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Opel Vectra Manufacturer General Motors Also called Chevrolet Vectra Holden Vectra Vauxhall Vectra Production 1988–2008 Predecessor Opel Ascona Successor Opel Insignia Class Large family car

Vectra A Production 1988–1995 Body style(s) 4-door saloon 5-door hatchback Platform FF/4WD GM2900 Related Opel Calibra Saab 900 Vauxhall Cavalier

Vectra B Production 1995–2002 Body style(s) 4-door saloon 5-door hatchback 5-door estate Platform FF GM2900 Related Saab 9-3 Saab 9-5 Saturn L-Series

Vectra C Production 2002–2008 Body style(s) 4-door saloon 5-door hatchback 5-door estate Platform FF Epsilon Related Cadillac BLS Chevrolet Malibu Fiat Croma Pontiac G6 Opel Signum Saab 9-3 Saturn Aura

The Opel Vectra is a large family car produced by Opel, the main European subsidiary of General Motors. In the United Kingdom, it is sold as a Vauxhall. It has also been sold in Australasia as a Holden and in Latin America as a Chevrolet, although it has since been replaced in those markets.

The car is produced at the Opel factory in Rüsselsheim, Germany.

Contents 1 Vectra A / Cavalier 2 Vectra B 3 Vectra C 4 Signum 5 Chevrolet Vectra, Holden Vectra and Saturn Aura 6 Criticism 7 Notes 8 External links

The first Vectra, known as the Vectra A, was introduced in 1988 as a saloon and hatchback, replacing the Opel Ascona C. A coupe based on the Vectra, called the Calibra, was also sold. Both cars were designed by then-Opel design chief Wayne Cherry. Vauxhall, the name for GM in the UK, did not use the Vectra name initially, calling the car the Cavalier until 1995.

Engines ranged initially from a 71 PS (52 kW) 1.4 L to a 130 PS (96 kW) 2.0 L Family II.

With the introduction of Euro I emissions regulations, the base model was replaced by a 1.6 L with the same output, while the top of the line was given to a 16-valve version of the 2.0 L engine, which powered the GT (GSI) version and had 150 PS (110 kW). All-wheel drive versions were added to the lineup in 1990, and in 1993, the car received a limited edition turbocharged version with 204 PS (150 kW). The 1.4-litre engine was not available in all markets, and even then, it was only available in basic trims (Base/L in United Kingdom, LS/GL in Europe). A 2.5 litre V6 engine appeared towards the later stages of the Vectra's life, developing 170 PS (125 kW), turning the car into a relaxed motorway cruiser rather than give it sporty pretensions.

There were a choice of two Diesel engines one was an Isuzu 1.7 L Circle-L unit, in both naturally-aspirated and turbocharged form (1686cc), this one capable of achieving 82 PS (60 kW), and a GM designed 1.7 "low blow" turbo-diesel (1699cc), and naturally-aspirated diesel unit, delivering up to 76PS. Both units have a reputation for longevity, especially Isuzu developed units, which were also regarded as some of the most refined diesels available at the time.

The Vectra also received a refreshing in 1993. The Vectra gave birth to a coupé version, the Opel Calibra, which shared the Vectra's underpinnings, including the most powerful engines (115 PS and up) and transmissions.

In New Zealand, the Vectra A was offered initially as an Opel, but it wore Holden badges from 1994. It was not sold in Australia, where Holden instead offered a rebadged Toyota Camry called Apollo until 1997.

In Brazil, the Chevrolet-badged Vectra A was not introduced until 1993, when it replaced the Chevrolet Monza, a restyled version of the last Ascona.

The second model, the Vectra B, was introduced in 1995, and the model range included an estate version for the first time. This model replaced the Vauxhall Cavalier in the UK, and the Holden Apollo in Australia. In 1998, Holden began assembly of the Vectra for export to other right-hand drive markets in the region, although this was aversely affected by the Asian economic crisis, and ended in 2001.

Engines started from the 71 PS (52 kW) 1.6 L, Family 1 but eventually the 8-valve engines were all replaced by 16-valve powerplants. The 2.0 L Family II engine, with 136 PS (100 kW) was developed as a basis for touring car racing, but the top of the line was a 2.5 L V6 with 170 PS (125 kW). Diesel power came once again from Isuzu, but now featured direct injection and a 16-valve head.

In 1999 the Vectra was updated, receiving a mildly modified body (that can be identified by the single piece headlight units and body-coloured bumpers) together with somewhat improved handling characteristics and better equipment.

Sporting limited edition models included the touring car championship inspired i500, Super Touring and GSi. The first model was developed in Germany by Opel Motorsport, with the V6 engine's power increased to 195 PS (143 kW), and the other two were created in Milton Keynes by Motor Sport Developments, the team that run the Vectras in the British Touring Car Championship (BTCC). Only 3900 GSi models were ever produced, mostly in saloon and hatchback guise. With only 317 estate versions produced during this time, they became one of the rarest production Vauxhalls ever.

A related model sold in the United States was the Saturn L-Series, introduced in 2000 but dropped from the lineup in 2005. It was replaced by the 2007 Saturn Aura, which is based on the current Vectra.

Introduced in the summer of 2002, the current model, the Vectra C, is built in Germany and the United Kingdom, and is based on the GM Epsilon platform. It is available as a four-door saloon, while the five-door hatchback, known as the Vectra GTS, is meant to recall cult models from Opel in the past such as the Commodore GTE of the 1970s.

The engine range was substantially modified to account for an increased curb weight. While a 122 PS (90 kW) 1.8  Family 1 Ecotec engine was the base model, a 2.0 L turbocharged Family II engine with 175 PS (129 kW) and a new 3.2 L V6, with 211 PS (155 kW) was also offered. Diesel power, now important for commercial success in Europe, was first provided by Isuzu (a 3.0 L V6 is still retained), but the four-cylinder diesel engines were replaced by Ecotec CDTI (Fiat-designed MultiJet) units with 1.9 L, capable of 150 PS (110 kW), in 2004.

The Vectra received a facelift near the end of 2005, and the V6 engine was replaced by an Australian-built 2.8 V6 Turbo unit, similar to the one used in the Saab 9-3. More importantly, Opel introduced, for the first time, an OPC (VXR in the UK) version the Vectra, available only in the hatchback and estate bodies. Power on the Saab V6 Turbo was increased to 255 PS (188 kW), and maximum speed just falls short of 250 km/h (155 mph).

In the UK, the hatchback is not considered a specialty model. In Australasia, the rebadged Holden Vectra ZC is considered more upmarket, though not to the same extent as in Europe. An estate version, called the Caravan in Germany, was released in 2003.

Sales of the Vauxhall Vectra in the UK have not been as strong as its predecessor's. For much of its production life, the original Vectra was the fourth best selling car in the country, yet the current model has never come higher than eleventh in the country's car sales charts, though it is still the second best selling car in its sector behind the Ford Mondeo.

Based partly on the Vectra C, the Opel Signum is an 'executive hatchback' with a completely different layout in the rear, along with a few more refinements than the Vectra C.

While the Vectra C is sold in Mexico and Chile as a Chevrolet, it is not marketed in Brazil, where a new, locally designed Vectra saloon, based on the current Astra was released in October 2005. This model replaced the Vectra B, which was still available in Brazil until that date. This new model will also be sold in Eastern Europe as Opel Astra . A hatchback version, released in 2007, is basically a clone of the Opel Astra, is sold as the Chevrolet Vectra GT.

Similarly, in Australia and New Zealand, the European-sourced Vectra was dropped and replaced with the Holden Epica, a rebadged Daewoo Tosca in March 2007. Due to stockpiling of 2005 model Vectras for the Australasian market, there was enough supply of the car for deliveries to last through to 2007, as a result facelifted 2006-built Vectra Cs were not sold in those markets.

Sales of the Chevrolet Vectra in Mexico will end after 2007 due to the redesign and the price of the Euro.

The Saturn Aura is based on the Vectra C, with readjustments to be compete better in the North American market, using the long wheelbase variant of the Epsilon Platform.

The old Vauxhall Vectra built from 1995-2002, was vastly criticized during its seven year run. Main criticisms were the uninspiring handling with a severe tendency to understeer, numb steering, poor interior ergonomics and the appalling reliability as demonstrated in satisfaction surveys provided by Auto Express, Top Gear, Which? magazines, as well the generic styling.

When the Vectra was launched, Top Gear's Jeremy Clarkson made what The Independent described as a "characteristically clever" film, which it judged may have damaged its sales.^[1] Clarkson has since described the Vectra as "designed in a coffee break by people who couldn't care less about cars". ^[2]

The old Vauxhall Vectra scored only 89% up to 2 years old breakdown-free over previous 12 months in a satisfaction survey provided by Which? in 2004. Based on the survey results, Which? verdict on the old Vauxhall Vectra was:

"Disappointment on wheels. A slightly depressing driving experience and woeful build quality."

The current model launched in 2002 and face-lifted in 2005, garnered much better reviews and the Estate version even won an award from What Car? magazine in 2007 as "Estate Car of the Year 2007". Handling is reported to be much better than the old car, but reviews still criticise the overlight feel of the steering, complicated indicator switches and the rather ungainly styling of the Saloon version.

1. ^ O'Grady, Sean. "Vroom with a view: The crown prince of petrolheads; Jeremy Clarkson is the self-appointed scourge of the green movement.", The Independent, 2005-09-13. Retrieved on 2007-02-05. "It was a characteristically clever trick, but it didn't do the folks who made that car any favours. The Vectra wasn't the smash hit that Vauxhall hoped it would be." 
2. ^ Jeremy Clarkson. Top Gear 2006-07-16 [TV]. London: BBC. Retrieved on 2007-02-05.

• Official Opel Vectra page
• The vectra owners club
• http://www.vicroads.vic.gov.au/Home/RoadSafety/VehicleSafety/UsedCarSafetyRatings/ Used Car Safety Ratings - Holden Vectra]
• [1]- Car-by-Car breakdown: Vauxhall Vectra (1995-1999)
• [2]- Car-by-Car breakdown: Vauxhall Vectra (1999-2002)

v • d • e Opel, a subsidiary of General Motors, road car timeline, 1980s-present
Type	1980s										1990s										2000s
	0	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	0	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	0	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9
Supermini				Corsa A										Corsa B								Corsa C						Corsa D
Small family car	Kadett C	Kadett D					Kadett E						Astra F							Astra G						Astra H
Large family car	Ascona B		Ascona C							Vectra A								Vectra B						Vectra C					Insignia
																								Signum
Executive car	Rekord E/Commodore C								Omega A							Omega B
Luxury car	Senator A/Monza								Senator B
Sports																Tigra										Tigra TwinTop
	Manta B											Calibra									Speedster							GT
Mini MPV																						Agila A						Agila B
																							Meriva A						Meriva B
Compact MPV																					Zafira A						Zafira B
Large MPV																		Sintra
SUV													Frontera A							Frontera B								Antara
														Monterey
LCVs																Combo A						Combo B
																					Arena					Vivaro
																				Movano