Innovations - Opel Automobile Overview

Innovations

For more than a century, Opel has been at the
forefront of automotive design and innovation.
Here is a selection of our innovations:
1899 First Opel automobile patent: the reverse gear in the
"Lutzmann".
1909 Opel makes the automobile affordable with the
"Doctor's Car", sold at a price of 3,950 marks.
1910 Introduction of modular construction system at Opel:
prefabricated car bodies can now be combined with
different engines and chassis.
1924 Opel is the first German manufacturer to introduce
assembly-line manufacturing methods that enable
high-volume production.
1928
Opel builds the rocket vehicles RAK 1 and RAK 2. RAK 2
has 24 solid fuel rockets that catapult the vehicle
to an amazing 238 km/h, setting a new world record at
the Avus in Berlin, Germany.
1935 The Opel Olympia is the first German large-volume
vehicle with a self-supporting whole-steel body.
The new design reduces the car's weight and improves
aerodynamics. The rigid passenger cell and a
deformable front end also improve passive safety.
1957
The Olympia Rekord P1 is launched. The novel
panoramic windscreen offers the best possible
all-round view.
Zafira – Concept 2011
1965 The Opel Experimental GT is first vehicle study by
a European automobile manufacturer and the first
concept car to go into production (in 1968).
1967 Patent application for the headlamps of the Opel GT.
The pop-up headlamps can be retracted by rotating
around the longitudinal axis.
1976 All Opel models are fitted with a composite-glass
windscreen.
1981 The engineering study Tech 1 demonstrates Opel's
pioneering role in the field of aerodynamics: the
experimental vehicle achieves a drag coefficient of
0.235, setting a world record.
Opel becomes the first carmaker to use environmentally
friendly water-based paints.
1982
Opel applies for a patent for a new safety feature,
a laterally offset steering column in the Corsa A.
In the event of an accident it passes by the body.
1983 The Opel Senator is the first car with the ABS System.
1984 The Opel Kadett GSi is the most streamlined car
in its class, with a cd value of 0.30.
1989 Opel is first European manufacturer to offer catalytic
converters as standard on all gasoline models.
1991 The Astra is equipped with the Opel Safety System
with side impact protection, support ramps in the
seats and seat-belt tensioners. From 1995, all models
come with full-size airbags for driver and front-seat
passenger as standard.
1993 Opel receives the patent for a "protective panel"
integrated in the seat backrests to form a rigid barrier.
This protects passengers from injury by objects sliding
forwards if the driver brakes hard or is involved in an
accident. Opel also introduces the pedal release system
to reduce leg injuries in the case of an accident.
1995 The Opel Corsa Eco3 is first 3-liter car in the world.
1999 Flex7 seating system makes its debut in the Opel Zafira.
2003 Introduction of fuel-saving TWINPORT technology
for gasoline engines.
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