irishcar.com - New Opel Vectra first view

Opel’s stylish new Vectra is now roomier, safer and more comfortable, opening a new chapter in its history in the midsize market segment, which now accounts for one in every four cars sold in Ireland.

Following investments of 750m, the new Vectra is produced in Opel’s massively extended Russelsheim factory which is now the most modern car and van manufacturing plant in the world.

The starting price for the 1.8-litre Club version is 23,950 euros, which represents only a marginal price increase on the outgoing equivalent model, according to Iede Aukema, Opel Ireland’s Managing Director.

Visually, it is strong and bold-looking outside, in many respects taking on aspects of the larger Omega. It is cheerful inside, thanks in part to the use of less gloomy plastics than often used by Opel, with lots of light grays and shiny alumininised touches which include a wide strip along the dash and down the sides of the car.

The car has a high scuttle line and I found the top of the dash a bit plain. However the main action was below with the four big air vents and instruments. Kind of a slabbed look to the centre console, very Germanic in looks, and a bit futuristic looking in some respects. The instruments are almost discreet, with their information overlaid on the same colour as the rest of the dashboard.

I drove the 1.8-litre Comfort version on a trip through Wicklow Town and out the scenic route as far as Brittas Bay. The car handled beautifully along this narrow winding road, as it did on the main road back to Wicklow Town. Steering was just right for me, as were the brake and foot pedals. There is adequate power from this entry-level engine, and the Vectra feels a very strong and safe car.

The indicator stalk takes some getting used to, as it doesn’t have definite ‘clicks’ to settle into a particular direction slot. Rather it is ‘nudged’ in the required direction. If it doesn’t self-cancel, it is possible to ‘over-nudge’ it back and begin indicating the other way. The ‘clicker’ sound indicator could be louder.

The new Vectra is available first as a four-door saloon with four-cylinder 16 valve ECOTEC engines, ranging in power output from 122hp to 147hp petrol and with a pair of 100hp and 125hp diesels.

Five-speed automatic transmission with ‘Active Select’ function is available for the first time on the New Vectra.

The coupé-style Vectra GTS, the second model in the new Vectra range, takes to the Irish roads in the Autumn. The top-of-the-range 3.2 V6 ECOTEC engine with 211hp will be available exclusively in the Vectra GTS, and it will be the fastest Opel volume production car of all time. A 2.0-litre engine will be introduced in early 2003.

The Vectra GTS is targeted at younger buyers than the saloon and Opel hopes it will win over new customers to the marque.

Opel’s worldwide success in this segment dates back to 1970, and includes three generations of the Ascona (4.4 million units) and two of the Vectra (4.5 million). The Vectra was not only the national best-seller in its class in many countries, but also led the total European midsize segment from 1996 to 1998.

The all-new Vectra features an all-new integrated electronics system, intelligent Electronic Climate Control with air quality sensor, with specification levels that bring a wide range of communication and entertainment systems, 8-way adjustable front seats, a tyre-pressure monitoring system, a rain sensor and ‘Park Pilot’.

There are also, as standard, front, side, and full-size curtain head airbags, Opel’s patented Pedal Release System, and improved Active Head Restraints for protection from whiplash injuries.

The full price range so far is (all 4-door) Club1.8 XE 23,950 euros; Club 2.0 DTH 25,550; Comfort 1.8 XE 25,900; Comfort 2.0 DTH 27,500; Comfort 2.2 DTR 31,400; Elegance 1.8 XE 27,350; Elegance 2.0 DTH 28,950; Elegance 2.2 DTR 32,850; Elegance 2.2 SE 29,550.