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Opel Omega

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There was also an Oldsmobile Omega, an unrelated vehicle in the 1970s/80s
The Opel Omega was an executive car from Opel, a Germany subsidiary of General Motors. Replacing the Opel Rekord in 1986, it was voted European Car of the Year for 1987. Like the Rekord, the Omega was produced at Rüsselsheim in Germany. There were two generations of the model, the latter (Omega B) debuted in 1993. The Omega was available as sedan or estate (Caravan).

In the United Kingdom, the Omega A was marketed as Vauxhall Carlton, and the Omega B generation as Vauxhall Omega. The Omega was also built and sold in Brazil badged as a Chevrolet Omega and Suprema (Caravan), but this name is now used for imported Holden Commodores. A badge engineered version of the Omega B MV6 was also sold in North America under the name of Cadillac Catera.

In the UK, the Omega is best known as a police car. Following the ending of production the direct Vauxhall equivalent which is used by police forces is the Vauxhall Vectra (the post-2003 "C" model). The car also been converted into limousines and hearses for use at funerals.

Production of the Omega ceased in 2003. There was no direct replacement for it, but the Vectra Caravan and Signum can be said to have partially taken over the role of the Caravan and the limousine, respectively.

Contents

Omega A

Development

The original Omega was launched in late 1986 (production started in September) as a replacement for the Opel Rekord, which had been in production since 1978. The body was designed as an evolution of the previous Opel design theme engineered more towards aerodynamics in view of higher fuel prices and the general drive towards more fuel efficiency. The result was a remarkable drag coefficient of 0.28 (0.32 for the Caravan). The whole development program cost 2 Billion Deutschmark.

The Omega A was available in saloon and estate (Caravan) bodystyles as a competitor for the likes of the Ford Scorpio and Rover 800. Like the late Rekord, the Omega A adopted the Vauxhall Carlton nameplate for the British market. The Rekord-based Opel Senator A was also superseded by the Senator B, based on a similar concept - a stretched Omega platform and body along with some unique sheetmetal modifications.

Technical novelties

Compared to the Rekord, the Omega featured many modern technological advances, which were new to Opel in general, if not to the volume segment European automotive market. These included electronic engine management, ABS, on-board computer (which displayed parameters such as momentary fuel consumption or average speed), air-conditioned glove compartment and even the then-fashionable LCD instrument cluster (available in some version from 1987 but dropped in 1991). More importantly, the Omega came with a self-diagnose system (which is now a standard feature in present-day cars), whose output could be read by appropriately equipped authorized service stations.

Facelift

For the 1991 season, the Omega A was afforded a facelift, which encompassed slight alterations to front and rear fascias, as well as interior matrials and additional sound dampening. The until-then base 1.8 L engine was dropped.

Trim levels and special versions

Pre-facelift

The four basic trim levels were LS, GS, GLS and CD (from least to most expensive). The base LS was clearly intended for the fleet market, with the sedan not available to individual customers in some markets. The LS Caravan was also available as a panel van with rear side windows covered with body-colored foil rather than replaced by solid panels.

Omega 3000

Omega Diamant

Omega Edition '88

Omega Serie Sportive

Omega Club

Post-facelift

After the facelift, the LS and GLS trim levels were dropped, while the CD was joined by Club and CD Diamant.

Omega 24V

Factory modifications

Omega Evolution 500

Lotus Omega/Carlton

In 1989, a high performance Opel Lotus Omega/Vauxhall Lotus Carlton was introduced with a 3.6 L six-cylinder unit and a top speed of 175 mph (282 km/h), making it one of the fastest four-door cars ever produced.

6-door Omega

Powertrains

The new Omega, was also rear-wheel drive and came with either a five-speed manual or four-speed automatic transmission. The engine ranged comprised of 1.8 L, 2.0 L and 2.4 L four-cylinder units (2.0 L and 2.3 L Diesel, 2.3 L turbodiesel) to 2.6 L, 3.0 L and 3.0 L-24v six-cylinder units.

Chevrolet Omega

See main article: Chevrolet Omega

Holden Commodore

See main article: Holden Commodore

Conversions and modifications by external companies

Opel Omega B

The 1994 Vauxhall/Opel Omega was an all-new car with a modern exterior design but a traditional rear-wheel drive chassis. The engine range was all-new: Four cylinder engines were a 2.0 L petrol and a 2.5 L BMW-sourced turbo-diesel which were reasonably refined and gave acceptable performance. But the V6 engines (2.5 L and 3.0 L) were a far better bet. The top of the range Omega, with the 3.0 L V6, was the most expensive Vauxhall/Opel on the market at £30,000. Transmission options were a 5 speed manual or 4 speed automatic GM_4L30-E_transmission.

From 1997 to 2001, the top three L saloon was sold in the US as a captive import badged as the Cadillac Catera. The Omega platform was also heavily modified and enlarged as the basis of the Australian Holden Commodore (from 1997).

Late in 1999 the Omega received a facelift and a 2.2 L 16-valve engine was added to the range as an eventual replacement for the 2.0 L. The following year, a 3.2 L 'MV6' engine replaced the 3.0 L V6 unit, and a 2.6 L engine replaced the 2.5 L V6 unit.

During this time, the Omega found itself without any real competition. The demise of the Ford Scorpio (the Omega's biggest rival) left Vauxhall unable to decide where to focus the Omega. Other brands that had competed in this area had largely left the market, leaving the Omega to take on the likes of the BMW 5 Series.

Despite a strong showing, the Omega was never a serious rival to the 5 Series. Production of the Omega B finally ceased in 2003, at which point it was replaced by the Vectra-based Opel Signum.

References

External links

Opel AG
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