As it became known, the Opel company decided to return to the territory of Russia. This statement was officially made on March 14, 2019. Due to falling demand and instability in the economic situation, the car manufacturer has curtailed all sales, but now, three years later, Opel cars will again appear in dealerships. According to preliminary data, the official start of sales of new models is scheduled for the 4th quarter of 2019.
According to reliable data, new Opel models will be the first to arrive at dealerships: the new Grandland X crossover, the modern Zafira Life minivan and the Vivaro commercial van. It is worth noting that the last two models, Zafira and Vivaro, will be produced at the Kaluga plant built by the PSA group. Back in 2017, Opel was acquired by the PSA group. This decision was made by the management companies after the loss of sales in Iran, due to US sanctions, as well as a decrease in demand in the Chinese market.
Opel's requests to Russia are not high; they plan to achieve stability in sales by 2022. A similar peak in sales of Opel cars was in 2012 and 2013, then it was possible to sell 80 thousand copies. Comparing the new Opel Zafira Life minivan with the previously famous family compact car, there is nothing in common. These are completely two different cars with different dimensions. The dimensions of the Opel Zafira Life are 4.95 meters in length (5.30 meters for the extended configuration). The wheelbase is 3.28 meters, and the cabin itself is designed for landing 9 passengers. As for the technical characteristics of the Opel Zafira Life, there is very little information. Diesel engines are planned to be installed under the hood of this model. The first BlueHDI, 1.5 liter turbocharged. Such a unit can produce 120 horses, with a maximum torque of 300 Nm. The second engine is also of the BlueHDI family, but with a volume of 2.0 liters. The power of such an engine depends on forcing (it can be 150 or 177 hp), the torque is 370 or 400 Nm, respectively. In a pair of engines, it is proposed to install a 6-speed manual or automatic transmission. The starting price of such an Opel minivan will be about 23,500 euros.
The new crossover Opel Grandland X or as it is also called "Grandland" first saw the world in April 2017 at a special exhibition in Europe. The crossover is 4477 mm long, 1844 mm wide and 1636 mm high. Under the hood, the buyer is offered to install one of two engines, gasoline or diesel.
A 1.2-liter gasoline unit will be able to produce 130 horses and 230 Nm of torque. The 1.6-liter turbocharged diesel engine will deliver 120 horsepower and 300 Nm of torque. Both engines can be equipped with a 6-speed manual or automatic transmission. It is worth noting that the crossover for Russia will only be front-wheel drive. The start of the new Opel crossover will be from 17845 euros.
The latest Opel model to appear on the Russian automotive market is the Vivaro. The model is not new and is well known in the automotive market. The length of the minivan ranges from 4600 to 530 mm, depending on the configuration. The width is 1920 mm and the height is 1940 mm. The buyer can choose from fully passenger, cargo or cargo-passenger options. Unlike other Opel models, the new Vivaro will be offered in Russia only with diesel engines, two different sizes, of the BlueHDI family.
The first unit, with a volume of 1.6 liters, will be able to produce 95 or 115 hp, with a torque of 210 or 300 Nm, respectively. The second engine, with a volume of 2.0 liters, will be able to produce 150 or 177 horses, with a maximum torque of 370 or 400 Nm, respectively. In tandem with the engines, the manufacturer installs three transmission options: 5 or 6-speed mechanics, as well as a 6-speed automatic transmission. The minivan will be driven only to the front axle. As for the price of such a model Opel, the start starts at 22,899 euros.
More details will become known after the start of sales of new Opel models in Russia. Experts do not exclude the option that certain technical characteristics and points will be finalized for the Russian Federation. The weather conditions, the road surface, as well as the picking points, which are in demand, are taken into account.
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