomo Shmeltzer, Managing Director of the Shlomo Group, today met at Opel headquarters in Rüsselsheim and signed the new contract extending the companies’ collaboration until 2020. With this, Opel strengthens its presence in Israel, an important export market for the brand.

Fabulous four: Asi and Shlomo Shmeltzer with Opel CEO Dr. Karl-Thomas Neumann and Jürgen Keller, Director International Operations (from left)

“We have been on the right track in Israel since beginning this cooperation two years ago. We are very pleased that with the Shlomo Group we have one of the strongest Israeli companies as a sales associate and reliable partner. By renewing our contract early, we not only reinforce this cooperation, but also our brand in Israel,” said Dr. Karl-Thomas Neumann.

 Shlomo Shmeltzer (on left) and Opel CEO Dr. Karl-Thomas Neumann  in front of the Opel’s headquarters at Rüsselsheim

The Shlomo Group is the leading automotive and largest car rental group in Israel. The company has been importing and selling Opel vehicles and spare parts on the Israeli market since the spring of 2011. Last year around 4,600 Opel cars were sold, and in 2013 sales are to exceed 5,000 vehicles. 

!NEW! Opel Monza Concept: Vision of Opel’s Future

Ground-breaking concept: Dr. Karl-Thomas Neumann reveals first glimpse of IAA study

Next generation of Opel design philosophy: Evolution of sculptural styling

New athleticism: Maximum efficiency of vehicle architecture, powertrain and materials

Modern: Innovative connectivity solutions for individual mobility

Pioneering: Visionary IAA studies from Opel since Experimental GT in 1965

Opel CEO Dr. Karl-Thomas Neumann and new Opel Monza Concept

After more than 150 years of company history packed with strong innovations, Opel now introduces its newest highlight – at least partially. The ground-breaking Opel Monza Concept will make its world premiere at the Frankfurt Motor Show from September 12 – 22 (Press Days September 10 and 11), but today Opel CEO Dr. Karl-Thomas Neumann gives a first glimpse of this exciting study. “DRIVE!2022 is a clear strategy for the future of Opel as a company and a brand,” says Dr. Neumann. “It covers a whole range of subject areas and elements, and in terms of the future of our models, we’ve bundled all our targets together in the Opel Monza Concept. It is our vision of Opel’s future and stands for our fundamental values: German engineering and precision, combined with enthralling design and innovations suitable for everyday use. The Monza Concept carries these elements forward in a visionary fashion, expressing them with fresh inspiration and clarity. This car is a study that will have a long-term impact on the next generation of Opel models.”

Monza Concept: Beginning the next generation of Opel mobility

The Monza Concept shows what Opel customers can expect to see in the future. It focuses on two major themes which will be top priorities for the more than 6,000 engineers, technicians and designers in Rüsselsheim developing the next generation of Opel models: efficiency and connectivity. The Monza Concept demonstrates outstanding efficiency through its architecture and use of materials, as well as in its aerodynamics and ground-breaking powertrain solution. In terms of connectivity, it offers trailblazing possibilities that are a quantum leap in the development of infotainment systems.

The Monza Concept is a recognizable further development of Opel’s design language.. To visibly express Opel’s quest for increased efficiency, the study presents an evolution of Opel’s design philosophy of sculptural artistry and German precision, with body contours conveying a sense of lithe athleticism rather than pure muscle power.

This design emphasis is immediately apparent in the vehicle’s frontal styling. A low stance with flowing lines, the clearly defined hood and a striking headlamp treatment all combine to give the car an extra dose of assertive self-confidence. Further developed signature Opel themes are embedded in the overall look: the typical crease on the hood appears more three-dimensional and thus more prominent, while the chrome grille bar carrying the Opel logo now sweeps up with winglets at its tips. Two characteristic blades under the head lamps add to the sporty appeal. Overall, the Monza Concept has a light, athletic look designed to convey efficiency, excitement and great driving fun.

The sporty appeal of Opel models has always been inseparably linked to functionality and, in this respect, the Monza Concept pays homage to the seminal Opel Monza Coupé, built between 1978 and 1986. It also combined elegant, dynamic styling with clever, functional solutions for drivers and passengers. Similarities between the two cars are visible in design elements such as their large, glazed surfaces and low belt-line.

Opel Monza (1978)

The original Monza was the first car on the market to feature a digital dashboard display and the Monza Concept continues this innovative theme. It introduces ground-breaking technologies for future infotainment and connectivity possibilities, showing how next-generation Opel cars will address the needs of a closely connected and sharing society. They will enable future individual mobility that’s more than simply a driving experience alone.

Opel Monza (1986)

Opel Experimental GT: Start of visionary IAA studies

The trendsetting Monza Concept is the latest in a line of visionary IAA studies from Opel which began in 1965 with the spectacular Opel Experimental GT. At that time, Opel was the first automaker to build a concept study in Europe and present it at an automotive trade show – with overwhelming success. The Experimental GT created enthusiasm among the media and public alike, and was the starting point for ongoing presentations of concept cars to showcase innovative ideas and future developments for the brand portfolio. Opel studies in the 1960s were so successful that all European competitors subsequently began developing and presenting their own concepts.

“With the Opel Monza Concept, we make our automotive future tangible today,” says Opel CEO Neumann. And fueling curiosity about Rüsselsheim’s newest study ahead of its world premiere, he adds: “I can’t yet go into detail about how the Monza Concept’s interior design, and especially its trend-setting technologies, will change the driving experience. However, I can guarantee that viewed from any angle, its innovative body design and perfect proportions will turn heads. But they are just a visible expression of the great substance you will find under the bodywork. Everyone should visit us at the Opel stand at the IAA to get a look at Opel’s exciting future!”

!NEW! Opel Insignia Country Tourer: Ready for Adventure

• Top-of-the-line Sports Tourer with SUV character: Higher ground clearance and distinct protective body elements
• All-round grip: Advanced Opel all-wheel drive with variable torque delivery
• Strong pulling power: Three powerful turbo engines with up to 400 Nm torque
• Athletic appeal: Wide chrome grille and dual exhaust convey inherent power

          New Opel Insignia Country Tourer 4x4                 

The new Insignia family will soon be completed when the Opel Insignia Country Tourer makes its world premiere at the Frankfurt Motor Show in September. While its Sports Tourer sibling is an elegant family and business station wagon, the new Insignia Country Tourer expresses an innate desire for adventure. The athletic all-rounder, with its higher ground clearance, provides freedom beyond the constraints of city limits and asphalt roads. Defining features include protective under-body guards front and rear, combined with prominent wheel-arch and lower body cladding, all complemented by dual exhaust tailpipes. State-of-the-art all-wheel drive ensures grip and sure-footed handling in all driving conditions. It is teamed with powerful turbo engines such as a 184 kW/250 hp, 2.0-liter SIDI direct injection gasoline unit or a high-performance 2.0 BiTurbo CDTI – both generating impressive maximum torque of 400 Nm.

“The sensational success of our young Opel Mokka in the sub-compact SUV segment has demonstrated the popularity of vehicles with a crossover character,” says Duncan Aldred, Opel’s Acting Vice President Sales, Marketing and Aftersales. “With the new Insignia Country Tourer, we are now filling this sporty niche in the larger, mid-size class. It enables us to offer customers an alternative choice they’ve never had before at Opel. They can spice up the high quality of our brand flagship with a strong dose of adventure. At the same time, we’re confident the athletic appeal of the Insignia Country Tourer will also attract new customers to our brand.”

Opel’s all-wheel drive: Top-class technology in the mid-size segment

The electronically controlled 4x4 drivetrain incorporates a high-quality clutch, operating on Haldex principles, and an electronic limited-slip differential to ensure superb traction on both paved and unpaved surfaces. It constantly adapts to prevailing road conditions and varies torque distribution seamlessly from zero to 100 percent between the front and rear axles, as well as between the rear wheels. The main benefit is that all this happens even before a wheel starts to slip due to lack of traction, for example on wet or snow-covered roads. In combination with the electronically controlled FlexRide premium chassis, the all-wheel drive system sets standards in terms of reaction time and vehicle control.

When necessary, the clutch controlling drive distribution immediately sends more torque to the rear axle. The 4x4 system’s sensors constantly feed individual control modules with information on yaw rate, acceleration, steering angle, wheel speed, gas pedal position, engine speed and torque, and the front/rear power distribution is constantly adapted to the driving situation based on this information.

Ultimate stability and higher dynamics are ensured by the electronically-controlled rear-axle Limited Slip Differential (eLSD). The eLSD controls the distribution of torque between the rear wheels, transferring drive torque to the wheel that has the most grip. While offering better traction in slippery conditions, the sophisticated operation of this adaptive 4x4 drive system guarantees the highest levels of driver control and active safety in all situations. The Insignia Country Tourer can even provide propulsion when three wheels are on loose or slippery ground and only one rear wheel has traction.

The adaptive all-wheel system also supports drivers in non-critical situations. To reduce frictional losses and save fuel, the system automatically reverts to front-wheel drive whenever it senses that no adaptive interventions are required.

Turbo engine line-up: High torque on demand

Strong Opel turbo engine power is a perfect match for the Country Tourer’s state-of-the-art 4x4 drivetrain. The choice of three engines is led by a 184 kW/250 hp 2.0 SIDI (Spark Ignition Direct Injection) Turbo gasoline engine, delivering excellent performance. Generating an impressive 400 Nm of torque, this direct injection engine guarantees massive levels of traction.

The high-performance 143 kW/195 hp 2.0 BiTurbo CDTI diesel also packs 400 Nm of pulling power. Its sequential, two-phase turbocharger delivers an immediate throttle response for excellent traction. A 120 kW/163 hp, 2.0 CDTI (with single tailpipe) completes the engine line-up, giving access to 350 Nm of torque, which is raised briefly to 380 Nm on overboost.

Both the 2.0 SIDI Turbo and the 2.0 CDTI can be mated to a six-speed manual gearbox or a six-speed automatic transmission, while the 2.0 BiTurbo CDTI is available only with the latter. 

Off asphalt, the new Insignia Country Tourer also benefits from larger tires and a raised ride height, in addition to its four-wheel drive traction and lively responses. Ground clearance is 20 mm higher than standard, a major advantage when encountering loose, uneven terrain. So whether it’s used for a winter holiday on snowy roads, or simply when the going gets tough, the Insignia Country Tourer makes an ideal companion to easily handle unpaved roads and hilly terrain during work or leisure time. And in the city, its rugged looks also give it a strong stand-out appeal.

Well-toned: Athletic top station wagon with SUV character

The purposeful character of the new Insignia Country Tourer clearly signals its strong desire for freedom. With a signature Opel grille, now wider and deeper, the frontal styling has a distinct appeal. The grille’s horizontal chrome bar carries the central brand emblem and is sculpted in a wing form, with its outer tips turned upwards like winglets alongside the headlamps. A protective panel, in a gleaming silver finish, sweeps out from under the engine compartment; a prominent design theme echoed at the rear, where the paneling is framed by two gleaming exhaust tailpipes – all elements that simultaneously communicate a sense of power and protection.

Another characteristic feature is the anthracite-colored protective cladding on the side sills and lower body sections, which also gives the wheel-arches a more pronounced, flared look. The Insignia Country Tourer’s robust appearance gives it an assertive, self-confident persona. A final visual flourish is provided by distinctive front and rear light units. The tinted headlamps, with embedded chrome accents, exude high-quality and incorporate wing-style LED daytime running lights (depending on trim version). The graphic design theme is repeated at the rear, where LED brake and taillights also illuminate brightly. With its unique design features, the new Insignia Country Tourer successfully combines its roles as sporty adventurer and prestigious brand flagship.

Prices and equipment details will be announced on the start date for orders – at the world premiere on September 10 at the IAA in Frankfurt.