New Vivaro Extends Opel's Broad Commercial-Vehicle Range

FOR RELEASE: May 2, 2001

New Vivaro Extends Opel's Broad Commercial-Vehicle Range

Market and model

New Vivaro Extends Opel's Broad Commercial-Vehicle Range

• Three body styles, two wheelbases and three engines in the launch program
• More than 20 model variants available
• Further growth expected on the light commercial vehicle market
• Latest product of the successful cooperation with Renault

Rüsselsheim - Light vans and transporters are real all-rounders. Their areas of application and the tasks they perform are more varied than for any other type of vehicle. They are expected to provide plenty of space for passengers, loads or mobile workshop equipment. At the same time, they must be reasonably priced and have low running costs. They are expected to be just as happy on long main road runs as in the narrow, twisting streets of small towns and they have to be easy to maneuver, with a good view from the driver's seat. Some customers expect the load area to stand up to rough treatment, others attach greater value to high-grade décor and trim, pleasant surroundings and a complete equipment specification with many extras that contribute towards comfort and convenience. It is far from easy to satisfy all these varying demands, but Opel believes it has the answer - the Vivaro. This new range of vans and transporters in the up-to-2.8-ton gross vehicle weight class complements the Opel commercial vehicle range, satisfying the needs of business and trade customers all over Europe.

When the Vivaro goes on sale it will be available in three body versions, two wheelbases and three engines - in various combinations. There are two powerful, economical 1.9-liter diesel engines with common rail fuel injection, one developing 60 kW (82 hp), the other 74 kW (100 hp), and a 2.0-liter gasoline engine with four valves per cylinder and an output of 88 kW (120 hp). In mid-2002 a particularly vigorous turbodiesel, also using the common rail fuel injection principle and developing 98 kW (133 hp) from a displacement of 2.5 liters will be added at the top of the engine list. In the same year the eight-seater mini-bus version will also be introduced, and a year later there will be a high-roof version of the panel van. Altogether, the Vivaro program will consist of more than 30 versions, 21 of which will be launched in the next two years.

This is an overview of the available body styles:

Body	Wheelbase	Height
Panel van	Short (3098 mm)	Normal (1968 mm)
	Short	High-roof 3 (2460 mm)
	Long 1 (3498 mm)	Normal
	Long 1	High-roof 3
People carrier (Combi)	Short	Normal
	Long	Normal
Floor/cab1	Long	Normal
Bus 2	Short	Normal
Introduction: 1 Fall of 2001 - 2 mid-2002 - 3 2003

Further details of the various versions and their carrying capacities are given in the chapter "Body and safety".

Growing Demand: Europe buys about 500,000 Medium Vans a Year

Commercial vehicles are stronger than passenger cars - this applies not only to the gauge of the sheet metal from which they are built, but also to the situation in their market segment. Whereas new car registrations in Europe went down by about eight percent in 2000, 2,530,000 commercial vehicles were sold, surpassing the 1999 figure (2,410,000) by almost five percent. Of these vehicles, some 20 percent were in the medium van market segment up to a gross vehicle weight of 2.8 metric tons. Since 1996 the demand for light commercial vehicles in Europe as a whole has remained constantly above half a million units. In 2000 registrations for the first time just failed to maintain this level, with a total of 496,132 units, but in the medium term market experts anticipate further growth in this segment. New models, the upswing in "e-commerce" and the increasing volume of delivery services in European cities are encouraging signs. Germany is the largest market for these vehicles, accounting for 20 percent of new light commercial vehicle registrations in Europe. The second-largest market is Great Britain (14 percent), followed by France (12 percent) and Spain (9 percent).

These countries, together with Italy, will be the main markets for the Vivaro. In 2001 Opel and Vauxhall plan to sell about 16,000 Vivaros in Europe, including about 3600 in Germany. In 2002, the first full year of sales, the target is 40,000 units in Europe, with about 7800 of these sold in Germany.

Opel's market researchers expect the greatest potential market for the Vivaro to be among what the experts call "modern traditionalists". This demoscopically defined target group is dominated by craft traders and suppliers of services. According to the opinion polls, they have pride in their work, confidence in their abilities and the declared aim to supply their customers with the best possible results. The self-employed traders and proprietors of small companies will take an above-average liking to the Vivaro, according to the forecasters. The reason is that they are interested in technical progress and expect new, advanced products to help them improve their own services and the quality of their commercial activities. The Vivaro meets their requirements: It is a forward-looking commercial vehicle concept featuring striking styling, modern powertrain technology as well as a safe chassis and suspension providing car-like standards of ride comfort.

Long-Standing, Successful Cooperation with Renault

It is no coincidence that the new Opel Vivaro range meets its potential customers' needs so precisely. It is the offspring of two highly competent "parents": on December 18, 1996, well before mergers and joint ventures became commonplace in the automobile industry, Opel and Renault joined forces to cooperate in the light commercial vehicle sector. "This cooperation benefits the customer by combining the technical know-how and the strict quality standards of two major automobile manufacturers", says Jan-Åke Jonsson, who is Vehicle Line Executive at Opel's International Technical Development Center with responsibility for commercial vehicles. "For instance, we test pre-production vehicles on both companies' proving grounds - Renault's in Lardy, south of Paris, and General Motors' British test center in Millbrook, north of London."

Thanks to the joint venture Opel has succeeded in rapidly building up a complete program of light commercial vehicles up to the big 3.5-ton models. The Arena was launched less than twelve months after the two companies began to cooperate. The Opel Movano, introduced in January 1999, is undeniable evidence of the strategy's success. More than 17,000 were sold last year throughout Europe - an increase of 56 percent compared with 1999.

Opel and Renault have invested a total of 700 million Euros - in equal shares - in the development and production of their latest offspring, the Vivaro. Opel's and Renault's technicians and engineers needed only 35 months to come up with this completely new model. "We divided the tasks clearly between us," explains Jon Dennis. He is a member of the 20-strong Opel and General Motors team who spent much of their time during the Vivaro development phase in Villier-Saint-Frédéric, a French town not far from Paris. "Renault took care of the powertrain and packaging, and Opel's experts took on the task of preparing the vehicle for production." Both the Vivaro and the Renault Trafic are being built at the same plant in Luton, Great Britain, by IBC Vehicles, a General Motors subsidiary. In all the remaining design areas - for instance the Vivaro's exciting styling, the two partner-companies joined forces in the search for the best possible solutions on behalf of the customer.

Spotlight

E-Commerce Increases Demand for Delivery Vans

Just a few mouse-clicks on the Internet, and the customer has ordered books, computer accessories or other everyday accessories. But somebody still has to deliver all the articles we can now order so conveniently at every hour of the day and night. We need courier and parcels, express or overnight services to transfer these goods from the "data highway" to the actual streets in front of our homes. All these service providers will profit from the boom in e-commerce transactions. They will enlarge their vehicle fleets and plan their services for the delivery of large numbers of small parcels. All the experts are unanimous that in the medium term this will lead to a rapid increase in the demand for delivery vans like the Opel Vivaro.

The reputable international business consultants Manner-Romberg, for instance, estimate that the number of courier and parcels deliveries in Europe will go up from the 2000 figure of 4.9 billion to 7.5 billion in 2003. In two years' time, in other words, 21 million parcels will be delivered every day - 14,270 every minute! The biggest market of this kind in Europe is currently Germany, with a 30 percent market share, followed by France (24 percent) and Great Britain (17 percent). Even today's figures are impressive. The German branch of online bookshop Amazon, for instance, ships between 20,000 and 50,000 deliveries every day, and electronics specialist Conrad reaches a daily total of between 25,000 and 30,000 deliveries.

Further growth is more than probable, since many homes are still not online. About 24.2 million Germans, some 30 percent of the population had access to the World Wide Web in January 2001, according to a survey by the market research company Nielsen/NetRatings. In France, 10.9 million of the population of about 59 million are online, and in Italy the total number of Internet users is currently 15 million, in this case about 15 percent of the population. In Great Britain one person in three (21.2 million people in all) has an Internet connection.

Design and aerodynamics

Striking, Practical Styling

• Vivaro features unmistakable, timeless profile
• Distinctive 'jumbo roof' means more cab headroom and easier entry and exit

Attractive design has made its way into every area of modern life. Even the most everyday fruit-juice presses have designer-made rivals now, and the latest computers no longer need to be hidden away under the desk. The Opel Vivaro is the first commercial vehicle to attract attention as a result of its unusual and extremely expressive appearance. "We attached at least as much importance to the Vivaro's styling as we would do with a passenger car!" says Opel's Head of Design Hans Seer. As a consequence of this ambitious, unconventional approach, unexpected visual details catch the eye from whichever angle the Vivaro is seen.

"As you can imagine, we discussed various draft designs with our colleagues from Renault when development began," says Rainer Schmidt, Opel's head of commercial-vehicle design, "but we knew from the very start that we wanted to adopt a modern, not to say futuristic line. Commercial vehicles tend to stay in production longer than passenger cars, and therefore their design has to remain fresh and appealing even after eight or ten years." This acknowledges the fact that business customers may not be greatly influenced by the styling when they make their purchase decisions: as long as the Vivaro provides value for money, its good looks can be justified! After all, it is in a very literal sense the calling card of the user's company.

Bold Headlights Make a Statement

Even the front end of the Opel Vivaro is unmistakable in appearance. The engine hood extends well up, but the windshield is none the less so large that the occupants can always see exactly what's happening on the road ahead. The distinctively shaped headlights are located behind clear glass covers. The convex upper surface of the bumper and the swage line that runs up the side of the body as far as the B-pillar both echo the unusual headlight outline. The bumpers are of generous size to ensure that minor bumps cause no damage; they have deliberately not been painted in the body color so that repairs, if needed, can be carried out at lower cost. At the same time, the black front and rear bumpers complement the side protection moldings to support the overall graphic design of the vehicle.

The Vivaro's attractively sturdy outside mirrors are also unpainted. Their double field of view reduces the risk of overlooking another vehicle in the "blind spot". Opel's engineers and designers worked together in the wind tunnel to arrive at the ideal shape for these mirrors. Similarly thorough design work has been devoted to the underbody, with its good aerodynamic flow that also contributes toward efficient engine cooling. The Vivaro's drag coefficient is acceptably low at cD = 0.367 - one of the secrets of its low fuel consumption. The frontal area is A = 3.38 m2.

Convenient: "Jumbo" Roof for Easy Entry and Exit

Curves wherever they make work easier for the people who drive the Vivaro vehicle, and rectangular shapes so that the load space is fully utilized - the side view reveals the inherent contrast between these two complementary design cues. In profile, the Vivaro's convex "jumbo" roof is particularly striking. It provides the cab occupants with particularly generous headroom and also makes the vehicle easier to board and leave - a great benefit if it is employed on local delivery work as is so often the case. The load area behind the cab, on the other hand, is totally rectangular and therefore ideal to load.

Those who find the rectangular windows of traditional vans increasingly boring will appreciate the unconventional shape chosen for the Vivaro. The lower edge of the window rises steeply to the rear and once again echoes the line begun by the front bumper. A practical 'side effect' in the most literal sense: the view to the side, for instance when maneuvering, is excellent. The people carrier has sliding side windows for the second row of passengers, again with a good view and plenty of fresh air if needed. These side windows too have rounded corners that add to the vigor of the Vivaro's styling.

The Vivaro looks powerful and sturdy when seen from the side. The flared wheel arches are well filled by the large 16-inch wheels. Their muscular curves extend along the entire side of the cab. In this way the load and occupant areas blend into a single visual unit and the long wheelbase of 3098 (or 3498) millimeters is emphasized. Short front and rear overhangs not only add to the Vivaro's visual dynamics but, once again, have a genuine practical advantage as well: the so-called overhang angles are so short that there is no risk of the vehicle being trapped if crossing rough, uneven surfaces. The large side protection moldings along the bottoms of the doors are also an eye-catching feature and prevent minor scratches from developing into expensive body repairs.

High Tail Lights are Visible from a Long Way Off

The rear end of the Vivaro is framed in black. The big bumper also acts as a step when access to the load area is needed. The sides of the vehicle are protected by black plastic strips that emphasize the rectangular shape of the rear section. The painted door hinges add a touch of color and are convincingly robust in appearance. The raised tail lights are also integrated into the vertical contact strips. Their position makes them easy for the driver of the following vehicle to see. The rear window is curved slightly down - reintroducing the contrast to the straight vertical and horizontal lines that makes the new Opel Vivaro such an eye-catcher.

Vertical side panels provide a suitably smooth surface for attaching company signboards. The range of available colors is unusually large for a commercial vehicle and caters to some customers' needs for a vehicle of individual appearance. In addition to the four intense colors Casablanca white, Myosotis blue, Magma red and Corn yellow, seven unusual metallic paint finishes are available. Customers can also order the Vivaro in a large number of colors from the RAL list.

Body and safety

Advanced Occupant Protection and Load-Carrying Efficiency

• Four airbags available, lap-and-shoulder seat belts and head restraints at all seats
• Optimized ergonomics to avoid driver fatigue
• Plenty of storage space to keep things convenient and tidy
• New "Flex Fix" system to secure every load

Ultra-modern styling is just one of the strengths that makes the Vivaro a real trendsetter. The build quality and functional efficiency of this front-wheel-drive vehicle also challenge convention, making the Vivaro the most modern contender in the popular one-ton payload category. Its load platform has a smooth, rectangular surface, the full width of which can be used right up to roof height. There are no bolts, welded seams or any other form of projecting edges or corners to limit the load capacity. Furthermore, Opel has galvanized many of the panels and structural elements and offers its customers a 12-year anti-perforation warranty. The new model in Opel's commercial vehicle program is available as a panel van, a people carrier or a floor cab. For additional versatility there are two wheelbases (3098 and 3498 millimeters). In 2002 an eight-seat minibus will be added to the program, followed in 2003 by a high-roof version of the Vivaro panel van.

The amount of space in every Vivaro variant is most impressive. Available with either 2.7 or 2.9 metric-ton gross vehicle weights, the panel van and people carrier can transport loads up to almost five cubic meters in volume - even in the short-wheelbase form (length x width x height 4.78 x 1.90 x 1.97 meters). The load-area length in this case if 2.41 meters. For even more carrying capacity, up to almost six meters, the long-wheelbase panel van provides a load area 2.81 meters long within its overall length of 5.18 meters. Both versions have a maximum load-area width of 1.66 meters (1.27 meters between the wheel arches) and an interior load-area height of 1.38 meters (with standard 'jumbo' roof) or 1.89 meters (with high roof).

Many practical details add to the capabilities of these vehicles in day-to-day use. The basic van specification includes well-protected rear door seals that cannot easily be damaged when loading and unloading. The door brakes are located below the floor and therefore cannot damage the load. Either six or eight lashing lugs (depending on whether the vehicle has a short or a long wheelbase) are provided to ensure that loads are secured safely and cannot slip. Even better provision for load retention is available in the form of the 'Flex Fix' system, a new optional extra available from 2002. The big advantage of this ingenious development, which uses horizontal rails on the side walls, each with six sliding anchorages and retaining straps, is that loads of all shapes and sizes can be secured effectively and safely. Half-height side panel trims in the load area are available as an optional extra.

Choice of Rear Doors

For loading and unloading freight or the European standard-size pallets that are often used without loss of time, the new Opel panel van has double rear doors that can be opened to an angle of either 90 or 180 degrees. The loading aperture then measures 1.32 meters in height and 1.82 meters in width. There is also access through a broad sliding door in the passenger's side of the body, which is a standard fitting and measures one meter in width and 1.29 meters in height. The rear bumper serves as a step to make access to the interior of the van easier.

Many other similar design details confirm the attention that the Vivaro development team have devoted to business customers' needs. The large, ergonomically shaped door handles, for instance, are easy to operate with only one hand free - a situation that often arises. If the vehicle is parked at the roadside on the right, there is no need to walk round the open door on the right, since the left side is opened first. As optional extras, a second sliding door on the driver's side and rear doors opening to 250 degrees can be obtained. Short-wheelbase models can also be supplied with a lift-up tailgate, which can provide a useful protection when working in the area just behind the vehicle if the Vivaro is purchased as a mobile service point or workshop. The highly space utilization concept has been planned from the start to permit interior fittings of the kind needed by various specialist companies. The new Opel panel van is ideal for a wide range of special duties: deep-freeze truck, taxicab, hotel and shuttle services, police, rescue or fire service transport and also as a mobile home for the leisure-seeker.

High Payload Reserves with Both Body Styles

The generous dimensions of the Vivaro's load area mean that the permissible payloads are equally high: from 870 kilograms (short-wheelbase people carrier) to 1141 kilograms excluding the weight of the driver (short-wheelbase panel van). Depending on the version, the gross vehicle weight is either 2.7 or 2.9 metric tons. Short front and rear body overhangs not only make it seem even more compact and powerful, but together with ample ground clearance (194 millimeters on the panel van), the excellent view from the cab and the tight turning circles (short version 12.4 meters, long version 13.7 meters) make it just as maneuverable and effortless to handle even if the terrain is rough or space is restricted. The Vivaro takes minor impacts in its stride: its unpainted front and rear bumpers with integral turn indicators and fog lights are not only an attractive contrast to the paint finish on the strong sheet-steel body, but are also sufficiently resilient to withstand such slight damage. The bumpers are mounted on "crash boxes" designed to absorb energy in low-speed collisions and avoid repairs to load-bearing body elements.

"Combi" - A versatile, Well-Equipped Nine-Seater People-Carrier

The Vivaro's efficient space utilization concept also comes into its own in the "Combi" or people-carrier version, which can accommodate up to nine occupants including the driver. Standard equipment in this case comprises bench seats for three in the second and third rows. The rearmost bench seat can be folded down by means of an ingenious mechanism to provide a larger load area, or else folded forward or even removed completely. The center seat row too can be removed completely. Each center seat has a new type of safe, reliable mount for a standardized Isofix child's seat. The same facility can be provided on the individual seats that are available as an optional extra. Comfort has played a major part in the design of the Vivaro's passenger area: there are separate front and rear interior lights, additional ventilation outlets at the rear and sliding windows next to the second row of seats, so that the climate in the people carrier is always pleasant. With all seats in place, the Vivaro people carrier still has a load capacity of 1216 liters up to roof level.

Attractive, High-Grade Interior and Convenient Controls

Most delivery van drivers spend a very high proportion of their working day actually sitting in the vehicle, so that both comfort and good ergonomics have an important role to play. The Vivaro pursues a new approach to several aspects of interior design. Instead of the frequently very spartan equipment and trim typical of commercial vehicles in the past, its cockpit and interior are pleasant, welcoming and trimmed to a high standard. The ease of control and functional efficiency have been specially matched to the needs of the professional user. You will search in vain for bare metal inside the cab of the Vivaro: the interior is fully trimmed. The chosen materials are color-matched, hard-wearing and easy to clean.

The driver and those travelling with him or her are provided with well-upholstered seats of anatomically correct shape (the panel van has a double bench seat for the passengers, the people carrier a normal front passenger's seat). On poor roads and long journeys in particular, the anatomically correct location of the occupant's body provided by these seats helps to combat fatigue. The height, length and seat cushion angle of the driver's seat are adjustable (this is an optional extra for the passenger's seat).

The steering column is adjustable for reach, the gear lever is in an easy-to-operate position on the front console, the windows are deep and large-area outside mirrors with a double viewing field are provided; these features to help to make the driving position more comfortable, with a good all-round view. The 'jumbo' cab roof rises toward the front, which not only increases the impression of space but also makes it easier to alight from or board the vehicle without loss of time - a feature that parcels and local delivery service drivers who have to make a whole series of calls in succession will particularly appreciate. Another positive detail is the ergonomically correct, space-saving position of the gearshift on the center console.

Practical, Well-Planned Storage System

No fewer than eleven compartments and bins are provided - an efficient storage system for the professional driver. There is space for large-format road atlases, A4-size documents, large 1 1/2-liter drinks bottles, tape cassettes, CDs, chip cards and receipt devices, as well as cup holders with integral, removable ashtrays. They all avoid the loss of time involved in hunting for lost items and keep the interior of the cab neat and tidy. The modern audio system occupies an oversized (double-DIN) slot and has large-area displays and (except for the basic radio) steering-wheel remote controls. The instruments have easily legible displays and the controls are grouped into functionally-related clusters.

The Vivaro's standard equipment specification is extremely complete, including ABS, power steering, a roof-mounted antenna, a revolution counter, childproof sliding door catches, a high-end loudspeaker system and a load-area partition (either with or without window) for the panel van. Other factory-fitted items are rubbing strips all round the body, heat-insulating glass, central locking, an illuminated glove box and a cigarette lighter. The people-carrier has an additional 12-volt power socket at the rear left.

Customer-Oriented Optional Extras

The optional extras list includes a large number of items that may be of use in various special circumstances. They include partial or complete van windows and partial glazing for the people carrier. Other practical extras are a tachograph, air conditioning (including a controlled-temperature glove box), seat heating, a pollen filter, special load-area holders for bicycles and ladders, a safety dividing net for the people carrier, electric windows and electric remote-control outside mirrors and infra-red remote central locking control including a child safety catch for the load-area sliding door on the passenger's side.