The Opel Antara is a compact crossover SUV which was marketed by Opel from 2006 to 2015. Based on the Theta platform, the Antara closely shared its underpinnings and powertrains with the Chevrolet Captiva. Unlike the Captiva, it is only offered with five seats instead of seven, and features a different exterior and interior design. Sales commenced in November 2006, as the indirect successor to the Isuzu-based Frontera range.[2]
In the United Kingdom, the car was sold as the Vauxhall Antara, in Australasia the car was badged as the Holden Captiva 5/Captiva MaXX, and in the United States and Canada it had been sold as the Saturn Vue. The Antara was marketed as the GMC Terrain in the Middle East,[3]Daewoo Winstorm MaXX in South Korea, and as the Chevrolet Captiva Sport in the Americas except Chile, where it was sold as an Opel.
The production Antara was a longer five door SUV, similar to the Chevrolet S3X and the closely related Chevrolet Captiva.
Opel Antara GTC (concept)
Opel Antara GTC (concept)
Production model (pre facelift)
Facelift
In November 2010, a facelift was announced. The front end was revised, and both front and rear lights were refreshed. The new Opel badge also appear on the Opel Antara, respectively. On the inside, there was a revised centre console with more storage space and materials, improved instrument graphics and interior lighting.
An electric parking brake, a hill assistance system, and a "shift up" indicator to optimise fuel economy in manual transmission versions were all now standard. Introduced with the facelift was a new, Euro 5 compliant 2.2 litre diesel engine which replaced the previous 2.0 litre, and updated version of 2.4 litre petrol.
Production ended in March 2015, with the car's indirect successor being the Grandland X, which was launched in September 2017.
General Motors in the United States and Canada introduced the Opel Antara as part of the Saturn division under the name "Saturn Vue" in 2007 for the 2008 model year. Saturn had earlier previewed the design at the April 2006 New York International Auto Show as the "Saturn PreVue" concept, and again in production guise at the 2007 Greater Los Angeles Auto Show, held from November to December 2006.
The Antara based model represents the second iteration of the "Vue" nameplate, with production moved to Ramos Arizpe, Mexico. The Ramos Arizpe facility also supplies the Colombian, Mexican, Brazilian and Uruguayan markets with the Antara, although it is badged "Chevrolet Captiva Sport" in these countries.[4] In Chile it was sold as Opel Antara from Germany and shared market with its sister Chevrolet Captiva which came from South Korea.
The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) awarded the model year of 2008 Vue its Top Safety Pick after receiving a good overall score in both the front and side impact tests.[5]
Trim levels include the "XE", "XR", the sports oriented "Red Line", and the "Green Line" hybrid. Saturn fitted the Vue with the 169hp (126kW) 2.4 litre Ecotec inline four. The 222hp (166kW) 3.5 litre V6 and the 3.6 litre V6 rated at 257hp (192kW) were optional.
The "Red Line" uses the same 3.6 litre V6 from the "XR", adding several sporting changes, including manual shifting of the six speed automatic transmission, a reduction in ride height of approximately 1-inch (25mm), and a sport tuned suspension.[6] Exterior appearance changes for the "Red Line" include 18 inch alloy wheels, and a more aggressive front bumper, tail lamps and exhaust tips.
Chevrolet Captiva Sport (US)
The front wheel drive only "Green Line" petrol/electric hybrid uses the same mildBAS Hybrid system with the 2.4 litre engine as the first generation Vue. Software updates and optimisations have smoothed the operation while also improving fuel economy. Under the 2008 EPA standards, the Vue is listed at 25mpg‑US (9.4L/100km)/32mpg‑US (7.4L/100km) city/highway.[7]
Saturn dropped the "Green Line" badge for 2009, in favour of the name "Hybrid".[8] A full hybrid model featuring GM's two-mode system was to have been introduced for the 2009 year model. This would have combined with an electric motor with a direct injection version of the 3.6 litre V6 providing a combined output of 262hp (195kW) and 250lb⋅ft (339N⋅m) of torque.
This version was to have maintained the 3,500lb (1,588kg) towing capacity of the standard 3.6 litre variant and would have utilised the 2MT70continuously variable automatic transmission.[9] Saturn was also expected to release a plug-in hybrid version of the two mode hybrid platform for the model year of 2010.[10]
This was to have been the first plug in hybrid with the system offered as original equipment.[11]
For the model year of 2010, little was changed from the previous year — the most prominent being the deletion of the "Red Line" trim and the slight gain in power output for the four cylinder engine range.[12] Production of the 2010 model year Vue ceased in 2009, following the closing of the Saturn brand.[13][14]
This decision did not affect the assembly of the "Chevrolet Captiva Sport" for Latin and South American markets. After Saturn's demise, GM planned to retail the upcoming two mode hybrid Vue as a Buick from the model year of 2011. It would have included the 8kWh lithium-ion battery pack found in Chevrolet Volt.[15]
GM subsequently cancelled its production plan of the Buick following negative reception, while concurrently announcing the plug in hybrid powertrain would be transferred to another vehicle during 2011.[16]
In the end of 2011, for the model year of 2012, the Mexico built Chevrolet Captiva Sport was imported into the United States for fleet buyers.[17] This decision was made to fill the void for compact crossovers as Chevrolet phased out the HHR.[18] The model of 2012 was available with a 2.4 litre inline four (LS trim) or 3.0 litre V6 (LT and LTZ), with both engines mated to a six speed automatic transmission.
All wheel drive is optional on LTZ.[19] The V6 and optional all wheel drive were dropped by July 2013.[20]
The Captiva Sport was discontinued in the United States in August 2014, as Chevrolet directed fleet buyers to the Equinox SUV or the new City Express van instead.[21] The Captiva Sport was also discontinued in Mexico around October 2015 after the reintroduction of the Chevrolet Equinox. Although the Captiva Sport was discontinued in Mexico, the Ramos Arizpe facility continued to assemble it for the other Latin American markets until 2017 when it was replaced by the third generation Equinox.
The market in Australia received the Antara as part of the range of the Holden Captiva from 2006 until October 2015.[22] When introduced in November 2006 after being announced the previous September,[23] the Antara based Holden was known as the "Captiva MaXX", selling alongside the cheaper Chevrolet Captiva based Holden models.[24]
It was offered with a single powertrain, a five speed automatic equipped 3.2-litre V6.[25] The MaXX remained on sale in Australia until 2008,[26] although New Zealand sales continued until the end of 2009.[27]
In a reversal of the Antara based Captiva's previous market position, Holden in December 2009 reintroduced the model as the price leading five seater "Captiva 5",[28] while the more expensive Chevrolet based seven seat only models were rebranded "Captiva 7".[29][30]
Holden fitted the Captiva 5 with the 2.4 litre petrol engine only.[31] Front wheel drive models employed the five speed manual transmission only, with the five speed automatic variant tendered only in conjunction with all wheel drive.[31]
Series II revisions were announced for Captiva 5 in February 2011, with sales commencing in March.[32] The changes included the implementation of the facelift, including a new mesh grille insert with thin air intakes, chrome bezelled fog lamps, and new tail lamp lenses.[33] The Series II Captiva 5 also gained updated powertrains, with an uprated 2.4 litre inline four petrol engine, and the 135kW (181hp) 2.2 litre turbo diesel.
Six speed manual and automatic transmissions are fitted with the petrol engine, with diesel available only with the six speed automatic.[32]
Related Research Articles
Opel Automobile GmbH, usually shortened to Opel, is a German automobile manufacturer which has been a subsidiary of Stellantis since 16 January 2021. It was owned by the American automaker General Motors from 1929 until 2017 and the PSA Group prior to its merger with Fiat Chrysler Automobiles to form Stellantis in 2021. Most of the Opel lineup is marketed under the Vauxhall brand in the United Kingdom since the 1980s. Some Opel vehicles were badge-engineered in Australia under the Holden brand until 2020, in North America and China under the Buick, Saturn, and Cadillac brands, and in South America under the Chevrolet brand.
Chevrolet, colloquially referred to as Chevy, is an American automobile division of the manufacturer General Motors (GM).
The Saturn Corporation, also known as Saturn LLC, was an American automobile manufacturer, a registered trademark established on January 7, 1985, as a subsidiary of General Motors. The company was an attempt by GM to compete directly with Japanese imports and transplants, initially in the US compact car market. The company was known for its 'no-haggle' sales technique.
GM Korea Company is the South Korean subsidiary of multinational corporation General Motors and the third largest automobile manufacturer in South Korea. GM Korea's roots go back to the former Daewoo Motors vehicle brand, which was split from its parent company, Daewoo, in 2002. In addition to importing vehicles for sale into South Korea, the company also operates three manufacturing facilities producing vehicles for the domestic market and for export. The company also operates GM Technical Center Korea, a design, engineering, research & development facility for various GM products, primarily small-size cars.
The Opel Astra is a compact car/small family car (C-segment) developed and produced by the German automaker Opel since 1991, currently at its sixth generation. It was first launched in September 1991 as a direct replacement to the Opel Kadett. As of 2021, the car slots between the smaller Corsa supermini and the larger Insignia large family car.
The Opel Vectra is a mid-size car that was engineered and produced by the German automaker Opel from 1988 until 2010. Available in saloon, hatchback and estate body styles, the Vectra was also sold by the Vauxhall marque in the United Kingdom as the Vauxhall Cavalier from 1988 to 1995 and then as the Vauxhall Vectra from 1995 to 2008, and it was also sold by Holden in Australia as the Holden Vectra, by Chevrolet in Latin America as the Chevrolet Vectra.
The Opel Zafira is a car manufactured and marketed across three generations between 1999 and 2019 by Opel. Based on the Opel Astra platform, it is developed to occupy the multi-purpose vehicle (MPV) segment.
The Saturn Vue is a compact SUV that was built and marketed by Saturn, and it was Saturn's best-selling model. It was the first vehicle to use the GM Theta platform when it was introduced in 2001 for the 2002 model year. The Vue was facelifted for the 2006 model year. A second generation model was launched in 2007 for the 2008 model year as a rebadged Opel Antara.
The GM High Feature engine is a family of modern DOHC V6 engines produced by General Motors. The series was introduced in 2004 with the Cadillac CTS and the Holden Commodore (VZ).
The Chevrolet Equinox is a crossover SUV introduced by Chevrolet in 2004 for the 2005 model year. It was intended to replace the North American Chevrolet Tracker and Chevrolet S-10 Blazer. The third-generation Equinox also replaced the first-generation Chevrolet Captiva.
Theta is General Motors' automobile platform for compact/mid-size crossover SUVs. The architecture debuted in 2002 with the Saturn Vue and was later used for the Chevrolet Equinox and Captiva and similar models.
The U-platform is a front wheel drive minivan and crossover SUV platform from General Motors produced since 1990. North American sales ended in 2009, but Chinese production continues. The minivans were divided into three generations, 1990–1996, 1997–2005 and 2005-current. The U-body was also used for General Motors' first generation crossovers from 2001-2005.
The Chevrolet Captiva is a compact crossover SUV marketed by General Motors. The first generation was developed by GM Korea, based on the GM Theta platform and derived from the S3X concept car revealed in 2004. Released in 2006, it was sold internationally as Chevrolet Captiva, in Australia and New Zealand as Holden Captiva and in South Korea as Daewoo Winstorm until 2011, when the international name was adopted. The vehicle shares much its underpinnings with the similarly-styled Opel/Vauxhall Antara / second-generation Saturn Vue, with the Captiva offering optional third-row seating.
The Daewoo Tosca is a mid-size car designed by Daewoo in South Korea and marketed by Chevrolet as the Chevrolet Epica and Chevrolet Tosca, while Holden marketed it as the Holden Epica. Codenamed V250, it replaces the Daewoo Magnus and its derivatives. The Chevrolet Epica was officially launched in Europe at the 2006 Geneva Motor Show. The Tosca is noteworthy in that it is available with transversely-mounted straight-six engines. Contrary to the preceding models, which were styled by Giugiaro, the V250 was designed entirely in-house.
The Holden Captiva is a crossover SUV that was produced from 2006 to 2018 by GM Korea. The car was sold in Australia and New Zealand under the Holden brand and derives from either the Chevrolet Captiva or Opel Antara, depending on the variant and year.
General Motors New Zealand Limited, formerly Holden New Zealand Limited, is a subsidiary of General Motors that distributes GM' motor vehicles, engines, components and parts in New Zealand.
Chevrolet Europe GmbH was a subsidiary company of GM Korea, founded in 2005, with headquarters in Zürich, Switzerland. It provided Chevrolet brand automobiles, most of which were made in South Korea for the European market.
The Opel Insignia is a large family car developed and produced by the German car manufacturer Opel from 2008 to 2022. Taking its name from a 2003 concept car, the model line serves as the flagship model, slotted above the Astra and Corsa in size. The Insignia serves as the successor to both the Signum and Vectra model lines, replacing both vehicles under a single nameplate. Currently in its second generation, the model line is offered in four-door sedan/saloon body styles, five-door liftback, and as a five-door station wagon/estate.
The Baojun 530 is a two- or three-row compact crossover SUV produced by SAIC-GM-Wuling (SGMW) through the Baojun brand. Unveiled at the Auto Guangzhou 2017, Baojun 530 took design cues from the smaller 510 and is a successor of the 560, while the 560 remained briefly on sale as a cheaper alternative. The crossover is an example of an extensive badge engineering, as it is marketed under four different brands in several different markets.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply. Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.
