Next Omega or next Vectra?

[hallgeir]

What do you think?
New Omega? http://www.worldcarfans.com/spyphoto...omega-for-2006

Or new Vectra? http://www.autozeitung.de/index.php?...ews&itemid=162

Isn`t this the same model, only in different colour?

[Bill Hoffmann]

...or new Saturn Aura:

http://www.saturn.com/saturn/vehicle...cles/index.jsp

[opelwasp]

the opel is going to come with a corvette v8??
hold onto you knickers it is gonna be a blast.

[GoinManta]

Originally Posted by opelwasp the opel is going to come with a corvette v8?? hold onto you knickers it is gonna be a blast.

Yep already one available in the US... Sort of via Australia..

The Pontiac GTO

Anyone else notice more and more the Opel/Saturn Synergy is getting closer and closer to the that of Holden and Vauxhall?

Could REAL Opels be far behind rebadged as Saturns?

[Bill Hoffmann]

The 2003 Saturn LW300 I drive (based on the previous generation Vectra wagon) is mechanically all Opel as far as I can tell, aside from the logo on the intake manifold. Everything under the hood is made in Germany, the brakes have familiar hardware, the rear brake pads appear so close to the Opel front pads I think they might fit (I've only changed the front pads so far). The main differences are cosmetic, as it uses polymer fenders and door skins, and the instrument panel has a Saturn look.

It has features not typically found on domestic GM cars, like a variable plenum intake manifold, and drive-by-wire throttle. The latter allows the smoothest acting rev limiter you've ever seen - it just stops accelerating when you reach 6500 RPM, more like a cruise control. The alloy wheels are virtually identical to ones I've seen on Saabs. The heated leather seats are one of my favorite features - the heat is literally switched on from fall to spring.

I've heard a few people criticize the car, but I think they mostly base that on things they've heard, like poor sales figures, rather than actually driving the car. It was GM's last decent sized wagon, but Saturn never properly marketed it, and promoted the Vue instead. I don't want an SUV, so the LW300 was my only practical choice from GM. Having driven it over three years I think the L Series was GM's best kept secret. If Saturn becomes a store selling nothing but rebadged Opels, I'm O.K. with it. I just wonder why they didn't just build/import Opels as their "new" brand in the first place.

[baz]

if thats the quad cam v6 then you have a vectra B

those motors can be fitted to a rwd box from an omega and have a ton of power

[hallgeir]

Originally Posted by Bill Hoffmann ...or new Saturn Aura: http://www.saturn.com/saturn/vehicle...cles/index.jsp

That looks similar to the Vectra C

[Dracula]

The picture presenting the "New Omega" is a fake and the text is also written by some stupid kids. Its not the first time that the worldcarfans/germanfancars site is making such mistakes.
Omega as Opel model is history , no Opel will come out with this name in the future. If there would be another Opel bigger than Vectra/Signum that would happend earlyest in 2010 and it will be a crossover build on a GM wolrld platform.

GM Europe has announced that Opel models will have no more than 4 cilynders in the future , the only V6 (2.8 litres) will come from Holden. The last Opel with V8 engine was the 2000 Omega B and it was stopped from production a couple of weeks before beginning. Sadly some people had already signed contracts for buying such models and they recived letters announcing GM's last minute choice.

The original picture , a 2003 prototype named Opel Insignia:

[Bill Hoffmann]

Originally Posted by baz if thats the quad cam v6 then you have a vectra B those motors can be fitted to a rwd box from an omega and have a ton of power

Yes, it's the 3.0 liter 24 valve V6, the same basic engine used in the Catera (Omega), although it's "detuned" to 182 hp vs. 200 in the Cadillac. It is a very smooth, free revving engine, and pulls strong to the redline. I do have a sense that it has greater performance potential.

I'm not familiar enough with the Vectra to know if it's based on the B or C. If the C is GM's Epsilon chassis shared with the Saab 9-3, then it must be a B.

Here are a couple more shots.

[Bill Hoffmann]

This is a letter he wrote to Autoweek, published April 3, 2006:

THE BOSS ISN’T PLEASED
The Opel GT (“Swiss Spotlight,” March 13) is not supposed to be different from the Saturn Sky. Far from being an emergency, last-minute badge-job, as you imply, this is merely the first manifestation of our announced strategy of design and engineering sharing between Opel and Saturn.

Going forward, Saturns and Opels will differ only in badge and perhaps some invisible regulatory compliance parts. The GT’s design was initiated in General Motors Europe (Vauxhall Lightning concept), refined for production feasibility in General Motors North America and intended from the outset to serve on both sides of the Atlantic. It’s an early example of the complementary, non-duplicative global product development strategy at work. Sadly, your writer could not resist the “sausage machine” cheap shot. Bob Lutz, General Motors

[baz]

Originally Posted by Bill Hoffmann The GT’s design was initiated in General Motors Europe (Vauxhall Lightning concept), refined for production feasibility in General Motors North America

ah well that means the european suspension settings will not be on it

[Bill Hoffmann]

Originally Posted by baz ah well that means the european suspension settings will not be on it

Maybe, or maybe not. Sometimes two suspensions are offered. In the case of my Saturn there was a "sport-tuned suspension" option. I suspect that it was just the European springs and dampers, and the "standard" option was a softened version for mainstream American tastes (and roads).

[milu]

Opel Vectra 2006 model
The new Vectra models are on the starting grid: sales of the new versions of the successful Opel mid-size models will start September 17, shortly after they premiere at the International Motor Show (IAA) in Frankfurt. Highlights include a completely new, striking face in dynamic Opel design language, an extensively modified engine range with a brand new, top-of-the-line 230 hp 2.8-liter V6 turbo unit, as well as an array of unique technical features. The new Vectra and Signum models also feature new chassis tuning including optimized steering precision for more distinctive driving dynamics with improved comfort. The IDSPlus (Interactive Driving System) chassis with electronic CDC (Continuous Damping Control) is still unique in this class and now also available with the 2.2 Direct engine. Also best-in-class: bi-xenon headlamps with curve and cornering light (AFL - Adaptive Forward Lighting), as well as the maintenance-free diesel particulate filter system fitted as standard with all diesel variants, including the new 100 hp 1.9 CDTI. Additional features include a state-of-the-art cellular phone console with Bluetooth technology, and the innovative Trailer Stability Assist, which prevents dangerous yawing of the car-trailer combination.
Details and Pictures

[jlthunder]

Originally Posted by Bill Hoffmann The 2003 Saturn LW300 I drive (based on the previous generation Vectra wagon) is mechanically all Opel as far as I can tell, aside from the logo on the intake manifold. The alloy wheels are virtually identical to ones I've seen on Saabs.

I have an 01 Saab and yes those are the wheels which are on my Saab. This is good because I'm looking for some extra wheels and this gives me more options.

Jeff