New Opel Antara Premieres At Paris Motor Show

• Antara - elegant 4WD crossover for everyday and leisure use

• Fourth Corsa generation presented to public shortly before market launch

• Vectra OPC now with more power and modified chassis

RÜSSELSHEIM - September 26, 2006: Just one year after the three-door GTC crossover concept car’s enthusiastic reception at the IAA 2005, the production version of the all-new Opel Antara now makes its world premiere at the Paris Motor Show (September 30 to October 15).

Opel Antara

The technologically sophisticated crossover for everyday and leisure use combines dynamic, elegant design with intelligent four-wheel drive and agile handling. At the same time, the Antara boasts generous interior space yet compact dimensions, innovative transport features such as the integrated rear carrier “Flex-Fix”, high levels of functionality and a raised seat position.

Opel Antara

Initially, the Antara is available with a 2.4-liter, 103 kW/140 hp gasoline engine, a 167 kW/227 hp, 3.2-liter V6 gasoline unit or a 2.0-liter, 110 kW/150 hp diesel. Within a few months, this common-rail turbo-diesel unit will be joined by a second version which produces 93 kW/127 hp. Both CDTI engines come with a maintenance-free diesel particulate filter as standard.

Further Opel highlights in Paris are the new Corsa, which enters the market in three and five-door versions in October, and the performance-enhanced Vectra OPC, which now offers even more dynamics with a 280 hp engine and modified chassis. Opel also presents OPC versions of the Astra, Meriva and Zafira in Paris, and provides an overview of its diverse model range, including the Astra GTC with panorama windshield, the Tigra TwinTop and Astra TwinTop cabrio-coupés, as well as the new Opel GT roadster, which will be at dealerships next spring.

This year, the Opel stand is in Hall 5.2, together with all other GM brands in Paris. New Corsa: Exciting, individual and dynamic

Opel Corsa

The new Opel Corsa is presented to the public in Paris shortly before its market launch in October. The fourth model generation boasts exciting design with sporty, athletic contours, a newly developed chassis for driving dynamics and agility at the highest level, as well as a new high-quality interior with plenty of space and feel-good ambience. In addition, the new Corsa is available with new high-tech features such as curve and cornering light, heated steering wheel and variable progressive power steering (Corsa Sport), as well as numerous clever ideas like “Flex-Fix”. The Corsa is available with three gasoline and two common-rail turbo-diesel engines, which all feature four-valve technology. They cover an output range of 60 to 90 hp and have displacements of 1.0 to 1.4 liters. A new 125 hp, 1.7 CDTI engine with diesel particulate filter as standard will follow shortly.

Vectra OPC: Now with 280 hp and modified chassis

The 2007 model editions of the Opel Vectra OPC and Vectra Station Wagon OPC (available from October) are on display for the first time in Paris, and are more attuned to sporty drivers’ demands than ever before. Thanks to an optimized induction system, modified engine components and new correspondingly tuned control software, the 2.8-liter V6 gasoline engine with twin-scroll turbocharger now produces 206 kW/280 hp instead of the previous 188 kW/255 hp. This enables the sedan to accelerate from zero to 100 km/h in just 6.3 seconds (6.5 for station wagon)  an improvement of four-tenths of a second. The more dynamic handling is assisted by the modified spring/shock absorber setting and correspondingly newly tuned IDSPlus2 software. In addition to the optimization of pitch, roll and turn-in characteristics, the difference between the normal chassis setup and the Continuous Damping Control’s (CDC) sport setting, which is activated by the SportSwitch, has been further increased.

The GM press conference at the Paris Motor Show takes place on September 28 at 9 a.m. at the Opel stand in Hall 5.2.