And when did the change over take place?
In other words what is Vauxhalls current executive car?
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The Omega has been replaced by the Signum, it's been out for a couple of years i think but it's not the most popular vehicle on the roads.
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most popular vehicle on the roads
Which makes it even more attractive and cheaper come 12 months old. A sound motor with the right engine and kit.
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I've previously posted this, but anyway,
apparantly a new Omega is due out in 2006.
www.germancarfans.com/spyphotos.cfm/spyphotoid/604...l
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Dave, I do recall your posting this article before, but I've never seen any toher article pointing towards a new Omega, despite our being within three months of its supposed launch year.
Has anyone else heard any news of a new Saloon Exec car from Vauxhall? I do not consider the pumped-up Astra known as the Signum to be the one for me.
V
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I always assumed that GM were taking the Ford route so that executive cars would be marketed via the premium brand, treating Saab as GM's equivalent to Volvo.
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Dave, I do recall your posting this article before, but I've never seen any toher article pointing towards a new Omega, despite our being within three months of its supposed launch year.
It *may* well only be a concept car and the actual model - if ever produced might look slightly different.
Anyway, if you goto google, and type in "2005 Frankfurt Auto show" omega
eg,
2005 Geneva Motor Show
motortrend.com/autoshows/coverage/112_05gen_cadbls/
General Motors showed an Opel Omega-based concept called the BLS.
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So really then they don't actually have a saloon exec at the moment, because this signum is an Astra?
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The Signum is effectively a Vectra with a different lid on it and one fewer seats I think.
I was also under the impression that "volume" manufacturers had decided to call it a day on the executive car market, and use their "prestige" brands for that purpose ala Saab, Volvo etc. Only VW don't seem to have got the hang of it. Phaeton anyone? In the US the Japanese manufacturers have been doing it for years. Toyota have Lexus, Honda have Acura, Nissan have Infiniti and so on.
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Life is complex; it has real and imaginary parts.
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The Signum is nothing to do with an Astra.
It's identical to the Vectra from the front back to the B-posts but uses the extended wheelbase platform from the Vectra Estate. In reality it's just a 4th bodywork version of the Vectra.
The current Vectra has as much room as the Omega had, even more in the Estate, because GM Europe realised that the premium market's no longer about large cars.
Whether any new GM model uses the Omega name will remain to be seen but the old Omega has already been replaced by the existing Vectra / Signum ranges.
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The Signum's a hatchback though. What if you want a saloon?
I've never once seen a quick Vectra in Saloon guise. Are the GSi's reserved solely for the hatches?
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Very few Vectra's are sold in the UK as saloons- about 5%, unlike the rest of Europe, so you won't see very many full stop.
There's not a lot of difference (apart from the obvious) between hatch and saloon on the Vectra unlike most other cars where the hatch is significantly shorter and smaller in the boot than the saloon.
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Looking at Vauxhall web site they mention a couple of concept cars and this extract seems relevant to the conversation.
The Insignia concept is a clear demonstration of the confidence and creativity in design which is now emanating from Vauxhall. In addition to its progressive and dynamic design, Insignia features a number of innovations including extensive use of LED lighting technology and pantograph-action doors and tailgate.
Kevin Wale, Vauxhall chairman and managing director, commented: "The Insignia is a great ambassador of Vauxhall's new confidence. It emphasises our recent message that 'Vauxhall is back', while also demonstrating the kind of innovative ideas we come up with when we think about a bigger Vauxhall."
Insignia is not a conventional, executive luxury saloon or coupé. It has been designed as a 'driver oriented', rear-wheel drive concept which can be transformed from a comfortable four-seater into a sporty five-seater. The centre rear seat can be stowed back underneath the impressive boot and raised again automatically, another example of innovative interiors at Vauxhall.
Carse
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The Signum's a hatchback though. What if you want a saloon?
Please do not ask that question again.
IIRC Ford answered it
You can have any sort of Granada provided its a hatchback.
No saloon and no estate
The customers said, thank you very much but I want a boot so I will buy a Volvo or a Omega etc.
hmmm. Later Ford said
You can have any sort of Granada provided it is NOT a hatchback.
Oh and by the way we have screwed up the styling.
I do not recall many customers returning to Ford.
How is your memory GM? Dohhhh!
There is a vast amount of new and expensive metal in my area but I think I have only ever seen two Signums.
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The facelifted one seems like a decent car.
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I am the only Pole over here.
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Given the news about GM's business position you have to expect they've got this wrong also.
I made a big mistake and bought a new, end-of-model Omega and deeply regretted it. When I decided to bite the bullet and trade it in , I had 3 Vauxhall dealers in a row simply refuse to accept it in P/Ex.
Even if they make it an original car with some cachet- which seems very difficult in that market , with its obsession with BMW ,Merc and Audi- I think they will have a big problem convincing their dealers to sell it with conviction .Net result would be such discounting that anyone buying one would lose shedloads ; so finally it becomes a Vauxhall company car.
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The thing with the Omega, when it was launched in 1994, it was a very good car. There may be some components quality issues but it was a good design and well engineered car. I liked its aerodynamic, ride and handling and its fuel economy. It was comparable or better than the 5-Series of (88-96) in many aspects, with the exception of component failures (cam-belt, ICV, etc.).
The question is whether GM can launch another large family car that is a lot better than the A6, E-class and 5-Series, as well as being a lot cheaper (priced comparable to Honda Accord and Passat). If GM can make such a car, I am sure it will sell in the less image conscious countries, like Germany.
One option is to look at the platforms available. There is the Commodore platform, though using that would need the platform to be narrowed and shortened. There is also the platform for the CTS, good size too. Both platforms are Right-Hand-Drive capable.
Things is that with the financial situation GM is in at present, it would be difficult for them to gather enough resources to set up the R&D. Even higher risk would be to set up new plants and toolings needed to produce such car.
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