Vauxhall VX Lightning

The Opel Speedster is a roadster, the Opel by the summer of 2000 offered by mid-2005. It is based on the Lotus Elise, was produced in the factory of Lotus in Hethel English and bears the name Lotus-plant type 116 The British Opel-Vauxhall sister sold him as a Vauxhall VX 220

The presentation took place at the Geneva Motor Show in March 1999. The first vehicle, which left the factory in Hethel, was a silver Opel Speedster 2.2.

For volume production of a quota of 10,000 vehicles was planned originally. As the demand does not meet expectations, the production was discontinued after 7207 copies on 22 July 2005.

The last vehicle, a black VX 220 Turbo had the chassis number 7998 ‘the last Speedster was a mandarin-colored turbo with the chassis number 7967th 789 unutilized chassis numbers are due to the fact that after the appearance of the 2.0-liter turbo almost any 2.2-l Suckers were deductible more.

Characteristic of the Speedster is its Spartan interior, the low height of 111.7 cm, the acceleration (0-100km/h in 5.9 seconds) and the sporty driving characteristics.

The Opel Speedster has no spare tire (no spare wheel), but a breakdown spray for sealing punctures.

The fabric roof is said not to be completely waterproof. For an additional charge, however, a GRP hardtop was available.

The carriage has a rear wheel drive means transversely mounted engine (63% of the weight load on the rear axle).

The 870kg heavy vehicle is powered by a 108 kW (147hp) four-cylinder Ecotec engine (Z22SE) with 2,198cc (2.2 L) driven displacement, the used Zafira A, Vectra B and C and the Astra G been. The top speed is 217km/h and the maximum torque of 203 Nm.

The non-self-supporting body is made of fiberglass. The chassis is made of aluminum, but largely not welded, but bolted/riveted and glued, which gives the vehicle a high stiffness. The underbody is completely covered.

The occupants are protected by a roll bar. In addition, a Driver in 32-cm-Momo steering wheel is integrated, a passenger airbag does not exist.

The only electronic aids is ABS, traction control and power steering to is omitted. The throttle is controlled electronically, the transmission is shifted via a cable. The base price in 2000 stood at 63,500 DM (Â€ 32,500). That is accessible through a small opening luggage compartment is 206 liters.

To make the vehicle which tends to oversteer at the limit over the stern, easily navigable for a wider audience, the Speedster was at the front only comes with a 175er tires to 5.5 × 17 mm rims. This leads in normal operation tend to understeer, i.e., the car moves beyond the front wheels. Especially However, this does the Speedster can be difficult to control during rapid load changes, since he abruptly from understeer to About tax changes. Many Opel Speedster were therefore equipped with a different tires.

As of January 2003, there was a 2.0-liter turbo variant (Z20LET, 1998cc, bore and stroke each 86 mm) with 147 kW (200hp). This engine, which was exclusively offered to the end of its construction, the Speedster, also came to the OPC models of Zafira A and Astra-G (sedan and wagon) and the Astra G Coupe and the Convertible used. The weight of the car increased, among other things through the unit to 930kg. It accelerates the vehicle in 4.9 seconds 0 to 100km/h and maximum torque is 250 Nm, the compression of 8.8:1 and the maximum speed is 243km/h

The turbo model had a more neutral retuned suspension, different wheels, a water-oil heat exchanger and a front grille without bar and side panels with flared air intakes and a rear spoiler to reduce lift. There are also differences in the headlights, tail lights (black inside instead of silver) and the hardtop. Because the turbocharger on the central engine of the trunk in the rear fell out slightly smaller.

The interior was also upgraded: So the shift console and the interior door panel of the Speedster Turbo were available in conjunction with surcharge leather seats upholstered in leather. The instrument cluster had the turbo a shift light, an LCD bar graph instead of a digital display of the tank contents, as well as a slightly modified design. The original price for the base model of the turbo was 36.500 or later 36 865 euros.

In England, the Speedster 220 (2.2 liters) and VX 220 Turbo (2.0 liter) engine was sold with almost identical appearance under the name Vauxhall VX. The obvious differences were limited to the various logo and type designations on the vehicle. Initially, the same engines came as the Opel Speedster for use, the end of 2003 it is the sportiest production version, the Vauxhall VXR 220 followed (162 kW/220hp and 210 lb ft/285 Nm) with a uprated variant of the turbocharged engine, Lotus Sport seats, Speedline alloy wheels (front 16 – or 17-inch wheels on the rear axle), semi-slick tires from Yokohama, an adapted ABS and optionally an Ohlins coilover suspension. The VXR models were numbered sequentially and 65 piece limited (where one Nr.00 for the Vauxhall Museum was made), 61 and 62 units were delivered in the color "Calypsorot" and each vehicle in the colors "Moon Country Grey," "Brilliant Yellow", "Chagallblau" and "Sapphire Black".

2004 umgelabelter as Daewoo Speedster was issued at the airport in Seoul, to a distribution of this model in Korea never got it, though.

From Speedster Turbo, there was a limited edition of 80 copies special version "Scorpions", named after the Hanoverian band. This variant differed only visually from the normal Speedster (black painted wheels, black instead of silver plate frame, "Speedster Scorpions" instead of "Speedster Turbo" lettering on the tail and "Scorpions" lettering instead of the engraved four-character limit number in the dashboard). Delivered was the only in silver varnished Scorpions variant with a Gibson Flying V electric guitar, which had signed the band, as well as an almost complete accessories: floor mats, foot rest, black leather interior, hard top, central locking and CD radio. Facilities Adjusted the price advantage 3765, was – Â€ compared to a normal turbo. The list price for a Scorpions amounted to 39.995, – Euro.

Came about this collaboration with the Scorpions Opel at a concert in May 2003 in Rüsselsheim. Quote Rudolf Schenker: "The next day we met up with some of the rulers on the occasion of a dinner and you suggested to us that Opel would make a special model of the Speedster with our name on it." Schenker then put in contact with Gibson, and so forth, each buyer was (quote) "means a statement signed by all band members Flying V packed in the back seat. "as the reason mentioned Schenker, that he is a guitar fanatic.

In addition to the production version of the Opel Speedster 2002 was unveiled at the Paris Motor Show also by a 1.3-liter common-rail diesel engine driven study based on a top speed of 250km/h and an average fuel consumption of 2.5 liters of diesel 100km shone. In a 24-hour test drive in July 2003, the so-called Eco Speedster presented at 17 international records. It came 55 minutes before the end to a dramatic finale, as the Electrical problems with vehicle was heading the box and the engine would not start again. The Driver Team, which had by then set up 16 of the 17 international records, decided the ECO-Speedster to push the last round. The final driver finally moved the vehicle record by the starter motor to the finish line.

The engine of the Speedster Turbo is still used in Lotus, in the presented in 2006 Lotus Europa S. Many other components are not identical to those of Opel Speedster or were merely evolved. The Lotus Europa S is less radically designed and marketed as Gran Turismo Lotus.

From a marketing point of view, introduced in early 2007 Opel GT is the successor to the Speedster. The chassis, however, consists of a conventional steel body with front engine and has a curb weight of 1406kg significantly heavier than the Opel Speedster.

According to KBA on 1 January 2013 were still 1080 Speedster 2.2 (code number 419) and 350 Speedster Turbo (code number 493) is authorized in Germany.

Discontinued product models:

Small Car: Chevette | Tigra | Tigra | Corsa (A, B, C) | Vita (A, B)

Compact Class: Olympia A | K-180 | Kadett (A, B, C, D, E) | Astra (F, G, H)

Upper middle class: Record (A, B, C, D, E) | Commodore | Monza (A1, A2) | omega (A, B) | Signum

Oberklasse: Opel Kapitan (Kapitän’48, Kapitän’51, Kapitän’54, Kapitan P 2,5, P 2,6 Kapitan, Kapitan A, B Kapitan) | Opel Admiral (Admiral A, Admiral B) | Diplomats (Opel Diplomat A, B) | Senator (A, B) |

Sportwagen/Roadster GT | Speedster | GT Roadster

Van: A Astra | Zafira (A) | Sintra

SUV/SUV: Monterey | Frontera

Rennwagen: RAK1 | RAK2 | Calibra V6 | Astra V8 Coupé | Vectra GTS V8

155220

Vauxhall

Makes

Vauxhall VX Lightning