West drive Opel Signum 2003 - 2005 hatchback

In another dimension

The capacity, level of comfort and the running qualities of this unusual car can be envied by most business class representatives.

From the beautiful far away
Have you seen a jacket in two accounts taking the desired shape and style? And the boots that decrease or increase to the desired size? And the raincoats that change the color depending on the surrounding landscape? Not? And not surprisingly all these wonderful things came up with science fiction writers. But if any of them were attached to the new Opel model as an option, I would not be very surprised. The abundance of interesting and useful new products, which I opened again and again in Signum, amazed. To start at least with the fact that whatever seat you end here, you can adjust it as if only for you they did it.
 
Not least that is why I want to start introducing you to this amazing car not from the driver's seat, but from the passenger.
  
Flexible inner world
The back door, widely more than a meter, slammed solidly shut. I did not expect that in a car, so similar to a station wagon, I would be met by a comfortable leather throne. It seems that his profile was thought out to the smallest detail. Unless there is no electric drive, as in the front seats. The rest is a song. Each of the pair of separated seats has heating, each can be shifted by 130 mm in the longitudinal direction, releasing the legs for the legs, adjust up to 30 back tilt. Convenient and comfortable.
 
But isn't it a fantasy set of a trawl operator. In fact, this is a large, leather box, which by order can be installed between the seats. It contains two folding tables, a cooled container for drinks, a spacious container, two cup holders, a 12-volt outlet and a stand for a DVD player. In addition, if there is a Twin Audio musical system in a car, the rear passengers can listen to CDs when the radio plays in front. Wonderful thing.
 
   
There were no more containers in the ceiling console yet
 
The Assista Trevel set is installed at the site of the modest average chair
 

Ordering an assistant on a trip or not depends on your desire. But even the basic syginum car is unusually convenient. Say, the second row of seats, despite the fact that it seems to be designed for two, may well accept a teenager. He will sit just above adults, securely fastened with a pair of seat belts. And if no one takes a small sofa, it can be turned into a comfortable table with a couple of cup holders.
 
Another good example of the trunk. At first glance, it is small for such a large car of 365 liters. But do not rush with conclusions. Do not forget, you can’t approach the Signum with the usual standards. And then the advantages will immediately become noticeable. The designers completely consciously went to reduce the volume of the cargo compartment. Thanks to this, you will never hear the discontent of the family, in which, after two to three hours of journey, your legs will flow on the gallery. But if it is necessary to transport a large -sized cargo, it is enough to push the rear seats forward (passengers are still more than in other medium -sized sedans), and the trunk will increase to 510 liters. And with folded backs how quickly and conveniently you can do it here! At your service is already 1410 liters. Few? Fold the front back, and at your disposal nearly a three -meter platform. You need to attach a couple of mountain bicycles in the cabin, you can easily take the curtains to the cottage. And dynamically move to the goal. The cargo, thanks to the abundance of fasteners, will not walk around the cabin at any speed.
 
   
Signum is easy to turn into a carrier of large -sized long meters

Heating the rear seats of the option, which you will best evaluate in winter

Hooks for reliable cargo fastening are not only in the trunk, but also on the inside of the thresholds
 

And you can go so that, as the notorious movie hero said, God forbid everyone!. After all, the Germans have equipped the Signum for a reason with their most powerful engine.
    
What is there, behind a dark turn?
Starting in October, it will be possible to order a signs with a system of adaptive head lighting. The headlights of such a car can rotate at an angle up to 15 depending on the rotation of the steering wheel and the speed of the car.
 
Such a function will be especially useful when leaving for an unlit highway. They came up with how to protect the movement at night through the intersections. If the speed of the car is less than 40 km/h, then when the rotation indicator is turned on and rotate the steering wheel in front of the headlight lenses, an additional reflector will move forward. In this case, the illuminated sector will be almost 90 in relation to the direction of movement at a distance of up to 30 meters from the car.
 
The secret of new geometry
Administration of the roads of the Moscow Region, I gradually got used to the fact that 140 km/h for the signs of only a warm -up. It seems like all the other cars, which are passable, who are oncoming, live somewhere in a different, sluggish dimension.
 
Thanks to the confident traction of 211 horses of this glorious six and the soul living with it in the soul of the 5-speed assault rifle, Aisin-Warner), the Signum directly shoots at any speed. The impression is as if under the hood there is a much larger eight in volume. Unless at the limit modes the engine cannot be called quiet. About 5,000 rpm of/min, distinct baritonal notes penetrate the salon. But I have such a juicy voice, I admit, I even liked it.
 
But an independent one on the racks of McEferson, the multi-link design is a dense suspension behind as if it could not be surprised at anything special. The same is installed on all current vector. At low speed, it is even a little harsh. But its true character shows already 110120 km/h. Opel does not carefully have serious potholes in the asphalt. The car is assembled and revels in speed. You go faster and faster, but there is no slightest lean, there is no need to steal. Having presented the Signuma additional compared to a vector of 13 cm of the base (2830 mm), the designers achieved not only good smoothness, but also the highest exchange rate stability. I will say more, without any stretch, the car may well play the role of a sport-car, which was famously storming the coolest turns.
 
Help that is not superfluous
Only in management there are no surprises. In the bend, as befits a large car, the Signum is at first a little lazy, but I add speeds, and he immediately becomes swift and gambling. Opel engineers cannot but praise for a successful selection of a gear ratio in the steering (15.2: 1 the same as on the GTS hatchback), for the excellent operation of the electric hydraulic power, for a hard body and a light and strong suspension (racks are made of reinforced pressed steel, and Many components of aluminum chassis). And finally, for the harmonious operation of electronics. The signum chassis is equipped with a system of so -called IDS interactive driving another technology of the future, migrated to a serial machine. This is ABS symbiosis, braking control systems in bending and helping with emergency braking, as well as an anti -wings system. The most talented motorbiker is not subject to brand in turn one, two or three wheels, acting on them with different efforts. Electronics of a miracle spell easily copes with this.
 
Moreover, it will intervene only in extreme cases. And I’ll say right away, I never regretted that it does not turn off. So quickly storm the bends without her help, I would not dare.
  
Down with the stereotypes
The car substitutes relief sidewalls with the sultry July sun, and even after four days of communication with it I will not get used to its unusual appearance. Signum, according to the definition of the creators, the hatchback of the business class seems very large, but in fact it is only 4 cm longer than the vetera (4636 mm). It has already well-known details of powerful spoilers and V-shaped substetricians, similar to those that the athlete GTS. And at the same time, the Signum skillfully puts on the show of the delights that appeared two years ago a concept: wide rear racks and a huge dome glass of the fifth door.
 
But if you saw in New Opel just another road wagon, then it is not for you. True buyers of the signsum are those who are looking for a car with a unique set of qualities: outstanding expanse and high comfort, magnificent course stability and controllability, hardness of the finish and a flexible inner world.
 
Remember the famous American Lee Jacock, who once saved from bankruptcy of Chrysler? Do not trample on the spot, do at least something, he said. Then in a free society you can achieve outstanding results. Faced with the fall of the popularity of their flagship omega, on Opel were not afraid to retreat from the usual stereotypes and managed to create just a fantastic car in many respects. Will he be able to win the hearts of buyers? This question will soon answer the chief judge time. After all, with the price, Sinum boldly stepped into another dimension. $ 43 850 even for an outstanding Opel is still a little expensive. You will say that there is a car in the basic configuration for $ 30,290. A good car, no doubt. Only with a 2.2-liter engine will it be a completely different signs.
 
Opel Signum 3.2 (2.2)
common data
 
Length x width x height, mm
4636x1798x1466
 
Trunk volume, l
365/1410
 
Radius of turning, m
5.6
 
Speed, km/h
235 (211)
 
Acceleration time 0-100 km/h, with
8.5 (9.8)
 
Fuel consumption, l/100 km
7.8/15.7 (6.6/10.6)
 
 
Engine
 
Working volume, SMZ
3175 (2198)
 
Power, L.S. at rpm
211/6200 (155/5600)
 
Torque, kgsm at rpm
30.6/3400 (22.4/3800)
 
Price
$ 43 850 (basic Signum-2,2,2,3,290,
Signum-3.2 $ 38 790
 
Alexey Sergeev, photo of Maxim Goncharov
 
 

Source: Magazine "Limousine" [10/03]