Opel Vectra

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Opel Vectra from Anar Mustafa
Manufacturer	General Motors
Also called	Chevrolet Vectra Holden Vectra Vauxhall Vectra
Production	1988–2009
Predecessor	Opel Ascona
Successor	Opel Insignia
Class	Large family car
Similar	Ford Mondeo Renault Laguna

Vectra A

Production	1988–1994
Body style	4-door sedan 5-door hatchback
Platform	FF/AWD GM2900
Related	Opel Calibra Saab 900 Vauxhall Cavalier

Vectra B

Production	1995–2002
Body style	4-door sedan 4-door station wagon 5-door hatchback
Platform	FF GM2900
Related	Saab 9-3 Saab 9-5 Saturn L-Series

Vectra C

Production	2002–2009
Body style	4-door sedan 4-door station wagon 5-door hatchback
Platform	FF Epsilon
Related	Cadillac BLS Chevrolet Malibu Fiat Croma Pontiac G6 Opel Signum Saab 9-3 Saturn Aura

The Opel Vectra is a large family car produced by Opel, the main European subsidiary of General Motors. In the United Kingdom, it is sold as a Vauxhall. It is also sold in Australasia as a Holden and in Latin America as a Chevrolet, although in Brazil, it has been replaced by a locally developed sedan based on the underpinnings of the Astra.

The car is produced at the Opel factory headquarters in Rüsselsheim, Germany.

1 Vectra A / Cavalier
2 Vectra B
3 Vectra C
4 Signum
5 Chevrolet Vectra and Holden Vectra
6 Name change
7 Trivia
8 External links

[edit] Vectra A / Cavalier

The first Vectra, known as the Vectra A, was introduced in 1988 as a sedan and hatchback, replacing the Opel Ascona C. A coupe based on the Vectra, called the Calibra, was also sold. Both cars were designed by then-Opel design chief Wayne Cherry. Vauxhall, the name for GM in the UK, did not use the Vectra name initially, calling the car the Cavalier until 1995.

Engines ranged initially from a 75 PS (55 kW) 1.4 L to a 130 PS (96 kW) 2.0 L Family II.

With the introduction of Euro I emissions regulations, the base model was replaced by a 1.6 L with the same output, while the top of the line was given to a 16-valve version of the 2.0 L engine, which powered the GT version and had 150 PS (110 kW). All-wheel drive versions were added to the lineup in 1990, and in 1993, the car received a limited edition turbocharged version with 204 PS (150 kW). The 1.4-litre engine was not available in all markets, and even then, it was only available in basic trims (Base/L in United Kingdom, LS/GL in Europe)

There where a choice of two Diesel engine’s one was an Isuzu 1.7 L Circle-L unit, in both naturally-aspirated and turbocharged form (1686cc), this one capable of achieving 82 PS (60 kW), and a GM designed 1.7 "low blow" turbo-diesel (1699cc), and naturally-aspirated diesel unit, delivering up to 76PS. Both units have a reputation for longevity, especially Isuzu developed units, which where also regarded as some of the most refined diesels available at the time.

The Vectra also received a refreshing in 1993. The Vectra gave birth to a coupé version, the Opel Calibra, which shared the Vectra's underpinnings, including the most powerful engines (115 PS and up) and transmissions.

In New Zealand, the Vectra A was offered initially as an Opel, but it wore Holden badges from 1994. It was not sold in Australia, where Holden instead offered a rebadged Toyota Camry called Apollo until 1997.

In Brazil, the Chevrolet-badged Vectra A was not introduced until 1993, when it replaced the Chevrolet Monza, a restyled version of the last Ascona.

[edit] Vectra B

The second model, the Vectra B, was introduced in 1995, and the model range included a station wagon (estate) version for the first time. This model replaced the Vauxhall Cavalier in the UK, and the Holden Apollo in Australia. In 1998, Holden began assembly of the Vectra for export to other right-hand drive markets in the region, although this was aversely affected by the Asian economic crisis, and ended in 2001.

Engines started from the 75 PS (55 kW) 1.6 L, Family 1 but eventually the 8-valve engines were all replaced by 16-valve powerplants. The 2.0 L Family II engine, with 136 PS (100 kW) was developed as a basis for touring car racing, but the top of the line was a 2.5 L V6 with 170 PS (125 kW). Diesel power came once again from Isuzu, but now featured direct injection and a 16-valve head.

In 1999 the Vectra was updated, receiving a mildly modified body (that can be identified by the single piece headlight units and body-coloured bumpers) together with somewhat improved handling characteristics and better equipment. For the first time the Vectra also received an estate car version, particularly missed by the British public, as the Ascona-based Cavalier featured an estate body that was not retained for the Vectra-based Cavalier.

Sporting limited edition models included the touring car championship inspired i500, Super Touring and GSi. The first model was developed in Germany by Opel Motorsport, with the V6 engine's power increased to 195 PS (143 kW), and the other two were created in Milton Keynes by Motor Sport Developments, the team that run the Vectras in the BTCC. Only 3900 GSi models were ever produced, mostly in saloon and hatchback guise. With only 317 estate versions produced during this time, they became one of the rarest production Vauxhalls ever.

A related model sold in the United States was the Saturn L-Series, introduced in 2000 but dropped from the lineup in 2005. It was replaced by the 2007 Saturn Aura, which is based on the current Vectra.

[edit] Vectra C

Introduced in the summer of 2002, the current model, the Vectra C, is built in Germany, Belgium, and the United Kingdom, and is based on the GM Epsilon platform. The Vectra is not assembled in Egypt anymore but currently Vectra C is on sale in only one version which is 1.6 L manual transmission and is sold for L.E 160,000. It is available as a four-door saloon, while the five-door hatchback, known as the Vectra GTS, is meant to recall cult models from Opel in the past such as the Commodore GTE of the 1970s.

The engine range was substantially modified to account for an increased curb weight. While a 122 PS (90 kW) 1.8 Family 1 Ecotec engine was the base model, a 2.0 L turbocharged Family II engine with 175 PS (129 kW) and a new 3.2 L V6, with 211 PS (155 kW) was also offered. Diesel power, now important for commercial success in Europe, was first provided by Isuzu (a 3.0 L V6 is still retained), but the four-cylinder diesel engines were replaced by Ecotec CDTI (Fiat-designed MultiJet) units with 1.9 L, capable of 150 PS (110 kW), in 2004.

The Vectra received a facelift near the end of 2005, and the V6 engine was replaced by an Australian-built 2.8 V6 Turbo unit, similar to the one used in the Saab 9-3. More importantly, Holden introduced, for the first time, an OPC (VXR in the UK) version the Vectra, available only in the hatchback and estate bodies. Power on the Saab V6 Turbo was increased to 255 PS (188 kW), and maximum speed just falls short of 250 km/h (155 mph).

In the UK, the hatchback is not considered a specialty model. In Australasia, the rebadged Holden Vectra ZC is considered more upmarket, though not to the same extent as in Europe. A station wagon version, called the Caravan in Germany, was released in 2003.

Sales of the Vauxhall Vectra MK2 in Britain have not been as strong as its predecessor's. For much of its production life, the original Vectra was the fourth best selling car in the country, yet the current model has never come higher than eleventh in the country's car sales charts, though it is still the second best selling car in its sector behind the Ford Mondeo.

[edit] Signum

Based partly on the Vectra C, the Opel Signum is an 'executive hatchback' with a completely different layout in the rear, along with a few more refinements than the Vectra C.

[edit] Chevrolet Vectra and Holden Vectra

While the Vectra C is sold in Mexico and Chile as a Chevrolet, it is not marketed in Brazil, where a new, locally designed Vectra sedan, based on the current Astra was released in October 2005. This model replaced the Vectra B, which was still available in Brazil until that date. This new model will also be sold in Eastern Europe as Opel Astra and Mexico as the Astra Maxx.

Similarly, in Australia (and possibly New Zealand), the European-sourced Vectra is to be dropped and replaced with the Holden Epica, a rebadged Daewoo Tosca in December 2006. The Australian Vectras didn't get the late 2005 facelift, the 2006 models still get the original Vectra C front.

[edit] Name change

The British counterpart of Opel, Vauxhall Motors, is reportedly changing the name of the Vectra to Insignia for the 2008 model year [1]. This would come in time for the debut of the next-generation Vectra/Insignia, which showed up in concept form (the Opel GTC) at the Geneva Auto Show in 2007, and be on sale in 2008. It is already confirmed that It will debut at the London Motor Show in July 2008.

[edit] Trivia

Famous owners of the first generation (Cavalier) models include Welsh rap group Goldie Looking Chain. Their Burberry painted model often accompanies them to live performances!
A burning Cavalier is used as a makeshift road blockade in the 2006 film Children of Men.
It is very much disliked by Top Gear co-host Jeremy Clarkson. In an episode, he showed he would go to the edge of the solar system to avoid a Vectra, specifically a Vectra C, as he prefers the Honda Accord, Ford Mondeo and Mazda 6 as his favourites. In his book 'Born To Be Riled' he misses almost no opportunity to criticise it. However, his criticism had little effect on car buyers, as the Vectra continues to be a strong seller.