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The Opel Tigra is a small coupe produced by Opel (a subsidiary of General Motors Corporation) based on its Corsa supermini. It was originally available as a small coupé, produced from 1994 to 2000, with a new roadster model introduced in 2004. The Opel Tigra is sold in the UK as the Vauxhall Tigra, in Australia as the Holden Tigra, and was sold in Brazil and Mexico as the Chevrolet Tigra.
The Tigra was based on the concept car of the same name and built on the platform of the second generation Opel Corsa. However, it shared no body panels with the model it was based on, and the interior layout was different too, with a 2+2 seating arrangement. The production vehicle was introduced at the 1993 Frankfurt Motor Show, with production starting in early 1994.
The Tigra was available with two petrol engines options, both from the Ecotec family, a more affordable 1.4 L with 90 PS (66 kW), and a larger sportier version, powered by the 1.6 L engine with 106 PS (78 kW), sourced from the Corsa GSi. Both were DOHC 16 valve engines with electronic fuel injection. The smaller engine was available with an optional 4-speed automatic gearbox.
Added to the mass-market underpinnings was a suspension tweaked by Lotus. However, the car was overweight, with 150 kg (330 lb) over the equivalent engined Corsa models. Acceleration on the 1.6 L model was 10.5 seconds, one second slower than the Corsa GSi. However, a higher top speed of 203 km/h (126 mph) compensated for its acceleration troubles. This speed increase was obtained thanks to the higher gear ratios, a lower drag coefficient of 0.31, and standard 15″ wheels on the more powerful model.
The car was imported by Chevrolet and sold as the Chevrolet Tigra in Brazil and Mexico, and as the Vauxhall Tigra in the United Kingdom. Due to its extremely high price when compared to similar competitors, and much lower performance, the car was a failure in Mexico. Very few copies survive.
The Brazilian Chevrolet Tigra was imported only for a few months, between late 1998 to early 1999, due to a sudden depreciation of the Real, which forced General Motors do Brasil to end importation. Only the 1.6 L model was imported, detuned to 99 PS (73 kW) for tax purposes. The 15″ wheels were also exchanged for more affordable 14″ wheels.
After an absence of a four years, Opel resurrected the Tigra nameplate in 2004 for a new sports car based on the Corsa C. The Tigra Twin Top, as it was called, is a 2-seater coupé convertible with a retractable hardtop in the fashion of the Peugeot 206 CC. The Tigra is produced by French coachbuilder Heuliez.
Like its predecessor, the Tigra Twin Top is available with two petrol-powered engines. The base model uses the 1.4 L engine with 90 PS (66 kW), but now from the Twinport family, different from the previous generation’s 1.4, while the top of the range uses the Ecotec 1.8 L from the Corsa GSi, with 125 PS (92 kW). An economic version, using Fiat’s Multijet 1.3 Diesel engine, was introduced in 2005.
The second generation is marketed in Australasia as the XC-series Holden Tigra, only with the 1.8 L engine.

The Opel Zafira is a compact MPV produced by Opel, a General Motors subsidiary. The Zafira is branded as Opel, Vauxhall, Holden and Chevrolet, depending on the market. In Japan, the Zafira was sold as Subaru Traviq.
The Zafira has seven seats arranged in 3 rows, the back row of which can be folded away easily to create more space, individually or together. At the time of its introduction, this was considered revolutionary, with most similar cars requiring that extra seats are physically removed from the vehicle if not required. The system was named Flex 7. However, older similar vehicles included a similar system, for example, the 2nd generation Mitsubishi Space Wagon.
The car first appeared in 1999, and a second generation model was introduced in 2005.
The first generation of Zafira is usually referred to as Zafira A, as is customary for Opel models. The car was based on the same platform as the 1998 Astra G/B and shared much in common with that car. The Zafira A body was used in GM’s concept hydrogen-powered fuel cell vehicle the HydroGen3.
The Zafira A was replaced by Zafira B in Europe and Japan from 2005, but is still sold in most other markets, except for Australia and New Zealand, where the model was cancelled altogether.
The Zafira comes with a variety of engines adopted from the Astra. For Europe, there was a CNG-powered version and a 200 hp turbocharged version by the Opel Performance Center. In Brazil, the Zafira is also available with a flexible fuel engine.
European versions of the Zafira had these engines:
The Zafira B debuted in Europe in 2004, and sales started in 2005. It also shares the platform and mechanicals with the Astra, this time the H/C model.
In February 2006, Zafira B was launched in Singapore. By March 2006, the model had only been introduced in Europe, Singapore and Japan, superseding the previous Zafira and the Subaru Traviq, respectively. In April in Mexico and later in September 2006 in Chile, this model was introduced, branded as Chevrolet Zafira.
In Mexico the Zafira was discontinued after the 2006 model year due to poor sales, and replaced by the 5-passenger Chevrolet HHR.
It has so far been a huge sales success in the UK, proving even more popular than its predecessor. In 2006 it was the UK’s tenth best selling new car, proving more popular than the Vectra that just eight years earlier had been the brand’s best selling product.
The Zafira B’s engine lineup is partly adopted from the previous Astra/Zafira generation, but Opel replaced the old 2.0 and 2.2 turbodiesel engines with 1.9 L common-rail turbodiesels developed by FIAT (Multijet). Opel Performance Center developed a turbocharged 240 hp 2.0 L performance version of the Zafira B as well. A CNG (Compressed Natural Gas) version of the new Zafira with a 1.6 L engine is also available.
Zafira B’s marketed in Europe are equipped with the following engines:

The Opel Vectra is a large family car produced by Opel, the German subsidiary of General Motors. In the United Kingdom, it is sold as a Vauxhall and as a Holden in Australasia. The Chevrolet brand has been applied for Latin American markets, although it has since been replaced there.
Since 2003, Opel has manufactured the Signum, which is based partly on the Vectra C. Marketed an “executive hatchback”, it features a completely different layout in the rear, along with a few more refinements than the Vectra C.
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, GM’s British subsidiary which shared most of its models with Opel, did not call this model “Vectra” but rather marketed it as the Cavalier.
Engines ranged initially from a 75 PS (55 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 (1686 cc), this one capable of achieving 82 PS (60 kW), and a GM designed 1.7 “low blow” turbo-diesel (1699 cc), and naturally-aspirated diesel unit, delivering up to 68 PS (67 hp/50 kW). 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 refresh 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.
In Egypt, the Opel Vectra A was not introduced until 1994 through GM Egypt Dealerships, and started production in late 1994 by GM Egypt through early 1996 with a range of 1.6 GL ,2.0 GL trim and 2.0 GLS trim and only Saloon body style boosting strong sales in Egypt during this short run in Egypt .
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.
The Vectra B suffered high levels of criticism, particularly within the UK. Criticisms included uninspiring handling, numb steering, poor interior ergonomics and the somewhat poor reliability as demonstrated in satisfaction surveys provided by Auto Express, Top Gear, & Which? magazines. David Morley of the Australian motoring site Drive.com.au noted that some Vectras suffered from ‘Silly Electrical Problems.’
Again In Egypt, the production of the Opel Vectra Continued this time with the Vecta B in mid-1996 with two models intially, a 1.6l 8v GLS trim with manual transmission and a 2.0l 16v CD trim with automatic transmission, later in 2000 the revised model was produced with three models 1.6 16v GLS trim with automatic transmission, 2.0 16v CD trim with automatic transmission, and a 2.0 CDX trim automatic transmission and all with saloon body style, finally in 2002 the production of the Opel Vectra stopped in Egypt in favor for the production of the Opel Corsa Sedan and Opel Astra Sedan.
Built over the GM Epsilon platform the Opel Vectra C of 2002 was initially available as a four-door sedan and a five-door hatchback, known as the GTS. A five-door station wagon was added in 2003, along with an “executive hatchback” sold under the Signum nameplate. The Signum, which is based partly on the Vectra C features a completely different layout in the rear.
The engine range was substantially modified to account for an increased curb weight. While a 90 kW (121 hp) 1.8 litre Family 1 Ecotec engine was reserved for the base model, a 2.0 litre turbocharged Family II engine with 129 kW (173 hp) was also offered, along with a new 3.2 litre V6, with 155 kW (208 hp). Diesel power, which by now was an important for commercial success in Europe, is provided by an Isuzu-sourced 3.0 litre V6 outputting 132 kW (177 hp), but the four-cylinder diesel engine was replaced in 2004 by a Fiat-designed 1.9 litre Ecotec CDTI engine capable of outputting 110 kW (148 hp). 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 sedan version.
The Vectra received a facelift near the end of 2005, and the V6 engine was replaced by an Australian-built a turbocharged 2.8 litre High Feature V6 unit. More importantly, Opel introduced, for the first time, an OPC version the Vectra was launched, using the VXR name in the United Kingdom. These high-performance variants were available only in the hatchback and station wagon bodies. In the United Kingdom, the power on the High Feature engine was increased to 188 kW (252 hp), and maximum speed just falls short of 250 km/h (155 mph). In Australia and New Zealand, the Holden Vectra ZC series was dropped and replaced with the Holden Epica, a badge-engineered Daewoo Tosca in 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 Vectra Cs were not sold in those markets.[citation needed]
Sales of the Vectra in the United Kingdom 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 Vectra C has never come higher than tenth in the country’s car sales charts, though it is still the second best selling car in its sector behind the Ford Mondeo. In 2007, it finally made the top 10 of Britain’s car sales charts, being the nation’s tenth most popular new car with over 50,000 sales, outselling the Ford Mondeo for the first time since 1999. Also in 2007, the station wagon variant garnered the Estate Car of the Year 2007 award by What Car? magazine.
While the Vectra C is sold in Mexico and Chile as the Chevrolet Vectra, it is not marketed in Brazil, where a new, locally designed Chevrolet Vectra sedan, based on the Astra H was released in October 2005.

Astra is a model-name which has been used by Vauxhall, the British subsidiary of General Motors (GM), on their small family car ranges since 1979. Astras are technically essentially identical with similar vehicles offered by GM’s German subsidiary Opel in most other European countries. For the first two generations, the nameplate was applied to UK spec right-hand drive versions of Opel Kadett (which it was sold as in the Republic of Ireland in right-hand drive), and since 1991, Opel also uses the Astra nameplate, so Vauxhall and Opel Astras are essentially identical vehicles. General Motors’ Saturn division in America also offers the Astra since late 2007.
The Astra name originated with Vauxhall’s 1979 model, though the car was designed and built a year earlier in Germany as an Opel Kadett. This model replaced the Vauxhall Viva in the UK, along with some versions of the Vauxhall Chevette. However, the Chevette remained available for several years afterwards until the Vauxhall Nova was launched. The Astra was Vauxhall’s first model to have front wheel drive.
Production began at Opel’s West German plant at Bochum in August 1979, and the first British customers took delivery of their cars in February 1980.
The car featured a new unified engine for Vauxhall/Opel, featuring an all-aluminium head, overhead camshaft and hydraulic valve lifters. The engine was a huge leap forward from the earlier generation of small engines used in Vauxhall and Opel cars in terms of power, economy and refinement. It was initially available in 1300 and 1600 forms, and later an 1800 fuel-injected version was added, used in the Mk 1 Astra GTE model, introduced in 1983. This version of the Astra was a quick and stylish alternative to the Ford Escort XR3, Volkswagen Golf GTI and Fiat Strada 105TC.
Vauxhall now had a serious rival for the Volkswagen Golf at just about every level, and it quickly became popular with buyers. A 1200cc version which used the older Opel OHV engine was also available.
There were three bodystyles for the first generation Vauxhall Astra, hatchback, so-called “saloon”, and estate, all available with two or four side doors. The saloons were styled exactly like the hatchbacks, except for a different rear window above a bootlid; from the side they looked almost indistinguishable from the hatchback, with no protruding notch at the rear. Not all trim levels were available with all body styles.
There was also a van version which was badged the Bedford Astravan — the Bedford brand at that time being used for GM’s commercial vehicles in Britain. Unlike the previous Opel T-Car, no Coupé was offered.
Production of the MK1 Astra took place in West Germany initially, with production moving to Britain some two years later on 16 November 1981.
Sales of this first Astra were strong, and gave Vauxhall a much-needed boost in the small family car sector after several years of declining sales with the Viva HC. It soon overtook the Austin Allegro as Britain’s second most popular small family car, although it was still a long way behind the Ford Escort in terms of sales success.

Versions available were:
The Mark 2 Astra used the same range of engines and running gear as the Mark 1, but with a completely restyled body with better aerodynamics.
Long-lived, the Mark 2 was available in estate, hatchback, saloon and cabriolet versions. The saloon was launched in January 1986 and sold as the Vauxhall Belmont; this trend to brand saloon models independently of the hatchback was also used by other manufacturers of the period, with examples including the Ford Orion and the Volkswagen Jetta. However, this strategy was mostly unsuccessful, as this was Vauxhall’s only attempt at badging its hatchback-based saloon as a separate model, and Ford had rebadged its Orion range as Escorts by 1994.
Just under 7000 cabriolets were built by Bertone from 1987 to 1992. These came in 1.6 and 2-litre GTE variants, the latter being available with powered roofs and electric windows. These cars are praised for their shake-free shells and their looks.
A new GTE using a 2 L fuel injected engine was also introduced, and early models of these featured an all electronic dash with digital speedometer. This was largely received as a gimmick, and later models reverted to traditional analogue instrumentation. Vauxhall’s twin-camshaft version of the engine, the C20XE, had a high performance version of the GTE created around it. This engine developed 156 hp in standard form, giving sprightly performance, though a common criticism is that the handling was never good enough for the engine. The limited-edition “Champion” Astras from 1990 were fitted with the same C20XE “redtop” engines (so called because of their red spark plug cover), along with Connolly Leather interiors. Towards the end of its production run, sporty models were not designated as “GTE” but were instead designated “GSI”.
This model formed the basis of the Daewoo Cielo, Racer, Nexia and LeMans, and its export versions, the Asüna SE (Canada), Asüna GT (Canada), Passport Optima (Canada) and Pontiac LeMans (Canada, New Zealand and USA).
The second generation Vauxhall Astra, sold in the rest of Europe as the Opel Kadett, was voted European Car of the Year for 1985. It sold well in the UK, and although it was never able to outsell the Ford Escort, it came closer than any other similar-sized car to achieving this.
The two most stolen cars in Britain in 2005 were the Vauxhall Belmont and the Vauxhall Astra Mark 2. More than 1 in 13 Belmonts were stolen.
The Mark 3 model was essentially an evolution of the Mark 2, rather than a redesign.
This generation was the first to be called Astra by Opel as well as Vauxhall, and the first to also be sold by Holden. The Astra F was released in 1991. With the Kadett E’s successor, Opel adopted the Astra nameplate, which was already used by Vauxhall for the Kadett D and E (see Vauxhall Astra). It was offered as a three or five-door hatchback, a saloon (sedan), and an estate (wagon), known as the Caravan. A cabriolet was also offered, designed and built by Bertone in Italy.
The model was launched in South Africa in 1992, where it was produced under licence by Delta Motor Corporation. However, the Kadett name was retained for the Astra hatchback until 1999, which included a variant with a 2.0 L turbocharged engine called the 200TS, unique to that market. Saloon and estate models were offered under the Astra name. Controversially, the Kadett and Astra in South Africa won the title of ‘Car of the Year’ in two consecutive years (1992 and 1993) even though they were versions of the same car. South African nomenclature was denoted in decilitres, so the Astra and Kadett ranges featured 140, 160i, 180i and 200i models.
The Astra also became available in Australasia badged as a Holden, first in New Zealand in 1995, and then Australia in 1996. The first models were imported from the UK, but the current model is imported from Belgium. The original Holden Astra was originally a rebadged Nissan Pulsar, first sold in Australia in the mid-1980s.
The Astra F consisted of two main revisions and was revised in 1995, with the launch of Opel’s new Ecotec engine. For a short period, a submodel which consisted of parts from both revisions was produced. The submodel used all the new Ecotec running gear, but many parts from the previous revision were used in order to use up leftover parts. Other main changes included mildly-altered exterior styling, and availability of new specification models.
Aside from the South Africa-only 200TS, the lead model was the GSi - a petrol model powered by a 147bhp 2.0 16v engine (C20XE, also named ‘Redtop’, because the red L-shaped spark plug cover), or 1.8l 16v petrol injected model with 124bhp available as a 3-door only. It also featured sports bodykit and interior. The GSi ceased production in 94 but was then too updated in 1997, with the engine being replaced for a lower-powered but more modern ‘Ecotec’ version (2.0l 16v with 134bhp)the bodykit was slightly altered on these models - a longer rear spoiler with integrated brake light, fluted side skirts, a bonnet without vents, and removal of the GSi16v badging from the bumper and tailgate (replaced by the later chrome effect Vauxhall Astra 2.0 16v badging).
The Astra F was phased out in the spring of 1998 after almost seven years on sale. However in Hungary, the Opel Astra Classic 1 was produced from 1998 - 2002 later replaced by the Astra Classic 2. The Mk3 was the first of the “Astra Classic’s” This means the Astra Mk3 holds a mighty production span of 11 years; more than any other Astra.
In the UK, Vauxhall offered the following trim levels (and in some cases, engine size):
The car also had ’special edition’ badging, which indicated special trim:
In later Sport and GSI models (from 1995 onwards) Lotus Sprung Suspension was used to give better ride.
Many British police forces use the Astra as a workhorse, used for simple duties and sometimes for pursuits, if the high powered divisional area car is unable to respond as rapidly as they can be dispatched. The Metropolitan Police Service use a collection of the MK IV and MK V Astras, mostly as of 2007, the mark in popular use is the Mark V, these are used as Incident Response Vehicles (IRVs) and are commonly seen on the roads of London.
The MK1 Astra was a strong seller in the UK and quickly established itself as Britain’s second most popular small family car, but was never able to match the runaway sales success of the Ford Escort.
The MK2 Astra was a bigger seller than its predecessor, though again it failed to match the Ford Escort in terms of sales success. It further widened the gap between Vauxhall and rival products from Austin Rover, although the combined sales of ARG’s Rover 200 and Austin Maestro ranges were often at least a match for the Astra’s total sales.
The MK3 Astra took Vauxhall from strength to strength in the small family car market, and further narrowed the gap with the Ford Escort.
The MK4 Astra was also a huge success, and by 2001 it was the second best selling car in Britain overall.
The MK5 has so far been the most successful version of the Astra. It was Britain’s second-best selling car in 2005, 2006 and 2007, further narrowing the gap between itself and the market-leading Ford Focus.

Vauxhall Combo Tour, Manual 5Spd MPV NCV, 5 doors

The Opel Meriva is a mini MPV based on the platform of the third generation Opel Corsa and sold under that name on all of the European markets with the exception of the UK, where it is called the Vauxhall Meriva. It is also sold in Brazil, Mexico and Argentina under the Chevrolet marque. It is built in São Caetano do Sul, Brazil by General Motors do Brasil and in Zaragoza, Spain, by Opel. It first appeared in late 2002.
The Meriva is available with petrol and turbodiesel engines ranging from 1.3 L to 1.8 L, with power going from 70 PS (51 kW) to 125 PS (92 kW). The base model is also available with an Easytronic sequential manual transmission.
In Argentina there are several versions available:
Like its bigger sibling, the Zafira, the Meriva has a flexible interior, named FlexSpace. Although it only has five seats in two rows, the second row can be moved forward and backwards, or pushed into the floor, making a straight platform for increased boot space. The second row can accommodate two or three passengers. In the two-passenger mode, the seats are separated from the doors and from each other much like the front seats. In three-passenger mode the back seat looks like a regular one piece seat. The front seat can be pushed fully backwards while the rear passengers can still get more than a decent amount of leg room. It has a generous trunk that can be further extended pushing the back seats into the floor.
The Meriva has a split A-pillar; this can create some blind spots for driver visibility.
An all new Meriva is expected to debut in late 2009 as a 2010 model based on the SCCS version of the GM Gamma platform. There are rumors that it may be brought to North America as a Saturn model .
The Chevrolet Meriva was dropped after 2007 due to declined sales.
Russian Opel Club
“Spied: Opel/Saturn Meriva prototypes hit the track”, Left Lane News, April 17, 2008, accessed April 19, 2008

The Opel Antara is a mid-size crossover SUV produced in South Korea by GM Daewoo, but sold under the Opel brand. Launched in 2007, the Antara is based on the GM Theta platform which shares its underpinnings and powertrains with the Daewoo Winstorm. However, it has a different exterior and interior design, along with different exterior dimensions. In the United Kingdom, the car is sold as the Vauxhall Antara. In Australia and New Zealand the car is known as the Holden Captiva MaXX, and in North America as the Saturn VUE. In the Middle East, the vehicle is sold as the GMC Terrain, and as the Chevrolet Captiva in Mexico.
The Antara was first previewed by the three-door Opel Antara GTC (”Gran Turismo Crossover”) concept car, presented at the 2005 Frankfurt Motor Show. The Antara GTC is based on the five-seater Chevrolet T2X concept. A similar two-door concept was later displayed at the New York International Auto Show as the Saturn PreVue. The production Antara, is however a longer four-door seven-seater vehicle very similar to the Chevrolet S3X and its derivative Winstorm.