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| 2002-01-01 | |
 | One - two for Opel commercial vehicles: The Opel Vivaro and Opel Combo came in first and second in the "International Van of the Year 2002" competition. An international jury of leading journalists from 20 European countries awarded the innovative Vivaro - and its Renault sister model, the new Trafic - 115 out of a possible total of 232 points, placing it well ahead of the competition. |
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January 1, 2002
Rüsselsheim. A major success for Opel in the commercial-vehicle sector: the new Vivaro medium van and the Combo delivery van took first and second places when the votes were counted for the 2002 "International Van of the Year" title. The innovative Vivaro - and its sister-model, the new Renault Trafic - scored a runaway victory, with 115 of the total of 232 points. The expert jury, made up of commercial-vehicle journalists from 20 European countries, was invited to assess ten light commercial vehicle models with a gross vehicle weight of up to 3.5 metric tons. Each of these vehicles was closely examined and tested for several days in typical operating conditions at up to 75 percent of the maximum payload. By winning this important commercial vehicle award the new Opel Vivaro has added another trophy to its collection. The Vivaro has already been declared "Van of the Year, 2002" in Denmark and Ireland, and in the United Kingdom has carried off the title of "Best New Van" in the 2001 "Fleet World Honors" and the Gold Award as "Best Small Panel Van". The juries behind this series of successes all rated the Vivaro's distinctive styling, its practical efficiency and economy particularly highly. In addition to a payload of up to 1200 kilograms and as much as six cubic meters of load space, other outstanding features of the Vivaro range are easy repairs and servicing which lead to the most favorable insurance rating in its class. The front-wheel-drive van also offers extremely well-balanced road behavior, meeting passenger-car standards in terms of safety, handling and ride comfort. Ample performance is assured by a choice of two economical 1.9-liter turbocharged diesel engines with common-rail fuel injection (60 kW / 82 hp and 74 kW / 100 hp). With fuel consumption of only 7.4 liters of diesel per 100 kilometers (MVEG), the economical Vivaro can cover delivery tours of up to 1200 kilometers without refueling. The Vivaro range will be complemented this spring by a "Combi" passenger-carrier and additional long-wheelbase versions. Later on, an additional 2.0-liter gasoline unit with four valves per cylinder (88 kW / 120 hp) will join the line-up. Just like its 'big brother', the new Opel Combo leads its class in a number of areas. The runner-up in this year's "Van of the Year" event heads the compact delivery van field in terms of wheelbase (2716 millimeters), load volume (3200 liters), payload (up to 810 kilograms) and trailer load (1.2 metric tons). In addition to its excellent functional efficiency, the new Combo – the only "monocab" delivery van from a German manufacturer – offers drivers and passengers the same safety, comfort and convenience features as the third-generation Corsa. Combo owners will also benefit from passenger-car standards of ride quality as well as ease of repair and servicing. In spring 2002, the range will be extended to include the five-seat Combo Tour. | |
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