Opel Omega

The Opel Omega was an executive car marketed by the German automaker Opel between 1986 and 2003 in two generations, both manufactured at Opel's Rüsselsheim, Germany plant. The first generation, the Omega A (1986–1993), superseded the Opel Rekord, was voted European Car of the Year for 1987, and was available as a saloon or estate. The second generation, the Omega B, was manufactured from 1993-2003.

Rebadged variants of the Omega were marketed worldwide, including in North America as the Cadillac Catera, in Great Britain as the Vauxhall Carlton and South America as the Chevrolet Omega. Re-engineered versions were manufactured in Australia since 1997 and marketed as the Holden Commodore or Holden Calais, which were also exported to South America as the Chevrolet Omega from 1998.

Production of the Omega ended in 2003 without a direct replacement, except for the Australian re-engineered version that carried on until 2006.

Omega A

Development

The original Omega went into production in September 1986, as a replacement for the Opel Rekord, which had been in production since 1978. Sales began in November. The body was designed as an evolution of the previous Opel design theme engineered more towards aerodynamics in view of higher fuel prices and the general drive towards more fuel efficiency. The result was a remarkable drag coefficient of 0.28 (0.32 for the Caravan). The whole development program cost 2 Billion Deutschmark.

It was elected European Car of the Year for 1987.^[1]

Compared to the Rekord, the Omega featured many modern technological advances, which were new to Opel in general, if not to the volume segment European automotive market. These included electronic engine management, ABS, on-board computer (which displayed parameters such as momentary fuel consumption or average speed), air-conditioned glove compartment and even the then-fashionable LCD instrument cluster (available in CD version from 1987 but dropped in 1991). More importantly, the Omega came with a self-diagnose system (which is now a standard feature in present-day cars), whose output could be read by appropriately equipped authorized service stations.

Engines

All of the Opel Omega models used a longitudinally-mounted engine with a rear-wheel drive setup, with a five-speed manual transmission or four-speed automatic transmission. The engine range consisted of 1.8 L, 2.0 L and 2.4 L four-cylinder units (2.0 L and 2.3 L Diesel, 2.3 L turbodiesel) to 2.6 L, 3.0 L, 3.0 L-24v six-cylinder units. The four-cylinder petrol engines were all based on the GM Family II design, whilst the six-cylinder units were based on the older Opel CIH (Cam In Head) family.

In Brazil, car was sold as Chevrolet Omega and was powered by 2.0 L I4 or 3.0 L I6 Opel engines until 1994. Since discontinuation of Omega A in Germany, General Motors do Brasil needed a new engines to continue production. The 2.0 L I4 was replaced by 2.2 L I4 engine (116 PS (85 kW; 114 hp), 197 N·m (145 lb·ft)), and the 3.0 L I6 was replaced by 4.1 L (250ci) Chevrolet Straight-6 engine (168 PS (124 kW; 166 hp), 285 N·m (210 lb·ft)), which was tuned by Lotus and equipped with multiport fuel injection. Chevrolet Omega was produced until 1998.^[2][3][4]

Notable trim levels and special variants

The four basic trim levels were LS, GL, GLS and CD (from least to most expensive). The base LS was clearly intended for the fleet market, with the sedan not available to individual customers in some markets. The LS Caravan was also available as a panel van with rear side windows covered with body-colored foil rather than replaced by solid panels.

For the 1991 year, the Omega A was afforded a facelift, which encompassed slight alterations to front and rear fascias, as well as interior materials and additional sound dampening. The until-then base 1.8 L engine was dropped. The LS and GLS trim levels were also dropped, while the CD was joined by Club and CD Diamant.

Omega Diamant

This options package was introduced in 1988 and could be added onto the GLS, LS and CD trim version. It included alloy wheels, metallic paint, tinted windows, stereo with cassette player, various leather trim in the interior, as well as a painted grille and door mirrors. It sold well and the package was kept after the facelift and a similar system with the same name was used for the Omega B.^[6]

Omega 3000 / Carlton GSi 3000

The Omega 3000 was the sports version of the Omega A model range. It featured a straight-6, 3.0 litre, 12-valve engine, which produced 177 bhp (132 kW; 179 PS) . Other modifications from the base model included a lowered suspension and limited slip differential, as well as different fascias and a rear spoiler. The car had a top speed of 240 km/h (149 mph), and accelerated from 0–100 km/h in 8.8 seconds.

In 1989, the Omega 3000 was upgraded. The engine now had 24 valves, two overhead camshafts, and a variable intake manifold (Opel Dual Ram system). It also used a more advanced engine control unit. Power increased to 204 bhp (152 kW; 207 PS) , which increased top speed to 270 km/h (168 mph), and 0–100 km/h time dropped to 7.6 seconds. In countries where the car was sold as a Vauxhall, the Omega 3000 was called the Carlton GSi 3000.

Omega Evolution 500

This was limited series model produced together with Irmscher. It was built so Opel could compete in the DTM. The car had a 3 litre straight-6 producing 230 bhp (172 kW; 233 PS) . The car accelerated from 0–100 km/h in 7.5 seconds and had a top speed of 249 km/h (155 mph). The racing version used on the track had 380 bhp (283 kW; 385 PS), accelerated to 100 km/h (62 mph) in about 5 seconds, and could reach nearly 300 km/h (186 mph) . It did not achieve great success however.^[6]

Lotus Omega/Carlton

In 1989, a high performance version built in cooperation with Lotus was introduced. The car was named the Lotus Omega or Lotus Carlton, depending on whether the base car was sold as an Opel Omega or Vauxhall Carlton respectively. The car was built using a great variety of parts from other GM suppliers and car manufacturers. The engine was a 3,0 litre 24 valve item, and this was handed to Lotus for the tuneup. Lotus added a hardened and larger crankshaft, giving the engine its total size of 3,6 litres. Two Garrett T25 turbochargers were installed, along with a watercooled intercooler. The engine management was also changed and the ignition changed to an AC Delco type (same system as the Lotus Esprit uses). The result was a 377 bhp (281 kW; 382 PS) performance engine. The Omega also got a bigger differential from a Holden car with a 45% LSD, and the gearbox was changed to the 6-speed manual ZF gearbox from the Corvette ZR1. The tyres were custom made by Goodyear and can be recognized by the small Greek letter Ω (Omega) on the side. This was required as this car could reach 280 to 300 km/h (186 mph). This was a fact not popular at the time, as most of the other German car manufacturers that produced fast and powerful cars had already begun putting in speed limiters to limit their cars to 250 km/h (155 mph). The 1,663 kg (3,666 lb) car accelerated from 0 to 100 km/h (0 to 60 mph) in 5.3 seconds, 0 to 160 km/h (0 to 100 mph) in 11.5 seconds.^[7][8]

Omega B

The 1994 Omega B was an all-new car with a modern exterior design but a traditional rear-wheel drive chassis. The engine range was all-new.

This was 1995 Semperit Irish Car of the Year in Ireland.

Engines

^[9]

Omega B FL

The Omega B FL replaced the previous model in Autumn 1999. There weren't any significant changes to the bodywork, but many details were revised.

Changes outside:

• hood (grill now integrated with hood)
• tail lights
• side mirrors
• new design of alloy wheels

Changes inside:

• brand new central console with GPS, air conditioning controls
• ESP

Engines

Late in 1999, the Omega received a facelift and a 2.2 L 16-valve engine was added to the range as an eventual replacement for the 2.0 L.

The following year, a 3.2 L V6 engine replaced the 3.0 L V6 unit, and a 2.6 L V6 engine replaced the 2.5 L V6 unit. Year 2001 brought also brand new diesel 2.5 DTI engine from BMW, with "Common Rail" system.

Omega V8 (prototypes)

Opel was aiming to compete with BMW 5 and Mercedes E class, deciding of putting the V8 engine into at the time flagship model Opel Omega. There were prototypes of sedan and station wagon version (equipped with multimedia systems, and named V8.com).

Omega V8.com

The V8.com concept car project was meant to be a "mobile office" it was built on Omega station wagon which was elongated by 130mm, to provide more space for the passengers and additional equipment; containing separate 9.5 inch LCD screens for all passengers, internet access and integrated video conference mobile phone system with separate cameras and microphones providing passengers hands-free operation. Additionally the car was equipped with Xenon headlights, and Advanced Frontlighting System (AFS), automatically adjuststable to the road conditions.

Hence the name it was powered by a GM LS1 V8 engine.

The car debuted at Frankfurt Motor Show in 1999.^[10][11]

Omega V8

Opel was planning to upgrade its flagship Omega model with powerful GM LS1 V8 engine used in Chevrolet Corvette.

Unlike V8.com which was the concept car, this model was intended to go into the serial production.

Omega V8 was shown publicly for the first time at 70th Geneva Motor Show (March 2–12, 2000). The V8-engined version was to be put on sale autumn 2000.^[12]

The reasons for cancelling production plans were concerns about whether the engine was vollgasfest (German, "Full throttle resistant") - the engine might overheat and be damaged if driven flat out on the Autobahn for long periods of time, although Holden equipped its Commodore (which was re-engineered Omega for Australian market) with the same engine.^[13]

Worldwide markets

• In the United Kingdom, the Omega A was marketed as the second generation Vauxhall Carlton (the first generation Vauxhall Carlton having been a rebadged Opel Rekord) E2, and the Omega B generation as Vauxhall Omega.

• In Brazil, The Omega was built and marketed as a Chevrolet Omega and Suprema (Caravan), but this name is now used for imported Holden Commodores.

• In North America, a badge engineered version of the Omega B and Omega B FL was marketed as the Cadillac Catera.

• In Australia, variants of the Opel Omega was marketed as the Holden VN Commodore, Holden VP Commodore, Holden VT Commodore, Holden VX Commodore, Holden VY Commodore and Holden VZ Commodore — based on Omega (first, and then second generation), on enlarged platform.

End of the Omega

The Opel Omega proved to be a successful car in the UK^[14] despite being slated in many reviews for heavy depreciation^[15] and unreliability.^[16][17] In the UK, the Omega never recovered from its reputation as a popular unmarked police car, used due to its powerful V6 engine, large rear seats and strong brakes. Omegas were a regular sight on UK roads sporting police livery and as covert traffic surveillance cars. ^[18] Never-the-less just four years after introduction of its latest incarnation - Omega B FL, and 17 years since introduction of Omega A, production of this model ceased without a successor. On 25 June 2003, the last Omega rolled out of the factory in Rüsselsheim^[19] - it was a silver 3.2 L V6 Omega B FL, number 797,011.

This article incorporates information from the equivalent article on the German Wikipedia.

References

External links

• Autobahnstormers - V-platform Vauxhall/Opel enthusiasts' site
• Senatorman's page describing the full history of the Omega B (German)
• Total Carlton - Vauxhall Carlton/Opel Omega A Enthusiasts' site
• Racing and Waiting - Vauxhall Omega Buyers Guide