Reliable Protection Systems for all Occupants
FOR RELEASE: May 2, 2001Reliable Protection Systems for all Occupants
In accordance with Opel's high safety standards, the Vivaro had accident prevention and passive safety features that set new standards in its class. The strongly constructed bodyshell has been tested in crash situations with the aid of many computer simulations and actual tests; its carefully computed deformation zones disperse the incoming energy in a controlled manner through the body structure. There is also a comprehensive occupant protection program, with a full-size (60-liter) driver's airbag in all models, an optional-extra passenger's airbag (120 liters) and side airbags for both front seats. This high level of occupant protection includes anti-submarining seats (which prevent the occupant from slipping under the seat belt in the event of a frontal crash), variable-height anchorages for the lap-and-shoulder front seat belts, head restraints at all seats (also variable in height at the front), seat belt tensioners and belt force limiters for the driver, front passenger and the two or four outer rear seats.
Outstanding Anti-Theft Protection for the Vehicle and its Load
In addition to protection for the occupants, a different kind of protection but to an equally high standard is provided for the vehicle itself and its load. Anti-theft measures include the latest type of electronic immobilizer and integral armoring at crucial points to prevent access to the door locks or opening them by force. The audio systems have a built-in code to ensure that they are inoperative if removed from the vehicle, and the vehicle identification number can be seen from the outside through the windshield so that it can be rapidly checked if the vehicle is suspected of having been stolen. In addition, the options list includes a burglar alarm and a variable-code remote control for the central locking, which is it a standard feature. The remote control includes a 'deadlock' function so that the doors cannot even be unlocked from the inside if, for example, the thief breaks a window.
Overview of Vivaro variants and body dimensions:
| Short wheelbase | Long wheelbase | |
| Available as | Panel van, people carrier, minibus | Panel van, people carrier, floor cab |
| Roof versions | Standard: 'Jumbo' roof; optional extra: high roof for panel van | |
| Overall length | 4782 mm | 5182 mm |
| Overall width | 1904/2232 mm (with/without outside mirrors) | |
| Overall height | 1968/2460 mm ('Jumbo'/high roof) | |
| Load area length | 2415 mm | 2815 mm |
| Load area width | Panel van: Maximum 1663 mm (1268 mm between wheel arches) | |
| Load area height | 1383/1883 mm ('Jumbo'/high roof) | |
| Overhang, front/rear | 833/851 mm | |
| Rear door opening | 1370 mm (width), 1320 mm (height) | |
| Side door opening (passenger's side) | 1000 mm (width), 1285 mm (height) | |
| Ground clearance | 194 mm (panel van)/191 mm (people carrier)/ 192 (minibus) | |
Infotainment
Communications Systems from the Premium Car Segment
- NCDC 2015 top model with navigation, carphone and four-CD changer
- Modern combinations of equipment in a double dash-panel format
- OnStar telematics for a personal mobility service
The information and entertainment systems on board the Vivaro meet the high standards found in a modern passenger car. The equipment itself is as offered in the Opel Omega, with an oversize (double-DIN) slot for the chosen infotainment unit neatly integrated into the vehicle's modern cockpit right where the driver can easily read the displays and operate the controls. Every unit, apart from the base radio, comes with steering-wheel remote controls.
The NCDC 2015 is the top model in the Opel infotainment program, and like the NCDR 2011 also available in the Vivaro, includes the latest type of satellite-aided navigation system with GPS (Global Positioning System) module, an RDS radio and a CD player (for input to the navigation system as well as listening to music) and a four-CD changer. The NCDC 2015 also has a changer for 4 CDs and a hands-free Nokia GSM telephone (suitable for OnStar telematics).
The two navigation systems incorporate a fast 32-bit microprocessor to ensure maximum flexibility and short computing times. In addition to the voice output, both navigation systems have route guidance with the aid of pictograms on a special black-and-white graphics information display neatly integrated into the center console in an easily visible position. Next year a color monitor will also be available, and will be able to display more detailed maps. The operator guidance system is built up according to the 'homepage' principle, with logically attached sub-menues to make operation easier. The navigation software, available in seven languages and covering more than ten European countries, has a large number of practical functions, including route feedback, choice of particular types of road or points of interest as destinations; the latter include tourist attractions, restaurants, hotels, sports grounds and stadiums, hospitals, airports, railroad stations and parking lots.
For local delivery work in particular, possibly with a series of recipients at unknown destinations, the Vivaro operator can save a lot of time and money with a navigation system of this type. Mobility is enhanced even more by the TMC function of the combined radio and navigation systems. This Traffic Message Channel for the RDS radio (Radio Data System) supplies the driver on request with regularly updated traffic information in the form of short messages. Congestion, the latest weather forecast, delays at international borders, warnings and the messages received in the past five minutes are among the available information. If necessary the driver can ask the navigation system to compute an alternative route in order to avoid traffic jams or other obstacles to unhindered progress. This naturally assumes that the local broadcasters make use of the TMC function to transmit suitable signals.
Overview of the infotainment systems available for the Vivaro, and their principal functions:
| System | Navigation | Telephone | 4-CD changer | CD | MC | RDS tuner/amplifier |
| NCDC 2015* | X | X | X | X | - | 4 x 20 Watts |
| NCDR 2011* | - | - | X | - | 4 x 20 Watts | |
| CART 2007* | - | X | - | - | X | 4 x 7 Watts |
| CCR 2006* | - | - | X | - | X | 4 x 20 Watts |
| CDR 2005* | - | - | - | X | - | 4 x 20 Watts |
| CAR 2004* | - | - | - | - | X | 4 x 20 Watts |
| CAR 2002 | - | - | - | - | X | 2 x 7 Watts |
*All radios from CAR 2004 upwards are equipped with steering-wheel remote controls
In conjunction with the CAR 2004, CDR 2005, CCR 2006 and NCDR 2011 systems, the Vivaro can be equipped to accept suitable mobile phones; this telephone installation kit has a hands-free microphone, a combined radio/telephone antenna and power supply wiring already installed. A convenient telephone link can be established at any time with the control center or the customer while the vehicle is on the road.
OnStar Telematics: A Personal Mobility Service
A GSM telephone in the Vivaro offers even more convenience, for instance use of the Opel "OnStar" mobility service (currently available in Germany). This is a standard facility with the NCDC 2015 and Carphone CART 2007; no subscriber charge is made and there is no minimum contract period, so that only calls to the service center have to be paid for. OnStar offers a big selection of services by phone, all around the clock and seven days a week. The specially trained employees in the Service Center provide fast and exact personal information on the current road situation or traffic congestion in the area asked for by the caller. They also recommend suitable routes, for instance how to reach a given hotel or the nearest filling station, and arrange assistance in the event of a breakdown. In the NCDC 2015 and if the car phone is equipped with the GPS module available as an optional extra, an SMS (Short Message Service) is sent to the service center when the OnStar button is pressed. This makes it possible for the OnStar staff to locate the car exactly and provide even more carefully chosen information to suit the locality.
In Germany, customers can also use a T-D1 (call number 46011) or D2 (call number 22593) network mobile phone to contact the OnStar Service Center at any time, even when they are away from the vehicle.
Suspension and brakes
Passenger-Car Standards of Road Behavior and Active Safety
- Independent front-axle sub-frame for a smoother, quieter ride
- Consistent handling regardless of load
- High-performance brakes set the standard for light commercial vehicles
Opel's and Renault's chassis and suspension engineers had some demanding goals to meet. In developing the Vivaro they went beyond excellent load-carrying performance and high active safety to challenge convention by attaching equal importance ride comfort and driving pleasure. To ensure that the new front-wheel-drive model does indeed set new standards in its class, advanced design methods such as CAD (Computer Aided Design), the finite-element method for body-structure stress analysis and extensive simulation programs were used.
Using these modern methods, the technical team developed a McPherson strut independent front suspension layout that, as on the Opel Astra and Corsa models, employs a separate sub-frame on which the suspension components are mounted. This principle has several significant advantages: it is more rigid, which makes for higher refinement on the move and greater handling precision. Two-stage insulation between the wheels and the body means that the sub-frame helps to prevent the transmission of vibration and noise to the body and the vehicle's interior. This is an important contribution to pleasant working conditions in a vehicle in which the driver may spend many hours more or less without interruption.
Other components are also attached to the sub-frame, for example the hydraulic engine mounts and the rack and pinion assembly for the power steering. Thanks to its rigid mounting, low installed position and the direct response, the Vivaro's steering is as precise as a passenger car's, making it real pleasure to drive.
The coil springs on the front suspension struts are offset in relation to the shock absorber axis in order to reduce initial friction; together with the generously dimensioned suspension strut support bearings. These ingenious design details add to the level of acoustic refinement achieved by the new Opel van and transporter range. The single-piece lateral suspension control arms with their horizontal guide bushings are particularly rigid, thus ensuring stable cornering and outstanding steering precision.
Rear Suspension: Progressive-Rate Springs and Adaptive Shock Absorbers
One of the main design elements contributing to the new Vivaro's consistently good handling is the rear axle, a weight-saving torsion-crank system with additional Panhard rod. This not only ensures precise wheel location but also keeps the unsprung mass low, so that the suspension characteristics and handling both benefit.
New to this segment of the commercial vehicle market is the combination of progressive-rate miniblock springs with adaptive shock absorbers that take both load and distance factors into account. The Vivaro can therefore claim to have extremely consistent handling over the entire load range from empty to maximum payload, with correspondingly high standards of ride comfort. The harmony of the chassis with its wide track (front 1615 millimeters, rear 1630 millimeters) and long wheelbase (either 3098 or 3498 millimeters) helps this dynamic van to take corners with a minimum of body roll and ride supremely over rough road surfaces.
High-Performance Brake System with Discs at all Wheels and ABS
Another area in which the Vivaro sets new standards in its market segment is the brake system, which is combined with large 16-inch wheels and 195/65 R 16 or 205/65 R16 tires for maximum payloads of 2.7 or 2.9 tons. Disc brakes are used at all wheels - the discs at the front are ventilated and have a diameter of 305 millimeters, those at the rear are 285 millimeters in diameter. Other features include an electronic four-channel anti-lock system (ABS) and a rear-axle braking pressure limiting valve. With this equipment specification the Vivaro achieves stopping distances even when carrying a full load that many a passenger car cannot match.
In the spring of 2002 a 'brake assistance system' will be introduced; this uses sensors to identify emergency-strength brake applications and responds by supplying the full braking pressure instantly, regardless of how much pressure the driver actually exerts on the pedal.
Powertrain
Modern, Economical Engines
- Advanced turbodiesels with common-rail fuel injection
- Six-speed gearboxes on the more powerful Vivaros above 100 hp
- All engines comply with Euro 3 exhaust emission limits
The Vivaro drives onto the European market with a choice of three economical, powerplants - two common-rail turbodiesels and one gasoline engine - with power outputs between 60 kW (82 hp) and 88 kW (120 hp). Exhaust emission control by catalytic converter and exhaust gas recirculation enable all these engines to comply with the Euro 3 emission limits. A further bonus for those who operate this class of vehicle is the very low maintenance requirement: extended service intervals - every 30,000 kilometers or every two years - make efficient planning possible and keep operating costs low.
Market analysts at Opel's headquarters in Rüsselsheim expect the two 1.9-liter four-cylinder turbocharged diesels to be the engines most in demand for the new Vivaro range. They have common-rail direct fuel injection, a charge-air intercooler and an electronic "drive by wire" link between the accelerator pedal and the engine - typical features of a genuinely modern diesel power unit. Advanced fuel injection, which makes use of the principle of separating the pressure build-up in the fuel supply circuit (about 1400 bar) from the actual injection pressure, permits the fuel quantity to vary in volume and timing according to engine speed and crankshaft position. Power output and torque are increased and fuel consumption kept to a minimum, the engine runs smoothly and its pollutant emissions are minimized.
Passenger-Car Fuel Consumption
The base version of the 1.9 DI engine with two valves per cylinder develops 60 kW/82 hp and has a peak torque of 190 Nm at 2000 rpm. The more powerful version is rated at 74 kW/100 hp and has even more torque at the driver's disposal: 240 Nm at 2000 rpm. With the 82-hp diesel engine, the Vivaro panel van accelerates from a standstill to 100 km/h in 19.0 seconds (people carrier: 20.7 seconds) and goes on to reach a top speed of 138 km/h. Even more suitable for heavy loads and frequent long distances at high speed are the 100?hp versions with a 0-100 km/h acceleration time of 14.9 seconds (people carrier: 16.5 seconds) and a top speed of 155 km/h.
The fuel consumption figures measured (MVEG standard) are also evidence of the efficiency of the electronic engine management system on these engines: only 7.4 liters of fuel are needed per 100 kilometers (people carrier: 7.9 liters), in other words the fuel consumption of these two diesels, both of which have a compression ratio of 18.3:1, is closer to what one would expect of a passenger car than of a commercial vehicle. This has the additional advantage that the 90-liter tank is more than sufficient for lengthy delivery tours, since the Vivaro's range can be as high as 1200 kilometers. And should the tank accidentally be run dry, a special pump ensures that no elaborate bleeding procedure is necessary to get the engine running again.
As an alternative to the diesels, the Vivaro will be available with an 88 kW/120 hp 2.0-liter, four-cylinder spark-ignition engine from autumn 2001. This is a convincingly smooth unit that develops its peak torque of 190 Nm at 3750 rpm. It is a modern design with four valves per cylinder and gives the Vivaro performance data that lie approximately between those of the two diesel versions: 100 km/h is reached from a standstill after 12.6 seconds and the top speed is in the region of 160 km/h. The gasoline-engined Vivaro can also pride itself on its economy: depending on the body and equipment chosen, it consumes only 9.7 liters of super (premium) grade fuel per 100 kilometers (panel van) or 10.0 liters in the case of the people carrier (Combi).
Top Power and Performance Coming soon with the 2.5-liter Turbodiesel
In 2002 the two diesel engines will be joined by a new and still more vigorous unit, with four cylinders, four valves per cylinder and a displacement of 2.5 liters. This too has direct injection using the common rail system (Bosch) and a charge-air intercooler, and develops 98 kW/133 hp. With a maximum torque of 310 Nm available at 2000 rpm, the Vivaro 2.5 DTI will not only be the one to beat in its class as far as pulling power is concerned, but will also be offer impressive performance. Acceleration from 0-100 km/h will take only 12.5 seconds and the top speed will be 171 km/h - performance that means good results both in town and on the highway. Yet this engine too has an extremely moderate thirst for fuel: according to the MVEG standard test, it consumes only 8.1 liters per 100 kilometers.
Convenient to Use: Cable-Shift Gearbox and Synchromesh on Reverse
Apart from the smaller diesel version (1.9 DI), all Vivaros have a standard six-speed manual gearbox to provide optimum acceleration and use all the available pulling power. Refinement is increased by a cable-operated gearshift, synchromesh on reverse gear and a hydraulically actuated clutch. As a result, driver effort is kept to a minimum, the body and cab interior are isolated effectively from vibration and noise and the Vivaro achieves standards of refinement worthy of a passenger car.
Overview of engines for the Opel Vivaro from the launch date onward
| Engine | Displacement, cc | Output, KW/hp | Torque, Nm at rpm | Acceleration 0-100 km/h | Top speed | Consumption, l/100 km |
| 1.9 DI | 1870 | 60/82 | 190 at 2000 | 19.0 / 20.7 | 138 km/h | 7.4 / 7.7* |
| 1.9 DTI | 1870 | 74/100 | 240 at 2000 | 14.9 / 16.5 s* | 155 km/h | 7.4 / 7.7* |
| 2.0 16v | 1998 | 88/120 | 190 at 3750 | 12.6 / 13.8 s* | 160 km/h | 9.7 / 10.0* |
* Values for panel van / people carrier
Service and cost of ownership
Excellent Economy, Minimal Maintenance
- Extended inspection intervals reduce the time spent in the workshop
- A 12-year anti-perforation warranty increases re-sale value
- Top marks in insurers' classifications mean that premiums will be low
- Opel's mobility service offers many innovative servicing arrangements to commercial-vehicle customers
Right from the start of development work on the Vivaro, service-friendliness was one of the most important objectives, so that the owner loses as little time and money as possible when the vehicle is in the workshop. Depending on the use to which a light commercial vehicle is put, it may well cover extremely long distances. The 30,000-kilometer or two-year inspection intervals for this new family of Opel vehicles reduce the amount time spent off the road. In addition, high technical standards mean that less routine servicing work is needed: the brake fluid, for instance, only needs to be renewed every 120,000 kilometers in all Vivaro models, and a new toothed belt for the diesel or gasoline engines is also needed only after this distance has been covered. The hydraulic clutch is maintenance-free and a brake pad wear indicator acts as a renewal reminder and saves the expense of having to remove the wheels to check the condition of the pads. Another cash-saving design feature: the exhaust system does not have to be exchanged as a single unit, but can be replaced as individual sections.
Opel Mobility Service: Fast, Comprehensive Assistance
If the Vivaro does need attention in the workshop between the servicing intervals, the services available from Opel Commercial Vehicle Centers and service points will help to keep the repair times as short as possible:
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- If a problem occurs, you don't need an advance appointment in the dealer's workshop. Just drop by for an immediate diagnosis.
- A three-year mobility warranty is standard on all Vivaros for normal workshop times. If the repair work is scheduled to take more than two hours, the Vivaro owner is lent a replacement vehicle free of charge.
- A special telephone hotline has been set up so that Opel commercial vehicle customers can obtain competent advice around the clock.
- The mobility service card covers services necessary in the event of a breakdown. If this is the case, Opel helps the stranded driver and provides a replacement vehicle if the repair is scheduled to take more than two hours. Repair costs will be accepted if the vehicle has not covered more than 120,000 kilometers and is less than seven years old and if the service intervals have been complied with and maintenance has been carried out by an Opel commercial vehicle dealer using original Opel parts. For those who use the vehicle intensively and clock up more than 40,000 kilometers a year, the breakdown aid and replacement vehicle provisions apply for a maximum of three years after first registration, regardless of distance. For these customers, repair costs are accepted until the vehicle has covered 120,000 kilometers.
All over Europe, Opel operates approximately 850 Commercial Vehicle Centers, about 200 more than the total two years ago. In Germany alone there are 195 such centers plus 230 Service Dealers; in Great Britain Vauxhall has a network of 160. In France, Italy and Spain there are 100, 90 and 60 Opel Commercial Vehicle Centers respectively. According to Bernd Wagegg, Adam Opel AG's Commercial Vehicle Sales Manager, a strategy of quality instead of quantity is being pursued: "The especially trained staff at our centers deals exclusively with Opel commercial vehicles and understands their owners' particular needs."
These Opel dealers are also well prepared in the replacement parts area: the central store in Luton, Great Britain, contains more than 5000 parts for Vivaro models. 500 employees there work three shifts a day to make sure that parts ordered by dealers all over Europe are dispatched as soon as possible.
Best-in-Class Insurance Premiums
Commercial vehicles are a business investment that has to pay its way, and therefore the Vivaro's reduced running costs are an especially encouraging development. Its insurance ratings are unbeatable, so that low premiums will be easy to come by. The Vivaro with 1.9 DI engine (60 kW/82 hp), for example, has a provisional classification of 14 on the German fully comprehensive insurance scale - the best value in this segment.
One of the reasons for these low insurance premiums is the fact that the Vivaro has been designed throughout to resist crash damage or make it easy to repair. None of the auxiliary equipment, which would put up the repair costs considerably, is located in a direct crash-impact zone, and the bumpers absorb minor impacts when parking without transmitting any energy to the main body structure. Special predefined 'crash boxes' come into action if the impact speed is higher to absorb the collision energy before it can reach the main frame members. Many of the joints and connections on the body are bolted instead of welded on, for instance the door hinges, so that parts can be exchanged at minimum expense if damaged.
Low fuel consumption also plays its part in the moderate overall cost picture. The two diesel-engined versions record 7.4 and 7.7 liters per 100 kilometers respectively in the standard MVEG fuel consumption test, the 2.0-liter 16V spark-ignition engine between 9.7 and 10.0 liters. These modern engines comply with the Euro 3 exhaust emission limits, which earns the vehicle a road tax concession if it is licensed as a private automobile. However, road tax charged according to weight is also possible if the Vivaro is licensed as a truck.
Thanks to extensive galvanization and many other carefully designed details, Opel offers a 12-year anti-perforation warranty on the Vivaro, a significant factor in maintaining its re-sale value. Opel dealers can offer a range of highly favorable credit purchase and leasing schemes available to avoid tying up capital when a new Vivaro is purchased.