!NEW! Opel Insignia Now with New Economy Diesels, IntelliLink with Apple CarPlay Integration and Opel OnStar

• Whisper diesel for flagship: Two 1.6 CDTI units from newest generation
• Personal connectivity and service assistant: Opel OnStar now available to order
• Next infotainment level: Navi 900 IntelliLink with Apple CarPlay integration

Opel Insignia can now be ordered with 1.6 liter whisper diesels with 88 kW/120 hp and 100 kW/136 hp

More modern, powerful and totally connected – the Opel Insignia now comes with groundbreaking enhancements under the hood and in the interior. The new mid-size turbo diesel engines are now available in the Opel flagship for the first time. The 1.6 CDTI whisper diesel comes in two output versions providing powerful drive with economical consumption. Opel’s new infotainment generation guarantees top entertainment and optimum connectivity. The second-generation Navi 900 IntelliLink uses Apple CarPlay to bring the iPhone world into the car. Opel OnStar is also on board. The new personal connectivity and service assistant offers customers a wide range of safety and comfort services around the clock.  

Downsizing with driving fun guarantee: 1.6 CDTI whisper diesel for Opel Insignia

Whisper diesel for Opel flagship: The 1.6 liter diesels with 88 kW/120 PS and 100 kW/136 PS will replace their 2.0-liter counterparts in the Opel Insignia.

Both versions of Opel’s new 1.6 liter whisper diesel now also show in the brand’s flagship that small-displacement engines with high torque and power leave nothing to be desired. The 88 kW/120 hp and 100 kW/136 hp units replace their 2.0 liter counterparts and were developed to deliver exemplary responsiveness and low consumption with exceptional running smoothness. Together with six-speed manual transmission and the Start/Stop system, the 88 kW/120 hp turbo diesel accelerates from zero to 100 km/h in 11.9 seconds, matching its predecessor. For the sprint from 80 to 120 km/h in fifth gear, it needs just 10.4 seconds, making it more than two seconds faster than its forerunner. Its moderate consumption of up to 3.9 liters per 100 kilometers is equivalent to CO2 emissions of 104 grams per kilometer (with low-rolling-resistance tires in the combined cycle). The turbo diesel with 100 kW/136 hp reduces fuel consumption by another 0.1 liters down to 3.8 liters per 100 kilometers. This brings CO2 emissions to an exemplary 99 grams per kilometer, undercutting the 100 gram limit so important for many drivers and fleets. Not one to make compromises, the engine adds five km/h to its predecessor’s top speed, reaching a maximum of 210 km/h. The Insignia sedan accelerates from zero to 100 in just 10.9 seconds and from 80 to 120 km/h in 10.4 seconds, quietly and comfortably with superb refinement. Both whisper diesel versions offer powerful 320 Nm of torque available from 2,000 rpm and can be ordered for entry-level prices of 26,670 and 28,070 euros (RRP incl. VAT in Germany) respectively.

Opel OnStar and IntelliLink with Apple CarPlay: How connectivity works today

The Opel Insignia not only offers a lot of driving fun with the new whisper diesel engines under its hood, top entertainment, all-round connectivity and highest safety are also ensured inside the cabin – with Opel OnStar and the new IntelliLink generation including Apple CarPlay integration.

The personal Connectivity und Service Assistant Opel OnStar is already on board as standard from the Edition trim level – customers can use all services free of charge for the first 12 months after activation. The extensive service offer includes 24-hour Automatic Crash Response, Stolen Vehicle Assistance, Roadside Assistance, Vehicle Diagnostics on important operating data and measurements as well as the remote control of various vehicle functions via Smartphone App. At the same time, Opel OnStar turns the Insignia into a powerful, mobile Wi-Fi Hotspot with stable internet connection. Up to seven devices can be connected to the system simultaneously – practical on journeys with family or when the Insignia serves as a mobile office.

Phone integration: For the first time, iPhone functions can be integrated via Apple CarPlay with the new Navi 900 IntelliLink

In addition, the next generation of Opel infotainment systems brings the world of smartphones into the car even more quickly and comprehensively. For the first time, iPhone functions can be integrated via Apple CarPlay with the new Navi 900 IntelliLink. This guarantees fast access to many entertainment apps for music and news. Display and operation are via the eight-inch color touchscreen. IntelliLink also enables audio streaming, having incoming SMS read aloud and voice control as well as watching films and videos – the former, of course, only when the car is stationary. The navigation system also features maps of more than 30 European countries; it can be displayed two or three-dimensionally according to personal preference and be controlled by voice command.

!NEW! Triple Victory for Opel at Ypres Rallye

• Opel teams dominate fourth round of FIA ERC Junior
• Three ADAM R2 winners – Aleks Zawada ahead of Marijan Griebel and Julius Tannert
• Bad luck costs Opel works drivers Griebel and Bergkvist near certain victory

Marijan Griebel, Stefan Clemens, Cathy Derousseaux, Aleks Zawada, Julius Tannert and Jennifer Thielen (from left to right) celebrate the Opel one-two-three at the Ypres Rallye.

Opel reinforced its strong position in the FIA ERC Junior at the Kenotek Ypres Rallye in West Flanders, Belgium. Pole Aleks Zawada and his French co-driver Cathy Derousseaux celebrated their first victory in their customer Opel ADAM R2, ahead of German Opel works drivers Marijan Griebel/Stefan Clemens from the ADAC Opel Rallye Junior Team and Julius Tannert and his Luxembourgian co-driver Jennifer Thielen in another customer Opel ADAM R2. Three of this year‘s four season victories in the FIA ERC Junior have now gone to the brand with the blitz!

“A fantastic day, a fantastic car, a fantastic rallye,” said an elated Zawada, who seemed to be out of the running for victory at the beginning of the second day after his 190 hp front-wheel drive car was stuck in a ditch for a minute after a harmless spin. But the Polish-French team did not give up, fought their way back and ultimately also benefitted from their competitors’ back luck. “Luck also plays a role, and the score is settled at the very end,” said Zawada. “I am really sorry for Emil and Marijan. Both deserved to win. But I am overjoyed that our efforts resulted in victory.”

The Opel works drivers Emil Bergkvist and Marijan Griebel battled for the lead from the first kilometer before both were impeded by mishaps. First Bergkvist had to retire his Opel ADAM R2 in the twelfth of seventeen stages with an engine problem. And then Griebel, who went into the last stage with a 36-second lead, suffered a left rear puncture shortly before the finish line. The 26-year-old from Hahnweiler still managed to take his Opel ADAM R2 across the finish line on one rim, but the time loss of nearly one minute sent him and his co-driver Stefan Clemens (28, from Thailen) to second place behind Zawada.

Bad luck strikes: Opel factory driver Marijan Griebel was leading until a damaged tire on the last stage of the Ypres Rallye saw him drop to second.

Griebel was understandably frustrated: “After a few days, I’ll probably be able to be pleased with our good performance and Opel Motorsport’s superior showing in this magnificent setting in front of thousands of excited spectators here in Ypres. But right now disappointment is the overwhelming feeling. Opel’s triple victory clearly proves that especially on asphalt, ADAM R2 currently sets the benchmark in its class. So we’re going into the last two FIA ERC Junior events in Estonia and the Czech Republic with a lot of self-confidence.”

Lead defending: Opel factory driver Emil Bergkvist defended first place in the FIA ERC Junior despite having to retire from the Ypres Rallye.

Swede Bergkvist (21, from Torsaker), who together with his co-driver Joakim Sjöberg (29, from Ösmo) won the first two FIA ERC Junior rounds in Latvia and Ireland, was disappointed but composed. “We had absolutely everything we needed to win here today. But things like this happen in motorsports, and there is no one I can blame for it. To be honest, I’d rather fight to win and have to pull out because of bad luck than be too slow and finish fourth. And we still have the best shot at the FIA ERC Junior championship.”

Indeed, the ADAC Opel Rallye Junior Team’s position in the FIA ERC Junior is still excellent. As only four of six rallye results are taken into consideration for the final points tally, Bergkvist’s withdrawal in Ypres could be a void result. And as his two toughest pursuers also failed to finish the race, he even increased his lead in the ranking after four rounds by two to 26 points. Griebel’s second-place finish put him in third place in the overall standings. He is currently 43 points behind his team colleague Bergkvist.

Opel Motorsport Director Jörg Schrott commented on his charges’ results with mixed feelings: “Today two hearts beat in my chest. We celebrated a fantastic result for Opel that proves that our customer ADAM R2s are just as powerful as both works cars. I really feel for Emil and Marijan. Both gave a fantastic performance that deserved a victory. Marijan really had everything under control until the last stage. But I’m also happy for Aleks and Julius, who showed that they are capable of keeping up with the fast pace at the top of the FIA ERC Junior. Overall the performance of the Opel ADAM R2 was extremely good. And we are of course happy to go into the races in Estonia and the Czech Republic knowing this.”

!NEW! Opel CarUnity: Launch of Innovative Opel Carsharing Concept

• “Better off sharing” – New Opel carsharing community CarUnity for everyone
• Free app now available for download
• CarUnity important part of Opel mobility services
• Cooperation with ridesharing platform flinc to be intensified

“Better off sharing“: Opel CMO Tina Müller launched Opel’s new carsharing community CarUnity today.

“Better off sharing” („Wer teilt, fährt besser“) – is the motto of Opel’s new carsharing community CarUnity. The innovative carsharing concept launched by the Rüsselsheim automaker in Germany appeals both to vehicle owners and to vehicle users. CarUnity enables them to offer their own car for rental or to rent a car of their choice quickly, easily and flexibly. It does not matter if the car is an Opel or a different brand. From today, the CarUnity app can be downloaded for free from the Apple App Store and Google Play. 

Combining forces: Opel CMO Tina Müller (left) and campaign ambassador Bettina Zimmermann present the new CarUnity app.

“We are taking a new approach with CarUnity. Opel is the first automaker to offer carsharing for everyone. CarUnity enables individual mobility everywhere in Germany – at any time and with greatest flexibility”, explains Chief Marketing Officer Tina Müller. “People in Germany can offer their car for rental or rent a car with the free app. Private carsharing fits to our brand – after all, approachable is one of our brand values.“  

The CarUnity app can be downloaded for free from the Apple App Store and Google Play.

Carsharing à la Opel has many advantages: car owners all over Germany can earn money with their cars and car renters can use cars in their vicinity for reasonable prices. And with CarUnity, the use of existing cars will be increased, which conserves resources. Fuel costs are covered by the renter. “The slogan ‘Better off sharing’ says it all”, says Dr. Jan Wergin, who as Director Opel Community Carsharing masterminded the development of CarUnity: “Everyone involved benefits from this clever carsharing idea.”

Opel CMO Tina Müller and Dr. Jan Wergin, Director Opel Community Carsharing, presented Opel’s innovative carsharing community “CarUnity” today.

Thanks to the innovative app, car owners can decide who may rent their car. CarUnity users can, for example, offer their car only to their Facebook friends or to people in their personal CarUnity network. The entire transaction takes only a few seconds with the user-friendly app.

Insurance is of course provided for the rental cars. The Opel Bank GmbH developed a comprehensive package for this, and the insurance coverage itself is provided by R+V Allgemeine Versicherung AG.

Marketing for CarUnity is initially focused on the Rhine-Main region and includes cooperation with the radio station FFH, billboards at busy traffic hubs such as main railway stations as well as communication on social media networks. Many private individuals, Opel employees and dealers have already made their cars available to the community for the premiere of CarUnity. Some automotive treasures from Opel Classic can also be found on CarUnity.

Expanding the portfolio of mobility services is an important element of Opel’s plan for the future. “With CarUnity, early on we introduce young people who want to be mobile but do not have their own car to the Opel brand,” says Tina Müller. “In the future it will be increasingly important to develop from a product manufacturer to a mobility service provider with an outstanding network. CarUnity and our new personal connectivity and service assistant Opel OnStar will play an important role in digitalizing the Opel brand.”

Against the background of the increasing importance of mobility services, Opel also announced closer cooperation with the ridesharing platform flinc. From 2016, flinc will provide the technical platform so that ridesharing can also be offered via the car-sharing app. “Just like for CarUnity, we will go our very own way,” explains Jan Wergin. Further details will be announced at a later date.

Just a few months ago, Opel started a successful cooperation with flinc for all employees at the headquarters in Rüsselsheim. “flinc’s technology has the potential to play an important role in Opel’s focus on expanding mobility services for customers throughout Europe,” says Tina Müller.