Opel Vectra

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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 It is also sold in Australasia as a Holden and in Latin America as a Chevrolet, although in Brazil, it has been replaced by a locally developed sedan based on the underpinnings of the Astra.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, and at the Vauxhall plant in Ellesmere Port, northwest England.

1 Vectra A
2 Vectra B
3 Vectra C
4 Chevrolet Vectra and Holden Vectra
5 External links

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Vectra A

{{Infobox Automobile |image=Image:Opel Vectra A.jpg |name=Opel Vectra |manufacturer=General Motors Corporation |production=1988–1995 |predecessor=Opel Ascona |class=Mid-size car |body_style=4-door sedan, 5-door hatchback |platform=FF, AWD |similar=Ford Sierra
Renault 21 }}

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 did not use the Vectra name, 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. 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). Four-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). Diesel power came from an Isuzu 1.7 L engine, in both naturally-aspirated and turbocharged form, this one capable of achieving 82 PS (60 kW). 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.

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Vectra B

{{Infobox Automobile |image=Image:2000.vauxhall.vectra.1point8.arp.jpg |name=Opel Vectra |manufacturer=General Motors Corporation |production=1995–2005 |class=Mid-size car |body_style=4-door sedan, 5-door hatchback, 5-door station wagon |platform=FF |similar=Ford Mondeo
Renault Laguna }}

The second model, the Vectra B, was introduced in 1995, and the model range included a station wagon 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, but eventually the 8-valve engines were all replaced by 16-valve powerplants. The 2.0 L 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 restyled, receiving a new front end, and for the first time the Vectra also received an estate 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 is the Saturn L-Series, introduced in 2000 but dropped from the line-up in 2005 without a direct replacement.

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Vectra C

{{Infobox Automobile |image=Image:Opel Vectra C.jpg |name=Opel Vectra |manufacturer=General Motors Corporation |production=2002–- |class=Mid-size car |body_style=4-door sedan, 5-door hatchback, 5-door station wagon |platform=FF |similar=Ford Mondeo
Renault Laguna }}

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. It is also assembled in Egypt, along with the two previous versions. A four-door sedan is the staple model, 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.

Engine range was substantially modified to account for the more sporty GTS model (and an increased curb weight). While a 122 PS (90 kW) 1.8 Ecotec engine was the base model, a 2.0 L turbocharged 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 Fiat-designed 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 a Holden-designed 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 Holden V6 Turbo was increased to 255 PS (188 kW), and maximum speed 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.

Interestingly, the same platform that underpins this Vectra also underpins the Saab 9-3 (Sweden) and the current Chevrolet Malibu and Pontiac G6 (North America).

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Chevrolet Vectra and Holden Vectra

While the Vectra C is sold in Mexico as a Chevrolet, it is not sold in Brazil, where a new, locally designed Vectra sedan, based on the smaller Astra was released in October 2005 This replaced the Vectra B, which was still available in Brazil until that date. It will also be sold in Mexico as the Astra Maxx. Similarly, in Australia and New Zealand, the European-sourced Vectra is likely to be dropped during 2006 and replaced with a version of the new Daewoo Tosca, which may be sold under the Vectra name.

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