Opel Omega

Opel Omega at a glance

Both generations are listed with other models in our Opel catalogue, and older executive cars are collected under classic cars.

Generations and model history

Omega A (1986-1994)

Production began in September 1986 and sales in November. The Omega A replaced the Rekord E, cost Opel 2.5 billion Deutschmarks to develop and had a drag coefficient of 0.28 (0.32 for the Caravan). It was voted European Car of the Year 1987, ahead of the Audi 80 and the BMW 7 Series. Technology unusual for the time included electronic engine management, ABS, an on-board computer, self-diagnosis and, on the CD model from 1987, an LCD instrument cluster. The trim ladder ran LS, GL, GLS and CD. A facelift for the 1991 model year (ADAC dates it 1990) dropped the LS and GLS trims and the 1.8 engine and added Club and CD Diamant.

Omega B (1994-2003)

The Omega B of 1994 was an all-new car, again with rear-wheel drive and again as a saloon and an estate. The saloon was 4,790 mm long and the estate 4,820 mm. The B2 facelift of autumn 1999 brought electronic stability control and a new centre console with satellite navigation and climate controls; the facelifted car measured 4,898 mm. From 2001 the BMW-built 2.5 DTI common-rail six-cylinder diesel became the top diesel. Opel developed a V8 version with the GM LS1 engine, shown as the V8.com concept in Frankfurt in 1999, but cancelled it after 32 pre-series cars, citing transmission concerns and durability at sustained full throttle. The last Omega was built in Rüsselsheim in 2003.

Engines, transmissions and performance

Omega A engines

The Omega A had a five-speed manual or a four-speed automatic. The Omega 3000 combined the 3.0 six with lowered suspension, a limited-slip differential and a rear spoiler: 220 km/h and 0-100 km/h in 8.8 s with 12 valves, 240 km/h and 7.6 s with the later 24-valve engine. For touring car racing, Irmscher built 500 Omega Evolution 500 cars with 169 kW (230 PS), reaching 249 km/h. The Lotus Omega (Lotus Carlton in the UK) had a 3.6-litre twin-turbo six with about 281 kW (377 bhp), a six-speed ZF gearbox, 0-100 km/h in 5.3 s and a claimed top speed of 280 km/h or more.

Omega B engines

Gearboxes were five-speed manuals and four-speed automatics; in the last years the 3.2 V6 was sold only with the automatic in Germany. ADAC lists the 2.2 petrol with 106 kW (144 PS), one kilowatt less than Wikipedia.

Dimensions and space

At almost 4.9 m after the facelift, the Omega B is a long car by today's standards too: check it against your parking space with the garage fit tool. Boot volumes are not given in our sources.

Prices and equipment

ADAC's list of the facelifted Omega B shows how wide the range was in Germany: from EUR 25,641 for the 2.2 16V and the 2.2 DTI saloons (1999-2000) to EUR 39,670 for the 3.2 V6 Executive automatic (2002-2003). Trims of the Omega B2 included Selection, Edition, Elegance, Sport, Design Edition and Executive. The Omega B2 brought ESP and a new centre console with navigation; the Omega A had introduced ABS and an on-board computer to the range.

Safety

The Omega predates most Euro NCAP testing and we have no sourced crash-test rating for either generation. ABS was part of the Omega A specification, and electronic stability control arrived with the B2 facelift in 1999.

Reliability and known issues

In the UK, the Vauxhall Omega sold well but was criticised for heavy depreciation and for its reliability record, according to Wikipedia. Sales then suffered once the Ford Scorpio and Rover 800 left the market, because buyers turned to the BMW 5 Series. For a car of this age, condition and documented maintenance count for more than the engine choice.

Rivals

You can set the Omega against these cars with the comparison tool.

Photo gallery