Opel wants us to think more about flying - sorry driving - business class in a radical new model called Signum. The surprise maybe is that it doesn't stand on its own: for Opel it's "the elegant top version" of the Vectra range.We can expect it on Irish soil next spring and it will woo pilots and passengers out of smart, upmarket rivals. Andrew Hamilton reports.
For Carl-Peter Forster, Opel's European boss, it's a business class Opel that's "unique" for people who with individual personalities and lifestyles. "We are convinced that the new Signum will appeal to those who currently drive other makes of cars and so far would not have considered buying an Opel," he says.
So, does this "unique" car deserve the hype? Too soon to say: that judgement is ultimately delivered by the customers. But it seems to have a lot going for it, on the basis of practicality and comfort - business class comfort that is.
Signum is positioned between the current new Vectra saloon and the estate which is more than a year away. Along with a fashionable though conformist look, it has a longer wheelbase.
A "wheel at each corner" layout offers vastly increased cabin and boot space. Although it's only 40mm longer than the 4626mm saloon, the Signum has an extra 130mm between the wheels. It's 25mm taller too.
Opel's designers have made the most of this space. The rear seats move fore and aft and recline by up to 30 degrees - they also fold flat, swelling boot capacity of 480 litres to 1,400 litres. The small centre seatback can be folded to create an arm rest, while its seat cushion folds down to unveil a drinks holder.
Customers can opt instead for the Travel Assistant, described by Opel as an "inventive console". It's a fold-out compartment with two trays, a cool box, cup holders, a holder for a DVD player and separate controls for the audio system. Just like an aircraft, there are overhead lockers.
Optional equipment, if specified, could make the Signum a limo for the masses. The driver's seat, for instance, can be air conditioned as well as being adjusted in eight ways electrically with a memory function. Opel says it spent a cool €75 million on giving the Signum front seats the right amount of comfort and luxury.
Another option is Adaptive Forward Lighting or bi-xenon headlamps that respond to the turn of the wheel.
Three new Ecotec engines will be making their debut in the Signum including Opel's first direct-injection petrol unit. This 155bhp 2.2 litre arrives along with a new 175bhp 2.0 litre turbo and a 177bhp 3.0 litre V6 common-rail diesel that's actually Isuzu-sourced. (It does service in the Saab 9-5 and the Renault Vel Satis).
Signum is but one example of Opel's new model offensive that's began with the arrival of the mainstream Vectra range here. The old Vectra was giving Opel a bad name - compared with the opposition, principally the Ford Mondeo, it had second-rate driving dynamics and it started showing its age long ago. Now Signum, the business class adjunct to Vectra, brings new glamour to the range.
As for Vectra itself, it was remarkably unflappable when we tested various versions a couple of weeks ago at Opel's Dudenhofen proving ground. Cobbled roads, undulating switchbacks and even a lane change on the high-speed bowl at 110mph, showed exemplary body control. The cars all felt planted, composed and fast-reacting.
Opel is also getting plaudits for another smaller vehicle, its mini-MPV Meriva, detailed recently in Motors. It has been praised as one of the most practical cars ever, thanks to its ingenious cabin layout with seats that can disappear but aren't removed. With all the seats folded, Meriva gives an astounding 1,300 litres of stowage space, nearly as much as a family estate such as the Renault Laguna.