Opel Enhances Vectra and Signum with High-Tech Equipment

Opel Vectra

Innovative Chassis Technology

August 3, 2004 6:42 AM
Filed Under: German, Opel

Press Release

Innovative Chassis Technology for Vectra and Signum
Opel Vectra and Signum move into the new model year technically and stylistically refined. The adaptive high-tech chassis system IDSPlus (Interactive Driving System) with electronic damping control provides outstanding dynamics, comfort and safety. It is standard in all six-cylinder models and optional for the 2.0 turbo engine and the 150 hp 1.9 CDTI variants. A newly developed six-speed automatic transmission is also available for the latter. Adaptive brake lights debut in the mid-size category in all Vectra and Signum as standard equipment. Active safety is further increased with optional automatic low beam head lights. A further innovation introduced in the Vectra family is the new generation of infotainment systems with an intuitive operating concept.

Thanks to their extensive standard equipment, the special sedan and station wagon models Edition offer customers a clear price advantage and impress with their dynamic, stylish design. The Opel Signum also has a fresh look and is even more elegant, with chrome front grille, darkened lamps and for many variants visible tailpipes. The 1.6-liter engine (74 kW/100 hp) available for the first time in the four-door Vectra sedan makes the Opel mid-size segment entry level even more economical.

IDSPlus: Top suspension comfort, active safety and driving dynamics
The adaptive IDSPlus chassis with electronic Continuous Damping Control (CDC) first introduced in the new Astra now brings optimal balance between driving comfort and stability to the Opel mid-size models. This networked high-tech chassis system is available for the Vectra sedan, GTS and station wagon as well as the Signum, and is standard in conjunction with the 3.2 V6 and 3.0 V6 CDTI engines. It is optional with the 2.0-turbo models and the 110 kW/150 hp 1.9 CDTI ECOTEC engine.

The electronic damping system CDC is based on four shock absorbers controlled by solenoid valves, which precisely and continuously adjust the shock absorbers to ideally adapt to road conditions, vehicle movements and driving style within milliseconds. This ensures highest possible suspension comfort and optimal road grip in all driving situations. IDSPlus networks all driving dynamics systems such as ESPPlus, TCPlus or ABS and the electronic damping control into an integrated chassis control over CANbus (Controller Area Network). This networking enables the optimization of handling performance in terms of comfort, safety and dynamics on an even higher level. Targeted damper adjustment improves steering performance, and allows later and thereby significantly more sensitive ESP activation. When braking, the system adjusts the shock absorber settings to adapt to the road surface for optimal ABS control, which improves braking characteristics, particularly on bumpy roads. Thanks to minimized wheel vibrations braking distance is reduced, for instance on loose or bumpy surfaces, up to five percent. A decisive advantage, considering that road conditions in general are worsening. IDSPlus effects a measurable increase in safety on different pavements, wet roads or on ice or snow.

The IDSPlus chassis system also offers the possibility of choosing a tighter, even more agile set-up at the touch of a button. The SportSwitch function regulates damper characteristics, accelerates gas-pedal response and enables a more direct response of the map-controlled electro-hydraulic power steering. In conjunction with automatic transmissions the gear shift points are set at higher rpm to allow for a sportier driving style.

New: Six-speed automatic transmission for 1.9 CDTI models with 150 hp
A newly developed, adaptive six-speed automatic transmission can be ordered for the 1.9 CDTI models with 110 kW/150 hp. The new drive train harmonizes perfectly with the engine characteristics of the powerful common-rail diesel engine (maximum torque: 320 Nm at 2000 - 2750 rpm) and just like the five-speed automatic, features the ActiveSelect function. In addition to the fully automatic mode, gears can thus be shifted manually by simply tapping the gearshift lever. The transmission works adaptively, automatically aligning itself to driving styles and road conditions. Longer gear ratios enable higher performance while reducing consumption. Fuel economy is further aided by high-performance transmission oil that does not need to be changed during the whole lifecycle.
Innovative lighting technology: Adaptive brake lights and automatic low beams
All of this year's Vectra and Signum models have adaptive brake lights as standard equipment. The system causes more intensive illumination of the brake lights when heavy braking occurs (above speeds of 10 km/h) and thereby provides more safety. Opel is the first carmaker to introduce this technology into the mid-size segment. Also newly available for the Vectra and Signum is automatic low beam lighting (ALC, Automatic Lighting Control). With the help of two sensors in the windshield, the headlights are automatically turned on in tunnels, parking garages or as darkness approaches. When the car drives back into a brighter environment, ALC automatically turns them off. Opel offers this system together with rain sensors, photocromatic rear-view mirror and automatically regulated instrument panel illumination in the new "visibility" package.
Available immediately: New-generation infotainment systems
The new generation of user-friendly infotainment systems with intuitive operating concept and superb sound quality is already known from the new Astra. There are initially four system combinations available for the Vectra and Signum, ranging from stereo-CD-radio CD 30 MP3, CDC 40 Opera with integrated 6 x CD-changer and double tuner, to CD 50 Phone with integrated telephone and CD 70 Navi, which has an integrated navigation system with dynamic route guidance and graphic info display.

The new infotainment package offers an additional price advantage: it includes the CD 70 Navi, color info display with color map presentation, onboard computer and telephone installation kit. Available from October are CD 60 MMedia and CDC 80 MMedia, enabling use of the new OnStar services offboard navigation, electronic logbook (e-logbook) and breakdown assistance with telediagnosis.

New entry-level engine for Vectra sedan: 1.6-liter gasoline unit with 100 hp
The Vectra notchback sedan is now available with a fifth gasoline engine. It has 1.6-liter displacement, a power output of 74 kW/100 hp and complies with the Euro 4 emissions standard. The Vectra 1.6 needs only 7.2 liters fuel per 100 km, accelerates from 0 - 100 km/h in 12.5 seconds and has a maximum speed of 192 km/h.
Vectra "Edition": New special model with price advantage for customers
The new special model Edition for the Vectra sedan and station wagon has a sporty design and extensive standard equipment, including electronic climate control, stereo-CD-radio CD 30 and a leather-trimmed steering wheel. A striking bumper with large air inlets and integrated circular fog lights, dark-toned headlamps and tail lights, 16-inch alloy wheels in Edition design as well as aluminum décor applications in the interior make for a dynamic look.

The new exterior color "Pannacotta" is available for all Vectra and Signum and puts the finishing touch on the newest model year changes.

Adaptive IDSPlus chassis system with electronic damping control

Vectra and Signum: More Dynamics, Comfort and Active Safety
Driving pleasure and agility are cornerstones of Opel’s brand philosophy and are receiving higher development priority than ever before. Driving on the Nürburgring is, however, the exception to the rule. Much more in demand are everyday, rather subtle driving qualities. Daily commuting or weekend family outings call for soft damping of car body movements for a more comfortable ride. Soft chassis set-ups, however, impede agile handling and performance, and quickly reach their limit in difficult driving situations. Such situations include full load, poor road conditions, fast driving on winding roads, fast lateral accelerations, quick lane changes, or hard braking. This conflict is almost as old as the automobile itself and needs more sophisticated solutions than ever. Following the new Astra, the Vectra and Signum models meet this challenge in a very innovative way.

Electronic Continuous Damping Control (CDC) is a major part of the networked IDSPlus chassis system that Opel now introduces in the Vectra and Signum. This variable damping system automatically reacts to prevailing driving situations, loads, and road conditions. The driver can also choose a sportier setting via the “SportSwitch� located on the instrument panel. IDSPlus is standard in all six-cylinder models with 3.2 V6 ECOTEC and 3.0 V6 CDTI ECOTEC engines, and is optional for cars with the 2.0 turbo ECOTEC and the 150 hp 1.9 CDTI ECOTEC engines.

IDSPlus offers even more dynamics, comfort and active safety
Hans H. Demant, Opel Chairman and Managing Director, and GME Vice President Engineering, has driven many test kilometers with the chassis developers and engineers, and tested the new chassis and safety systems in the various models on the Nürburgring. His conclusion: “Vectra and Signum have superior front-wheel drive suspension with modern MacPherson struts and a sophisticated multi-link rear axle. In conjunction with electronic damping control and the networking of all driving dynamics systems, we are creating new perspectives. As ESPPlus, TCPlus, ABS and CDC do not work alone, but instead constantly communicate with one another via CANbus, it is possible to even further develop potential in terms of driving dynamics, comfort and safety.�

The adaptive damping system CDC in the Vectra and Signum is based on four shock absorbers controlled by solenoid valves, which precisely and continuously adjust the shock absorbers to ideally adapt to road conditions, vehicle movements and driving style within milliseconds. In conjunction with other signals such as speed or accelerator pedal position, three body and two wheel acceleration sensors deliver all information necessary for optimal damping to the control electronics. These in turn calculate the necessary damping force for each wheel using a real time algorithm and send the corresponding electrical signal to the four proportional solenoid valves integrated in the suspension struts and dampers, which regulate oil flow and thereby the damping characteristics.

Main objective: Minimal car body movements
The control algorithm continually calculates speed and the direction of body and wheel movement. The four shock absorbers are then individually set to minimize vehicle movements. Numerous adaptive mechanisms are involved in this process to help register and respond to particular driving maneuvers and road conditions. For example, traction is improved when braking on extremely bumpy or loose-surface roads through reduction of wheel load fluctuation. Rotational tendencies during braking and acceleration maneuvers are almost completely eliminated. As a result, stopping distances on bad roads are reduced by up to five percent.

This is possible by an Integrated Chassis Control (ICC), the networking of all vehicle control systems. CDC damping control, ESPPlus, ABS, and TCPlus as well as the engine and automatic transmission controls constantly communicate via a high-speed databus with a transmission rate of 500 kilobytes per second. This is eight times faster than ISDN (64 kilobytes/second).

Electronic damping control reduces over and understeer
CDC and ESP functions are linked very closely together. This improves cornering and on-the-limit handling, thus raising the balance between comfort and active safety to a new level. CDC constantly monitors the steering angle and yaw rate, but in the event of a critical situation, leaves damping control to ESP. Temporary stiffening of the rear axle shock absorbers increases the car’s readiness to deal with yawing movement, enabling more agile handling. If the driver takes the car close to the handling limit, the damping rates on alternate sides can be varied to counteract over or understeer. This dynamic roll rate adjustment integrated in ESPPlus can be described as a “virtual“ stabilizer in the form of extremely high or low damping forces. If this proves to be insufficient, ESPPlus takes over by controlled braking of one or more wheels. The result is a later and thereby significantly more sensitive ESP activation.

Vectra and Signum drivers also profit from the networked structure of the control systems long before reaching the vehicle’s stability limits. With the help of the SportSwitch located on the instrument panel, drivers can individually change the vehicle’s character in an instant: from a comfortable everyday car to an especially agile machine.

By offering this choice of driving modes, the engineers have created the best of both worlds. The regular setting, which is selected automatically whenever the car is started, has the main objective of keeping body motion to a minimum. The car glides along smoothly, with no hectic or jerky body movements, leaving the driver with a supreme sense of control. The sport mode, on the other hand, focuses on maximal stabilization of the car’s body. In order to achieve this, the damping algorithm is switched over to a second set of parameters. At the same time, the engine responds with more “bite� when accelerating. The electro-hydraulic rack-and-pinion power steering provides more feedback and in conjunction with automatic transmissions, gear shift points are set at higher rpm.