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World Premiere for New Edition Opel Vivaro at Commercial Vehicle IAA in Hanover


September 2006
 Filed under: OPEL Car News | OPEL Headlines

* Vivaro: New, more powerful engines, Euro 4 and two dropside versions
* Opel Movano: New, more powerful engines and all versions now available with ESP Plus
* GM subsidiary Allison puts groundbreaking hybrid technology in European buses

Rüsselsheim (2006-09-19) -- Opel presents the new editions of the Vivaro and Movano to the public for the first time at the Commercial Vehicle IAA in Hanover (Hall 12, Stand C 12, September 21 – 28) and displays its updated van program including the new AstraVan. The Vivaro enters the market with a fresh look, new, more powerful engines (all comply with Euro 4 emissions standard), improved technology, two new dropside variants, as well as an extended equipment range. The Movano also features new, more powerful engines and is now also available with ESP Plus. The new editions have been available to order since summer; the Vivaro is at dealerships from October and the Movano will follow in November. W ith these new models, Opel strengthens its commitment to the growing commercial vehicle market in the up to 3.5-ton gross weight segment. Together with its British sister brand Vauxhall, Opel more than doubled commercial vehicle sales in Western and Central Europe from 2001 to 2005, from around 80,000 to over 180,000 units. This impressive success makes the company the fastest-growing commercial vehicle manufacturer in Europe.

Opel/2007/Vivaro/Opel_Vivaro_front.jpg

A further highlight in Hanover: GM subsidiary Allison Transmission (Stand G 52) presents the two-mode hybrid propulsion system that has been in use in North American transit buses since 2004 and will now be delivered to bus manufacturers in Europe.

World premiere: New Opel Vivaro

Opel has maintained the Vivaro’s successful basic concept with its characteristic Jumbo roof and developed it further. The newly designed headlamps and chrome strip with Opel logo on the radiator grille clearly identify the Vivaro as a member of the Opel family, while tail lights with a new look round off its attractive design. The new Vivaro is also enhanced with numerous technical modifications. The completely revised engine range consists of three common-rail turbo-diesels and one 2.0-liter gasoline engine, which all meet the Euro 4 emissions standard. The previous best-selling 1.9-liter engines are replaced by two new 2.0-liter CDTI (66 kW/90 hp and 84 kW/114 hp) units. They offer higher performance and up to 26 percent more propulsion power than their predecessors, with practically the same fuel consumption. The 2.5 CDTI now produces 107 kW/146 hp and 320 Nm, 10 hp and 10 Nm more than before. The top-of-the-line engine comes with a maintenance-free diesel particulate filter as standard from October 2006, and is available with an optional automated Tecshift six-speed manual transmission, which can help save up to six percent fuel. The standard transmission for all engines is the enhanced six-speed manual gearbox.

The new Vivaro generation is available in an even greater number of variants: the previous range – Combi, Tour, Life and panel van – is expanded by two dropside variants. The low-deck version is especially suited for transporting heavy and bulky goods as it has a load-area height of only 640 millimeters – a unique feature in this segment. An important innovation for the Combi: the model can now also be ordered with two sliding doors. Opel has made its bestseller even more attractive with an enhanced interior, new standard safety elements such as brake assist, as well as additional comfort and styling options that are especially interesting for the Vivaro’s passenger car variants.

Public debut: New Opel Movano

The new Movano edition is presented with three new, more powerful 2.5‑liter common-rail turbo-diesel engines (74 kW/100 hp to 107 kW/146 hp). The standard six-speed manual transmission handles this power just as smoothly as the optional automated Tecshift counterpart, which is initially offered for the 100 hp and 120 hp engines. The maintenance-free diesel particulate filter is optional with the 120 hp, 2.5 CDTI and comes standard with the 146 hp model.

A new safety option for the panel van and Combi is Electronic Stability Program ESP Plus, which can brake up to three wheels to stabilize the vehicle in critical situations. Additional new storage possibilities and fittings in the interior ensure even more versatility and comfort.

Wide range of powerful commercial vehicle models

Opel has established itself as one of the major players in the commercial vehicle market and offers more products and services than ever before. Alongside new editions of the spacious Vivaro and Movano, Opel offers a range of compact vans. In addition to the versatile small delivery van Combo, CorsaVan and AstraVan are also available in some European countries. The product range is expanded even further by conversions and special-purpose vehicles, produced by conversion specialists Opel Special Vehicles GmbH (OSV), or renowned vehicle converters. The diversity and variability of all the models enables Opel to offer an ideal solution for any transport need requiring a vehicle up to 3.5 tons gross weight. All Opel commercial vehicle engines – diesel, gasoline and the Combo’s particularly economical and environmentally friendly 1.6 CNG ( Compressed Natural Gas) unit – are based on the ECOTEC concept, which ensures high performance and torque with low fuel consumption, and thus favorable fleet costs.

GM brings groundbreaking two-mode hybrid propulsion system to Europe
At the IAA, GM subsidiary Allison Transmission presents the two-mode hybrid system, which is now also available for passenger transport in Europe. The system has been proving itself in practice since 2004 in the USA and Canada, where more than 500 transit buses already feature this environmentally friendly, fuel-saving GM hybrid propulsion. The system integrates conventional automatic transmission technology with a patented hybrid-electric drive system into the world's first two-mode full hybrid. Based on an electrically controlled, stepless transmission (EVT – Electric Continuously Variable Transmission), it is known as a two-mode hybrid system for its two operating modes – one optimized for low speeds, the other for fast driving. This propulsion concept forms the basis for the GM-BMW-DaimlerChrysler collaboration with the aim of quickly developing a hybrid system for passenger cars to production maturity. The first GM production vehicle with two-mode hybrid propulsion will be the Chevrolet Tahoe SUV, which will be launched on the US market in 2007.


Source: Opel

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