Opel Meriva: Full Diesel Line-up Now Available

RÜSSELSHEIM, GERMANY – July 9, 2010: The diesel line-up for Opel’s new Flexibility Champion, the Meriva, is now complete: In addition to the three gasoline engines that were available from launch and provided 74 kW/100 hp to 103 kW/140 hp outputs, it now also features five diesel variants ranging from 55 kW/75 hp to 96 kW/130 hp.

A 1.3 CDTI ecoFLEX variant combines 21 percent more power (70 kW/95 hp) and 11.2 percent lower emissions (119 g/km CO2) than its predecessor. Also new are two powerful versions of the 1.7 CDTI engine respectively developing 81 kW/110 hp and 96 kW/130 hp and up to 300 Nm of torque for an average combined fuel consumption of 5.2 liter/100 km.

These three new engine variants come in addition to the entry-level 1.3 CDTI (55 kW/75 hp) and the 1.7 CDTI (74 kW/100 hp) with automatic transmission which already were offered at launch. All diesel engines in the Meriva are equipped with particulate filters as standard and comply with Euro 5 norms.

Opel’s Start/Stop technology, already fitted on the Agila and Corsa models, will be extended to the Meriva range next year. Also coming in 2011 will be an LPG version, making good Opel’s commitment to offering alternative clean, efficient mobility.

With Opel Meriva’s full powertrain range, customers can choose from an array of diesel and gasoline engines that suit their needs – just as the variety of innovative features that optimizes the easy use of space makes the monocab the Flexibility Champion. Diesel engines are popular in the Meriva line-up and account for some 37 percent of sales, because the cost of tanking up is low.

The 1.3 liter-CDTI ecoFLEX engine (70 kW/95 hp) features closed loop combustion control – the first application of this advanced, fuel-saving technology in such a small engine was in the Insignia ecoFLEX. It also has a variable geometry turbocharger and a more efficient transmission. Together, these work not only to lower emissions and fuel use but also to keep noise and vibrations at a minimum. This Opel ecoFLEX variant offers impressive fuel consumption of 4.5 l/100 km.

Two new variants of the 1.7 CDTI engine with 6-speed manual transmission join the line-up: one develops 81 kW/110 hp and the other one offers 96 kW/130 hp. The 96 kW/130 hp version replaces the 92 kW/125 hp variant from the previous generation, with torque growing from 280 to 300 Nm at lower engine speed. However, it burns only 5.2 l/100 km of diesel, proving that Opel can deliver efficient yet more dynamic driving.

The new 1.7 CDTI engine uses an optimized combustion system that reduces the compression ratio and introduces a next generation fuel injection system with up to eight injections per cycle. A new turbocharger is fitted with an actuator position sensor for more precise control of the boost pressure. In addition, a new intake manifold and a fully electronically controlled variable swirl system optimize the combustion and reduce weight. Engineers also switched to low voltage glow plugs which reduce the load on the generator during engine warm-up.

The 1.7 CDTI is Opel’s first engine to feature a diesel engine management system designed in-house. Called, D1, it works with other advanced engine features to deliver highly efficient and dynamic performance. For customers, this means their car continues to feel like new in terms of drivability and efficiency over the longer term. The D1 engine management also offers customers improved service because it has a number of new diagnostic functionalities and tools to help vehicle service teams more accurately pin-point specific component issues when the vehicle is brought in for service.