| abstract
| - After nearly seven years without a single update, an all new Opel Vectra was introduced in 2002. The new car war armed with Opel's know-how because it represented the start of the company's new direction. This was evident in the car's styling, which was highlighted by a stately overall shape, a handsome grille, and distinctive square headlights. The interior was upgraded to exude a more luxurious air, giving it the premium "E segment" status. The car was built on General Motors' Epsilon platform, with the German company offering more variation of the Vectra than ever before. The first model to arrive was a basic sedan. Next in line was a sporty 5-door GTS hatchback. Then in 2003, Opel released a 5-door station wagon called the Signum with an extended wheelbase. There were plenty of engine choices as well, ranging from a 1.8-liter inline-4 to a 3.2-liter V-6. The most popular of these was a 2.2-liter inline-4 and the V-6 that produced a hearty 208 HP. Eventually the 2.2-liter received direct-injection upped output to 153 HP, increasing its popularity even more. As for the car's chassis, Opel incorporated the IDS (Interactive Driving System) to the car's suspension that dramatically improved ride quality. It also came equipped with ESP yaw-control system, making it one of the safest cars in its class.
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