Opel Vivaro and Opel Combo Win Arctic Van Test
FOR RELEASE: March 21, 2002Two Cargo Carriers For All Seasons
- Opel Vivaro and Opel Combo Win Arctic Van Test
- Vivaro takes top honors in field of five in 2.8 tonne class
- Combo small cargo carrier outscores competition in two tonne class
Rüsselsheim/Helsinki.The Opel Vivaro and Combo vans, which have already placed first and second in the international "Van of the Year" competition, also proved themselves to be the best performers in their respective classes under the toughest of winter conditions.
Both the Opel Vivaro and the Combo turned in the highest scores in the tenth "Artic Van Test" held in Lapland in January by the Finnish magazine "Auto, Tekniikka ja Kuljetus" (Auto, Technics and Transport). Journalists from the respected magazine are also European jury members for the "Truck of the Year", "Bus of the Year" and "Van of the Year" competitions.
The Vivaro was declared "Van of the Year, 2002" in Denmark, Ireland and the Netherlands, and in the United Kingdom it carried off the title of "Best New Van" in the "Fleet World Honors 2001" and the Golden Award as the "Best Small Panel Van".
In the Arctic tests, the Vivaro, and its sister model the Renault Trafic, outscored the three other vans reviewed in the 2.8 tonne class. The Combo won in the two tonne class. The trials covered virtually all aspects of vehicle use - to include fuel consumption, heating, payload, and driveability - in temperatures as low as minus 21 degrees Celsius. The test vans all carried 600 kilogram loads over a 1500 kilometer course consisting of city, highway and rural driving. The Vivaro was particularly strong when it came to fuel economy and interior space. In addition to a payload of up to 1200 kilograms and as much as six cubic meters of load space, other outstanding features of the Vivaro range are easy repairs and servicing, which lead to the most favourable insurance rating in its class. Ample performance is assured by two economical 1.9 liter turbocharged diesel engines with common-rail fuel injection (60 kW / 82 hp and 74 kW / 100 hp. And with fuel consumption of only 7.4 liters of diesel per 100 kilometers (MVEG), the economical Vivaro can deliver tours of up to 1200 kilometers without refueling. A 2.0 liter, four cylinder gasoline engine with four valves per cylinder and 88kW / 120 hp will follow this summer. In addition, the Opel Vivaro model range will double in April with the inclusion of a new "Tour" version with up to nine seats and a panel van with a long wheelbase.
The Opel Combo, with a 48 kW / 65 hp direct injection turbodiesel as its basic engine option, led the compact delivery van field in terms of wheelbase (2716 millimeters) and load volume (3200 liters). The versatile Opel Combo also outdid its opponent, which had a diesel induction engine with the same horsepower, when it came to payload (up to 810 kilograms) and trailer load (1.2 metric tons).
The Combo combines the functional efficiency of a city delivery van with the comfort and handling of a passenger car. Economical engines contribute to the Combo's low running costs, extended maintenance intervals and easy-to-repair, service-friendly design. Customers have the choice of a powerful 1.6 liter gasoline engine with 64 kW / 87 hp, and two especially economical ECOTEC turbodiesels with direct-injection, four-valve technology and 1.7 liter displacement (48 kW / 65 hp and 55 kW / 75 hp). Both require only 5.8 liters of diesel fuel per 100 kilometers (MVEG). In addition, the five-seater "Tour" version of the Combo panel van is now also available.