Press Release
Young, single seeks…�: … New Opel Agila
- Target group: Young and youthful people with active lifestyles
- Growth market: Increasing sales expected in urban car segment
- Success story: Over 440,000 first-generation Agila models sold in Europe
“Young and youthful women are Opel’s first target group with the new Agila. This modern urban car perfectly suits their city lifestyle as it combines compact dimensions with a stylish exterior, high levels of functionality and plenty of driving fun.� Alain Visser, Executive Director European Marketing Opel
Unlike many of its competitors, Opel’s latest model has five doors and five fully fledged seats. And with its large and versatile luggage compartment, it provides many practical uses combined with compact dimensions and excellent value for money.
When it comes to the lifestyle of active women today, the watchword is balance. Job, fitness, shopping, meeting friends and getting from A to B – a car makes everything easier to manage, and preferably one that is as versatile as its owner. The new Opel Agila meets all of these great demands. It’s a stylish urban car – a mini monocab – which is compact and maneuverable for tight parking spaces, yet boasts an interior that is spacious enough even for bulky sport and hobby equipment. It also has enough seats to ensure comfort for family and friends. Men and women of all ages will appreciate how easy it is to get into and out of the new Agila, and children too. ISOFIX child seat mountings are standard on board for small children.
Around 1.1 million customers in Western and Central Europe bought a vehicle from the urban car segment in 2006, with the Agila achieving a 6.6 percent market share. Market researchers also predict strong growth in this segment from 2008, forecasting annual mid-term sales of 1.3 million units in Western and Central Europe. This predicted growth is supported by two factors: firstly, the arrival of new, attractive models in 2008, such as the second-generation Agila. And secondly, the dimensions of urban cars are now very close to those of cars in the next-largest car segment, the supermini.
The modern urban car’s greatest potential is in Southern Europe, where the first-generation Agila had its largest fan base. Italy was by far the largest Agila market, with a share of 57 percent, followed by Germany with 23 percent. Since its launch in 2000, over 440,000 Agila models have been sold across Europe.
Engines and Chassis: Moving forward
- Spirited: Gasoline engines with 1.0 and 1.2-liter displacements
- Powerful: Efficient 1.3-liter turbo-diesel
- Comfortable: New four-speed automatic for 1.2-liter gasoline engine
“The new Agila cuts a fine figure in all situations, and its agile chassis and three lively engines with low consumption and CO2 levels provide plenty of driving fun.� Hans Demant, Opel Managing Director
Two gasoline engines make their world premiere in the new Agila. Developed by Suzuki, they share the same basic design - aluminum cylinder block and head, two overhead camshafts, multi-point injection - and differ only in number of cylinders, displacement and output.
The entry-level unit is the almost one-liter, three-cylinder gasoline engine. The four-valve unit produces 65 hp (48 kW), has a maximum torque of 90 Nm and accelerates the Agila from zero to 100 km/h in 14.8 seconds. The version fitted with the five-speed manual transmission has a top speed of 160 km/h. When it comes to fuel, the Agila 1.0 is especially frugal, requiring only 5.3 liters/100 kilometers, which represents 126 g CO2 per kilometer.
The 1.2-liter four-cylinder gasoline engine with 16 valves produces 86 hp (63 kW), and has maximum torque of 114 Nm. The Agila 1.2 accelerates from zero to 100 km/h in 12 seconds and has a top speed of 174 km/h (values for five-speed manual version). Despite the increased dynamics, the four-cylinder engine with manual transmission remains very economical: it requires an average of 5.7 liters/100 kilometers, which represents 135 g CO2 per kilometer. A brand new addition to the Agila model line is the option of a four-speed automatic transmission with the larger gasoline engine – an especially attractive alternative for city driving.
The fuel-saving master among the Agila engines is the 1.3-liter common-rail turbo-diesel. The direct injection unit already impressed long-distance drivers in the first-generation Agila with its economy and propulsion power. Developed by GM Powertrain, the diesel engine is a true multi-talent and also offers an interesting alternative in the Corsa and Astra model lines. In the new Agila it produces 75 hp (55 kW), has a top speed of 162 km/h and a zero to 100 km/h sprint in 13.5 seconds. The powerful diesel unit (maximum torque of 190 Nm available at 2000 rpm) is very economical. On average it consumes less than five liters per 100 km, which represents a CO2 per kilometer value of under 130 g. Fuel tank capacity is 45 liters.
Overview of Agila Engines
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Engines
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1.0
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1.2
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1.3 CDTI
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|
No. of cylinders
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3
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4
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4
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Displacement (cm3)
|
997
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1242
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1248
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Output (kW/hp at rpm)
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48/65 at 6000
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63/86 at 6000
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55/75 at 3500 - 4000
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|
Max. torque (Nm at rpm)
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90 at 4000
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114 at 4000
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190 at 2000
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|
Top speed (km/h)*
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160
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174
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162
|
|
Acceleration 0 – 100 km/h (s)
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14.8
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12.0
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13.5
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|
MVEG combined consumption
(l/100 km)
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5.3
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5.7
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< 5.0
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* All values for manual transmission versions; values for automatic versions to follow
Make the Agila even more agile – that was the aim during chassis development, to interpret the new dynamic look into corresponding agility. The Agila’s chassis, which features A-arms and McPherson struts in front and a torsion beam axle in the rear, is tuned for driving fun, and ABS is fitted as standard. Depending on the market and equipment variant, the Agila also features an Electronic Stability Program (ESP) and head curtain airbags. With this system fitted, the Traction Control Support System (TCSS) can be switched off, which is helpful when traveling through deep snow with snow chains, for example.
Five doors, seating for five adults, the high luggage compartment volume, numerous storage boxes and brand-typical flexibility already take the extensively equipped new Opel Agila well above its competitors as a top urban car. But what would the practicality be without the attractive looks, which the new model now has with its distinctive interior and exterior styling. Agile performance is ensured by the chassis tuned for driving fun and the three spirited engines. The additional touch of driving comfort is provided by the newly available four-speed automatic transmission.
Note: All performance and consumption data is preliminary
